Robin and Linda Williams and Jimmy Fortune created Songwriters in the Round for the first night program of their three-night festival. The Williamses brought Clement, while Fortune invited Yates.
All five sat on the stage under the Lee Cochran Pavilion and entertained the crowd with songs and stories. Fortune sang his first song, "Elizabeth," and Robin and Linda sang their latest, "Maybelle's Guitar and Monroe's Mandolin."
It was country music at its best.
- Songwriters in the Round
Day 2 of the Fortune-Williams Music Festival included performances from Fortune, Adrienne Young and Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives.
"There is a sharing going on that you don't find at most festivals," said Robin Williams as he watched Fortune play.
Applause and cheers broke through the first few lines as Mary Chapin Carpenter launched into her hit song, "I Take My Chances."
"I take my chances, I don't mind working without a net. I take my chances, I take my chances every chance I get."
As the beat picked up on Carpenter's guitar, so did the foot-tapping and head-nodding response from the crowd.
... organizers estimated the 5th annual Fortune Williams Festival had drawn in nearly 4,000 people over three days of performances.
Title artists Jimmy Fortune and Linda Williams both said they felt the weekend couldn't have gone better, and that the event was showing signs of slow, steady, healthy growth.
Day 3