European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 11, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Own Home country in Germany singers Janie Fricke top left photo and George Jones top right photo Drew enthusiastic responses from the More than 8,000 fans. Some of them watched from a Balcony of the concert Hall Middle Phot while others in the front Row ignited sparklers during the show above. Still others gave their own performances at left a Cowboy shows off his rope tricks. The nitty Gritty dirt band with guitarist Jeff Hanna left in top photo and bassist Jimmy Ibbotson was a favorite act at the country and Western festival. Both German and american fans dressed in their Cowboy Best Timothy and Katharina Arndt above of Frankfurt donned Cowboy hats while a group of cowboys right frolicked outside the concert Hall. By Anita Gosch staff writer there s no place i d rather be than right Here rednecks and wine songs and Blue ribbon Beer these lines Sung by country Singer Johnny Russell captured the spirit at Frankfurt s Mammoth fest Halle last saturday when More than 8,000 country fans gathered for the International festival of country music. Twelve acts offered a variety of styles during the seven hour show from the Bluegrass ditties of Bill Monroe and the Mountain music of the nitty Gritty dirt band to the gospel and pop inflected tunes of the Johnny Cash show band the upbeat sounds of Janie Fricke and the traditional country of Gene Watson George Jones and Hank Williams original Drifting cowboys. The biggest Welcome of the evening came of course for Headliner Johnny Cash. Despite the late hour Cash took to the stage at 10 45  living legend had the fans up and dancing to such classics As Folsom prison blues ring of fire and ghost rider As Well As to his newer tunes Here comes that Rainbow again and his recent hit highwayman originally recorded with Waylon Jennings Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson. Cash explained that Jennings was unable to appear As was originally scheduled due to a shoulder operation the nitty Gritty dirt band turned out to be equally popular the fiddle driven quintet featuring hand clapping and foot stomping music was the Only act to do an encore. The californians returned to the stage later in the evening to perform with Cash and the Carter Sisters during the tune will the Circle be unbroken. Crowd please Janie Fricke proved that she deserved the Honor of being named country music s female vocalist of the year in 1983 and 84. The charismatic Singer picked up the Pace after Gene Watson s Mellow pure country tunes performing uptempo songs As Well As her popular ballads bring your Sweet lovin to me and it Ain t easy Bein easy. For Many of the fans the festival was much More than a musical event it was a social gathering reminiscent of Down Home country bars and Western saloons. Both americans and germans came dressed in their Cowboy Best Buckskin jackets embroidered Western shirts and string ties petticoats and kerchiefs and of course Cowboy hats and Cowboy boots. Some even donned chaps and toy holsters. Those who did t have any Western garb could buy what they needed. Jackets shirts Indian jewelry and other items were for Sale As Well As stacks of country and Western records. And though it was t exactly Blue ribbon Beer there was enough Good ol1 German Beer to Down the Chow Steak sandwiches with Gaucho sauce Chili and of course bratwurst. S & s photos by Ken George Page 14 it if if the stars and stripes Friday april 11, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 15