Country Calling Day Two: A Cozy, Rainy Day That Woke Up for the Music

If Day One of Country Calling was all sunshine, blue skies and a little bit of Mother Nature’s apology, Day Two was a completely different story. Ocean City woke up to a rainy, gloomy day, but instead of rushing out to the festival, the town seemed to collectively decide to slow down. It was a cozy morning. A lazy day. And as I looked around Ocean City, it seemed like plenty of people had the same idea I did: enjoy the relaxing weather, take it easy and save your energy for the great music coming later in the afternoon and evening. And that's exactly what I did.

A Slow Start to a Rainy Day

I didn't head down to the festival until later in the afternoon. Instead, I took a walk along the Boardwalk, enjoyed the scenery, walked the beach and simply relaxed. There was something nice about Ocean City on a rainy festival day. The beach was quieter, the Boardwalk was peaceful and there was no need to rush. But slowly, as the day went on, Ocean City started to wake up. And apparently, so did the Country Calling crowd.

From Boardwalk Stroll to Line Dancing

My first stop was Seacrets for line dancing lessons from 3-5 p.m. I had absolutely no idea what to expect. In my head, I pictured maybe a few people learning some basic steps while honky-tonk country music played in the background.

Instead, it turned into a genuinely great time. There was plenty of energy, lots of people ready to learn and more than a few attempts at keeping up with the steps. Whether you were a seasoned line dancer or had absolutely no idea which foot was supposed to move first, it was a fun way to spend the afternoon. And honestly, there was something pretty perfect about learning to line dance before heading off to a country music festival.

Dustin Lynch Fans Don't Care About Rain

By the time Dustin Lynch took the stage, it was pretty clear that the weather wasn't going to stop everyone. Fans showed up in ponchos, grabbed their drinks and settled in for the show. Rain? What rain? These people came for country music, and they were going to get their country music. The crowd continued to build as the afternoon went on, proving that sometimes you just have to put on the poncho and keep going.

Brothers Osborne Brings the Crowd Together

When I arrived for Brothers Osborne, I was actually surprised by how much room there was in the VIP section. It wasn't even half full. But as their set approached, it became clear that plenty of people had the same idea I did: Wait out the rain and arrive later. And they did.

The crowds began filling in, and by the time Brothers Osborne really got going, the atmosphere had completely changed. Fans sang along, held their phone flashlights in the air and showed the brothers just how much they appreciated having them on the beach in Ocean City. It was one of those moments where you could look around and realize that the rain had become almost an afterthought. I did leave a little early, though.

Why? Because I had a plan. Miranda Lambert.

Everyone Was Waiting for Miranda

I wanted to make sure I had a great spot for Miranda Lambert, so I headed over early—and apparently, I wasn't the only one with that idea. A heavy crowd was already gathering. VIP was filling up. General admission was filling up. And we still had 45 minutes until showtime. At this point, the rain decided to pick up, too. Naturally. I did make one very important purchase during the entire weekend: a $16 seltzer. Yes, one drink. That was my entire Country Calling beverage investment. But standing there in the rain surrounded by thousands of people who were just as excited to see Miranda made that $16 seltzer feel like part of the experience.

And the best part? Nobody seemed to care about the rain.

People were in good spirits. They were laughing, talking, singing and waiting. Because they came for live music. And that's exactly what they were getting. Then Miranda came out and immediately acknowledged what every woman in the crowd was thinking: it was a bad-hair, ball-cap-wearing kind of day. And she completely embraced it herself, stepping onto the stage in a ball cap with the most adorable braids. It was the perfect look for a rainy night at the beach—and the crowd absolutely loved it. By then, nobody seemed to care about the weather anymore. When Miranda launched into “Kerosene,” the crowd absolutely lit up the night, singing right along with her. Thousands of voices joined together as the rain continued to fall, creating one of those festival moments that you'll remember long after the ponchos are packed away.

Chris Stapleton Was Worth the Wait

But I wasn't done. I left Miranda a little early because there was no way I was going to miss out on a good spot for Chris Stapleton. And, once again, I wasn't the only one with that idea. As the rain and wind whipped our ponchos, I made my way toward Stapleton's stage alongside plenty of other fans doing exactly the same thing. The message was pretty clear: We were not leaving. I was lucky enough to shoot the first two songs of Chris Stapleton's set, and even in those first few minutes, there were some pretty special moments happening in the crowd. There were birthday celebrations, complete with signs held up hoping Stapleton would notice, and then there was another familiar celebration.

Congratulations, Grace and Murray! The couple got engaged right there at Country Calling, making the festival an even more memorable night for the two of them.

Then Stapleton stepped onto the stage with his signature cool, calm and collected presence. No need for a giant spectacle. No need for anything over the top. Just Chris Stapleton, his voice, his guitar and thousands of people who had waited through the rain to hear him. And yes, it rained for his entire set. It wasn't necessarily a downpour, but it was enough. Enough to keep the ponchos on. Enough to make your shoes wet. Enough to remind everyone that they were standing outside on a beach in Ocean City. But after it was all said and done, there was one thing I kept hearing from the people around me: “He was 100% worth the wait.” And he was.

Maybe Country Fans Just Don't Care About the Weather

After a day of wind and rain—I feel like I've written this before—I think Country Calling fans have officially proven something. They know they're buying a ticket to an outdoor venue. They know they're standing on the beach. They know there could be sunshine, rain, wind or even another Nor'easter waiting around the corner. And they seem perfectly willing to accept all of it. Because the love of music apparently trumps the weather. It trumps the rain. It trumps the wind. And apparently, it even trumps a Nor'easter. Day Two started slowly. Ocean City took its time waking up. People relaxed, wandered the Boardwalk, enjoyed the beach and waited for the afternoon and evening music to give them a reason to put on their ponchos and head out. And when the crowds finally came?

They Came Ready

Day Two may not have been pretty. It may not have been dry. But it was very, very country. And when the final note from Chris Stapleton rang out over the rainy Ocean City beach, I think everyone who stayed could agree: It was worth every drop.