Lake Martin Magazine

Expect something different at the Russell Lands on Lake Martin Labor Day Concert.

“I think we started something.”

Those were the words Russell Marine President Dave Commander used after seeing thousands of music fans descend on Lake Martin for this year’s Sea Ray AquaPalooza event.

Officials at Russell Lands wanted to wow the crowd at its 10th annual Fourth of July Blast Concert and Fireworks Show.

They succeeded.

Two of Lake Martin’s most beloved Fourth of July traditions will celebrate big anniversaries this year.

This summer marks the 20th anniversary of Russell Marine’s Fourth of July Boat Parade and the 10th anniversary of the Russell Lands’ Fourth of July Blast, which includes a concert and one of the largest fireworks shows in the Southeast.

This year’s AquaPalooza celebration will be scaled down from last year, when country music star Alan Jackson attracted an estimated 35,000 people to Lake Martin during SeaRay’s 2009 AquaPalooza Signature Event.

Onstage at the Red Hill schoolhouse, a guitarist plays the first chords of “Elvira,” and couples get up to dance, stepping and spinning to the steady beat of the song.

It is Friday night in Red Hill, and the old schoolhouse is packed with people listening to the Red Hill Rendition band play country, gospel and oldies for Lake Martin residents and visitors.

Lake Martin’s gone country.

Alan Jackson’s minor tweak to the lyrics of “Gone Country” couldn’t have been more accurate.