Girls turn out for teen country star
Taylor Swift wins moms' seal of approval
By Nick Hytrek, Journal staff writer | Posted: Monday, June 30, 2008
Country music star Taylor Swift performs Sunday at the Tyson Events Center. (Staff photo by Jim Lee)
SIOUX CITY -- It was definitely girls' night out in downtown Sioux City Sunday night.
Women and girls of all ages made up the overwhelming majority of fans heading to the Tyson Events Center to see 18-year-old country star Taylor Swift in concert. In one group of 40 people, only five males could be counted.
"The demographic is definitely young and female," said Noah Fullbright, who was running the event parking at Walgreens across the street from the Tyson Center's parking lot.
Swift, who has won numerous top newcomer awards in the country music business, has attracted a large following among teenagers. A quick survey of the Sioux City crowd confirmed that, as teens and younger girls flocked to the concert, many with their mothers in tow.
"I like her music, and she seems like a good inspiration," said Skylore Curry, 12, of Elk Point, S.D., who talked her mother, Terri, into taking her into the concert.
Terri Curry, had to familiarize herself with the music first.
"I had to know what I was getting into," she said.
Jordan Hill, 9, of Hinton, Iowa, and friend Sydney Sitzmann, also 9, of Le Mars, Iowa, were celebrating birthdays. Their present was one of the hottest tickets in town.
"I love her hair," Jordan said of Swift.
Accompanying the girls were their mothers, Jacquie Sitzmann and Joey Hill. Sitzmann's 12-year-old daughter, Lindsay caught the flu Saturday night and still wasn't well enough Sunday to attend the show. How big of a bummer is that for a 12-year-old?
"I can't tell you," Jacquie Sitzmann said, shaking her head and empathizing with her daughter's disappointment.
Just ahead of them were Michelle Ohlfest of Sioux City and her three daughters, Ashley, 16; Taylor, 8; and Sydney, 6.
"We're all big country fans," said Taylor, who was happy that her first-ever concert was going to be Taylor Swift.
The music and the artist both have received the all-important mom seal of approval in the Ohlfest home.
"I just think she's a good role model for the kids," Michelle Ohlfest said.
Nick Hytrek can be reached at 712-293-4226 or nickhytrek@siouxcityjournal.com.
Women and girls of all ages made up the overwhelming majority of fans heading to the Tyson Events Center to see 18-year-old country star Taylor Swift in concert. In one group of 40 people, only five males could be counted.
"The demographic is definitely young and female," said Noah Fullbright, who was running the event parking at Walgreens across the street from the Tyson Center's parking lot.
Swift, who has won numerous top newcomer awards in the country music business, has attracted a large following among teenagers. A quick survey of the Sioux City crowd confirmed that, as teens and younger girls flocked to the concert, many with their mothers in tow.
"I like her music, and she seems like a good inspiration," said Skylore Curry, 12, of Elk Point, S.D., who talked her mother, Terri, into taking her into the concert.
Terri Curry, had to familiarize herself with the music first.
"I had to know what I was getting into," she said.
Jordan Hill, 9, of Hinton, Iowa, and friend Sydney Sitzmann, also 9, of Le Mars, Iowa, were celebrating birthdays. Their present was one of the hottest tickets in town.
"I love her hair," Jordan said of Swift.
Accompanying the girls were their mothers, Jacquie Sitzmann and Joey Hill. Sitzmann's 12-year-old daughter, Lindsay caught the flu Saturday night and still wasn't well enough Sunday to attend the show. How big of a bummer is that for a 12-year-old?
"I can't tell you," Jacquie Sitzmann said, shaking her head and empathizing with her daughter's disappointment.
Just ahead of them were Michelle Ohlfest of Sioux City and her three daughters, Ashley, 16; Taylor, 8; and Sydney, 6.
"We're all big country fans," said Taylor, who was happy that her first-ever concert was going to be Taylor Swift.
The music and the artist both have received the all-important mom seal of approval in the Ohlfest home.
"I just think she's a good role model for the kids," Michelle Ohlfest said.
Nick Hytrek can be reached at 712-293-4226 or nickhytrek@siouxcityjournal.com.
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 14 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
MBert wrote on Jul 3, 2008 1:43 PM:
kim wrote on Jul 1, 2008 10:50 AM:
Don't fault the Events Center for lack of big screens, that is for the performers people to decide and obviously Taylor's people don't have her with big screens in their stage set up. If you read the article Bruce suggest that they "get with it" and get her some big screens!! "
James wrote on Jun 30, 2008 4:01 PM:
Akron Boy wrote on Jun 30, 2008 2:05 PM:
SIOUX CITY FAN wrote on Jun 30, 2008 12:52 PM: