Members of the Mons, Belgium, and Mannheim, Germany, military communities will be shaking their fists next month, when country music star Toby Keith arrives to perform two free outdoor concerts.
Anyone with a U.S. military identification card or access to U.S. military bases can attend the concerts, held May 21 at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe near Mons and May 22 in Mannheim.
Both concerts start at 3 p.m. The concert in Belgium will take place on the compound’s rugby field, while the one in Germany will be held on the Coleman Airfield, with Keith onstage inside a hangar.
Keith’s voice became a staple of military communities in 2002 when he released the hit “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American),” which described the Statue of Liberty “shaking her fist” in response to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
He released the hit songs “American Soldier” and “I Love this Bar” on his 2003 album, “Shock ‘n Y’all.”
His concert in May comes at the beginning of a tour to promote the release of his newest album, “Honkytonk University.”
SHAPE expects a crowd of 3,000 to 5,000 people for the biggest name to visit the base in years, said Kim Wayland, a spokeswoman for Morale, Welfare and Recreation.
“We always see [big names] in Germany and other places,” Wayland said. “This is a big deal for us.”
Concert-goers for both events are invited to bring blankets and folding chairs for open seating. Glass containers, coolers and recording devices such as camcorders are banned.
Anyone without a SHAPE car registration is asked call Joyce Augustyn at DSN 423-3223 or e-mail her at joyce.augustyn@benelux@army.mil to get permission to drive on base.
