Pack up the boat or float and enjoy a concert on the water at the 2010 AquaPalooza. The event will be held Saturday, July 24, from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Lake Martin’s Kowaliga Beach.

Billed as the “World’s Largest Boating Party,” 2010 AquaPalooza features live performances by country artists John Anderson, Brantley Gilbert and Trotline .
The event is free for those who come by water. Spots in the “front row seats,” three mooring lines, will be sold as sponsorships, starting at $75.

This year for the first time, festival goers don’t have to come by water. A limited number of land access tickets will be available for $10 each. Children under age 6 are admitted free. The designated parking area is Time Capsule Park.

This is the fifth year of AquaPalooza, according to Robert Gunn, director of events and social media for Russell Lands.

“People at Sea Ray Boats started this as a way to get people in boats with friends and family to have a good time,” he said.

There are currently about 135 AquaPaloozas being held at locations all over the world.

“It’s become real popular,” Gunn said about the Lake Martin venue. “Last year we estimated an attendance of 35,00 and 4,000 boats.”

Gunn said that it’s the social atmosphere that makes AquaPalooza so popular.

“People enjoy getting together on the lake and meeting new friends and enjoying old friends. They tie up together on the lake.”

Everyone who attends can choose to enjoy the beach area, as well as roped off swimming section in front of the stage attended by lifeguards.

Vendors will be serving catfish, chicken fingers, po’ boys, hamburgers, hot dogs and shaved ice. Sinclair’s restaurant will be also open.

Concert headliner John Anderson is well known to country fans, with 22 albums, five number one hits and more than 40 singles on Billboard’s Country Music chart in the past 30 years.

Anderson’s latest release is “Bigger Hands,” which includes his rendition of “Shuttin’ Detroit Down,” a song he co-wrote with John Rich. The song was #12 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in 2009.

Fans will also want to check out Brantley Gilbert, an up and coming artist whose latest hit, “Kick it in the Sticks,” (Halfway To Heaven, Average Joe Entertainment) reached #1 on Billboard’s Heatseeker chart.

“The closest thing to namin’ it is new Southern rock,” said Gilbert, about his style of music.

He said his songs can be characterized as having a message.

“If I’m going through something in life, it’s going on paper and we’re gonna put some music to it. When someone says one of my songs helped them with a situation, that probably means more than anything to me,” he said.

In the heat of July, floating on the water has got to be the best place to enjoy an outdoor concert. Gunn encouraged all who have a water craft to attend.
“Come up and tie to a new friend’s boat or an old friend’s boat, drop an anchor and enjoy the music,” he said.

For more information, visit aquapalooza.com. Those interested in being a sponsor can email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).