For 25 years, Detroit has hosted the Downtown Hoedown in Hart Plaza. It is always the first in a long line of free outdoor summer music festivals in this music-crazy city. It is also noted for its rough-and-ready crowds who love their beer and their fights. And for the hundreds of bikers who wouldn't miss this opportunity to show off their glistening Harleys and bond with tattooed friends and foes.

Until yesterday I'd avoided this festival, partly because of its reputation and partly because country music isn't really my thing. But now, as a photographer, how could I pass up an opportunity to see more cowboy hats in downtown Detroit than I'd ever seen before? Besides, I'd been spending so much time at my computer creating my new Photoshop composites that I'd almost forgotten the world is bigger than the 14" monitor on my iBook. What I needed was to get up off my duff, drive downtown and join the crowd. And that meant not just taking photos, but getting up on my feet and dancing! Which I did.

I was surprised to find that, except for one negative reference to the Dixie Chicks, it was hard to tell the differnce between these country music performers and their counterparts in rock and pop. Their music was good to dance to and that's all I cared about.

It was the people who interested me, so this gallery is mostly portraits. Some I had time to compose but many were catch-as-catch-can, meaning some are in focus and others not. But you'll see lots of cowboy hats--not to mention a few Harleys--and that's what counts!