Friends Pay Tribute To Your Buddy Russ At The Marshland Festival In Lake Charles

The 2023 Marshland Festival is in the books and what a weekend it was. The festival got underway Friday night with live music from Greg Blanchard who put on a terrific show which set the tone for a phenomenal festival.

Parish County Line, Foret Tradition, and Jo-El Sonnier finished off the night to a packed house. Saturday got underway at 11:00 am with live music from Brooks Drost followed by Colby Latiolais who put on a great show. Next up was Johnny Jimenez who cranked up some great country music. Johnny also paid tribute to his long-lost friend Russ Conrad better known as Your Buddy Russ.

Russ was part of the Gator 99.5 radio team and did a show in the afternoons until he was diagnosed with bone cancer and passed away back in March of this year. Johnny and Russ were extremely close so Johnny wanted to pay tribute to Russ at the Marshland Festival which was Russ's favorite festival by bringing up a cardboard cutout picture of Russ and playing Russ's favorite country song "Trashy Women" By Confederate Railroad.

More terrific performances from Caden Gillard, Louisiana Express with Johnnie Allan, Thomas Caid, Steelshot, Water's Edge, Gene Watson, and Jamie Bergeron rounded out the rest of the festival.

Right before Gene Watson hit the stage, Mike Soileau And Chaz from Gator 99.5, Wade Hampton from KPLC, Richard Cole owner of Fatboyz in Westlake, and Mike Soileau's wife Christie took the stage in front of a packed house of folks to throw out some Buddy Russ koozies and cups and also pay tribute to him on the microphone with the crowd.

They told the crowd how much Russ loved the Marshland Festival and how much he loved helping raise money for great causes. They also had the Russ cutout they took on the stage and then introduced Gene Watson.

What a great two days of music and performances while raising money for the youth of Hackberry and also a great moment to honor our fallen friend Russ Conrad.