Kohler Rental Powers Country USA Music Festival

July 9, 2010
Kohler Rental last week announced it has successfully brought power to Country USA for an 11th consecutive year. Recently wrapped up in Oshkosh, Wis., Country USA — five days of non-stop entertainment featuring country music’s biggest headliners — drew 155,000 music lovers in 2010. Country USA is staged by Starshow Presents Inc., which contracts with Kohler Rental for portable prime power generators, as well as electrical technical design and distribution services for the music festival.

Kohler Rental last week announced it has successfully brought power to Country USA for an 11th consecutive year. Recently wrapped up in Oshkosh, Wis., Country USA — five days of non-stop entertainment featuring country music’s biggest headliners — drew 155,000 music lovers in 2010. Country USA is staged by Starshow Presents Inc., which contracts with Kohler Rental for portable prime power generators, as well as electrical technical design and distribution services for the music festival.

To power Country USA, Kohler Rental trucked in 10 power generators to Ford Festival Park in Oshkosh. Totaling nearly 2,000 kW of power, Kohler generators delivered enough electricity to power hundreds homes. Combing the power generator output with available utility grid electricity, Kohler Rental designed an electrical system and distributed the power for nearly every aspect of the music festival including the main stage, video screens, sound system, merchandise kiosks, concessions, beverage stations, VIP catering and the “Country Club,” which featured private entertainment and interview stages among other amenities.

“Literally, if you’re in the 26-acre festival grounds, stand at any point and look around, every electrical circuit has been designed, assembled and connected by Kohler Rental,” said Mike Nasif, general manager, Kohler Rental. “When powering a large-scale festival like Country USA, everything needs a backup option and a contingency plan. Although the music festival lasts only five days, planning for the show is a continual 12-month commitment for Kohler Rental because with 155,000 people in the crowd and Toby Keith on stage, stopping the music isn’t an option.”

Keeping Country USA’s electrical grid operational and uninterrupted, Kohler Rental routed more than 13 miles of electrical distribution cable. Additionally, Kohler Rental kept seven technicians on-site, with 24-hour availability.

“All of our vendors, Kohler Rental included, have become an integrated, well-oiled machine over time,” said Dan Liebauser, president and owner, Starshow Presents. “Over the 11 years Kohler Rental has powered Country USA, the same core group of electrical technicians have worked and supported our music festival. It’s that experience, technical knowledge and consistency that enable Kohler Rental to seamlessly adapt to the inevitable changing needs that come with hosting a festival of this magnitude. ”

Kohler Co. has evolved its Global Power Group into a worldwide organization encompassing generators, engines and rental power. The Global Power Group is comprised of Kohler Power Systems, SDMO Industries, Uninterruptible Power Supplies Ltd., Kohler Rental Power, as well as Kohler Engines and Lombardini, Srl.

Kohler Rental Power provides temporary power, HVAC, luxury restrooms, as well as complete planning, implementation and professional support to the industrial, commercial, disaster recovery and event markets throughout the United States.