In a year when much of the concert industry chiseled its grosses onto a headstone, country music had one of its most profitable seasons. That doesn't mean, however, that the best-selling shows were necessarily the best.

1. DIXIE CHICKS AND JAMES TAYLOR
Oct. 1, Heinz Hall

The politically motivated Vote for Change concerts didn't spur a larger proportion of young voters to the polls, they didn't rock the vote, and in a soon-to-be-decided case the courts may rule that concert organizer Move On PAC and the other so-called 527 soft-money fund-raising groups acted in violation of the law. Nevertheless, Pittsburgh's Vote for Change show proved that the embattled Dixie Chicks are still the most sophisticated and exciting group in country music. They and James Taylor performed together, traded vocal leads on each other's classic songs, and mostly soft-pedaled the politics in the most artistically relevant country concert of the year.

2. BIG & RICH
July 6, Post-Gazette Pavilion (opening for Tim McGraw)

2004 will be remembered as the year when Big Kenny Alphin and John Rich exploded out of the Nashville cookie cutter with something they proudly call "country music without prejudice." The crowd stood through their entire opening set and applauded enthusiastically when black country rapper Cowboy Troy simultaneously broke two of the last country barriers. Tim McGraw deserves a tip of the hat for including the landmark act on a major country tour -- he even brought Troy back on stage to rap over his hit "She's My Kind of Rain." Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, country music is free at last.

3. DIERKS BENTLEY
Nov. 14, Rock Club

He's young, good looking, writes his own songs, sings well, plays his guitar and has an exciting, unpredictable stage show that was even more exciting when experienced up close and personal on a small nightclub stage. Two of the city's biggest FM broadcasters are country. Pittsburgh would support more club-level country concerts by young, up-and-coming country heartthrobs like Bentley, if they were marketed correctly.

4. KEITH URBAN
Oct. 29, Palumbo Center

The future of country music lies in multitalented artists who write their songs, sing them and play their own instruments. Aussie Keith Urban secured his future in 2004 with a successful A-list tour that included two stops in Pittsburgh. The Palumbo show was the best, spotlighting his '70s rock star looks, sizzling guitar leads and great country songs.

5. ALAN JACKSON
April 30, Mellon Arena

Somewhere beneath that shy, reserved stage demeanor lurks a passionate writer of personal story songs that articulate nuances of the human condition. Jackson is among the best at doing what country music does best.

6. GILLIAN WELCH
June 13, Point State Park

Far under the radar of country radio, Gillian Welch continues to kick up dust with contemporary country songs that embrace traditional styles. Her performance with ace guitarist David Rawlings was a highlight of the Three Rivers Arts Festival.

7. THE MAVERICKS
March 9, Byham Theater

With a soaring voice, great songs and a rock-solid band, Raul Malo could easily cash in on the country mainstream. But The Mavericks' fabulous Byham concert proved how exciting and artistically vibrant country music can be outside the cookie cutter.

8. DOC WATSON
Nov. 19, Carnegie Lecture Hall

It was an honor and privilege to be among the capacity crowd permitted to share the music of blind, 81-year-old country legend Doc Watson, a guitar picker who hasn't slowed down since the 1950s. And thank you, Calliope: The Pittsburgh Folk Music Society, for being the only promoter willing to bring him to Pittsburgh.

9. BROOKS & DUNN
Aug. 14, Post-Gazette Pavilion

Since they've corralled their once overwrought Neon Circus shows, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn are better able to convey the clear messages at the core of their songs. Mainstream country doesn't get much better.

10. TERRI CLARK
Sept. 25, Post-Gazette Pavilion (opening for Toby Keith)

Canadian tomboy Terri Clark probably didn't mean to upstage her top-selling headliner. She couldn't help it. A talented writer of hooky and ironic radio songs, she played her own guitar, flirted with the front rows and held the attention of a crowd that paid to see another artist. One song away from superstardom, expect Clark to soon be headlining her own concerts.