By Debra Minor Wilson
FAIRMONT — If you like country, bluegrass or gospel music, Mountain Lakes Amphitheater has what you want.
The entertainment complex, located in Sutton, kicks off its 2009 concert season.
• May 9: Country star Randy Travis at 7 p.m. Opening act is The Davisson Brothers. Advance tickets are $35.
“Randy is the biggest draw we’ve had, production-wise, because of his popularity,” said director Janet Gibson.
“Even though he is an older artist, we’ve sold more tickets presell than we ever had before. He crosses the line from country to Christian, and appeals to a broader range of people. He’s a classic.
“The Davisson Brothers have played here several times. They have a pretty big fanbase. They’re growing all the time.”
• June 20: The preliminaries for the Boss 97 FM’s Colgate Country Showdown will be held at 3 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the gate. All preliminaries will be held on one day this year. To apply as a contestant, contact Lisa at Summit Media at 304-765-7373.
• June 27: The Colgate Country Showdown Finals will be held at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the gate. The 12 finalists will compete for the grand prize of $1,000 and will move to the next phase of the Colgate Country Showdown.
• July 18: Contemporary Christian artists Aaron Shust and Billy Wayne take the stage at 7 p.m. Advance tickets are $12. Wayne will also host the weekend youth conference, “Detonate: Light the Fire,” at the Flatwoods Days Hotel & Conference Center. For more information about the conference, call 1-866-700-7284, ext. 108.
Shust, a praise and worship leader, is known for his song, “My Savior, My God.” Wayne is an evangelist and youth pastor.
• July 25: “Bluegrass: Sun Up to Sun Down” begins at 8 a.m. with a pancake breakfast, with musical entertainment running throughout the day. Acts include Nothin' Fancy, No One You Know and Wilson Creek.
The all-day ticket is $20. Nothin’ Fancy is the 2008 Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA) winners for “Entertaining Group of the Year.”
The ampitheater is located inside the KOA Campgrounds and behind the Day’s Hotel in Flatwoods, exit 67 of I-79 South. For more information, call 1-866-700-7284 or visit www.mountainlakesamphitheater.com.
E-mail Debra Minor Wilson at dwilson@timeswv.com.
