June 12, 2008Sara Evans, Styx, Grand Funk Railroad, Blake Shelton live at Smith Mountain LakeMariners Landing Summer Concert Series schedule is set. Sweetwater Productions, which is building an amphitheatre near Smith Mountain Lake, is promoting the series of shows in August. Also on the list are Lonestar, TobyMac and Diamond Rio. http://www.smlconcerts.com/ Darrin Snyder, who with his wife, Holly Sweet, own Sweetwater Productions and the Moneta property where the amphitheater will go, said recently that the August series is a test run for what he hopes to do at his own venue, when it opens sometime next year. He also said that one of the main draws of the SML area for bands and their crews is the recreational opportunities the can find during their down time. Here's an educated guess: By the time Roanoke decides whether its own large, outdoor venue is feasible, and the opposing sides get done fighting about it, Sweetwater Amphitheater and its 7,000-seat capacity will be well established and drawing good acts (here's hoping the dinosaur rock ratio goes down at least a little). Read more here -- http://www.roanoke.com/smithmountainlake/inbusiness/wb/165582 |
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Comments
[June 13, 2008 9:43 AM]
Wayne : →http://www.myspace.com/GOSGI think it is also important to notice that the ticket prices are being kept so low. Advance tickets range from 25-35 Dollars, while day of show prices range from 30-40 Dollars...depending on the show. I think that is a key factor for the region.
I bet that the selection of acts was based on attracting a wide demographic...i.e. biggest possible crowds.
I expect that once the Sweetwater Amphitheater is built, then a longer season will allow them to bring in a more eclectic selection of acts...in other words the "dinosaurs" will help subsidise shows that might not sell-out the venue. Everbody wins!
[June 13, 2008 4:44 PM]
MikeI've seen about half these acts at Cattle Annie's in the last couple years (along with several current rock acts.) I'm sorry, but except for Blake Shelton, these acts have a tough time filling a 1000 seat club at $15-20 tickets, let alone a 7000 seat amphitheater. If this is the type of show you get excited about, then you don't need a multi thousand seat amphitheater.
[June 13, 2008 5:45 PM]
VaGuyIn my opinion, Roanoke missed the boat by not building the hybrid stadium/concert venue near Orange Avenue. It would have filled three needs with one facility: football (and other sports) stadiums for PH and WF and a venue for concerts and events. If there were only a few concerts a year, it would not be a big loss. Now, building a sole purpose amphitheatre would be a big risk given the realities of this market. And, even if it's successful, how many days a year will it be used? Developing and keeping a vibrant music scene downtown would do much more to make Roanoke "cool". Others may disagree, but I don't believe it is reasonable to expect Roanoke taxpayers to take such a big risk. If this type of money is to be spent, I think it would be much better spent on things like greenways and downtown which will be used more than, at best, 20-30 days a year. I would agree (without the wistfulness) that building an amphitheatre is much better handled by a private entity.
[June 23, 2008 4:16 PM]
dbxWhat about the SML amphitheater that already had a concert series start a couple of weeks ago? Rhonda Vincent packed the lakeside location (already built) and there's another show with Sierra Hull and more coming up August 10th...
www.rhythmandviews.org/