By Mary Catherine Brooks
Wyoming County Bureau Chief
PINEVILLE —
Country music star John Michael Montgomery will headline the Wyoming County Labor Day Celebration in Pineville, according to Sherri Morgan-Ellison, entertainment coordinator.
Due to a death in his wife’s family, Uncle Kracker had to cancel two weeks of scheduled performances, including his appearance in Pineville.
Montgomery’s free performance is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Saturday on the Pineville Middle School football field.
Concert-goers will also be treated to a performance by rising star Troy Olsen, beginning at 4:15 p.m., and Fallen Rock, a local band that will kick things off at 3:15 p.m.
The free concerts are made possible by sponsors Riverside Energy, Brooks Run, Cleveland-Cliffs, Appalachian Power, Raleigh General Hospital, Dominion Gas, Pocahontas Land, Southern Cross Construction, MacArthur Walmart, Montani Graphics, Pineville Furniture and Joe FM/WELC.
Opening ceremonies are scheduled at 3 p.m. on the stage.
Twenty-nine balloons will be launched in honor of the miners killed in the Upper Big Branch mine explosion.
The balloons were donated by The Blossom Bucket.
Those attending the concerts are welcome to bring lawn chairs.
Accommodations near the stage will be made for those with special physical needs or those confined to a wheelchair, Ellison said.
For assistance, contact any event staff or police officer the day of the concert.
“No tobacco, alcohol, pets or weapons will be permitted on school grounds,” she emphasized.
Additionally, audio and video recording equipment is prohibited; however, digital and standard cameras are permitted.
Merchandise, including T-shirts and CDs, will be for sale near the stage.
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John Michael Montgomery, a native of Kentucky, is well known to country music fans.
The 45-year-old singer/songwriter has had more than 30 singles on Billboard’s country charts, including “I Swear,” “The Little Girl,” “I Can Love You Like That,” “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident),” and “Life’s A Dance,” which made him a household name.
Montgomery has had 15 No. 1 singles, sold more than 16 million albums and earned numerous industry and fan-voted awards, including CMA Awards, ACM Awards and American Music Awards.
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Olsen’s “Summer Thing” is currently climbing the charts.
Also a successful songwriter, Olsen taught himself to play guitar.
“My idea of success was to be on the radio,” he explained.
“I’d opened for every major country artist there was. I’d played for all sized crowds, from 20 to 20,000 people.
“I had done everything you could possibly do with that type of existence.
“I knew in the back of my mind that if I never came here and tried it, I would have hated myself later in life for never taking the leap,” he said of leaving the road and settling in Nashville.
He purchased a studio rig, then spent 12 hours a day learning to master the board and the booth.
Along the way, he co-wrote a hit song for Blake Shelton, “I’ll Just Hold On,” and “Ghost Town Train,” recorded by Tim McGraw for his “Southern Voice” album.
“Summer Thing,” which he penned with Ben Hayslip and Jimmy Yeary, is an ode to warm weather and women.
“My journey has been a long one, but it’s taken every minute of it for me to get it together,” he said.
