“Rave reviews.” That is what Jefferson County Events Coordinator Bruce Binkowski says he heard when he made random checks on country recording artist and songwriter John King.
Binkowski described King’s show as wholesome, family entertainment by “one of those young performers that appears to be on his way up.”
King will be appearing August 16 in Whitehall and August 17 in Boulder. Both concerts begin at 7:00 p.m. Proceeds from the Whitehall concert will benefit the Jefferson River Watershed and the Boulder concert will benefit the Jefferson County Rodeo Association.
The goal of the concerts, besides benefitting the two groups, is to “bring in some new, fresh events to the county,” said Binkowski.
The events, organized through his office, are intended to raise the visibility of Jefferson County, he said.
“I want people to know there’s things happening in Jefferson County,” he said.
The concert is also intended to serve as a kind of test to see whether such events go over well, said Binkowski.
“I don’t want this to be ‘one and done’ thing,” he said.
The concert will also provide a chance for attendees to hear from some strictly local talent. Jefferson High student and singer Alexis Popejoy will join Cameron Troxell, a 2017 JHS grad, on stage for the opening. Troxell, a guitarist, will accompany Popejoy’s numbers and add a composition or two of his own.
They will be followed by Clint Reider and the Longhorn Band. Reider grew up in Boulder, where his parents still own a ranch, and he now lives in Clancy. He has been warmly received at many area events, including the annual Boulder Chamber of Commerce Music and Art Festival.
Then King will take to the stage.
“It’s going to be a big night of entertainment,” said Binkowski.
The concert stage will be set up in the rodeo arena just south of Boulder and audience members will be able to sit in the bleachers or stand in front of the stage.
Binkowski said nearly half of the cost of the concerts is being picked up by eight major sponsors. The county is paying $5000 per performance and charging $20 per ticket with tickets available online at eventbrite.com or at the gate.
Promotion for the concert, covered by a grant from Southwest Montana, includes newspaper ads, posters, some television ads, radio ads in Butte and Helena as well as on the Jefferson County emergency radio, and social media.
Saying the concert should be positive for the economy and positive for public relations, Binkowski said he believes the “rave reviews” he heard will be good news for local concert goers.
About the musician…
Promotional materials for singer/songwriter John King describe him as a young man from a little mountain town in Georgia with “drive, paired with raw talent and business savvy.”
It continues, “His dedication and tenacity paid off in opening slots for nationally recognized, award-winning artists – a feat that is virtually unheard of for a young, unsigned artist.”
His debut radio single “Tonight, Tonight” earned his first Top 40 hit “and was heard by million of NFL fans and used to highlight CBS network’s Thursday night football throughout the 2014 season,” says the promotional material.
His first number one hit, according to the publicity release, was “We Went,” recorded by Randy Houser.
More information on King is online at johnkingcountry.com, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @johnkingcountry.
