All-country lineup ahead for fair concerts

This year’s Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo in Kalispell has an all-star country lineup for its evening concerts.

Sam Riddle, country-music performer and son of one of the original members of the Mission Mountain Wood Band, will perform Aug. 18.

Kristian Bush, member of the Grammy-winning duo Sugarland, will take the stage as a solo act on Aug. 19.

Concert tickets are now available for purchase at the fairgrounds office or online at www.nwmtfair.com.

 “The quality of talent being presented this year is unmatched and will provide for two great nights of entertainment,” fairgrounds Manager Mark Campbell said in a news release. “In selecting artists for the fair each year, we seek to provide the best entertainment possible while keeping the cost of the shows affordable for everyone. We’re very pleased to have each of these artists coming to the Flathead Valley,”

 Riddle, a native of Missoula, has caught the eye of many country music artists and songwriters including Phil Vassar.

He is quickly becoming well-known for his energy, showmanship, sultry voice and ability as a competent pianist.

Riddle graduated from the University of Montana and was a full-ride scholarship athlete for the Griz men’s basketball team. After graduation, he traveled to Las Vegas to launch his career. His performance in Kalispell is an opportunity for Montanans to catch one of his shows before he starts touring nationally.

Singer/songwriter Luke Dowler, originally from Kalispell, and Kentucky-born singer/songwriter Stoll Vaughan will open for Riddle.

Reserve and party tickets for the Sam Riddle concert are $15 for adults or $10 for children ages 6 to 12. Beginning July 16, adult ticket prices increase to $20.

Kristian Bush recently released his first solo album, Southern Gravity.

The new album draws on more than 300 songs that Bush has written during the past two years since Sugarland took an open-ended hiatus. Included in Southern Gravity’s mix is the lead single, “Trailer Hitch,” written with Tim Owens and Bush’s brother, Brandon.

Anchored by a mix of groove and twang, “Trailer Hitch” reflects Bush’s past hits, including the double-platinum Sugarland hit, “Stuck Like Glue.” Southern Gravity isn’t a side project, though; it’s a parallel project.

“This first album is my nametag,” said Bush. “For more than 20 years, I’ve been someone co-creating with someone else. This time, I’m launching my own voice into the world.”

Tennessee singer/songwriter Kelsea Ballerini will open for Bush. Ballerini is a newcomer to the country music scene and is having great success with her first release, “Love Me Like You Mean It.”

 Reserved and party pit tickets for the Kristian Bush performance cost $31. General admission tickets cost $26 for adults or $15 for children ages 6 to 12. Beginning July 16, ticket prices increase to $30 for general admission and $35 for reserved and party pit seating.

Children age 5 and under are admitted free in the general admission seating area for both concerts.

If purchased and printed prior to arriving at the fairgrounds, concert tickets include admission to the fair.

The 2015 Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo runs Aug. 18 to 23 at the Flathead County Fairgrounds in Kalispell with a theme of “Kick It Up!”

In addition to these concerts, the fair features three nights of Ram PRCA Rodeo action Aug. 20 to 22. A demolition derby will close out the fair on Aug. 23.  

For more information about this year’s fair events, visit www.nwmtfair.com.