From his native Australia to the heart of Nashville, Tenn., Keith Urban is burning up country music radio charts. This weekend Urban will bring his heartfelt lyrics and unique country sound to Baton Rouge in a live concert at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Baton Rouge marks Urban’s last stop before heading to Nashville for a three-day concert series in the country music capital.
Dwight Johnson, director of the Maravich Assembly Center, said the PMAC worked with New Orleans-based Beaver Productions to organize the upcoming concert.
“Right now tickets are selling really well,” he said. “It’s our second year having a male vocalist of the year in country music [named by Country Music Association],” he said.
Johnson said the athletic department is excited about the probability of more musical acts performing in the center.
“Our goal under athletics is we’re trying to do more concerts, more music events — if it permits under our athletic schedule,” he said. “For us, concerts have to sell for us since we’re such a small market,” he said.
Joe Chiarella, marketing director of Beaver Productions, said although Beaver Productions works mainly with rock acts, he has worked many of the past country acts that performed in Baton Rouge. Chiarella said he expects a turnout of at least 7,000 people.
Chiarella said newcomer Katrina Elam, who is currently touring with Urban, will be the opening act.
Sam McGuire, program director at 101.5 WYNK, said they are sponsoring several promotional events including a sound check party, ticket drop and after party.
“WYNK is basically all over this concert,” he said.
McGuire said the first promotional event will be a ticket drop at Capitol Buick on Airline Highway on Saturday. Registration begins at 1 p.m. at Capitol Buick. Big D and Bubba, the morning show hosts, will oversee the event which includes the release of ping pong balls into a designated square. Participants will catch the balls with numbers that correspond to prizes. Prizes range from front row tickets to concert merchandise.
McGuire said there will be a sound check party before the concert. Registration is through the WYNK website. The deadline for entries is noon Friday, March 11. Winners will be selected at random.
“[The sound check party] will be a cool way to get a behind the scenes look at what goes on at the concert tour,” he said. “It includes a backstage tour walk, peek at the tour bus, a chance to meet Katrina Elam and the management and free tickets to the show.”
WYNK is also sponsoring an after party at The Texas Club which will include several prize giveaways. McGuire said 300 after party passes will be distributed before the concert at a special tent outside the PMAC. Anyone is eligible for the after party as long as they visit the tent, he said.
“We’re all excited about it,” he said. “It should be a great show and a fun day with all the events that are going on.”