WARREN - The songs of Kenny Chesney, Garth Brooks and Shania Twain will join the classic rock sounds coming from the Warren Community Amphitheatre this summer.
3D Productions - made up of Warren City Councilman Daniel J. Sferra, David Sferra and David Mazzochi - announced the Friday night lineup for the first Country at the Amp series at a press conference Monday.
The acts that fill the 11-concert schedule include performers who work regularly in Las Vegas, Nashville and Branson, Mo.
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Councilman Dan Sferra talks about the Amp's new concert series
''We wanted to find the best tribute acts from around the nation, and that is what we did,'' Daniel Sferra said.
The season will open June 8 with Live Like You Were Dying, a tribute to Tim McGraw. The star currently is playing McGraw in a ''Legends in Concert'' show at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas.
In addition to performing the songs of those country stars, many of the artists also strive to look like the artists.
For the Kenny Chesney tribute Summertime, Sferra said, ''You'd swear he was his twin brother.''
The set up will be similar to the classic-rock oriented River Rock at the Amp concert series on Saturdays. Both promoters use local non-profit organizations to handle beer sales, and those organizations receive the profits after expenses.
An admission fee of $7 will be charged for adults with children ages 12 and younger. Tickets may be more expensive for the final concert of the season, a Labor Day weekend Elvis Presley tribute, and pricing details still are being worked out for that show, Sferra said.
Fact Box
Country at the Amp schedule
June 8 - Live Like You Were Dying (Tim McGraw tribute), Southern Detour and Doug Thomas & the Back Porch Rockers
June 15 - Hard Workin' Men (Brooks & Dunn tribute) and Rachel Timberlake
June 22 - Shania Live! (Shania Twain tribute) and Tom Frietchen Band
June 29 - Once in a Lifetime (Keith Urban tribute) and Southern Detour
July 6 - Fresh Horses (Garth Brooks tribute), Ruff Creek and Doug Thomas & the Back Porch Rockers
July 13 - Summertime (Kenny Chesney tribute) and Tom Frietchen Band
July 20 - A Tribute to Gretchen Wilson & Toby Keith, Tom Frietchen Band and Doug Thomas & the Back Porch Rockers
Aug. 3 - Alan Jackson Tribute and Rachel Timberlake
Aug. 17 - Almost George (George Strait tribute)
Aug. 24 - Broken Road (Rascal Flatts tribute)
Aug. 31 - Elvis Presley tribute with Tim ''E''
Music starts at 7 p.m. Admission will be $7 for adults with children ages 12 and younger admitted for free. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Warren Giant Eagle on Elm Road N.E.
No season or multi-show passes will be available, but tickets for each concert will be available in advance at Giant Eagle in Warren Plaza on Elm Road N.E. All seating will be general admission.
In addition to the nationally touring tribute acts, local and regional country performers will be featured as openers, and Sferra said one of their goals was to showcase local talent.
As a councilman, Sferra has criticized the $40 rental fee for the outdoor venue and argued that the money was not enough to cover maintenance costs. Sferra said Monday he believes those concerns have been addressed. 3D Productions has contributed toward some improvements, and Sferra said 3D Productions and the Riverwalk plan to pledge additional money at the end of the season.
The promoters haven't set an attendance goal for the inaugural year.
''The main goal is to make sure it doesn't rain and lightning on the night of the shows,'' Sferra said.
Mayor Doug Franklin encouraged the public to support both concert series.
''I'll be at a lot with my cowboy hat on and enjoying the music,'' Franklin said.