HItting some musical heights: SOAR presents concert series

Lee Ward, The Daily Independent, Ashland, Ky.
Updated ·2 min read

Jul. 15—ASHLAND — If it works once, it will work again. That's the thinking behind the upcoming series of concerts to be presented by Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR).

"Last March, when we were in Ashland for our mini-summit, we did a Country Music Highway Tribute Show (at the Paramount Arts Center. The idea was cooked us by us and Brandy Clark at Visit AKY," Joshua Ball, chief operating officer for SOAR, said. "We thought there was all kinds of talent here and got a rousing response from attendees and thought maybe this is something we could do."

Ball said they began discussion with other visitors centers in the area to see if the concert series was something they were interested in: a local event for local people that also honors the talent along the Country Music Highway.

"We're trying to create a regional movement that interlocks with the stars on the highway," he said.

But it also encourages about tourism.

"Regional tourism is one of our blueprint goals and allows tourism commissions to come together," Ball said. "They will be highlighted at each of these events."

Any money raised will go to reinvest in organizations supporting the arts along the highway.

Concert sites will rotate; this year's venues will be on the southern portion of the highway, with concerts at outdoor concerts in Paintsville and Whitesburg and a ticketed show at the Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg. Next year, shows are planned for the Paramount Arts Center, the city of Russell and the city of Louisa.

All local talent will honor stars along the highway, but also will present original music. Starts will donate items for a silent auction.

"We have guitars from Dwight Yoakum, Trace Adkins and Travis Tritt and a gift package from Ricky Skaggs," Ball said.

The outdoor concerts also will offer food trucks and various vendors.