Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
Less than a week to go, and the Oregon Jamboree has more tickets sold than ever before to date.
The camping and music festival runs Friday through Sunday.
Performing this year are Sugarland, Randy Owen, Trace Adkins, Glen Campbell, Neal McCoy, Joe Nichols, Confederate Railroad, Western Underground, Phil Stacey, Trent Tomlinson, Rissi Palmer, Kellie Pickler and Williams and Ree.
The event is held on the fields south of Sweet Home High School.
As of Friday, the Jamboree had 13,000 tickets out, counting one-day and three-day tickets, Event Manager Peter LaPonte said. That’s around 1,500 tickets ahead of last year at the same time.
The Jamboree is definitely ahead in revenue over last year, LaPonte said, but that doesn’t mean the Jamboree will reach last year’s record levels for proceeds, about $350,000.
“We spent a lot more on talent,” LaPonte said. “All of our costs have gone up significantly.”
Generally, costs are up largely because of rising fuel costs, he said, while the rising cost of talent is an ongoing trend.
“For a top-quality show, we’re forced to spend more and more every year,” LaPonte said, and that’s just a function of the national entertainment market.
Everything is on track getting ready for the Jamboree, and by the time this newspaper is published, the Jamboree grounds will be built, LaPonte said. Preparing the grounds included running electricity along the north edge of the field after the removal of the high school tennis courts.
Patty and Larry Gourley of Pacific Crest installed a new transformer with several new cabinet boxes, LaPonte said. Vendors will line the north edge of the old tennis courts, but the Jamboree had no way to get power to them.
“We’re using a whole bunch of field we never used before,” he said. The entry way is wider, surrounded on both sides by vendors. The information booth has been moved further to the east, closer to the entrance, opening up some new seating in the general admission area on the north side of the field.
The old tennis court area is mostly open space, LaPonte said.
The lineup is strong this year, he said. “I think people are going to be really surprised by the Randy Owen show.”
When he comes out with his 10-piece band, “people are going to go nuts,” LaPonte said. People know what to expect with Sugarland and Trace Adkins, who are both on top of the country game, but Owen is an unknown in a way.
“I think maybe, maybe it could be the sleeper show,” LaPonte said. Owen was the front man for Alabama, one of the biggest country music acts ever, with 35 years of experience, most of it on top of the industry.
Glen Campbell brings a lengthy and legendary record and will also be a highlight to the high-caliber lineup, LaPonte said. “I think we’ve just got a great diversity in the show this year.”
The festival will feature artists young and old, he said. It includes comedy and chart-toppers Sugarland and Trace Adkins.
The only real unknown is Rissi Palmer, he said. Western Underground was Chris Ladoux’s band, and Confederate Railroad brings more than 20 years of experience to the stage. Phil Stacey reaches the Jamboree stage through American Idol.
The Jamboree was able to expand camping this year, LaPonte said. The event added about 200 more spaces at the Community Chapel for a total of roughly 1,500 sites sold.
“It’s going to be a good show,” LaPonte said. “It’s going to be successful from the fund-raising perspective.”
Whether it is as good as last year remains to be seen, but the show is solidly in the black, he said.