By Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
The Oregon Jamboree is doubling down on its annual Thursday night kickoff party this year in appreciation to the community and as a fund-raising tool for the Sweet Home School District’s arts programs.
Moving beyond local acoustic performances by local singers on a flatbed trailer, the kickoff party will include a full-blown concert headlined by Jamie Lynn Spears, sister of pop singer Britney Spears. Opening for her are up-and-comer Elana Jane and regional band Brewer’s Grade.
The event will start at 4 p.m. with performances starting with Jane at 5 p.m., Brewer’s Grade at 6:30 p.m. and Spears at 8 p.m.
The event began as a pre-Jamboree party in the Safeway parking lot party at Safeway seven years ago. Since then, the Safeway Foundation has regularly presented contributions to the Sweet Home Community Foundation for local charitable projects.
The Jamboree put local artists on a flatbed trailer to perform acoustic sets while community members and concertgoers participated in various games to win prizes ranging from swag to free tickets and meet and greets.
“It started in the Safeway parking lot, then we moved it to the main gate,” said Festival Director Robert Shamek. “Now we’re moving it to 18th Avenue – which is still by the main gate.
“We’re bringing in a large portable stage that will be placed between the Bus Barn and the softball fields. As a give back to our community, we figured we would put on a bigger show.”
The event will include a full stage, with full lighting and sound, Shamek said. “It’ll be open to the general public. It’ll be the only time we’ve ever opened up Jamboree merchandise to the general public.”
KRKT Country radio has promoted the kickoff party since it started and will do so again this year, Shamek said.
“When we partner with the School District, I’m hoping that they do raffles for the art programs,” Shamek said. The idea is for students in the programs to go out and sell raffle tickets to drawings that will be held on stage during the kickoff party.
Prizes will include tickets, meet and greet passes for main stage artists, swag, Sweet Spot passes and other items.
“The School District’s been a really good partner of ours,” Shamek said. “It’s time to build that relationship and get the kids involved.”
Arts programs in school often struggle with funding, he said. Music is among those arts, so it makes sense for the Jamboree to help give the arts a boost.
“I don’t know how much this has the potential of raising,” Shamek said, but he expects it to be a benefit.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Shamek said. “We’re pretty excited about it. If it does well, we’ll definitely do it again next year.”
Sponsors, concessions and merchandise will help cover the cost of the show, with the help of sponsors, Shamek said.
“We’re honored that the Jamboree has looked at our arts programs with a focal point to give back,” said Sweet Home Schools Supt. Tom Yahraes. “Oftentimes, we’ll find that there’s fund-raising for athletics and activities and the arts get left behind.”
Yahraes said the district will look to local programs and other community partners, such as SHOCASE, to help prioritize areas of need among the schools.
“The arts are still part of a comprehensive experience in our School District,” Yahraes said. “That’s where kids can explore their talents. It’s an opportunity in a young person’s life to experience as many things as possible, from athletic programs to vocational programs to college readiness programs as well as programs in the arts, music and different art media.”
Spears, 27, began her career with a small part in “Crossroads,” portraying the fictional younger version of her real-life sister’s character.
She found a home in television, appearing on Nickelodeon in “All That” and the title character in “Zoey 101,” for which she won the Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Award for Best Actress in 2006.
She released the EP, “The Journey” in 2014 with the single “How Could I Want More,” written by Spears and Nashville songwriter Rivers Rutherford. She wrote Jana Kramer’s 2016 hit “I Got the Boy.”
Jane, a junior in high school, is a singer, songwriter and musician who recently released her self-penned second EP, “Sing Along.”
She has performed the National Anthem in front of thousands at several MLB, NBA and NFL games, and she has recently opened for major label artists Carly Pearce, Jon Pardi, Michael Ray and Billy Currington.
Brewer’s Grade blazes its own trail as an independent band, bringing a unique brand of Northwest Country music, with members from The Dalles, Arlington and Pasco, Wash., all communities along the Columbia River.
Band member Joe Smart’s recent Grammy win, recognizing his work on the O’Connor Band’s “Coming Home” as Album of the Year, has led to collaborations with artists like Paul Simon and the Zac Brown Band and built momentum that has led to main stage appearances at many of the west coast’s top festivals and events.
Up next for the Jamboree is The Oregon Jamboree Singer-Songwriter Series May 17 at the LaSells Stewart Center at Oregon State University.
Doors open at 5 p.m., with a performance in a heated tent outside. Adam Larson & Co. opens the show inside at 6:30 p.m. Redwood Son performs at 7:30 followed by Darryl Worley, Bryan White and Matt Kennon at 8:45 p.m. Oregon Barbecue will serve dinner.
Visit oregonjamboree.com under the tab “Fun Stuff” or call (541) 367-8800 for more information or to purchase tickets.