Sean C. Morgan
Ticket sales are running about the same as last year as Oregon Jamboree officials and volunteers get busy this week preparing the festival grounds at the high school and Sankey Park.
“We’re right about exactly the same numbers as last year,” said Festival Director Erin Regrutto. “We’re expecting a big crowd again this year.”
Those patrons will show up to see headliners Dierks Bentley Friday, Big and Rich Saturday and Keith Urban on Sunday.
The bulk of sales is in three-day passes, Regrutto said, but “it will be a bigger Sunday than we’ve had.”
The lineup will appeal to a wide variety of fans, said Teresa Stas, marketing and sales manager. “The talent is so diverse. All of our opening acts are solid on their own.”
They’re headliners in their own right, she said. Urban is a pop culture icon, with his work as judge on “American Idol.” Aaron Tippin brings a more traditional sound. Thomas Rhett and Lee Brice both headline their own shows.
“Of course, you’ve got Big and Rich,” Stas said. After taking time off to release solo albums, the duo “just released a new album” and is expected to deliver a “monster” show.
The stage will start going up on Wednesday, Regrutto said. “Everything’s starting to come together.”
New to the festival this year is a fourth beer garden, located in Sankey Park. It will even get a name, “Sugar City Taps.”
“Every year, we have people lined up for the different beer gardens,” Regrutto said, underscoring the need for more space.
“The vibe in there will be different,” she said. It’ll be more laid-back, featuring giant games, like Jenga and Connect 4. “We’ll be featuring four Oregon beers. The focus will be on the craft beers from here in Oregon.”
Crown Royal will host events there as well.
The Jamboree also is adding two after parties on Friday and Saturday. Cloverdayle will perform the Friday night party inside the Jim Riggs Community Center, and DJ Cutt will deejay Saturday night. The events start at 10:30 p.m. and cost $10 at the door. Cloverdayle plays the Spirit Mountain Stage Friday night in Sankey Park and then opens the main stage Saturday morning.
Two ticketed noon events are open to the public at the Community Center, including the Crown Royal Happy Hour on Friday. That event is sold out. Tickets remain available for the Aaron Tippin Backstage Barbecue, which is a benefit for the Sweet Home Community Foundation.
The Backstage Barbecue will include a silent auction. Among the items are a guitar signed by Keith Urban, a meet and greet with Keith Urban, a Portland Trailblazers package and a getaway package to Boulder Falls Inn in Lebanon.
Check the Oregon Jamboree website or call (541) 367-8800 for more information or to buy tickets.
Country Music Television will film its Hot 20 Countdown at the Jamboree this year.
“This will be first time we’ve had national TV at our event,” Stas said. “That’s a really big deal for us.”
The show will include backstage interviews and coverage of the festival, she said.
During Lee Brice’s show, 7 p.m. on Friday, Project Rebuild and Military Warrior Support Foundation will give a home, with mortgage paid, to a Springfield veteran.
On Saturday, the Safeway Foundation will present a $100,000 grant to Fisher House, which is a VA hospital in the Vancouver, Wash., area. The foundation also will present a $5,000 check to the Sweet Home Community Foundation during the annual kickoff party at Safeway on Thursday.
The fifth annual Parking Lot Party at Safeway runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. KRKT will broadcast remotely from there from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Playing the kickoff party will be Grange Hall Drifters, Brian Collins and JSwiftBand.
Those attending will have the chance to spin a wheel for prizes from Spirit Mountain and the Oregon Jamboree, including a two-night stay at Spirit Mountain and a meet and greet with Lee Brice.
This year’s Jamboree marks the last for Regrutto, who will return to New Mexico, her home state, where her husband has gone to work for the U.S. Department of Defense. She has been with the festival since 2009. She is being replaced by Robert Shamek, a longtime local resident and businessman, who has been a prominent volunteer and, more recently, a staffer for the Jamboree.
Joyce Ohnesorge also leaves the Jamboree following the festival. She has been with the Jamboree for 18 years, initially as a volunteer and then as paid staff. She has spent the bulk of her time working as volunteer coordinator.
“Her absence will be very felt,” Regrutto said.
For information or tickets, visit the Oregon Jamboree website, oregonjamboree.com, or call (541) 367-8800.