Scott Swanson
Of The New Era
For the first time in its history, the Oregon Jamboree sold out Friday, three weeks before the country music festival begins.
“No more tickets are available for the Oregon Jamboree,” said Event Manager Peter LaPonte.
LaPonte said 9,500 tickets have been sold for each of the three days of the event, Aug. 4-6.
This year’s line-up includes longtime country stars Charley Pride and Randy Travis, along with Gretchen Wilson and newcomer Carrie Underwood, winner of the 2005 American Idol competition.
Other singers on the schedule are Keith Anderson, Jennifer Lynn, Alexis, Rockie Lynne and John Michael Montgomery.
Groups performing are Zach Driscoll and & Three Quarter Time, a Willamette Valley-based bluegrass band that will open the Jamboree on Aug. 4, MuchMore Country, The Higgins and Ryan Shupe and Rubberband.
LaPonte said the two biggest draws this year appear to be Pride and Wilson.
“Obviously, the popularity of the event is growing,” LaPonte said. “Also, I think the entertainment here is an excellent value and people understand that. This is not your average concert.”
The Jamboree is the largest country music show in Oregon, he said.
Jamboree organizers expanded camping by some 300 spaces this year, after adding 200 last year, but the sites still sold out well before the event.
LaPonte said he expects this show to exceed last year’s in profitability. The 2005 Jamboree netted some $250,000. The event was founded 14 years ago to give the community a revenue boost after the logging industry in Sweet Home largely collapsed.
LaPonte, who became manager eight years ago, said the biggest day of his first Jamboree drew between 5,000 and 6,000 fans.
“This year it’s pretty obvious to me that we’re going to set a new record,” he said. “The trend has been up, both in attendance and revenue.”
LaPonte said that Nashville artists tend to have a high regard for the festival.
“We have a reputation in Nashville of being a well-run, quality show,” he said, noting that tour managers rate the venues in which their artists perform on criteria such as catering, facilities, security, management and more.
“We seldom have to put a deposit down to get an artist,” LaPonte said. Newer events or those that are questionable sometimes are required to put down half the fee up front.
Plus, he said, the Jamboree tries to make performing in Sweet Home as pleasant as possible. Artists in the past have worked out at a gym or even gone fishing while in the area.
“Things an artist is interested in are resources we provide,” he said. “We help them do their job.”