Entertainment : Organizers hope Bellamy Brothers concert becomes the first of many in area

The Bellamy Brothers will sing in Vinton, June 6; organizers hope the concert is the first of many.

The Bellamy Brothers will sing in Vinton, June 6; organizers hope the concert is the first of many.

A group of local country music lovers is hoping that the Bellamy Brothers concert in June is just the beginning of a long series of area concerts.

JT Promotions, the company formed by Kevin and Jackie Schlarbaum and Keith and Teresa Lindsey, is bringing the famous duo to Vinton for a concert June 6, at the Benton County Fairgrounds.

Theresa Lindsey shares the story of how the event is coming together.

“Kevin and Keith were on the way to work one day talking about how cool it would be to have a outdoor concert in Vinton. Kevin and Jackie had just seen The Bellamys in concert so thought it might be good to get them,” she said. “Keith is a professional musician so he started the process of seeing what it would take.”

They contacted the duo’s booking agent, and began making other arrangements.

“Being a ‘nobody’ with no big fair going on, we had to do some fancy talking,” says Teresa.

Keith Lindsey is a member of the local country music band called the Nashbillies. His group will be the opening act for the concert.

“If we can make this concert a success, then it will be possible to get other acts to come here once the word gets out that we are a class town and turn-out was good,” says Teresa. “What started out to be a friendly conversation could turn out to be a big deal for our community.”

The concert, she is, is a very expensive adventure.

“We have had to hire the band, sound company, security, advertising, extra port-a-potties, dumpsters, people to work that night, getting vendors to come - we have been working on this since last August,” she said.

Local organizations and businesses will offer concessions. The Vinton Guild of Fine Arts will have the works of some of its members on display both Friday night and Saturday.

Camping will be available at the fairgrounds camp site.

There will also be a "Redneck Girl" contest.

“The Benton County Fair Board is very supportive of this event,” says Teresa. “We have a five-year commitment from them for this going forward, so that is why we need the community to support this so we can continue. We have some ideas of artists for next year and are already in talks with agents.”

Tickets are availableonline at www.jtpromo1.com, or locally at Ehlingers, Theisens and from any of the members of JT Promotions.

See the JT promotions page HERE, the Nashbillies page HERE and the concert's Facebook page HERE.