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Idol Bucky Covington among list of acts coming to Williamson Co. Pavilion

BY JOHN HOMAN, The Southern

Tuesday, March 11, 2008 6:08 PM CDT

MARION — Country music performer Bucky Covington, who gained instant fame two years ago as a finalist on American Idol, will be the featured singer at a concert April 9 at the Williamson County Pavilion.

Covington, who performed on the Great American Country Music Christmas tour in November and December of 2006, released his first single, “A Different World,” in January of 2007.

His debut album, Bucky Covington, was released in April of last year, according to wikipedia.com. It appeared on the Billboard 200 at No. 4 selling 61,000 copies. It also debuted at No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart, making the album the best opening week for a debut album by a male on the chart since Billy Ray Cyrus’s 1992 debut with Some Gave All.

Covington performed in a nationwide tour last year and his single, “Empty Handed,” appears on the NASCAR 08 in-game soundtrack.

Joining Covington at the Marion show will be Lady Antebellum. The concert is scheduled to get under way at 7 p.m. that day. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased through Black Diamond Harley Davidson in Marion, Clayship Guitars in Carbondale and Main Street Records in Mount Vernon.

One day later on April 10, Keith Anderson will be the headliner performer with special guests, Chris Young and The Lost Trailers. Again, tickets are $25 and may be purchased at the same locations.

“We’re going to try to do two shows a month for the foreseeable future,” said Brian Crabb, owner of Thunder Productions in Marion. For years, Crabb was a sound and lighting contractor who worked with a variety of different performers.

“I’ve been in the business for 30 years, but this is my first attempt at being a talent promoter,” he said. “I’m pretty excited about it. I think I’ve built a good reputation which I hope will translate to some good shows and big crowds.”

Jon Musgrave, who serves as director of both the Williamson County Tourism Bureau and pavilion, said he has already received calls from people out of state who want to buy tickets for the April shows.

“And these are people who are also looking to reserve hotel rooms, so I am hopeful these performances will be good for tourism here.”

Musgrave said shows like Crabb is planning will give area residents another alternative for evening entertainment.

“You won’t always have to drive to St. Louis, Paducah or Cape Girardeau to see a good concert anymore. You can see one right here in Marion. And by getting these performers to stop here on their way to a larger venue on the weekend, we are able to sell our tickets at more affordable prices than you’d have to pay elsewhere.”

For more information on upcoming shows, readers may access pavilionshows.com.