Once again, it’s that time of year when we get the long-awaited answer to “Who’s coming to the amphitheater this year?” The Villages Amphitheater in Fayetteville is excited to welcome back its presenting sponsor, Mercedes Benz of South Atlanta, to bring you the 2011 Summer Concert Series.
This year also brings some exciting changes designed to make the Villages a more affordable and comfortable place to enjoy great entertainment.
Kicking off the season on June 4 is vintage crooner Bobby Vinton. Billboard Magazine calls Bobby Vinton “the all-time most successful love singer of the ‘Rock Era’.” Bobby will be joined by a 10-piece orchestra and will be singing his greatest hits including, “Roses are Red”, “Blue Velvet”, and “Mr. Lonely”. Also appearing that evening are local favorites, the 4-man vocal group, The Sock Hops.
On June 18, The Villages welcomes 60’s pop group The Association. With over 80 Million records sold, they were heard constantly on radio stations all over the country in the late 1960’s. Their hit, “Never My Love” was ranked as one of the most played songs of all time on American radio. The Association also had Top10 hits with “Cherish”, “Along Comes Mary”, and “Windy”.
July 9 brings a touch of Las Vegas to The Villages stage with a big band show called “Simply Sinatra.” Nothing says classy and cool like the songs of Frank Sinatra. Join performer Steve Lippia for an evening of magical “Ol’ Blue Eyes” hits, including “Come Fly With Me,” “New York, New York,” and “My Way.” Prepare to be wowed by his youthful charisma, swingin’ stage presence, and sublime vocals.
July 23 will be a night to remember with a legendary performance from Roy Clark. Roy earned CMA’s Entertainer of the Year award in 1973, and still brings that magic to the stage today. Roy is best known for hosting the TV show “Hee Haw” from 1969 – 1992. He has been a popular figure in country music for decades, but is also known for his instrumental skill on the guitar and banjo and has been a major influence to country and bluegrass musicians. Music lovers will certainly want to witness his “fast picking” that night.
Finishing out the series is the original lineup of pop/country group The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. On Aug. 13, they will treat fans to a variety of hit songs that scored on the Top 40 and the Country billboard charts over the last 40 years including “Mr. Bojangles”, “Make a Little Magic”, and “Fishin’ in the Dark” among others.
One of the exciting changes at the Villages this year is the more affordable ticket prices. Series tickets now start at $75(+ tax) for general admission lawn seats and $115(+ tax) for reserved seats. Another change is that those seats are also going to have more room between them to provide a more comfortable space for everyone.
Brian Wismer, amphitheater manager and Main Street director for the City of Fayetteville, explains. “In light of our current economy, we spent a lot of time discussing what we can do this year to make the Villages experience worth every penny to the customer. For starters, we retooled our ticket pricing to make it easier for everyone to attend. Then, we spread our seats farther apart so that everyone now has more elbow room, nearly 6 inches more than before. Lastly, we tried to bring forth a group of performers that our loyal customers have been asking for over the years. We are now one of the most affordable, most comfortable concert venues in the region, and it’s all right here in Fayetteville.”
Series ticket renewals are currently in progress. New series tickets will be available to the general public beginning Feb. 25.
Tickets to individual concerts will go on sale Mar. 25, and range from $15 – $30. Tables for eight are $400 ($50/person) in the Orchestra pit, and $250 ($32/person) at the tiered tables. Tickets to all shows will be sold via the website at VillagesAmphitheater.com. and at the Historic Train Depot in Downtown Fayetteville. For sponsorships and other info, please call 770-719-4173.
The Villages Amphitheater is owned by the Downtown Development Authority and managed by the Main Street Tourism Association of Fayetteville.
