Four of five shows set for Corn Palace Festival

Talk about it

The lineup is almost all set for the 2012 Corn Palace Festival.

Country mainstay Charlie Daniels, rising country stars Thompson Square, rockers Hinder and a collection of ’60s stars known as the Happy Together Tour will perform during the festival, which runs Wednesday through Sunday, Aug. 22-26.

A fifth show is being sought. Corn Palace Director Mark Schilling said the schedule fit in with the theory of offering something for everyone during the annual late-summer celebration, which brings thousands of people to downtown Mitchell.

“Charlie Daniels is the classic country act, Thompson is in the up-and-coming country style, Hinder is a rock act that we feel will cross over to other people, and we’re having the Happy Together Tour back with a couple new acts this year,” Schilling said Thursday.

An advertisement in the Mitchell Visitor Guide that is out this week also lists Idol Mania, featuring finalists from season 10 of the hit Fox singing series.

But Schilling said Idol Mania has been forced to drop out. He said efforts are being made to fill that slot.

“We’re working on that right now,” Schilling said. “We’re not looking at a major, major act, and it is the night of the Bull Bash, but we’re looking at something to give people another option.”

The Bull Bash is an event held in conjunction with the annual Dakotafest farm and ranch trade show.

Tickets are now on sale at the Corn Palace box office and at cornpalace.com. All shows will have reserved seating. Following are the schedule and prices for the shows.

• Hinder: 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 23, $35. An opening act is being sought.

• Thompson Square: 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 24, $30. (The announced opening act, Thomas Rhett, has pulled out and a replacement is being sought.)

• The Charlie Daniels Band: 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 25, $35. The Doo-Wah Riders will open the show.

• The Happy Together Tour 2012, 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26, $40.

With five acts in the show, there will not be an opening act.

Schilling said the Wednesday show will probably have a lower price range, possibly as a way to attract a family of four or more. That way they can enjoy a concert as well, he said.

“We’re kind of disappointed Idol fell through, but we understand we’re one show in a tour,” Schilling said.

The Idol tour was offered a lengthy European tour, he said, and asked to be let out of the Corn Palace show. Schilling said he readily agreed.

“They remember that,” Schilling said.

It can assist him in the future in landing shows, he said.

The Visitor Guide ad also shows Willie Nelson, Jake Owen, The Oak Ridge Boys and Billy Currington as upcoming events at the Corn Palace.

It also lists Hairball, which played last weekend and will return at some point in the future, Schilling said.

“Those are shows we’re still working on and will confirm for this fall and winter,” Schilling said.

Tags: corn palace festival, charlie daniels, thompson square, happy together tour, idol mania, news, updates, entertainment, local, mitchell, music, concert, hinder