Corn Palace to feature pair of country singers

• Country duo

Jake Owen (right) will give an extended opening act before country music star Billy Currington takes the stage Friday at the Corn Palace. (Submitted photo)

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Country music fans still have time to nab tickets to Friday’s Billy Currington and Jake Owen concert at the Mitchell Corn Palace.

Corn Palace Director Mark Schilling said even though ticket sales have been strong, with about 2,000 sold, there still are 600 to 700 tickets left.

“Ticket sales look very good at this point,” Schilling said. “We’re hoping that more people will come to the show and buy tickets at the door.”

Schilling said it will be a long show, as they plan to have Owen play an hour set, which is longer than most opening acts.

“Jake Owen has really climbed the charts lately,” Schilling said. “We’re really under no rush to get the show over with.”

Then, Currington will play his normal set, which Schilling estimated will be 75-90 minutes.

“Because both artists are considered very good, the feeling is, let’s give the fans what they want — more time with both entertainers,” Schilling said. “Why cut them short if we don’t need to?”

Currington is a Grammy- and Academy of Country Music Awardnominated artist, whose No. 1 hits include “Pretty Good At Drinkin’ Beer,” “That’s How Country Boys Roll,” “People Are Crazy,” “Don’t,” “Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right” and “Good Directions.”

Jake Owen hit the charts in 2006, with singles “Yee Haw” and “Startin’ with Me,” and was named 2009’s Top New Male Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music.

His new album is titled, “Barefoot Blue Jean Night.”

Typically, Schilling said the Corn Palace doesn’t get such big-name artists except during the annual Corn Palace Festival, which was in August.

But, Currington and Owen weren’t available during the festival, which Schilling said gave the Corn Palace a reason to branch out.

“Our committee was really looking at doing something outside of the festival,” Schilling said. “We were able to put this show together and have it be at what the committee felt was a reasonable price.”

The concert is part of a renewed effort to bring a variety of entertainment into Mitchell, with other concerts on Oct. 7, Nov. 10 and Dec. 20.

“We’re trying to do something each month if we can, to reach out to a different demographic,” Schilling said. “We can’t do the same thing every month.”

Tickets to see Currington and Owen are $49, and available at the Corn Palace box office.

Doors for the concert open at 7 p.m. Friday, and the show is scheduled to start at 8.

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