Officials begin planning for amphitheater concert

The band, together for three decades, is known for performing nostalgic southern rock tunes from its 15 albums, many of which have received gold and platinum awards.

The event is planned for June 30, the Saturday before the Fourth of July, said Mason.

Officials of the city’s EDA, which owns the amphitheater within the surrounding James Oberstar Complex, plan to conduct an annual event at the amphitheater as a means of showing off its opportunities for use, said Mason.

“The July 2 event went very well,” said Mason. “It was profitable and showcased the amphitheater."

Besides 38 Special, next year’s event will likely feature multiple bands, among which may be a return by Arch Allies and the local band The Poor Boys.

“We received tremendous feedback on Arch Allies (which performed July 2) and certainly The Poor Boys, our sister-city band, never sounded so good and we’d love to bring them in as often as we can because of the local connection,” she said.

She noted that Arch Allies may be considered for a performance at Backus Auditorium that would serve as a fundraiser for amphitheater activities.

Mason said city officials will renew talks with soon-to-retire Garrison Keillor in an effort to bring a production of The Prairie Home Companion to the amphitheater.

The production needs a venue that can draw at least 2,000 people and other areas in the community did not offer the amenities needed, she said.

“We encourage our citizenry to think about how the amphitheater could enhance the quality of life in our community and attract more visitors,” said Mason. “Our community is rich in cultural opportunities and we’ve expanded that with the waterfront. It was a very wise investment to create public access along that waterfront.”

Other bands being considered for performances at the amphitheater include Twin Cities-based Trampled by Turtles, which features the son of Minnesota Sen. Tom Saxhaug. Mason said that band would likely attract a different crowd than the bands of the 1980s. The band’s original music has been described as a hybrid of classic American songwriting, bluegrass and folk featuring acoustic banjo and mandolin.

Mason said the July 2 concert encouraged brainstorming about how the area could be used in the future.

Showcasing the amphitheater by providing a waterfront performance is a part of the mission of the EDA, she said.

The amphitheater joins other performance venues in the community. Those places include Backus Auditorium and Smokey Bear Park’s bandshell.

“And the waterfront performance area adds to the economic toolbox that enriches the lives of residents and visitors,” said Mason.

But Mason stressed that the community is welcome to use the area when it is not in use.

“We believe that the amphitheater should be used by citizens for events when they want to be near the water,” she said.

The EDA will develop policies for use of the amphitheater and she said residents should coordinate with the city if they are planning a gathering there.

“It’s truly a lovely piece of landscape where people can picnic, be near the big dock and boat launch,” she said. “The dock people can fish off, that’s the same thing as a fishing pier for us. My friend fished off there last week and caught a fish.”

Meanwhile, Mason said the city anticipates a groundbreaking by a hospitality developer that would develop a facility on waterfront now owned by the city.

“It’s exciting to be mayor in a time when people are feeling more optimistic with Good Samaritan breaking ground soon on the west end of town and the continued development on the waterfront (on the east end of the city),” she said. “We hope these developments create a domino effect of continued optimism and investment in our community.”