Country music star Sara Evans to bring award-winning sound to The Greenway on Friday

Aug. 10—GRAND FORKS — The multi-platinum, award-winning country music artist Sara Evans will bring her superstar sound to The Greenway in downtown Grand Forks on Friday, Aug. 12. This is the fourth and final concert presented in the Hugo's Concert Series 2022.

Gates open at 6 p.m. The opening act, taking the stage at 7 p.m., will be chart-topping country music artist Randy Houser. The show is intended for all ages.

General admission tickets, $35 each, are non-refundable. The show will go on, rain or shine. Seating is limited; guests may bring their own portable seating.

Evans offered a glimpse into her background and her perspective as a musician in an email to the Herald this week.

"I've been performing on stage since I was 5 years old, so it's all I've ever really known and it's where I'm the most comfortable," she said. "I strive to sing better in my live shows than I do on my records to give fans who paid their hard-earned money the best show possible."

As a musician, Evans has been influenced by a variety of artists who've made an impact in country and other musical spheres.

"I grew up listening to really classic country music and the Grand Ole Opry stars, but I also grew up listening to REO Speedwagon and The Gogo's," she said. "I always say that country music is built on great lyrics. If you have a great lyric you can take the production in any direction. My country and bluegrass roots definitely shine through, though, even if I record a song that has more pop-sounding production."

Evans has seen how country music has changed over time, from its earliest roots.

"Country music has always evolved from the day it was born," she said. "There's always a debate of 'this isn't country' or 'this is too pop,' etc. It seems to swing like a pendulum though, and the traditional sound always comes back around.

"I think as long as the lyrics are good and if the fans love it, a genre is allowed to evolve."

Evans has racked up five No. 1 singles, including "No Place That Far," "Suds in the Bucket" and "A Little Bit Stronger," of which, the latter spent two weeks at the top spot and was certified platinum by the RIAA, the Recording Industry Association of America.

She has received American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards and Country Music Association (CMA) and Country Music Television awards. She was named Top Female Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music.

Her single "Born to Fly," from the double-platinum album of the same name, also garnered Video of the Year honors from the CMA.

Opening for Evans on Friday, Randy Houser, a Mississippi native, has recorded three consecutive No. 1 hits with his album "How Country Feels", topping the charts with the title track, "Runnin' Outta Moonlight" and "Goodnight Kiss." His song "Like a Cowboy" was nominated for CMA Song of the Year.

Launched in the spring, the Hugo's Concert Series 2022 has also featured the "PopRocks!" event in May and concerts by Johnny Holm Band and Travis Tritt in July. This is the first Hugo's Concert Series to be presented since 2019, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.