Jackson Amphitheater marks one year and thrives with '70s and '80s tribute bands
JACKSON TWP – Linda Neal showed up at the Prince tribute concert at the Jackson Amphitheater wearing a "Purple Rain" T-shirt.
She was all smiles, attending a show at the venue for the first time.
A few songs into the concert, the 71-year-old Canal Fulton resident was standing near an aisle, still grinning, but now grooving to the classic funk and pop of the late music icon.
"I wanted to see this amphitheater," Neal said. "I heard it was really nice, and this was the first time I've been here, and I'm sure I will be back.
"There's some other shows, too, (that) I want to come and see," she added. "I think it's very nice; I'm very impressed with this. There's plenty of room for everyone."
Just prior to intermission, Neal had made it down in front of the stage and continued dancing merrily — amid a sea of other concertgoers who moved to the beat of the music.
Fans raised their arms in celebration, spun in circles and applauded the band.
This is what Jackson Township officials had envisioned when they opened the $4 million amphitheater in June 2021.
"We've found out that the community loves tribute bands ... and we've found that they are absolutely smitten with all of these '80s, '70s bands and some '90s bands, drawing kind of a wide swath," said Chylece Head, programming and events coordinator for Jackson Township. "But generally, those years of bands have been really successful."
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"So my favorite evening is when the band is playing, and the people just descend down to the front of the amphitheater and they're just dancing," she said while standing at the back of the amphitheater as The Prince Project performed "When You Were Mine." "And they're just down there enjoying themselves, and that is just such a fun thing to see.
"And then seeing people come back week after week saying, 'I loved it, I'll be back.' Nothing's more satisfying."
Negotiations for naming rights
Prior to the show, Randy Gonzalez, the township's fiscal officer and economic development director, gave a quick tour of the venue, including behind the stage, where dressing rooms and private restrooms are available for the bands. Audio and lighting equipment and other controls are also kept there.
Gonzalez, who was a major advocate for the amphitheater, discussed a few new developments.
Nothing is official yet, but negotiations are underway to sell naming rights for the amphitheater, he said. That revenue potentially could pay for a large video wall, Gonzalez said. Video screens could be used during concerts and to show movies, he noted.
The stage also could be used for trophy presentations for baseball tournaments, he said.
Township officials also might consider renting out the stage for graduation parties, wedding receptions and other events, Gonzalez said.
Projects are also planned in the offseason, including construction of a permanent concession stand with the ability to refrigerate beverages, he said. Additional permanent restrooms are also expected.
The public facility was constructed using both township capital improvement funds and more than $1.5 million in state grants received with the help of State Sen. Kirk Schuring, R-Jackson Township.
Free Queen tribute show drew largest crowd
Gonzalez and Head said the amphitheater has clearly accomplished the township's goal of offering residents an affordable and modern outdoor facility for live music and other events.
Located at 7454 Community Parkway, the amphitheater is at the southeast corner of North Park, directly north of the Stark County District Library's Jackson branch.
The amphitheater has seating capacity for 2,500 people for ticketed events. For tribute concerts, general admission tickets are $10; VIP patio or front stage tickets are $20.
Saturday's Prince tribute show crowd of an estimated 1,500 is considered to be average attendance for weekend tribute concerts.
Attendance was significantly greater for the free Queen Flash tribute concert during last month's Jackson Community Celebration, Gonzalez said, estimating it at 5,000. Head said it was the most people ever for a concert there.
Amphitheater meant to be a break-even operation
With an annual operating budget of around $400,000, the amphitheater is not intended as a money-making venture, Gonzalez said. The goal is to break even.
Head is the only full-time employee assigned to amphitheater duties. Staff is contracted to operate the sound system during concerts, as well as for other services. Expenses also include providing hotel accommodations for some of the tribute acts; food is also provided to entertainers.
The township doesn't want to use park funding intended for other uses to help support the amphitheater, Gonzalez said. Any money made from alcohol sales is used to pay for free weekday concerts, he said.
The Vindys return to amphitheater Saturday
Besides tribute bands, the amphitheater also books regional musicians.
Among the most successful has been The Vindys, a Northeast Ohio band specializing in jazz-infused classic rock showcasing the powerhouse vocals of Jackie Popovec.
The Vindys return to Jackson for a 7:30 p.m. concert Saturday. Tickets, $10 for general admission and $20 for VIP patio or front stage, can be purchased at www.jacksonamphitheater.com/.
Other upcoming ticketed shows include an Elton John tribute act on Aug. 13; Chris Higbee on Aug. 20; and a Journey tribute band on Sept. 4.
Popovec said the band's amphitheater concert was memorable last summer. The Vindys were the featured act during the Jackson Community Celebration.
"We had a blast ... because it was during the Jackson Township festival," she said. "And it was really fun because we had to stop because there were fireworks.
"I remember being on stage and everybody looking at the fireworks ... and then us playing," Popovec recalled. "There were a lot of kids there, too ... rushing the stage."
Gonzalez said The Vindys will be the first non-tribute band to be paid for a gig, and among the few local or regional performers to be given a weekend slot.
"It is original music (and Popovec) is incredible," he said. "I know they have opened for (Pat Benatar); they are phenomenal performers.
"They did so well that we wanted to bring them back and give them a chance to do a paid show," Gonzalez added. "They worked that crowd."
Popovec and guitarist John Anthony both raved about the venue.
"The stage is massive, and you can dance and do your own thing," Popovec said. "That place is completely well built, and it had every single thing you could want."
Added Anthony of The Vindys: "They just did it right."
Smaller version of Blossom Music Center
Others also have been impressed with the venue, Gonzalez said.
"We've had thousands and thousands of families and people who have gone through," he said.
Some concertgoers have referred to the Jackson Amphitheater as a smaller version of Blossom Music Center. Gonzalez has heard others remark that they "can't believe we have something like that here in Jackson Township."
Head said the amphitheater is "just like having a great big name venue right in the community."
Advantages include free, convenient parking, she said.
"And it's designed to draw every person from the surrounding communities in just a short drive to allow them to gather and not have to spend $40 to $50 on parking or $17 for beers," Head added. "We don't have any of that."
The Eagles, Springsteen, Bee Gees
Gonzalez admits that not every tribute band has been a home run.
Popular shows have included Journey, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Springsteen and the Bee Gees.
"We bring tribute bands that we know have a proven following that have honed their craft, and we bring them from all over," Head said. "We've had two bands so far this year from Canada ... (and) the Tom Petty tribute we had a couple weeks ago, King's Highway, they all live in Stark County, so they really come from a little bit of everywhere ... but it also kind of allows us to just have a wide swath of different kinds of music and bring them from a little of everywhere, so everybody gets a little taste of something different."
'For $10, you can't beat a night out like that.'
Wednesday concerts are free and feature local or area musical artists.
"We draw local talent of every kind, so there's a little something for everybody without having to go spend a great bunch of money or an hour drive," Head said. "And ... Jackson High School will have performances here as well, and those are always free to the community, and those are a lot of fun."
Turnouts have been disappointing for a few tribute bands, including Johnny Cash and U2, Gonzalez said.
But regardless of the act, the venue has become a social gathering place in the community, he said.
"It's an event," Gonzalez said. "People come out and have a few beers and White Claw (Hard Seltzer). It's a nice night out, and for $10, you can't beat a night out like that."
Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com. On Twitter: @ebalintREP.
Upcoming shows in Jackson
Where: Jackson Amphitheater, 7454 Community Parkway.
What: The Vindys on Saturday; Elton John tribute on Aug. 13; Chris Higbee on Aug. 20; and Journey tribute on Sept. 4.
Tickets: $10 general admission; $20 for VIP patio or front stage; available at https://www.jacksonamphitheater.com/.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Jackson Amphitheater draws crowds with Prince, Queen, Journey tributes
