The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Mentor Amphitheater season unveiled
Officials expect record-breaking numbers
The 2019 Mentor Civic Amphitheater season can be summed up in one word.
“More,” said city Community Relations Administrator Ante Logarusic.
It will be the venue’s third season and attendance is anticipated to top last year’s.
“All events drew about 100,000,” people in 2018, he said.
The season will kick off unofficially May 25 with the retirement “Bark Out” planned for the city’s police K-9s. Then things rev up June 4 with AC/DC tribute band Dirty Deeds as the first performance of the ever-popular Mentor Rocks series.
Attractions will range from concerts and comedic theater to a Celtic festival and events benefiting community organizations, such as manufacturing ally Alliance for Working Together and NAMI.
Some Mentor Rocks fan favorites will return from previous years, but most sounds will be new.
Along with AC/DC, they include tribute bands for Bob Seger, Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, U2, the Eagles, Paul McCartney and Queen.
In addition, the series will offer country top 40 and movie soundtrack hits, and an act called Boy Band Review.
“That will be our biggest show of the year,” Logarusic predicted.
The city is partnering with Remarkable Lake County, the county visitors bureau, to market events on a regional level.
“It is a fantastic collaborative relationship,” he said. “We have seen consistent gains over the past four years and look to continue that trend.”
One joint effort is to bring country music performer Darryl Worley to town for a show June 15.
“Having Darryl perform at the Amphitheater will be great, not just for our local fans but those all around, as this is Darryl’s only Ohio performance,” said Scott H. Dockus, executive director of the Lake County Visitors Bureau.
As part of the concert, Worley will take a moment to honor veterans and firstresponders in the audience.
The total budget for Amp events is $200,000, said Parks & Recreation Director Kenn Kaminski. All concerts and parking are free of charge, and there are opportunities to purchase food and beverages. Tickets are not required.