The Town of Forest City proudly presents ACM New Male Artist of the Year Jimmie Allen, up-and-coming country band Neon Union & local favorite Rutherford County Line at the Pavilion On Park Square (POPS) on Saturday, October 16! Tickets go on sale on Wednesday, September 22 at 12PM. Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime show!

For rising, multi-platinum selling, trailblazing country star Jimmie Allen, a simple phrase sums up his view on life and music: Never give up. Allen has carried that mantra with him through good times and bad, whether that meant living in his car or receiving his first ACM nomination for New Male Artist of the Year in 2019, a CMA Awards nomination for New Artist of the Year in 2020 and winning the ACM Award for New Male Artist of the Year in 2021. Allen is currently nominated for the CMA New Artist of the Year for the second consecutive year and is a contestant on Dancing With The Stars’ landmark 30th season on ABC. GRAMMY.com has hailed Allen as one of “5 Black Artists Rewriting Country Music". As Allen’s rising star power shows no signs of slowing down, he remains unapologetically himself and proof of what can happen when you never give up.

Tickets are available at eventbrite.com and in-person at The Twisted Pear (184 E. Main Street, Forest City, NC) beginning at 12PM on Wednesday, September 22. For more information about the concert, please visit townofforestcity.com/news. For more information on Allen, visit jimmieallenmusic.com or follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

As we prepare to host this concert, we ask all attendees to follow the NC COVID-19 safety protocols for the safety of all visitors and staff. These protocols include being considerate of others and providing ample amounts of space, practicing good hand, cough and sneeze hygiene, using the sanitizing and handwashing stations that are located throughout the park and staying home if you feel unwell. We also strongly encourage you to wear a mask in areas that may have a high concentration of people, regardless of your vaccination status. Please join us in committing to follow our guidelines to help us accomplish our goal of hosting a safe and successful event for everyone involved.

For updates and information, please visit townofforestcity.com. If you have specific questions, please contact 828.245.0365 or courtneyashley@townofforestcity.com. We’re looking forward to seeing you at POPS!

TICKETS

General Admission

$35

*$45 day-of

(plus applicable taxes & fees)

Access to tiered grassy seating area

Easy access to vendors and concessions

Bring your own chairs and/or blankets

BUY NOW

VIP Pit

$50

*$60 day-of

(plus applicable taxes & fees)

Closest seats to the stage

Exclusive VIP bar

Chairs are provided

BUY NOW

6-Person General Admission Pods

$275

*$375 day-of

(plus applicable taxes & fees)

Access to tiered seating area

Easy access to vendors and concessions

Bring your own chairs and/or blankets

6'x6' pod - perfect for social distancing

BUY NOW

VIP Tables

$600

*$700 day-of

(plus applicable taxes & fees)

Private reserved table & chairs for 8

Easy access to vendors and concessions

Waiter service provided

BUY NOW

Cabana

$1200

*$1300 day-of

(plus applicable taxes & fees)

Private reserved area & chairs for 12

Easy access to vendors and concessions

Waiter service provided

The ONLY covered area in the park!

BUY NOW

A new addition to our tickets this year are Pit Passes! Pit Passes can be purchased as an add-on with any ticket for $5 each. Pit Passes give you access to the Pit Pass Area directly in front of the stage. This area is standing room only, and it will serve as a constantly flowing area so everyone who purchases a pass can equally enjoy the up-close and personal experience.

If you require access to handicap seating, please call 828.245.0365.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

• Gates open at 5PM and the concert starts at 6PM. POPS will close when the event ends.

• All tickets will be sold at the starting price until Saturday, 10/16 at 12AM. Ticket prices will then increase to their day-of price.

• Tickets will be sold at the ticket booth from 1-5PM and from 6PM until they are sold out on Saturday, 10/16.

• Kids age 5 and under are free and do not require a ticket.

• If you purchased a cabana, pod or VIP table, please email a list of each attendee in your group to courtneyashley@townofforestcity.com by Wednesday, 10/13 at 5PM.

• Low chairs and blankets are allowed for GA/pod seats. Cabanas, VIP tables and VIP Pit tickets will have seating provided.

• Tobacco, smoking, vaping, pets, umbrellas, professional cameras, flash photography, recording equipment, laser pointers and weapons of any kind are prohibited.

• There will be a designated smoking area outside of POPS at the pump house gate on Mill Street.

• All bags and outside materials are subject to search.

• No re-entry is allowed for ticketed events; if you leave at any point in the evening, you will not be allowed back in without a new ticket.

• No outside food and beverages are allowed, but there will be a full concession stand with nachos, popcorn, candy, soda, beer and wine from Explore Forest City and a food truck alley on Mill Street.

Any more questions? Send an email to courtneyashley@townofforestcity.com or give us a call at 828.245.0365. We can't wait to see you at POPS!

JIMMIE ALLEN

Allen is the first Black artist to win the ACM Award for New Male Artist of the Year since its inception, and he hopes his win “opens some doors for more Black artists to have success in country and more Black artists to feel comfortable enough to do country if that’s what they want to do.

For Allen, musical dreams and a love of true-to-themselves artists like Alan Jackson, Aaron Tippin, Montgomery Gentry and Jason Aldean brought him all the way to Nashville and beyond–from traveling around the world to places like Japan, Germany and the UK; to performing a tribute at the Kennedy Center Honors for Garth Brooks, the national anthem at the Indy 500, returning to American Idol as a mentor after being cut from the same competition a decade ago and other once-in-a-lifetime moments.

But it was actually a nightmare which turned this promising singer into the artist he is today. After a series of bad breaks Allen was forced to live in his car, too proud to ask for a bail out. For months, he worked multiple jobs and finally saved enough for an apartment, but then hit another snag – country music wasn’t ready for him. “People were just trying to help,” he says now. “But they wanted me to change my sound and told me I had to lose my boots. The turning point came when I stopped listening and finally let my music be a natural reflection of who I am.” 

Since then, Allen has been following his own compass, and it’s leading somewhere special. In 2017, he caught his big break and signed a record deal with BBR Music Group/Stoney Creek Records and a team that embraced his individuality. “I don’t regret the hard times,” he explains about his trials. “I think each thing you do adds a layer, whether it’s a layer of toughness, perseverance, motivation or just a layer of wisdom. At the end of the day, you come back to what you know and what’s embedded in you.”

What’s embedded in Allen is a powerful, soulful sense of groove – “If my body don’t move in the first four seconds, it ain’t for me,” he says – a love of deep messages and a knack for razor-sharp hooks. Those driving forces formed the bedrock of Mercury Lane – a cutting-edge mix of country, rock, R&B and pop, produced by Ash Bowers and Eric Torres, that received critical acclaim, with Rolling Stone raving that it “challenges the narrowly defined model of what constitutes a next big thing in country music” and The New York Times hailing it one of 2018’s strongest, calling it a “conventional country album, filled with songs about the small details.”  

With Mercury Lane, Allen made history as the first Black artist to launch a career with two consecutive No. 1 hits on country radio, with “Best Shot” claiming the No. 1 spot for three weeks and his second single “Make Me Want To” hitting the top spot in March 2020. Allen’s hard-earned dreams are finally becoming reality, but he shows no signs of limiting himself.

He followed up the success of Mercury Lane with his July 2020 collaboration project, Bettie James, that has amassed 171+ million streams and has further established Allen as Country’s next superstar. The star-studded seven-track project combined his deep love of family and genre-spanning taste in music. Named in honor of Allen’s late grandmother, Bettie Snead, who passed away in 2014 and his late father, James Allen, who passed away in 2019, Allen hand-selected artists that touched the lives of himself, his grandmother and his father in some way, allowing their legacies to weave seamlessly throughout Bettie James. The wide array of hitmakers include Brad Paisley, Charley Pride, Darius Rucker, Mickey Guyton, Nelly, Noah Cyrus, The Oak Ridge Boys, Rita Wilson, Tauren Wells and Tim McGraw. 

“My dad and grandmom were two completely different people, but both played a huge part in my life,” Allen says of the motivation for the project. “Since they died, I have been wanting to leave trails of their legacies throughout my music.” The result is a musical composition of love, heartbreak, perseverance, hope and faith. Jimmie’s current single “Freedom Was A Highway” pairs Allen with his friend and Country music superstar Paisley for a breezy, windows down track that joins Allen’s distinctively breezy grooves with a Paisley signature guitar solo.

Bettie James received a slew of critical acclaim for not only the music, but the historic nature of various collaborations and the project’s subsequent place in country music history. NPR calls the project an “announcement of [Allen’s] arrival” and a “huge step for country” while Billboard hails it “a powerful statement from a developing voice.” The EP appeared on several “Best of 2020” lists including Billboard, Rolling Stone and Sounds Like Nashville. 

Rolling Stone describes “Why Things Happen” – which brings together three generations of Black country artists in Allen, Darius Rucker and Charley Pride – as “part polemic, part proclamation, and part prayer… opening up space for the artists to bear witness.”

Reflecting on Allen’s wide-ranging musical sensibilities, Music Row notes of the project: “While some artists still in the early sunrise of their careers, with a handful of hits to their credit, would be focused solely on extending their chart successes, it’s clear that Allen’s goals for his music are loftier than mere chart hits and No. 1 parties—he’s striving for music that testifies to his full spectrum of creative abilities.”

Allen, who has an incredible knack for connecting with people of all backgrounds and interests, enjoyed collaborating with other artists so much while making his monumentally successful predecessor that he didn't want to stop – so instead, in trademark Allen fashion, he kept going. The result: Bettie James Gold Edition. Released in June 2021, the 16-track album doubles down on Allen’s expansive love for music across genres, with nine brand-new collaborations with Babyface, Breland, Keith Urban, LANCO, Lathan Warlick, Lindsay Ell, Little Big Town, LOCASH, Monica, Neon Union, Pitbull, teamwork. and Vikina.

As Hits Daily Double notes, for Allen, “it’s about being grounded in the genre’s traditions and protecting the roots as much as it’s about creating a future for country music that’s more expansive and inclusive.”

“When it comes to music I love, I don’t really get wrapped up in boundaries or genres. After we finished Bettie James, I was like man, there’s so much music out there that I love, so many artists that I love, and I just wasn’t done making collaborations,” Allen says of the impetus for Bettie James Gold Edition; a sentiment that Billboard echoes, applauding that the album “broadens country’s borders.”

Beyond the music, Allen has also established Bettie James Fest in their honor. Consistently vocal about his deep reverence for his family, hometown and home state, the inaugural sold-out event took place on August 7, 2021 in Allen’s hometown of Milton, DE.

Allen is currently featured in The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s annual American Currents: State of the Music exhibit with his friend and fellow country artist Darius Rucker. The exhibit’s Unbroken Circle illustrates the connection between country music’s past and present by pairing artists with those who have influenced them or share musical perspectives. The exhibit runs through February 2022.

Much like his approach to music, Allen’s other creative pursuits know no boundaries. Allen’s debut picture book, My Voice Is a Trumpet, was published on July 13, 2021 with Flamingo Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers. Illustrated by veteran illustrator Cathy Ann Johnson, the book is a powerful story about speaking up for what you believe in, at any age. The book has received a starred review from School Library Journal, who hails that “the rhythm and flow of words perfectly match the art while advising readers to choose love and use their voices in a powerful song.”

“It’s very important to me that kids learn at a young age that they have a voice and that it is powerful. It is up to us as adults to teach them to use their voice to encourage and show love,” Allen says of his first-ever book. “Being a father of two kids, I try to encourage them to be themselves and love everyone around them. I’m hoping this book inspires at least one child and they always remember their voice is a trumpet.”

Allen also serves as Executive Music Producer for Netflix’s Titletown High, which premiered globally on August 27, 2021. His song “Big In A Small Town” is the theme song for the series, which follows a Georgia town where football rules, winning is paramount, and a champion high school team tackles rivalries, romance and real life as they work toward the ultimate goal: a state title. Full of high stakes sports action and relatable teenage drama, Titletown High delivers a complex portrait of the most unique football culture in America.

COVID-19 DISCLAIMER - Attendees freely and voluntarily assume all risks and accept sole responsibility for any injury, illness, damage, loss or expense of any kind. Attendees hereby release, agreement not to sue, discharge and releases the Town of Forest City, its employees, artists, sponsors and representatives, of and from any such claims, including all liabilities, claims, actions, damages, costs, losses or expenses of any kind arising out of or relating thereto. Attendee acknowledges the highly contagious factors of COVID-19 and assumes the risk of exposure or infection by attending any event at the Pavilion On Park Square (POPS). Such exposure or infection may result in personal injury, illness, disability and/or death to the attendee. Attendee acknowledges the risk of becoming exposed may generate from the actions and negligence of others attending the event at POPS. All patrons, regardless of who purchased the “pod”, acknowledge that they will assume all risks and accept sole responsibility for any injury, illness, damage, loss or expense of any kind. Attendees acknowledge that they will not hold the Town of Forest City and all representatives, agents and employees, of and from any such claims, including all liabilities, claims, actions, damages, costs, losses or expenses of any kind arising out of or relating thereto. The Town of Forest City has the right to deny service to anyone for reasons including but not limited to those reasons provided herein. By entering onto the POPS property, you assume all risks and exposures to COVID-19 and take full responsibility. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and guests with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable. By attending any event at POPS, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.

Drop-In Movies • Toy Story • Friday, 8/27 • 8PM

Our summer movie series is back! Sponsored by Drop-In Food Stores, the Town of Forest City hosts these free movie nights throughout the summer. Enjoy a movie on a 25-ft. screen along with popcorn, candy, drinks and other concessions from Explore Forest City available for purchase. All shows begin at dusk. Come and enjoy the movie and concessions in a safe, family-friendly environment!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
For your safety and the safety of our staff and volunteers, we ask that you follow the NC COVID-19 safety protocols, including wearing a mask, social distancing, using good hand, cough and sneeze hygiene and staying home if you feel unwell.

This event has reduced capacity seating per governmental restrictions, and reservations for socially-distanced pods are required for admission. Pods are free and include admission for up to six people in a sectioned-off 6' x 6' space. Reservations will go live each Monday at noon for that week's movie. Online reservations are highly encouraged to guarantee your spot, but pods will be available at the door if there is any additional space. Please review our Reopening Procedures at townofforestcity.com/pops-reopening-guidelines and reserve your pod at exploreforestcity.com. We look forward to seeing you at POPS!

Forest City's Finest Benefit Concert for Officer Hill • Saturday, 8/21 • 8-10PM

The Town of Forest City is hosting a benefit concert featuring Rutherford County Line to collect donations for Officer Hill on Saturday, August 21.

On Monday, August 9, 2021, Forest City Senior Police Officer Jamie Hill was shot in the line of duty while responding to a report of an armed and dangerous subject in the area of Hill Street in Forest City. Officers attempted to communicate with the subject who was wanted for probation violations when the offender pointed a gun and opened fire on officers. Officer Hill was transported by Region One Air Medical to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center where he was rushed into surgery for his life-threatening injuries.

Officer Hill has been in good spirits throughout his multiple surgeries and ongoing treatment.

Please join the Town of Forest City and the Forest City Police Department in supporting our officer. Any amount that you can donate to help out Officer Hill during this difficult time would be greatly appreciated.

Gates open at 7PM and the concert is from 8-10PM. Donations will be collected at the gates, the concession stand and at exploreforestcity.com/donations. Donations will be given directly to Officer Hill as he continues his long road to recovery.

I Love The 80's Night • Kids In America & DJ Michael Sprouse • Saturday, 7/17 • 6-10PM

Dust off your cassettes and tease your hair. It’s a totally 80’s party at POPS... be there or be square!

Featuring your fave music from the "Ultimate 80's Tribute" Kids in America and local favorite DJ Michael Sprouse, 80’s memorabilia, food & drinks, classic arcade games, photo ops, dancing, costume contests and prizes & giveaways, I Love The 80's Night is gonna be so wicked. Tickets are only $10 and will be sold at the gate on the day of the event. Gates open at 6PM.

ABOUT THE BAND

kidsinamericaband.com

Ready to be blasted into the past? Kids in America is a high-energy, power-packed, ultra-fun, 6-piece band paying tribute to the totally awesome 1980s. Kids in America covers all genres from this timeless decade. New wave, pop, dance, rock ballads and more. Kids in America specializes in recreating visually and take pride in delivering spot-on sound of all your favorite 80s hits. They encourage crowd participation and their fans have so much fun at our shows. We totally love this!

Kids In America is an 80s Tribute band performing nationally and based out of Charlotte, NC. Their shows cover the biggest hits and artists of this iconic era - Madonna, Michael Jackson, Guns and Roses, Duran Duran, Prince, Journey, Cyndi Lauper, The Cure, Pat Benatar, The Cars and much more! Costumes, props and performance provide a full 80s stage show! Kids In America brings any festival, event or party to the next level! Join us to bring back memories and create new ones to last forever.

Get ready to jam with Kids In America: Kids In America Mash-Up.

Drop-In Movies • Dirty Dancing • Friday, 7/16 • 8PM

Our summer movie series is back! Sponsored by Drop-In Food Stores, the Town of Forest City hosts these free movie nights throughout the summer. Enjoy a movie on a 25-ft. screen along with popcorn, candy, drinks and other concessions from Explore Forest City available for purchase. All shows begin at dusk. Come and enjoy the movie and concessions in a safe, family-friendly environment!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
For your safety and the safety of our staff and volunteers, we ask that you follow the NC COVID-19 safety protocols, including wearing a mask, social distancing, using good hand, cough and sneeze hygiene and staying home if you feel unwell.

This event has reduced capacity seating per governmental restrictions, and reservations for socially-distanced pods are required for admission. Pods are free and include admission for up to six people in a sectioned-off 6' x 6' space. Reservations will go live each Monday at noon for that week's movie. Online reservations are highly encouraged to guarantee your spot, but pods will be available at the door if there is any additional space. Please review our Reopening Procedures at townofforestcity.com/pops-reopening-guidelines and reserve your pod at exploreforestcity.com. We look forward to seeing you at POPS!

Drop-In Movies • The Lion King • Friday, 6/25 • 8PM

Our summer movie series is back! Sponsored by Drop-In Food Stores, the Town of Forest City hosts these free movie nights throughout the summer. Enjoy a movie on a 25-ft. screen along with popcorn, candy, drinks and other concessions from Explore Forest City available for purchase. All shows begin at dusk. Come and enjoy the movie and concessions in a safe, family-friendly environment!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
For your safety and the safety of our staff and volunteers, we ask that you follow the NC COVID-19 safety protocols, including wearing a mask, social distancing, using good hand, cough and sneeze hygiene and staying home if you feel unwell.

This event has reduced capacity seating per governmental restrictions, and reservations for socially-distanced pods are required for admission. Pods are free and include admission for up to six people in a sectioned-off 6' x 6' space. Reservations will go live each Monday at noon for that week's movie. Online reservations are highly encouraged to guarantee your spot, but pods will be available at the door if there is any additional space. Please review our Reopening Procedures at townofforestcity.com/pops-reopening-guidelines and reserve your pod at exploreforestcity.com. We look forward to seeing you at POPS!

Drop-In Movies • Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory • Friday, 5/21 • 8PM

Our summer movie series is back! Sponsored by Drop-In Food Stores, the Town of Forest City hosts these free movie nights throughout the summer. Enjoy a movie on a 25-ft. screen along with popcorn, candy, drinks and other concessions from Explore Forest City available for purchase. All shows begin at dusk. Come and enjoy the movie and concessions in a safe, family-friendly environment!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
For your safety and the safety of our staff and volunteers, we ask that you follow the NC COVID-19 safety protocols, including wearing a mask, social distancing, using good hand, cough and sneeze hygiene and staying home if you feel unwell.

This event has reduced capacity seating per governmental restrictions, and reservations for socially-distanced pods are required for admission. Pods are free and include admission for up to six people in a sectioned-off 6' x 6' space. Reservations will go live each Monday at noon for that week's movie. Online reservations are highly encouraged to guarantee your spot, but pods will be available at the door if there is any additional space. Please review our Reopening Procedures at townofforestcity.com/pops-reopening-guidelines and reserve your pod at exploreforestcity.com. We look forward to seeing you at POPS!

The Town of Forest City proudly presents “Country Music’s Breakout Stars” Parmalee and local favorite Dirty Grass Soul at the Pavilion On Park Square (POPS) on Friday, May 14 at 7PM. 2016 ACM “New Vocal Duo/Group of the Year” nominee Parmalee is one of country music’s most successful acts: the Platinum-selling band of brothers is one of only four groups since 2001 to earn three consecutive Top 10 singles from a debut country album. Since their debut, Parmalee has earned over 427 million Pandora streams, 253 million on-demand streams and over 58 million YouTube views. Dirty Grass Soul brings a refreshed and re-energized sound that falls somewhere between country, bluegrass and southern rock & roll.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

For your safety and the safety of our staff and volunteers, we ask that you follow the NC COVID-19 safety protocols, including wearing a mask, social distancing, using good hand, cough and sneeze hygiene and staying home if you feel unwell. 

This event has reduced capacity seating per governmental restrictions. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, April 16 at 12PM. Please review our Reopening Procedures at townofforestcity.com/pops-reopening-guidelines, purchase your tickets at exploreforestcity.com and learn more at townofforestcity.com/parks-recreation/forest-city-pavilion-park-square/events-information/parmalee-dirty-grass-soul. We look forward to seeing you at POPS!

TICKET INFORMATION

● General Admission - $25 in advance / $35 at the gate
● VIP Pit - $35 in advance / $45 at the gate
● General Admission Pods - $150 in advance / $250 at the gate
● Colonnade Tables - $300 in advance / $400 at the gate
● Cabana - $500 in advance / $600 at the gate

All Colonnade tables and Cabanas will receive a VIP swag bag that can be picked up at POPS on the day of the show.

Kids age 5 and under are free and do not require a ticket.

For more information, please visit townofforestcity.com.

Drop-In Movies • Peter Pan • Friday, 4/23 • 8PM

Our summer movie series is back! Sponsored by Drop-In Food Stores, the Town of Forest City hosts these free movie nights throughout the summer. Enjoy a movie on a 25-ft. screen along with popcorn, candy, drinks and other concessions from Explore Forest City available for purchase. All shows begin at dusk. Come and enjoy the movie and concessions in a safe, family-friendly environment!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
For your safety and the safety of our staff and volunteers, we ask that you follow the NC COVID-19 safety protocols, including wearing a mask, social distancing, using good hand, cough and sneeze hygiene and staying home if you feel unwell.

This event has reduced capacity seating per governmental restrictions, and reservations for socially-distanced pods are required for admission. Pods are free and include admission for up to six people in a sectioned-off 6' x 6' space. Reservations will go live each Monday at noon for that week's movie. Online reservations are highly encouraged to guarantee your spot, but pods will be available at the door if there is any additional space. Please review our Reopening Procedures at townofforestcity.com/pops-reopening-guidelines and reserve your pod at exploreforestcity.com. We look forward to seeing you at POPS!