Photo courtesy of Visit Marshall. Multi-platinum country recording artist Lauren Alaina will headline this year’s Prairie Jam on Thursday night at the Schwan Regional Event Center. Doors open at 6 p.m.
MARSHALL — The 2024 Prairie Jam is days away with a highly anticipated lineup of entertainment, as multi-platinum Big Loud Records recording artist and Grand Ole Opry member Lauren Alaina will headline the night, and local country singer Blake Schmitz will open.
Prairie Jam takes place Thursday at the Schwan Regional Event Center on the Southwest Minnesota State University campus. Schmitz is set to take the stage at 7:10 p.m., with Alaina to follow at 8 p.m.
“I’m pretty excited about it, I have some family coming,” Alaina said. “Anytime we go to Minnesota, I get really excited, because I pretty much always have family there.”
Prior to the concert, the American Legion will be hosting a color guard presentation with the national anthem sung by Marshall fire chief Quentin Brunsvold around 6:30 p.m.
Reserved tickets are sold out for the concert, but a limited amount of general admission pit and floor tickets are still available through Visit Marshall. Tickets can also be purchased at the box office day-of, however prices will be raised.
Alaina continues to grow to new successes in her career, and has already performed on some of the biggest stages, collaborated with fellow country artists and has gathered a list of accolades.
“I typically try to get out into every town I go to. I’m actually doing like, a little series on my TikTok with my song, ‘Smaller Town,” Alaina said. “I’m just looking forward to coming and seeing you all and I’ll probably be bopping around in the town during the day, if anybody wants to see me.”
The 29-year old from Georgia has three chart-topping songs, including platinum-certified “Road Less Traveled,” the seven-time platinum single “What Ifs” with Kane Brown and the two-time platinum “One Beer” with HARDY and Devin Dawson.
Alaina, who was the runner-up on American Idol in 2011 when she was only 15, has three studio albums: “Wildflower,” “Road Less Traveled,” “Sitting Pretty On Top Of The World,” and recently released 2023 EP, “Unlocked.”
“(I’m excited for) her energy … We haven’t had a female yet (at Prairie Jam), so I’m really excited to have a female artist on stage,” Visit Marshall events director Cassi Weiss said. “(It will be) a great night out in Marshall, without having to travel to a big city. The bars and restaurants will be ready for them to eat dinner, and then come down to the concert and enjoy.”
Alaina has a new single with Corey Kent released a few weeks ago titled “Now or Never,” has shared stages with various country artists such as Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Alan Jackson.
Performing at some of the country’s most well-known stages and events, Alaina has shown her talent on the “Today Show,” “Good Morning America,” “The Tonight Show,” the Country Music Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards and “Dancing with the Stars.”
Schmitz is a 20-year-old southwest Minnesota farmer and has debuted into the country artistry field recently, after releasing his first album “All Of You & Me” in June 2023.
“He just has a ton of energy. I’m really excited for him to bring that to the stage, and kind of get everyone up and excited and ready for Lauren to come,” Weiss said. “I’m excited for him to bring kind of his (local) fan base up here and to the concert.”
There are a handful of local sponsors to help put on Prairie Jam. There will be a pre-party before the concert at Tavern 507, and a post-party following the concert at the Gambler. The Wooden Nickel will also host breakfast Friday morning. All are welcomed to stop by to support the sponsors and engage in the full-experience for the festival.
Doors will open at 6 p.m.