Driving into Glasgow

Emerson Drive lead singer Brad Mates spoke to the Courier in anticipation of the Canadian band's appearance with JT Hodges at the 2016 Northeast Montana Fair on July 29. “I've never been to Glasgow,” Mates explained via phone from the road, “but we've been fortunate to travel to every state and province in Canada and the U.S.” In other words, the award-winning country artists will be uniquely primed to form a first impression of the area. Considering his upbringing in Grande Prairie, Alberta, I'm sure he'll find a lot to like.

Emerson Drive isn't a new act to the country music world. After winning a battle of the bands competition in 1995 back home in Alberta, the band, originally called “12 Gauge,” has gone on to record eight albums and one compilation with more than a dozen different members in various rolls. But recording is just one aspect of the groups' output. “We play 300 dates per year,” Mates explained, going to add that they should be back in the studio by summer's end. “If we have a single out before the end of year, we're ahead of the game.” The long and short is that Emerson Drive is a road-tested outfit. If you like them when you hear them on the radio, you'll likely enjoy them even more in person.

The Glasgow Fair Board allowed for this years concert to be sponsored and organized by a cooperative effort between Milk River Motorsports, the Glasgow Rodeo Committee, the Glasgow Area Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, the Tourism Business Improvement District of Glasgow and KLTZ. The proceeds from the concert are slated to be used to fund other future concerts, so if you want to see more live entertainment in Glasgow, get on down to the fairgrounds.

Emerson Drive and musical guest JT Hodges will perform at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the Fair Office or online at glasgowchamber.ticketleap.com/emerson-drive—jt-hodges-concert.