Easton Corbin will leave the woodshed and head West to open the summer concert series at Northern Nevada’s Carson Valley Inn.
The rising country artist will be the first to hit TJ’s Corral stage in 2019, playing at 8 p.m. Friday, May 24, at the start of Memorial Day Weekend.
“It’s going to be good, I promise you that,” Corbin told Tahoe Onstage.
A Florida native who lives in Nashville, Corbin, 37, has a smooth singing voice that’s been compared to George Strait’s. But on the phone, he talks fast with a thick Southern accent. He was pleased to learn about the made-for-music venue at Carson Valley Inn.
“Smaller venues are really intimate and you get up close and personal with the fans – hell, I love ‘em,” he said.
Corbin’s had two No. 1 songs and seven that reached the Top 10 on the country charts. He released third studio album, “About to Get Real,” in 2015. He and producer Wade Kirby have been chopping it up for several weeks working on the follow-up album. On April 29, Corbin had the final sessions at the historic Legends Studio in Nashville. Kirby wrote songs that went No. 1 for Blake Shelton and George Strait. He also penned Corbin’s fun and catchy tune “Yup.”
“We’ve been in the studio about a month now and cutting on new stuff,” he said. “I am very excited about it. We just cut 13 songs.”
At an early age, Corbin set his sights on a career in Nashville.
“Man, I’ve been wanted to do that since I was a kid,” he said. “I was always determined to try to make it as an artist in town and as soon as I graduated college (University of Florida), I moved up here in 2006 straight away.”
He worked at a hardware store in the daytime honed his musical craft at night. It led to a string of hit songs, such as “A Little More Country Than That,” “Roll With It,” “Lovin’ You is Fun,” “Baby By My Love Song,” “A Girl Like You” and “Somebody’s Gotta Be Country,” which was released in January.
Corbin’s mini-West Coast tour includes shows at Canonville, Oregon on May 25 and at the Silver Dollar Fair in Chico, California, on May 26.
“We’re going to have a good time. That’s what it’s all about, Corbin said. “We’re going to play the hits and probably do new stuff we’ve been working on and play a few covers. Man, it’s all about getting the fans into it and having a good time. As long as they have a good time, I have a good time.”
Also coming to the Carson Valley Inn this summer are smooth jazz artist Kenny G on Saturday, June 8, Uncle Kracker on Saturday, June 29; Joan Jett & the Blackhearts on Thursday, July 4; Dwight Yoakam on Friday, July 26; Pat Benatar/Neil Giraldo on Wednesday, July 31; Martina McBride on Sunday, Aug. 4, and Loverboy on Friday, Aug. 9.
This summer series began in 2014 and has featured artists such as Merle Haggard, Travis, Tritt, Tanya Tucker, Gary Allan, The Spinners, Kenny Logins and Marshall Tucker Band.
— Tim Parsons
