Live Music

TheShowMust Go On

OZARKS AMPHITHEATER BRINGING LIVE MUSIC TO THE LAKE AREA

Story by CHARIS PATIRES | Photography by GEORGE DENNY

Bringing major artists to the Lake area does not come easy. Just ask Tom Abbett and Mary Kay von Brendel, just part of the team behind Ozarks Amphitheater, a 10,256 seat outdoor amphitheater located in Camdenton.

By the time musicians take to the 5,000-square-foot stage, months of planning have taken place to make sure each show goes off without a hitch. All that hard work has paid off. This season the venue is hosting its busiest season yet.

Ozarks Amphitheater had a rough start for many years after it was built in 1993. It sat vacant for at least five years. Twice owners tried to get the venue up and running but failed. It fell under a state of disrepair until an investor from Colorado decided to revamp it.

Bill Carle had experience as a concessionaire at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver, along with his business partner Robert Mein who understood the food and beverage side of the business. Carle purchased Ozarks Amphitheater in 2013, renovated it in 2014, opened in 2015, and has been hosting world-class entertainment ever since.

According to Abbett, Director of Business Development at Ozarks Amphitheater, the Alabama concert in 2018 put Lake of the Ozarks on the map both locally and in Nashville as a viable venue. Big-name artists took note and started booking performances at the Lake. Kane Brown, Five Finger Death Punch and Shinedown have been extremely popular for fans at the Lake. Classic rock shows last year included ZZ-Top, REO Speedwagon, Styx and Three Dog Night. Charlie Daniels has played several times as well as Miranda Lambert, Katy Perry and Blues Traveler.

The number of shows and events hosted each year varies. In 2022, show organizers anticipate at least 24 shows, up from 17 in 2021.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Both Abbett and von Brendel, who is the Director of Operations at Ozarks Amphitheater, work to bring bigger names to the venue each year. They collaborate on booking acts, along with co-promoter Mammoth Presents from Kansas City. That partnership started in 2018 with Alabama and has flourished ever since, von Brendel said. UPCOMING SHOWS

May 7

Breaking Benjamin

May 11

REO Speedwagon & Styx with George Thorogood and the Destroyers

May 18

The Smashing Pumpkins

May 27

Tracy Lawrence and Clay Walker

May 29

Cody Jinks

June 3

Willie Nelson & Family

June 4

Jackson Browne

June 10

Whiskey Myers

June 24

Brothers Osborne

July 6

Marie Osmond with the Missouri Symphony (a Fundraiser for the Lake Arts Council)

July 9

Ozark Mountain Daredevils

July 31

Get the Led Out (a Fundraiser for Lake Regional Cancer Center)

Aug. 20

The Black Crowes

MORE INFO

Tickets and info: www.Ozarksamp.com

“My goal is for Ozarks Amphitheater to rival Red Rocks as a ‘destination’ and a ‘must-play’ venue for the larger touring acts,” von Brendel said. “We are now in Phase 2 of the business plan working toward expanding parking, capacity, infrastructure and being able to accommodate the larger acts that are on our bucket list.” von Brendel has a background in music, having worked with JazzTrax Music Festivals on Catalina Island and Big Bear, Calif. for several years and being an artist manager for national touring Jazz musicians prior to moving to the Lake area. She tracked down Carle to request the opportunity to bring the Amphitheater back to life after inviting herself on stage where she sang the National Anthem and was overwhelmed by the amazing acoustics of the venue.

“Mary Kay’s drive, creativity and commitment to the community is one of the reasons the venue has gotten to where it is today,” Abbett said.

Abbett was in real estate at the Lake before being recruited to work backstage security. As he got more involved in the business, he became stage manager and started booking talent in 2017.

“I have a mind for business and a body for manual labor..and it takes both of those to make the venue work,” Abbett jokes.

Abbett is involved in the Lake Race, Shootout on the Strip, the Guinness World Record attempt Boat Parade and many other community-centered events that help promote the area in general.

They strive to be ambassadors of the Lake of the Ozarks, making sure that not only do shows run smoothly but that Ozarks Amphitheater has an economic and social impact in the area.

The venue has hosted special events including the Dogwood Festival, the Can Am Games Opening Ceremonies, Kelly Miller Circus and its annual events Pumpkin Chunkin’ Palooza and Crossover Music Festival.

“We really would like to thank the community for supporting us and having a real interest in its success and growth,” von Brendel said. “Without the community’s support we would not have been able to grow to where we have, and we look forward to many more years of live entertainment at Lake of the Ozarks.”

CURTAIN CALL

On the day of the show, production trucks come in from their previous night’s show around 6 a.m. The tour buses arrive shortly thereafter for breakfast and setup. Lunch is followed by soundcheck and getting ready for the gates to open to the public at 6 p.m. The first act takes the stage at 7 p.m., 8 p.m. is the support act and the headliner performs at 9:30 p.m. (schedule subject

TED HARIS

to change). The show ends about 11 p.m. with buses rolling out about 1 a.m. after tearing down and loading up equipment for the next gig.

About 150 people are employed for each show from increased security to emergency services and other crew. The season runs from April to October.

Amphitheater capacity is 10,256 dedicated seats with 2,556 in the lower bowl and 7,700 in the upper seating area, plus 2,000-3,000 on the lawn. The venue sells shows to 6,300 seats and sells every other row in the upper section due to limited parking. They are working to expand parking from 2,000 to 2,500 cars in order to go up to 7,500 capacity in 2023. There are premium seating options on the Party Deck and a Quirk Premium Tent that has fourtop tables, pit access, dedicated wait staff and bar, and premium parking. Concessions offers a full line of beverages, wines, mixed drinks and a full menu.