Jake Dodds, Sheila Stephen and headliner Clayton Anderson made up the lineup for the night, and the number of attendees increased as the night went on.
The lights in the auditorium dimmed at 8 p.m., and colorful lights lit the stage for Jake Dodds and his band, who have been touring the Midwest.
“It’s definitely nice to be in Bloomington where people do care about country music,” Dodds said as the crowd cheered.
They were modern yet nostalgic performers and gave off a friendly, high-energy vibe to the crowd during their acoustic performance. Jake Dodds performed songs he had written himself and spoke to the crowd between acts.
“After tonight, Jake Dodds is definitely one of my favorite country singers,” concert attendee Kayla Wright said.
After Dodds’ performance, Sheila Stephen and the Rodeo Monkeys took the stage. Stephen has been fronting her band since she was 17, and she has opened for many famous country singers, including George Strait, Brantley Gilbert and Kip Moore.
Stephen’s performed a cover of Journey’s “Lights,” as well as Reba McEntire’s “New Fool at an Old Game,” which she co-penned while writing music in Nashville.
By the end of her performance, people were gathering around the stage, dancing and singing along as the anticipation for Clayton Anderson began to build.
“Sheila Stephen rocked,” concert-goer Amanda Osborn said. “I loved all the songs she performed.”
Once Sheila wrapped up her performance, Clayton Anderson was up next. A giant screen turned on, taping his every move as he made his way from outside the auditorium and onto the stage.
As he approached the microphone, the backdrop lifted to reveal a giant Chevy truck. The show was sponsored by the Curry Chevrolet dealership in Bloomington.
Clayton Anderson and his band dominated the stage with their performance, and most of the people in the auditorium were on their feet and around the stage.
There was plenty of screaming coming from the gathering of Anderson’s female fans as they reached for him as he walked by, singing his hit “Your Love Is Like Country Music.”
Dodds joined him on the stage to end the night, sending the screaming fans home with a country concert finale.
Once the finale was delivered, fans continued to buzz outside the doors, talking about their favorite performances from the night.
“I’m pretty sure my voice is going to be gone after tonight from screaming so much,” attendee Bailey Carey said.
