Release Date:           May 20, 2008

Two Country Singers on the Charts Will Open LeAnn Rimes' Outdoor Concert in Wausau

(Wausau, WI) It will be three chart-climbing national artists on stage June 28 at The Amphitheater in Marathon Park, one of the most unique and best sounding outdoor concert venues in Wisconsin. Country singer and songwriter James Otto, with this week's Number 1 hit, "Just Got Started Loving You," will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. and Grammy Award Winner LeAnn Rimes makes her first concert appearance ever in Wausau at 9 p.m. Rimes' new hit, "Good Friend and a Glass of Wine" is Number 37 this week and rising. The song is from her album, Family, which recently peaked at Number 2 on the charts. Rimes also was nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year in 2008 by the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Emily West, whose song "Rocks in Your Shoes" has moved up to Number 39 on Billboard's Hottest Country Songs this week, also will perform at the Kinzie Benefit Concert event to support The Children's Miracle Network. Gates open at 5 p.m. West takes the stage at 6 p.m.

The Amphitheater at Marathon Park was acoustically and aesthetically designed for outdoor concerts by Mudrovich Architects of Wausau. Four thousand five hundred seats, purchased and completely refurbished when Milwaukee County Stadium made way for Miller Park, are strategically arranged in an earth berm with a backdrop of massive 100-foot tall white pines that still grow in the park on Wausau's western edge. Another 2,000 chairs will be set up in front of the permanent stage. A slanted roof covers the center section of seats and retains sound. The berm also enhances acoustics within The Amphitheater by keeping the music in and exterior street noise out.

Hot food and beverages including beer will be available from local vendors during the event. Tickets will cost $48 at the gate, but can still be ordered in advance for just $38 over the phone or in person at the Performing Arts Foundation/ArtsBlock in downtown Wausau. The toll-free number for ArtsBlock is 1.888.239.0421; the local number is 842.0988. The Kinzie Benefit Concerts' website, www.kbconcerts.com , is handling online ticket orders.

"John Rich of the country duo, Big and Rich, calls James Otto the biggest voice in country music," said Kirk Howard, manager of Kinzie Benefit Concerts, LLC. "Many people would say the same thing about LeAnn Rimes' phenomenal voice. And now we have Emily West, a bright new voice that LeAnn Rimes personally recommended. It's going to be one amazing summer night in Wausau."

Organizers are hoping eventually to fill all 6,500 reserved seats in The Amphitheater. "We want to be able to make a substantial contribution to The Children's Miracle Network," Howard said. "And the more seats we sell, the bigger that contribution can be. With a huge turnout, we can also demonstrate to top level national artists and their agents that The Amphitheater at Marathon Park in Wausau is a premium outdoor venue and a must-stop on their summer tours."

Howard says many area companies have been eager to help support the event. Sponsors include Ministry Health Care, Marshfield Clinic, North Star Casino, Associated Bank, Wausau Insurance and Miller Lite. Also supporting the event are country music stations WDEZ, WYTE and WHDG, as well as WAOW-TV 9 and the Wausau Daily Herald.

For more information, visit www.kinziebenefitconcerts.com or www.kbconcerts.com

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