BACK TO MUSIC BUSINESS AT SHOW ME CENTER

The first Show Me Center concert since September will be presented Friday night when two of country music's rising stars and heartthrobs take the stage.

The concert by headliner John Michael Montgomery and Mark Chesnutt along with newcomer James Bonamy will begin at 8 p.m. Friday.

The most recent Show Me Center concert was Kenny Rogers' appearance last September as a substitute for Vince Gill, who had a scheduling conflict due to an awards broadcast. That drought has included a cancellation by Lorrie Morgan in November and Tracy Lawrence's decision not to play here in October because his tour already was stopping in nearby Murray, Ky.

The Montgomery-Chesnutt concert has sold well -- an estimated 4,500 people are expected to attend -- despite being sandwiched between SIU Arena concerts by Alan Jackson and Tim McGraw. An audience of about 4,500 would make it an average stop on this Montgomery tour.

One reason for the strong sales is that Montgomery is on the second tier of the country music pantheon behind the Big Two concert draws: Gill and Reba McEntire.

"I don't know if you would consider (Lorrie Morgan) in that second tier," said Will Lofdahl, the Show Me Center's events coordinator.

The Show Me Center's all-time best draw was the July 1988 concert by Aerosmith and Guns 'n' Roses. The attendance at that concert was 7,357.

Montgomery returns to the Show Me Center a second time. In October 1993, he opened for Reba McEntire in a concert that remains the Show Me Center's highest-grossing musical event.

Montgomery's debut album, "Life's A Dance," sold 2 million copies and his follow-up, "Kickin' It Up," sold 3 million.

His song "I Swear" won a Grammy in 1994 for best country song.

Though his success is relatively recent, Montgomery is no newcomer to the stage. He's been a working musician since age 15, and "Kickin' It Up" pays homage to the rowdiness of his club days in "Cowboy Love," while the hit "Sold" has a bluegrass flavor.

Chesnutt played at the Show Me Center last April, opening up for Sawyer Brown. A bad sound mix hurt the first part of his set, but when the technicians got it straight his authoritative baritone rang throughout the hall.

He is the singer of such country hits as "Bubba Shot the Jukebox," "Too Cold at Home" and "Sure Is Monday."

His fifth and latest album is titled "Wings" and includes the song "It Wouldn't Hurt to Have Wings," the second single off the recording.