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Here's A Swift Look At Festival Concerts

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By DAVE NICHOLSON

dnicholson@tampatrib.com

Published: December 10, 2008

PLANT CITY - The reserved seat prices at country-pop singer Taylor Swift's performance will set a record at the Florida Strawberry Festival.

Reserved seats for Swift's show, at 7:30 p.m. March 1, will cost $45. The festival's previous record was $40.

The festival bases ticket prices on what the entertainer charges, festival General Manager Paul Davis said. In Swift's case, "She's a very hot commodity right now.

"We try to keep it the price as low as we possibly can," Davis said.

The festival is spending about $1.5 million on its headline acts, entertainment chairman Joe Newsome said.

The second most-expensive reserved seats, $35, will be for comedian Jeff Foxworthy's performance at 7:30 p.m. March 6. Reserved seats at actress-singer Jessica Simpson's concert at 7:30 p.m. March 8 are the next most costly, $25 and $30.

Reserved seats for most of the 2009 acts are $10 and $15. About 3,000 free seats are available at each performance, but you have to arrive early enough to claim a spot in the festival's concrete bleachers.

The festival tried to "add a little flavor" to its lineup for 2009 with a wide variety of acts, festival association President Gary Boothe said. The lineup ranges from country superstar and festival veteran George Jones to the rhythm 'n' blues and pop group Kool & the Gang to Christian act Third Day.

"We want to get something for everybody," Boothe said.

Swift, 18, who won an American Music Award recently, appeals to fans 12 to 18, Davis said.

Other highlights of the diverse lineup include Julianne Hough, who recently announced she's leaving ABC's popular show "Dancing With the Stars" to pursue her country music career; Simpson, best known for her "Dukes of Hazzard" short shorts and relationship with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo; and Foxworthy, who hosts the Fox reality show "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" Foxworthy is the first comedian to appear as a headline act.

Newsome said the entertainment committee spends about a year looking for talent, starting its search pretty soon after each festival is concluded. They brainstorm for acts they might be interested in, then go through the list and try to sign artists.

Newsome likens it to a giant puzzle, and he and co-chairman W.D. "Dub" McGinnes Jr. have to make all the pieces fit; in this case, 22 entertainers spread throughout the 11-day festival. Acts that would appeal to older festival visitors are generally booked for the daily 3:30 p.m. shows, while the 7:30 p.m. shows are geared for younger fans, with premium acts on Sundays, he said.

Reserved seat prices do not include gate admission, which will stay the same in 2009. Gate admission tickets will sell for $8 in advance for ages 13 and older and $4 for ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and younger are admitted free with a paying adult. Admission at the gate will be $10 and $5, respectively.

Strawberry shortcake tickets purchased at the festival will also cost $3.50, the same as last year.

The festival runs Feb. 26 through March 8.

Tickets go on sale at 8 a.m. Dec. 8 at www.flstrawberryfestival.com or the box office, 2209 W. Oak Ave.

For information, call (813) 754-1996.

2009 HEADLINERS

Here is the lineup of headline entertainment, including artist, performance time and date, and ticket prices:

•GEORGE JONES, 3:30 p.m. Feb. 26, $15 and $20

•LARRY GATLIN & THE GATLIN BROTHERS, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26, $10 and $15

•NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND, 3:30 p.m. Feb. 27, $10 and $15

•KELLIE PICKLER, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27, $10 and $15

•JAKE OWEN, 3:30 p.m. Feb. 28, $10 and $15

•THIRD DAY, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28, $10 and $15

•RODNEY ATKINS, 3:30 p.m. March 1, $15 and $20

•TAYLOR SWIFT, 7:30 p.m. March 1, $45

•JIM ED BROWN/HELEN CORNELIUS, 3:30 p.m. March 2, $10 and $15

•RANDY TRAVIS, 7:30 p.m. March 2, $10 and $15

•CONNIE SMITH/MARTY STEWART, 3:30 p.m. March 3, $10 and $15

•TRAVIS TRITT, 7:30 p.m. March 3, $15 and $20

•BRENDA LEE, 3:30 p.m. March 4, $10 and $15

•RAY STEVENS, 7:30 p.m. March 4, $10 and $15

•MEL TILLIS, 3:30 p.m. March 5, $10 and $15

•LORRIE MORGAN, 7:30 p.m. March 5, $10 and $15

•RONNIE McDOWELL, 3:30 p.m. March 6, $10 and $15

•JEFF FOXWORTHY, 7:30 p.m. March 6, $35

•MARK LOWRY, 3:30 p.m. March 7, $10 and $15

•KOOL & THE GANG, 7:30 p.m. March 7, $15 and $20

•JULIANNE HOUGH, 3:30 p.m. March 8, $10 and $15

•JESSICA SIMPSON, 7:30 p.m. March 8, $25 and $30

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