Country music legend John Michael Montgomery took the stage as headliner of the first ever Tri-State Pro-Am concert on Sunday night at the Oakley-Lindsay Center. The inaugural concert proved to be a fitting kickoff to the popular Gem City Memorial Day tournament, now in its third year.

Opening the show was Illinois' own Lick Creek who, for about an hour, rocked the stage with a handful of foot-stomping originals mixed in with some classic favorites from Reba, Shania, and more—a thunderous preamble by the Springfield-based sextet.

Without much of a break in between bands, Montgomery and his band quickly launched into a neatly-packed 75-minute set of Greatest Hits spanning more than 25 years of the award-winning artist’s career. Periodically breaking up the show with a few jokes and short stories—but no flashy distractions or wildness—Montgomery largely (and appropriately) let the music speak for itself, closing his show with what few would argue are his two most recognized hits: the ever-popular “I Swear” and an extended version of “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)”.

Below are a few photos from the show:

 

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