A8
Community
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Chris Knight delights in John Day
Performing arts
center plans to
host more shows
By Rylan Boggs
Blue Mountain Eagle
Chris Knight played to a de-
lighted crowd at the Madden
Brothers Performing Arts Cen-
ter on Monday night.
Both Knight and opener
Andy Good played acoustic
sets to the roughly 300 attend-
ees.
Knight got into the music
game later in life than most.
Prior to his music career he
spent over a decade working
with his hands.
“I was a strip mine inspec-
tor for five years, and before
that I worked for six years
around coal mines,” he said.
Knight said he left the min-
ing industry for music.
“If I don’t do it now, I’m
never going to do it,” he said
of his thought process.
He feels coming into the
music industry later in life has
made him more independent.
He said if he came into the
industry at a younger age he
likely would have done any-
thing anyone told him to.
“That might be one of the
reasons why I wasn’t a com-
The deadline for What’s Happening items is 5 p.m. Fri-
day. Call the Eagle, 541-575-0710, or email editor@bmea-
gle.com. For meetings this week, see our list in the classi-
fieds on Page A17.
SATURDAY, AUG. 26
mercial success, because I
wasn’t willing to do every-
thing everybody wanted me to
do,” Knight said.
Knight’s music celebrates
hard-working, rural Ameri-
cans, something the Monday
night crowd thoroughly appre-
ciated.
His influences and interests
include artists such as John
Prine, Steve Earle, Jackson
Browne and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
“If it’s good music, I lis-
ten to it,” he said. “I wouldn’t
walk across the road to hear
myself play, if you want to
know the truth.”
Venue owner Jesse Mad-
den said they sold roughly 300
tickets to the Monday night
show.
“Our max is 400, but 300 is
a good number for us,” Mad-
den said.
He said the crowd was a
great audience, and at times
they were singing along louder
than Knight.
“We were pretty fortunate
to have Chris come in and do
an acoustic show,” Madden
said.
They plan on hosting shows
in the future but don’t have
anyone booked at the moment.
John Day’s remoteness is one
of the biggest issues with
getting someone to play, he
said.
The Eagle/Rylan Boggs
Chris Knight plays at the Madden Brothers
Performing Arts Center on Monday, Aug. 21.
W HAT’S
HAPPENING
John Day Farmers Market
• 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Southwest Brent Street, John Day
The market features crafts, baked goods, produce, kids ac-
tivities, entertainment and information booths. For more infor-
mation, call 541-792-0958 or email johndayfarmersmarket@
gmail.com.
Grant County Fair Kids/Junior Rodeo
• 10 a.m., Grant County Fairgrounds in John Day
Admission is free for spectators. Entries for the Kids/Junior
Rodeo must be received by Aug. 24 at the Grant County Fair
offi ce, 411 Bridge Street in John Day. There is a fee of $5-12 for
each event. For more information, call chairperson Jim Hamsh-
er at 541-620-2861.
SUNDAY, AUG. 27
File photo
Children compete in the stick horse race in a previous
youth rodeo after the Grant County Fair. The Grant
County Fair Kids/Junior Rodeo is scheduled for
Saturday, Aug. 26, this year.
File photo
Shooters take aim at a previous memorial trap shoot at
the Seneca Range. The annual past members memorial
trap shoot is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 27, this year.
Annual past members memorial trap shoot
• 9:30 a.m., Seneca Trap Range
The Seneca Range will host a trap shoot honoring past mem-
bers Myrtha Fields and Dale Rushton. The shoot has fi ve trap
events, and the cost is $35. Money prizes will be awarded in
each event and in the all events category. Sign up is at 9:30
a.m., and the event starts at 10 a.m. All ages of trap shooters and
spectators are welcome. Shells and food will be available. For
more information, call Nancy Chase at 541-575-0243.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 1
Evaluating groundwater resources presentation
• 2-6 p.m., Grant County Regional Airport
Aquageo Frameworks will have geologists and geophysi-
cists present to explain how to understand and evaluate local
groundwater resources, aquifers and their recharge capacity.
The John Day Resource Center, Tomorrow’s Water and the
Grant County Citizen Water Group are sponsoring the presen-
tation, and all are welcome to attend.
Church Services In Grant County
Come Worship with us at