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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Feedback: Best country music performances

The Country Music Association nominations were announced Sept. 9, and we noticed something. Three of the five nominees for Entertainer of the Year played the Spokane Arena in 2015: Eric Church in January, Luke Bryan (last year’s winner) in May and Miranda Lambert in February. (The other nominees are Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney). Clearly, Spokane has seen some high-powered country acts in recent years. So we asked our Facebook friends to name the best country music concerts they’ve seen in this area in the past five years or so. Here’s what they said:

Michelle Brayman Ross  Blake Shelton

Julie Pomerantz  Hayes Carll at The Bartlett

Michelle Brayman Ross  Tim McGraw

Michael Hancock  Blake Shelton

Shawn R Docherty  Tim McGraw

Katy Smith Byrnes  I loved Allison Krauss.

Jeannie Doeleman-White  Eric Church. No big stage show just him and his music…

Kathleen Sanders Norton  Dwight Yoakam

Tabby Leah  Eric Church hands down!

Kathy Cutino Palmer  Zac Brown Band

Cara Perry  David Nail and The Brothers Osborne. The Brothers Osborne blew every concert I’ve seen out of the water, from rock to country.

Jered Matthew Fross  Luke and Eric Church. Toss up.

Jean Deconto  Just saw Shania loved it

Tara Cael  Carrie Underwood

Connie Stolz  Zac Brown Band

Gayla Aspenleiter  Shania Twain concert was fabulous.

Lynn Ellis  Brad Paisley and Darius Rucker.

Michelle Wakefield  Luke Bryan, Scott McCreery, Dan and Shay. Dustin Lynch

John Bagwell Jr.  Vince Gill at the 2015 Festival at Sandpoint.

Kae Obrien  Eric Church!

Amber George  Luke Bryan!

Sandi Wendling  The Eagles, hands down. Toby Keith is second!

Shirley Hillhouse  Tough decision but Luke Bryan.

Ann Clark Cone  Eric Church at the Arena. And Rodney Atkins, Josh Thompson and Tyler Farr at the Knitting Factory.

Erik Thee Fish  Merle and Kris the Opera House

Tara Dougherty Goeske  Blake Shelton had the best format - never a break in music - it started before actual start time, then never stopped - for that reason it was the best. Second most entertaining was Luke Bryan. However, Garth Brooks about 8-9 years ago was very memorable as well.

Linette Freeman  Don Williams at The Fox.

Chance VanWicklen  Jason Aldean. But that’s the only one I’ve been too. Regardless it was awesome

Belinda Posey Howes  Blake Shelton!

Karen Payne  Blake Shelton – hands down! … then Luke Bryan

Jennie Caddell  Toby Keith

Debbie Peterson Jenson  Zac Brown two times, close to Spokane – at The Gorge – AMAZING

Conrad Kovash  The  Zac Brown Band and  Blake Shelton

Jackie Kayne-Sherar  Don Williams!

Kelley Potter  By far I think Zac Brown Band. … no crazy stuff but just amazing talent.

Diane Bilger  I don’t remember when the concert was, but Keith Urban….

Jennifer Plumb  I’ve only seen one in that time span but I enjoyed it VERY MUCH. It was Brad Paisley headlining with Scotty McCreery and The Band Perry opening. Really fun show! I’ve seen Scotty McCreery two more times since then I guess, once in Pullman and once at a venue in the Valley. Yeah, I’m a fan!

Mary Teague  Miranda Lambert!

Carleen Maas  Zac Brown Band! No contest

Brent Dettmann  Whitey Morgan, Sturgill Simpson, Turnpike Troubadours.

Windy Delandro  Blake and Justin Moore 

Ronald Torpey  Hank Jr. at Northern Quest

Mistie Everts Kinney  Eric Church!

Linda Fox-Babb  Jason Aldean

Kelsi Sibley  Tim McGraw or Miranda Lambert!

Susan Traver  Suzi Bogguss at the Chateau Rive – she still has it! “Someday soon going with him, someday soon…”

Desirae Dobyns  Tim McGraw