One of the up-and-coming young voices in country music is making his Ohio Valley debut Saturday, June 19 when Dillon Carmichael makes his way to Bellaire.
Opening for Carmichael will be Ohio Valley native and rising artist Gage Joseph. The gates open at 4:30 p.m. at St. John Central Academy, which is putting on the event.
The academy is hoping this is the first of a yearly run of shows that could grow into more.
“In the future, we hope to see it grow into a music festival,” said Johnetta Yaegal, one of the event’s organizers. “Bellaire needs things like this along with the support of other towns and villages.
“Together, we can make a big difference.”
Yaegal is the advancement director at SJCA. She and her husband, Cy Allen Yaegal, have been involved in the music industry for decades in various capacities.
Cy has been a performer, a talent manager, and a host of other positions in the country music business from here to Nashville. Cy Yaegal previously met Carmichael while on tour, but it was later that he inquired if the 25-year-old would consider playing in Bellaire.
Carmichael didn’t have a hand in selecting his opening act, but Johnetta Yaegal noted the selection of Joseph was the perfect choice, and not just because he calls the Ohio Valley home.
“Gage is a 17-year-old with a bright future in country music,” Yaegal said. “It just made sense.”
Tickets are available here on the academy’s website. Tickets are $20 apiece or $40 for VIP seating (near the stage and granted access to the roped-off area). Guests wishing to consume alcohol must provide a valid ID upon entering.
There is no cap on ticket sales.
For the Good of the School/Town
The idea of the show is to generate interest and excitement both for the town and its residents. St. John is taking all proceeds from the show and putting that toward its current beautification project that academy students started earlier this year along with principal Vince Gianangeli.
Last month, Gianangeli and 11 Fighting Irish students took to the streets of Bellaire, garbage bags in hand, and worked to clean up trash. Their ideas go above and beyond not only trash pickup, but also doing for more than just the school’s property.
They have village-wide aspirations, not just their little portion of Guernsey Street.
“The proceeds will go to a beautifying Bellaire projects that the students already started this year with our principal,” Yaegal said. “We will start with outside our building and continue to work to spread pride across the town.
“We want to keep doing things like this each year, and as the events grow, so will our project.”
Yaegal noted that when the flyer for the show was first pasted on Facebook, one village resident likened the performance to Bob Hope’s trip to Bellaire.
The disparity in level of celebrity notwithstanding, why not Bellaire? The village is still here, pushing forward and working to improve not only its offerings but also its image.
“Bellaire needs progress and growth, from our schools and our economy in general,” Yaegal said. “We must all do what we can to provide growth and a proper education to our local students and families. We are still here and deserve to be recognized.”
About Carmichael
If you’re not quite versed yet on Carmichael’s music, know this: He comes from impressive country music stock.
He’s the nephew of multi-platinum selling country music artist John Michael Montgomery, along with Eddie Montgomery, one-half of the former CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Montgomery Gentry.
Carmichael’s sound is a mixture of newer country that still pays respects to its traditional roots. His original Album, Hell on an Angel, was released back in 2018 and produced by Dave Cobb, the same man who helped produce music for both Chris Stapleton and the Zac Brown Band.
He’s had two singles crack the Top 60 of country music airplay—I Do for You, which peaked at No. 40, and his current release, Hot Beer, which climbed up to No. 57.
His latest EP is gaining traction and attention, as this recent review will attest.
