Concert Fans Embrace The Ledge Amphitheater

(KNSI) – Waite Park’s Ledge Amphitheater is quickly becoming one of the best draws in the Upper Midwest for a variety of musicians.

New West Presentations helps book some of the biggest acts for the venue. Company President Chris Fritz says advance sales for an upcoming show with heavy metal bands Gojira and Mastodon are at least double locally what they are at sites in Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri, and Omaha, Nebraska. The same thing happened last year for Bonnie Raitt. City Administrator Shaunna Johnson says it’s a surprise, but she understands why crowds are flocking there.

“I think there is a lot of desire to want to be outside and with this being a unique, outdoor venue not very far away from the cities — so, just an hour and a half drive away, that maybe has a lot to do with it.”

Fritz told the Waite Park council he expects at least 15 New West booked concerts this summer. It could be as many as 22. That would be double what the Ledge did last year.

The amphitheater will begin doing corporate partnerships soon to help with maintenance and other expenses. Johnson says since construction was partially funded by public bonds, the State of Minnesota must approve any agreements if Waite Park is a party to the contract. It will use New West instead. Johnson explains the benefits of the program.

“So, really a corporate sponsorship program is just looking for ways for us to be able to pay for replacement of chairs and other types of things that are at that venue. We just put a new video screens. In 10 years we’re probably gonna have to replace them.”

Fritz and Jamie Whitehead from New West visited with city staff, held a work session meeting with the Waite Park council, and met with the company in charge of hiring for backstage roles on Monday. Fritz told councilors they should be proud of the venue and the splash it has made in just 18 months.

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