Concerts added to 2010 schedule

John Michael Montgomery headlined a nearly sold-out concert at the 10,000 seat Allentown Fairgrounds just a few years ago. On Sunday, May 16, he will be the headline performer at Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe.

This is just one of several shows added recently to the 2010 schedule at Penn's Peak.

Other names added are country stars Sammy Kershaw and Mel Tillis, pop icon Rick Springfield, and the legendary Blood, Sweat and Tears, whose hit "You've Made Me So Very Happy" was one of the top songs of 1969.

Here's who was recently added:

• Valentine's Dinner Dance featuring Remember When - This is always a well-attended event at Penn's Peak. It will be held Saturday, Feb. 13 with dinner at 5 p.m. and the concert at 7 p.m. Admission is with reservations only, which can be made by phoning 866-605-7325 or 610-826-9200. The cost for dinner and entertainment is $40.

• Jamey Johnson - The award-winning country singer is at Penn's Peak on Sunday, Feb. 21. Tickets are $34 and $29.

• Rick Springfield - He's back on Friday, Feb. 26. Tickets go on sale Saturday.The cost is $42 and $37.

• Separate Ways the Band featuring Dan Gaagliano has a Penn's Peak date of Friday, March 5. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 day of show.

• Railroad Earth - Returning to the Peak on Saturday, March 6 Tickets $20 advance and $25 at the door.

• John Valby - This show contains adult language. The comic will be here on Friday, April 9. Tickets, which go on sale Saturday, are $17 in advance and $22 night of the show.

• 38 Special - It's a return visit to Penn's Peak for this rockin' band. Tickets go on sale Saturday. They are $37 and $32.

• Mel Tillis - He will make his first appearance at the venue on Friday, April 30. Tickets for this Branson star are $34 and $29.

• John Michael Montgomery - The recorder of such songs as "Sold (The Grundy County Auction)" and "Life's A Dance" will be at Penn's Peak on Sunday, May 16. Tickets are $34 and $29.

• Air Supply - The band will be playing at Carbon County's largest music theater on Friday, May 21. Tickets, which go on sale Jan.23, are $35 and $30.

• Sammy Kershaw - The singer of "She Don't Think She' Beautiful" is at Penn's Peak on Friday, July 23. Tickets are $25 and $20.

• Blood, Sweat and Tears - The concert will be held Thursday, Oct. 14. Tickets, $29 in advance and $34 day of show, are on sale Saturday.

Next in the Penn's Peak line-up is Arrival - the Music of Abba on Friday, Jan. 22. Tickets are $28 and $23. The concert starts at 8 p.m.

On Saturday, Jan. 23, Travis Tritt is on the large, wooden stage to do his acoustic show. The performance has gotten great reviews wherever he's appeared.

The Swedish band Arrival is the largest touring ABBA show in the world and the only one with exclusive rights (granted by ABBA's original clothing designer Owe Sandström) to identically create exact versions of ABBA's original outfits.

They have been touring for 12 years all over the world.

Their lineup includes 12 members, two of which are original ABBA members Finn Sjöberg (guitar) and Roger Palm (drums).

They perform everything live and they are so convincing that even die-hard ABBA enthusiasts on Swedish radio believed Arrival's version of "Dancing Queen" was really ABBA. The band recently received exclusive permission from ABBA to perform and record the unreleased ABBA song "Just A Notion."

There are many ABBA tribute bands out there, but this is the most entertaining and the most identical to the real thing.

Among the hits by Tritt are "Here's a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)," "Country Club," and the emotional ballad, "Anymore."

Tickets for the Travis Tritt performance are $37 and $32.

The band Yes will be at Penn's Peak on Friday, Feb. 5.