Eric Church, who was announced as the new Nebraskaland Days concert headliner a few days earlier, took the stage at the Wild West Arena by himself with just an acoustic guitar and launched into a medley of favorite songs from multiple genres.

The songs ranged from “Walking in Memphis”, the Dukes of Hazard theme song, “Luckenbach, Texas”, “Tiny Dancer” (“My apologies to Elton John for that one,” Church told the crowd), “Pour Some Sugar on Me”, “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” and “Sweet Caroline”.

The arena was packed for the concert. The crowd was happy to sing along because they were fans of Church and fans of the songs.

With Luke Bryan dropping out as the headliner just days earlier as well as a threat of severe weather, there was a lot going against the Viaero Summer Jam Concert on Friday.

But the show went on with Bryan’s friend, music star Eric Church, filling in.

Eventually, Church started playing from his long list of original material that the fans also loved. He brought to the stage Joanna Cotten and the two of them sang “Drowning Man”, “Drink In My Hand” and more hits.

Church then told the crowd that North Platte reminded him a lot of his hometown, Granite Falls, N.C., before playing “Round Here Buzz.”

Church played more of his biggest hits like “Drink a Little Drink Smoke a Little Smoke” and “Springsteen” as he remained unplugged, accompanied only by Cotten. It wasn’t a typical concert where he had his backing band but that made it feel all the more special.

He told the crowd he had a lot of fun and he was a little apprehensive about taking the date for Bryan.

“I told Luke, I only had me and a guitar. But I also have a secret weapon, Joanna,” he said.

Church finished the night with “Like Jesus Does” from his big, best selling album, Chief.

Church and Bryan performed years ago on the Nebraskaland Days stage on the same night. They were up and comers in the music business. Fans who remembered were extra glad to hear from them again.

As scheduled, Ashley Cooke and Bayker Blankenship played before Church.

Blankenship opened the night with a rockin’ set of songs. Just as he finished, the wind started to pick up and the temperature cooled, which could only mean one thing in Nebraska in June — severe weather.

The concert was delayed for 30 minutes. But the storm clouds went north of North Platte, allowing the show to go on.

Cooke then took the stage. She played “Summer Nights” by Rascal Flatts, a song she sings with the band on their new album, Life Is A Highway: Refueled Duets. She said it was the first time she performed it live. She also covered crowd favorites, “Redneck Woman” by Gretchen Wilson and “Any Man of Mine” by Shania Twain.

The bubbly Floridian also introduced a new song, yet to be released, in which she coached the audience, saying, “It goes, Baby Put Those Baby Blues Away. Got it? Good.”

The Viaero Summer Jam Concert Series is back on Saturday with Bailey Zimmerman, Cooper Alan and Angie K.

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