Smith Center for the Arts

GENEVA, NY – The Smith will present the classic country-rock group Pure Prairie League on Saturday, June 18th at 8:00pm. From their beginnings in mid-60s Ohio as a group of friends playing cover tunes to their round of present-day members, Pure Prairie League has time and again produced fresh work that continues to embellish their rich 43-year legacy as one of Country-Rock’s pioneering forces. Today their touring members feature founding member and pedal-steel innovator John David Call, veteran bassist Mike Reilly, propulsive drummer Scott Thompson and guitar ace Donnie Clark. As crisp and clean as spring water and as comfortable as a well-worn cowboy shirt, Pure Prairie League still brings it all back home; audience members can look forward to a night of old school Country fun at the Smith this summer!

Their eponymous first album – featuring the Norman Rockwell/Saturday Evening Post cover that introduced fans to PPL’s trademark cowpoke “Sad Luke” – has been hailed as a “major early influence in the emerging popularity of Country-Rock music”. Their second effort, the multi-platinum “Bustin’ Out” brought us the Craig Fuller-penned hit, “Amie”, along with other gems of the genre. With “Two Lane Highway”, nine more albums and countless shows, a legacy has been forged and enriched during the ‘70s and 80’s, highlighting contributions from several noteworthy members, including original co-founder George Ed Powell, Cincinnati’s legendary Goshorn Brothers, Country Hall of Famers Gary Burr and Vince Gill, award-winning writer Jeff Wilson (3 Top-20 singles) and a host of other guest appearances from Chet Atkins, Johnny Gimble, Emmy Lou Harris, David Sanborn, Eagle Don Felder, Nicolette Larson, and many more. Now in their fifth decade, Pure Prairie League continues to lead the way for the new generation of Country/Rockers such as Keith Urban, Nickel Creek, Wilco, Counting Crows and so many others that cite PPL as a major influence.

As one reviewer recently wrote: “PPL’s sound combines sweet memories with edgy, contemporary muscle. Their vocals are as strong as Kentucky moonshine and the musicianship and performance skills are as sharp as a straight razor”. Their performance this June is sure to be a delight for faithful “prairiedog” fans and new listeners alike!

Tickets to this event can be purchased on the Smith’s website here. By purchasing tickets to events at the Smith, patrons agree on behalf of themselves, and all other ticket holders in their party, to abide by The Smith Opera House’s COVID-19 policies. All patrons over 12 years of age at films or live performances at the Smith Opera House scheduled for the foreseeable future are required to wear a mask AND show proof of full vaccination and ID or a negative COVID test. Children younger than 12 years are required to wear a mask. Depending on the nature of the show, patrons may be allowed to remove their mask once seated in the theatre.

The Smith Center for the Arts, stewards of the historic Smith Opera House, provides diverse arts and educational enrichment opportunities year-round for Finger Lakes residents and visitors. To learn more about events offered by The Smith Center for the Arts visit thesmith.org, or visit or call our box office for phone and in-person sales, 10am-4pm, Tuesday-Friday. The Smith Opera House is at 82 Seneca St. in Geneva, NY. Please email boxoffice@thesmith.org or call (315) 781-5483.