Juanes? (In a club?) Marco Antonio Solís? Expect more Latin concerts, Boise promoter says
If you’re a fan of Spanish-singing superstars, you’ve had a good month.
Mexican icon Marco Antonio Solís announced a concert that will take place Saturday, Sept. 5, at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa ($59-$179, ICTickets). And Colombian rocker Juanes revealed that he’ll perform Friday, Oct. 9, at the Revolution Center in Garden City ($59.50 or $99.50 VIP, cttouringid.com).
But the really big news? Latin pop and rock concerts in the Boise area will become more common in the future, according to the organizer behind these events.
“I think since Boise is becoming more diversified, the Latin shows are really starting to work,” explains Creston Thornton, president of promoter Live Nation’s mountain region. “So expect us to bring more artists into the market.”
Tickets to the Solís and Juanes shows went on sale to the public last Friday.
Solís and Juanes have sold millions of albums. Last summer, Solís performed in 16 of the largest cities in the United States and sold out Madison Square Garden. He also performed for 17,000 fans at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
The prospect of a Juanes concert in a 2,200-capacity club in Garden City might surprise Idaho fans. Born Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez, he was named one of “the most 100 most influential people in the world” in 2005. He, too, has headlined major arenas and amphitheaters — including the 17,500-capacity Hollywood Bowl as recently as 2018.
On this tour, Juanes was interested in smaller Northwest venues, Thornton says. “This is the size rooms he wanted to play. We’re doing Spokane, Boise and Tri-Cities in rooms all about the same size — 2,000 to 2,500.”
“It’s a very big deal,” Thornton adds.
Thornton expects Juanes to sell out the Revolution Center, and Solís to draw approximately 5,000 to 6,000 fans to the Idaho Center.
Need your Spanish-language music fix right now?
Prince Royce, an American singer-songwriter of Dominican descent, performs Saturday, March 7, at the Revolution Center ($43 or $83 VIP, cttouringid.com).
How popular is Prince Royce? Check out his romantic pop song “Darte un Beso” on YouTube. It has 1.1 billion views — billion.
“That’s crazy,” Thornton says.
Music promoters are in business to make a profit. As long as Latin musicians keep rocking Boise fans’ wallets and purses, the shows will come here.
“Live Nation has a Latin department now,” Thornton says. “We’re trying to be more diversified in the Northwest region, and concertgoers are supporting it.”
This story was originally published February 6, 2020 at 4:05 PM.