Tomlinson concert benefits Arlington Arts Council

ARLINGTON — Country music performer Trent Tomlinson and his six-piece band rocked the Linda Byrnes Performing Arts Center Sept. 21.

The concert by Tomlinson, whose hits include "Country Is My Rock," "One Wing in the Fire" and "Drunker Than Me," was put on by the Arlington Arts Council as a public arts fundraiser.

By all accounts, Tomlinson's performance showcased his personal experiences, and the crowd was asked to participate.

He played many of his hits and recounted stories from his life that influenced those songs, said David Kuhl, community development director for the city of Arlington.

During one exchange, Tomlinson asked one of the audience members for a camera so that his lead guitar player could play a song with it using the neck of his guitar, Kuhl said.

Tomlinson signed autographs and posed for photos after the show.

Laura Kuhl, Arlington Arts Council vice president, said the event was meant to draw people into the city.

"We fund art projects through these shows in the city such as the mural along Olympic Avenue and the bicycle near the trail downtown," Kuhl said.

She said the performing arts center organizers at Arlington High School have worked hard to accommodate big-name acts such as Tomlinson.

"For a little town, we have a powerhouse of volunteers who have worked religiously for months in order to pull off these events and we should be proud of them," Kuhl said.

The concert, which was attended by between 250-350 people, raised about $4,000 for the council.

Contact Arlington Times Reporter Adam Rudnick at arudnick@arlingtontimes.com or 360-659-1300 Ext. 5056.

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