Nothing beats getting free concert tickets. What makes it even better is when the concert happens to include of two your favorite artists. Jake Owen and Brett Young, are two up-and-coming country artists, and the chance to see them together, and for free, was a chance I couldn’t pass up.

Thousands of people flocked to the Centurylink Center in search of a great time and good music, including this reporter and a friend. Although the night got off to a late start, we found our seats with time to spare before the first act started. Dying of hunger, we made our way to get some food while the opening act, who we didn’t think we would know, took the stage. What we didn’t know was that the opening artist happened to be the songwriter behind the hit song “When It Rains, It Pours.” When he started singing this song, the entire arena burst into cheers and joined in on the singing.

The second act was the more well-known country artist, Brett Young. Before he began, my friend and I made our way up to seats that had yet to be filled so we could get closer to one of our favorite artists. Young started with one of his more upbeat songs, “Close Enough,” and followed it with some of his slower songs. During his cover of Marvin Gaye, we were distracted as a two women began fighting only a couple rows in front of us. For the next two songs, we were too distracted by the members of crowd control shuffling up and down the rows that we didn’t even notice he had started our favorite song, “Sleep Without You.” While Young was phenomenal and kept the crowd entertained, everyone was ready to see headliner, Jake Owen.

When Owen took the stage everyone jumped to their feet ready to see the artist most in the crowd were there to see. His set list opened with two of his best known songs,  “One That Got Away,” and “Beachin’.” He continued with some new songs that I didn’t know as well, but was caught off guard when he started singing the opening verse to the theme from the television show “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” My friend and I and the rest of the crowd joined in and sang every word to the theme song. Owen continued the set with more of his newer songs that we didn’t know as well. He finished the concert with “Anywhere with You,” and “American Country Love Song.” We wished that the night never had to end and that the whole thing could start from the beginning and go again. But, as that didn’t happen the three mile walk back to the car was filled with repeating memories from the night and lots of laughing as we searched for the car.

If the opportunities ever comes along to go to a concert with a friend, take it. Even if the artist is unknown, it’s a great time and I made some memories that I will never forget. I would highly recommend seeing Jake Owen and Brett Young and would replay that night again if I could.

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