Remember When Luke Combs Opened for This Popular Artist in Maine?

Our Pine Tree State loves Luke Combs. We look forward to every time he makes his way up here, from his most recent visits to his very first.

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Luke Combs is now one of the biggest musicians in the world, selling out stadiums, topping charts, and breaking records. But not too long ago, he was the one opening for other artists, warming up the crowd before the main act.

Luke Combs's rise to fame has been fast and impressive, showcasing how talent and hard work can change everything.

Combs is returning to the Maine Savings Amphitheater in Bangor on Thursday, August 22, 2024, for a special make-up show. This isn't a regular tour stop, but a chance to make up for the September 3, 2022, concert that was cut short.

Due to throat issues, Combs had to end that show early and refunded the fans. Now, he’s coming back to give Bangor the full performance they missed.

But while Luke Combs will headline this show, which concert are we talking about where he was the opening act?

Seven years ago, Brantley Gilbert hit Bangor's Darling's Waterfront Pavilion, now known as the Maine Savings Amphitheater.

Flashback to September 8, 2017, when Brantley Gilbert brought his ‘The Devil Don’t Sleep Tour’ to the Bangor Waterfront. But he didn’t come alone. Joining him was a (metaphorically) fresh face in country music.

At that time, Combs was still basking in the glow of his debut album, ‘This One’s For You,’ which had just been released earlier that June.

Who could forget the anthems that album brought us? ‘Hurricane,’ ‘When It Rains It Pours,’ ‘One Number Away,’ ‘She Got The Best of Me,’ and ‘Beautiful Crazy.’

Both Brantley Gilbert and Luke Combs have returned to Bangor since 2017, but who could have predicted that Luke Combs would become one of the biggest names in country music just a few years later?

It's the kind of story that gives hope to aspiring artists and underscores the unpredictability of the industry.