Wade Sims wraps up Nokian concert series

Wade Henry Sims will take the stage Friday, June 28, for the 2024 Nokian Tyres Summer Nights Concerts at the Rhea County Courthouse.

The Rhea County United Way Celebrity Band (Alex Green, Hoss Whitt, Aaron Johnson and Reed Johnson) will open for Sims.

With three independent albums to his credit, including Rumors, which is available on Amazon and Apple Music, Sims brings powerful vocals to ballads, honkytonk and outlaw country.

Originally from Sale Creek, Sims began playing the guitar at 3, and honed his performing and song-writing skills all over the world while in the U.S. Navy. He even had the opportunity to back up country music legends Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty at a Christmas program in Cannes, France.

“Conway Twitty was a big inspiration to my career,” he said.

Wade’s own “raspy country twang” is somewhere between Kenny Rogers and Travis Tritt.

“When I came to Rhea County, I took up with Bobby Beard,” he said, referring to the owner of the Eagle’s Nest barbershop and prominent local steel guitar player. Other musical mentors include George Thacker, Ed Walker, Jim Hallengren, and Gil and Anna Kyle, and he played with several local bands over the years. He continues to play solo and with bands at venues around the tri-state area.

Wade Henry’s original singles include “Redneck Rendezvous,” “Rumors Get Around,” “Someday I’m Gonna Live Like That,” and “The Night that Ruby Fell.”

Music starts at 7 p.m., but food and beverage vendors will be on hand earlier. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to enjoy an evening of music under the shade trees on the courthouse lawn in downtown Dayton.

Summer Nights Concert Series is hosted by the Rhea Heritage Preservation Foundation, and Nokian Tyres sponsors the event as part of its commitment to serving the community where it operates an award-winning production factory, producing all-season and all-weather tires for the North American tire market.