Last fall, Jefferson City's Salute to America organizers had a brainstorming session on how to accommodate growth for the city's premiere festival.
"We're pretty much taking up the entire 17-block downtown area," festival director Jill Snodgrass said. "There really isn't anywhere else for us to grow in the downtown area."
One idea was to incorporate the old Missouri State Penitentiary. It seemed a natural fit, being just a few blocks away from downtown.
In the last few years, the shuttered prison has become a big tourist destination, with thousands of people flocking annually to see what's been dubbed the "bloodiest 47 acres in America." It once housed the famous and the infamous. Sonny Liston went on from there to be a heavyweight champion boxer. One-time inmate James Earl Ray went on to kill Martin Luther King Jr.
Mayor Carrie Tergin, chairwoman of the Salute to America Foundation, recalled: "We walked the prison grounds and looked around, saying, 'What can we do? This space is awesome. How can we use it and do something for the July 4th weekend?' We said, 'We've got to do something.'"
They came up with the idea of a concert, complete with an "outlaw" theme to fit the prison venue.
One major problem stood in their way. The land is owned by the state, and despite repeated attempts by local leaders and historic preservationists over the past decade, the state - ultimately Gov. Jay Nixon - hasn't given them a great deal of control over the property.
Permissions to use and update the land have come too slow for some city leaders, who have expressed frustration both publicly and privately.
So Salute to America organizers questioned whether making a pitch to use the old prison as part of the festival would be fruitful. For one, the state has never approved the grounds for alcohol sales/consumption, a standard fare at concerts.
Still, they proceeded with the plans and it paid off. After meetings with the Office of Administration, the state approved one-time use of the land for a concert, along with the sale of beer courtesy of Fechtel Beverage, St. James Winery and Coca-Cola products.
They settled on an Outlaw Country Concert headlined by Grammy-winning country singer Travis Tritt.
The sale of alcohol wasn't a hangup with negotiations, Tergin said, as the state understood that would be expected.
"The state was very supportive," Tergin said. "They really see the vision the city has in doing something there.
"Ultimately, if (Nixon) was not supportive, I can tell you this wouldn't have happened."
Getting the state's permission was just one of many obstacles, Snodgrass said. They also had to navigate the lack of running water (they're bringing it in for handwashing stations and for vendors), no restrooms (they'll have porta-pottys) and a lack of reliable electrical power (they'll bring in generators).
They also have to do some cleaning up to make the area as handicap-accessible as possible. Also, they'll need to get a semi-truck onto the property to unload and assemble "a giant stage," Snodgrass said. They've taken measurements and believe they can make it work.
"We still have our fingers crossed that it will go the way it's been planned," she said.
Snodgrass believes the state agreed to the concert because both Salute to America and the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau have good track records of working with the state. "They know we'll do what we promise," she said.
Tergin hasn't been one of the state's critics in the past regarding MSP, but she does acknowledge the No. 1 question she gets from people: "What are you going to do about the prison?"
For now, she has an answer. She's been plugging Tritt's upcoming performance everywhere she can at events, on the radio and to reporters.
"Here's a quarter," she said to Bob Scrivner, while she was a guest on the Sunday Morning Roundtable radio show this weekend. "Call somebody who cares," Scrivner said, finishing the Tritt lyric.
Tergin is obviously proud they were able to land Tritt, who, in his 25-plus years of performing, has racked up No. 1 singles, millions of album sales and two Grammys.
The concert also will feature The ShotGunBillys, Jason Bertrand Music Band and Hillbilly Vegas.
The concert, she said, will be a historic first but hopefully not the last. Organizers hope if it is a success, the state will let them make it an annual event.
Part of that could depend on whether they meet their goal of selling the 2,500 available tickets.
Tergin said organizers understand festival attendees can see high-quality concerts for free at the festival. However, they believe concert-goers will pay for the show because of the unique venue and because of the popularity of Tritt, who is "above and beyond" previous Salute to America shows.
Any proceeds will go to the Salute to America Foundation and the CVB.
Seating will be general admission on the ground (bring your lawn chairs and blankets, if you'd like), and for an extra $20 you can enjoy a meal from Prison Brews inside the historic A-hall, a former cell block. Prison Brews donated the meals and plans to serve good food, but in prison style - on trays and with an attitude.
On the menu are pulled pork and chicken, baked beans, potato hash casserole, coleslaw and pudding cups, plus a couple items to remind people they are in a prison: white bread and watered-down Kool-Aid.
"I'm hoping to plant the seed and really make it grow," Tergin said. "It's just so darn cool, so neat. I'm just so excited."
If you go
What: Inside the Walls Outlaw Country Concert featuring Travis Tritt and three other bands
Where: Old Missouri State Penitentiary
When: 4-10 p.m. July 2
Cost: $35, plus $20 for the meal
Tickets: Buy online at salutetoamerica.org or at Carrie's Hallmark Shop (concert tickets only; no meal tickets)