LAYTON — Tucked away among county office buildings, the Kenley Centennial Amphitheater in Layton isn't easy to find. There's no tall, bright marquee that can be seen from I-15.
You need to know where you're going before you leave home.
And even then, after you enter the complex, you will have to drive around the parking lot before you spot an unobtrusive sign announcing that you've finally reached your destination.
Its appearance may be modest, but there is nothing humble about the amphitheater. Layton's premier concert venue for the past decade, Kenley Centennial Amphitheater has hosted an array of popular artists that rivals other, better-known outdoor venues in the state.
The performers who come to Layton aren't today's hot names. The artists are often those who've been around awhile and have proven staying power. "We bring people in who our audiences want to see," said Charlene Nelson of the Davis Arts Council.
Over the years, the list of performers has included such soloists and groups as Don McLean, Riders in the Sky, the Smothers Brothers, the Oakridge Boys, Maureen McGovern and Rich Little, to name a few.
Nelson is the executive director of the Davis Arts Council, a position she's held for 20 years. The council, housed in a small building across the parking lot from the amphitheater, handles booking for the venue. "We do about 12 or 13 concerts and musicals during the summer," she said.
Many of the venue's performers are local groups. "It's a combination of national and community performers."
During the season, which runs from early June through the end of August, there are also free Sunday concerts that feature local talent.
"Sometimes, these concerts are by new people who are known only to those who book them," said Dave Thomas, recreation supervisor for Davis County, who oversees the amphitheater. "Sunday night is for locals — and for everyone who comes, you get some good, quality entertainment."
At the very start of their career, Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band played here. "They went from us to Capitol Records," Thomas joked.
The amphitheater can hold about 2,000 people. There are 600 seats, and the rest of the audience can spread blankets on the grassy berm behind the chairs.
The amphitheater doesn't look as if it could hold that many people, since it's pretty shallow and the seating area curves around either side of the stage. "Performers who are used to the Delta Center experience are surprised at how intimate it is," Nelson said.
This year marks the amphitheater's 10th anniversary. Thomas said that nothing special is planned to celebrate the event. "We do something special every year."
The first entertainer Nelson booked into the new venue was Anne Murray. "We stuck our necks out when we booked her, because we didn't know how it would turn out," Nelson said. However, Murray loved playing in the small amphitheater, and she was a big hit with the opening-night audience. That gave Nelson the courage to book other acts.
Nelson is currently in the process of booking the 2005 season. So far, Charlie Daniels and the Lovin' Spoonful have been signed. "I should have the schedule finalized in another (two) weeks," she said.
The majority of the amphitheater's patrons are from Davis County, she said. "We get people from Weber and Salt Lake, but most of the people are local."
Thomas said that Davis County residents have taken the amphitheater to heart. "They feel like it's their own."
Nelson added that she is already taking calls from people who want to know who'll be appearing this summer. "They say, who do 'we' have coming?"
The Kenley Centennial Amphitheater is located at 403 N. Wasatch Drive, Layton. Concert and ticket information can be accessed on the Web at www.davisarts.org.
E-mail: ereichel@desnews.com