MIDVALE — Season five "American Idol" winner Taylor Hicks will be performing at Midvale City Park on Saturday as part of the Midvale Harvest Days events.
“Anytime I get a chance to come to Utah, I take it," he said in a telephone interview with the Deseret News. "I just think (Utah) is an amazing state and when you get to play music there, it is even better.”
Hicks and his band will be performing a free concert during the Harvest Days. His music includes Southern soul style, R&B, country and blues.
“I think that it will be a great, relaxed show,” Hicks said. “I’ll perform some songs from 'American Idol,' and some songs from my records and some great cover songs.”
Hicks has performed in many places across the country, including several times in Utah. He has also headlined a show in Las Vegas, starred in a Broadway musical and released several albums, according to press materials.
During the season five finale of "American Idol," more than 63 million votes were cast, and almost 37 million viewers watched as Hicks was crowned winner in 2006. This was marked as one of the most-watched television events of the decade, according to press materials.
“When you win a show like, it is the break you always wanted to catch,” Hicks said. “I'm very blessed to have caught that break, and it has allowed me to perform in all kinds of different avenues. It has just opened so many doors, and I am very thankful for that.”
While he tours the country, Hicks is promoting several projects, including his upcoming TV show and a new album.
“I'm actually shooting around the country right now and doing shows off of that, but I'm really excited to host a food and travel show called ‘State Plate,’” Hicks said.
In “State Plate,” a food and travel show, Hicks and his team visit each state and find iconic foods, Hicks said. They go to where the iconic state foods are made and put them on a plate.
Along with his TV show, Hicks said he is writing songs for a new album.
“I've been collecting songs for a while now, and I think they are just going to be really, really great songs,” Hicks said. “It is going to be very roots oriented.”
After Hicks and his band perform at Midvale Harvest Days, the city's annual fireworks show will start at 10 p.m.
The festival also includes a concert by Alex Boyé on Friday at 8 p.m. On Saturday, there will be a pancake breakfast, parade, safety fair and other live entertainment, including Midvale Main Street Theatre, Real Academia de Ballet and The Walker Brothers.
If you go …
What: Midvale Harvest Days festival, including concerts with Alex Boye and Taylor Hicks
When: Festival through Aug. 6; Alex Boye concert, Aug. 5, 8 p.m.; Taylor Hicks concert, Aug. 6, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Midvale City Park, 455 W. 7500 South, Midvale
How much: Free
Phone: 801-567-7235
Note: Concerts are outdoors; organizers reccommend bringing a lawn chair or a blanket
Email: ewhite@deseretnews.com