Country singer Olivia Dvorak to perform at benefit

The crowds continue to get bigger for country singer-songwriter Olivia Dvorak.

The 22-year-old, who grew up outside of Rockford, moved to St. Charles a couple of months ago. She met her manager, Suzanne Positano, while opening for Loretta Lynn, Trace Adkins and Scotty McCreery during shows at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles earlier this year.

Dvorak will open for Drake Bell – who was a star in the hit television show "Drake & Josh" – on Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles as part of a benefit, Rockin For Veteran Wishes. Proceeds from the show will go to Operation Warrior Wishes.

Also on the bill are Lava Rock, Justin Ruff, Lindsay Kent, Emilie Rose Danno, Anaam Singh and a special guest. The benefit starts at 3:30 p.m. after the Jack Axe Games and Festival at the Kane County Fairgrounds.

Tickets cost $25 a person and are available at www.excelautostc.com, www.warriorwishes.org or www.jackaxe.com.

Kane County Chronicle reporter Eric Schelkopf had the chance to talk to Dvorak about the upcoming show.

Eric Schelkopf: You are opening for Drake Bell. Is that a pretty big opportunity for you?

Olivia Dvorak: Absolutely. I grew up watching the "Drake & Josh" show. It's really cool to watch him progress as an actor into his music career.

Schelkopf: I know that all proceeds from the concert will benefit Operation Warrior Wishes. Is that another reason you wanted to be part of the concert?

Dvorak: Anytime that I can give back to an organization, it's great. They sacrificed a ton.

Schelkopf: You received awards from the Rockford Area Music Industry for artist of the year and song of the year in 2014. Was that a big honor for you?

Dvorak: Definitely. I went off to college for a little bit, and then recorded in Nashville. It was really cool for me to be able to come back to my hometown and receive those awards.

Schelkopf: You opened for some major music stars earlier this year at the Arcada Theatre. How was that experience and what did you learn from it?

Dvorak: It was an amazing experience. I love the opportunity to be able to touch people with my music, and to have a captive audience of more than 1,000 people in one room.

And also to be opening for people who are so well-respected in the music industry, it was really cool for me to be able to do that.

Schelkopf: So, do you think you will be doing more performing in the area since you are living here?

Dvorak: Yeah, definitely. Suzanne and I have been talking about doing more local shows. The bigger shows are always good, too. We're going to be touring all the way to Los Angeles and Las Vegas and then back to Chicago for the "Beauty In Beauty Out" tour.

Schelkopf: I know you speak at a lot of youth events, and recently spoke at the Girl Scout’s Young Women of Distinction event in Rockford.

Dvorak: That is something I love doing, just encouraging people, especially those in my generation or a little bit younger.

I want to encourage them to do whatever they are gifted in. I didn’t figure out what I wanted to do until a year into college.