Odds & Ends: Taylor Swift, Sam Smith, Garth Brooks, Eric Church & More

The possibility that a venue might host a play-off game on the same evening Taylor Swift is scheduled to perform has forced a change in plans for the songstress.

Swift was originally going to play Houston’s Minute Maid Park Oct. 13.  But that was before the Houston Astros became contenders for a play-off slot in the MLB postseason.  Now the über-star has kind of flip-flopped the date with her previously scheduled stop in Fargo, N.D.

The change in plans has Swift playing Minute Maid Park Sept. 9 while fans in North Dakota will have to wait until Oct. 12 to see her at the Fargodome.

“As a concert and special event venue, Minute Maid Park is committed to providing the best experience to not only Astros fans, but to the fans of all of the artists that perform at the ballpark,” the Astros said in an announcement.  “The new show date will ensure that fans of Taylor Swift will have every opportunity to see her perform at Minute Maid Park, as the Sept. 9 date does not conflict with any potential postseason baseball.”

Tickets purchased for the original dates will be honored for the rescheduled shows.  Refunds are available at points of purchase.  Click here and here for details.

Sam Smith, who cleared his calendar earlier this year in order to undergo surgery in May for a hemorrhage on his vocal cords, has moved a couple of shows around.

Smith’s concert scheduled for July 29 at Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, has been moved to Oct. 5 and his August 5 gig at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah, is now planned for Oct. 2.

An announcement says the performances are being postponed “to allow for additional healing time.”  However, not all dates are affected.

Tickets purchased for both shows will be honored on the new dates.  Refunds available at points of purchase.

Garth Brooks has broken his own record for selling tickets in Dallas.

Brooks’ Dallas shows went on sale Friday and the country superstar not only bested himself but he upped the number of gigs from the originally announced two shows to seven concerts at American Airlines Center

For those of you keeping score at home that means he sold more than 100,000 tickets before noon on Friday.

Garth’s old record in the Big D was set back in 1998 when fans gobbled up 50,213 tickets for his shows at the Reunion Arena.

Here’s Brooks’ Dallas schedule as it stands today:

Sept. 17 – Showtime 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 – Showtimes 7:00 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.
Sept. 19 – Showtimes 7:00 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 – Showtime 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 22 – Showtime 7:30 p.m.

Brooks’ wife Trish Yearwood appears on all dates.  Check out GarthBrooks.com for more details.

The mammoth Country Thunder music festival has snagged a big name for its first 2016 headliner announcement.  The annual extravaganza in Twin Lakes, Wis.,  broke the news today that it will host Eric Church sometime during the event’s July 21-24 run.

The announcement comes one day after Country Thunder concluded its 2015 festivities in Wisconsin with a lineup that included Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Jerrod Niemann, Dustin Lynch and others.  Click here for the festival’s website.

It looks as if Puddle Of Mudd singer Wes Scantlin is in trouble once again.

TMZ reports that the rocker was arrested in Minnesota for allegedly driving under the influence and that leading police “on a 100 MPH chase.”

Apparently Scantlin had more than a couple of drinks.  According to the Renville County Sheriff’s Department, the arresting officer reported that Scantlin blew a .310 during a preliminary breathalyzer test.  TMZ points out that the result was “four times the legal limit.”

Along with the breathalyzer score was the arresting officer’s observation that Scantlin “was slurring his words and smelled of alcohol.”

The new charges against Scantlin include DWI and fleeing police in a motor vehicle.  TMZ points out that the singer was arrested in 2012 for drug possession and in 2013 for domestic violence.

An established shed in West Palm Beach, Fla., has a new name as the Coral Sky Amphitheatre switches its identity to Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre.

The re-naming was announced by Live Nation Entertainment and Perfect Vodka.

“We are so excited to partner with Live Nation to give all guests of the newly named Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre a chance to see why we won the Gold in the International Craft Spirit awards with our naturally non-GMO and gluten free vodka,” Perfect Vodka president Dennis C. Cunningham said.  “Great music and our smooth vodka are sure to make perfect memories.”

Upcoming shows at Coral Sky Perfect Vodka include Incubus, Zac Brown Band, Van Halen, Tim McGraw, Dave Matthews Band and Toby Keith.