Summer might be over, and kids are back in school, but country music artist Niko Moon says the vacation and good time vibes never end when he’s on stage.
Moon will bring that flip-flop feeling to Canton Centennial Plaza in downtown Canton on Sept. 19 at the first fully ticketed event at the venue.
Drawing comparisons to Jimmy Buffett and Zac Brown, Moon’s country pop songs evoke images of sunshine, beaches, pina coladas, cruising on a boat and coating your body with sunscreen.
“The live show to me is like a vacation,” the 42-year-old Moon said. “We don’t need to go to Cancún. I’ll be wearing a Hawaiian shirt and I’ll be barefoot. We’re all going on a vacation together, and for a good hour and a half, we’re hitting the pause button on the stresses of life, because they’re not going anywhere. LIfe is short so let’s have some fun and celebrate for a little while together.”
Moon was among the opening acts in June at The Country Fest at Clay’s Resort Jellystone Park in Stark County.
Often holding a red plastic cup and taking sips in between lyrics, Moon will host the equivalent of a big beach party.
“At our headline show, we really like to delve into our world and into the experience, to feel exactly like where we’re wanting to take you, which is on vacation,” an upbeat Moon said during a recent phone interview.
Niko Moon performs during the Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th event in Nashville on Friday, July 4, 2025.
More than 1,500 people expected at Niko Moon concert
Moon will be the first concert at Centennial Plaza in which tickets are required for admission. Centennial Plaza is now under the management of ASM Global, which operates arenas and other venues across the country, including the city-owned Canton Memorial Civic Center.
Based on ticket sales, more than 1,500 people are expected, said Blake Schilling, general manager of the Civic Center.
Four entry points will limit access to the Centennial Plaza area to ticket holders − Market Avenue N and Fifth Street; Market Avenue N and Second Street; Fourth Street and Piedmont Avenue; and Cleveland Avenue NW and Fourth Street.
Contemporary Services Corporation will operate the entry points, where digital tickets will be scanned. Concertgoers also will walk through metal detectors and have bags checked, Schilling said. Concertgoers will be given wristbands to prove they have a ticket.
Canton police also will be providing security on the perimeter of the concert area, as well as having a presence at Centennial Plaza.
“We have developed a plan that will provide a secure and entertaining environment,” Schilling said.
All tickets are general admission, with the exception of the patio and pit areas, which are sold out. No seating will be provided for general admission ticket holders. Entry points open at 6 p.m. Moon is scheduled to perform from 9:15 to 10:30 p.m. Opening acts have not been announced.
“The extended forecast right now looks fantastic,” Schilling said of the weather. “But if that changes, this concert will be moved to the Civic Center (1101 Market Ave. N in downtown Canton). This concert will happen one way or another.”
Niko Moon performs June 12 at The Country Fest at Clay’s Resort Jellystone Park in Lawrence Township. Moon will be headlining a concert on Sept. 19 at Centennial Plaza in downtown Canton.
‘First ticketed event downtown at the plaza.’
Todd Herberghs, executive director of the Downtown Canton Partnership, said the Niko Moon concert will maximize the potential for Centennial Plaza, located in the heart of downtown.
“We’re incredibly excited for the first ticketed event downtown at the plaza,” he said. “We have been working collaboratively with ASM Global for months now, and we welcome the concert as a chance to activate Centennial Plaza and bring more people to downtown Canton.
“Niko Moon is an amazing, up-and-coming artist that will bring a great vibe to downtown Canton.”
Niko Moon performs during the Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th event in Nashville on Friday, July 4, 2025.
Niko Moon has worked with Zac Brown, Morgan Wallen, Chris Cornell
Moon was a successful songwriter before releasing his first solo album, “Good Time” in 2021. All of the songs on the debut, except a Travis Tritt cover, were co-written with his wife, Anna Moon.
Moon followed that up with the album “Better Days” in 2024, and “American Palm” this summer.
Popular songs include “Good Time,” “Paradise to Me,” “Fishin’ In The Dark,” “Small Town State of Mind,” “No Sad Songs,” “Boat Song” and “Sandcastles.”
Growing up, his varied musical influences included John Prine, Emmylou Harris, The Eagles, Travis Tritt, Alan Jackson, Oukast and the Ying Yang Twins. Moon’s own music, however, is most influenced by Bob Marley and Jimmy Buffett.
The Texas native has penned songs for such music stars as Dierks Bentley, Rascal Flatts, Morgan Wallen and Pitbull. Moon, who grew up near Atlanta, co-produced the Zac Brown Band’s 2015 album “Jekyll + Hyde,” as well as the band’s 2017 studio release “Welcome Home.”
Boasting 233,000 followers on Facebook and 337,000 followers on Instagram, Moon was named SESAC Country Songwriter of the Year in 2021.
Niko Moon, both a solo artist and successful songwriter for music stars, will be performing Sept. 19 at Centennial Plaza in downtown Canton. Tickets cost $41.25.
Among the featured artists on “Jekyll + Hyde” was the late Chris Cornell, acclaimed singer of the grunge rock band Soundgarden. Cornell joined Zac Brown on the song “Heavy is the Head,” which reached No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock airplay chart.
“It was something for me that was a massive bucket list (item),” Moon said. “Chris (Cornell), I hold him up in a similar regard as Chris Stapleton − a vocalist that has such an unbelievable voice that it’s almost hard to believe it’s real and (Cornell) is one of those guys.
With laughter, Moon added: “There’s to me, singers like him, and singers like me, and that’s a whole other planet.”
Moon champions mental health
Making his own music is especially rewarding.
“The gift of being able to be my own artist and make my own music, there’s nothing like that, there’s nothing even close,” Moon said. “And I think because there’s a very particular message involved with the music I’m making, so being able to make music centered around that message of positivity gives my music a great amount of meaning and purpose.”
Music can help people persevere through difficult times and with mental health struggles, he said.
“I’ve been blown away by some stories I’ve been able to hear (from fans) about the impact of some of my songs and the encouragement they’ve gotten from it,” Moon said. “That for me means way more than like a No. 1 or any sort of materialistic success metric or anything like that. For me, I’m just trying to make my life as impactful as possible.”
Niko Moon performs during the Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th event in Nashville on Friday, July 4, 2025.
“Music is such an amazing tool for mental health,” he said. “For me personally, I lean on it all the time. Music from guys like Bob Marley, Jimmy Buffett and Kenny Chensey − it takes you to paradise when you need to go there and remember every little thing’s gonna be alright.”
Mental health is a cause the singer champions through his Happy Cowboy Foundation, which he operates with his wife.
“We basically help people who are looking for therapy to get that positive peace of mind again but can’t afford it.
“… At the end of the day, peace of mind shouldn’t be relegated to those with enough cash,” Moon said. “Peace of mind should be for everybody.”
Reach Ed at [email protected]. Follow on Instagram at ed_balint and TikTok @edwardbalint.
If you go
What: Niko Moon concert
When: Sept. 19. Gates open at 6 p.m. Moon is scheduled to take the stage at 9:15 p.m. Opening acts have not been announced.
Where: Centennial Plaza, 330 Court Ave. NW along Market Avenue N in downtown Canton.
Tickets: General admission tickets cost $41.25 (fees included) and can be purchased through hometownjams.com and at ticketmaster.com. VIP meet-and-greet packages are available at nikomoon.com. Tickets also will be sold at concert entry points on Sept. 19, but a cell phone and credit card are required.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Niko Moon talks Jimmy Buffett, Chris Cornell and Canton, Ohio concert
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com ’
