BlackHawk playing in Havre Thursday

Popular country music band BlackHawk will be playing a concert at the Great Northern Fairgrounds Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Bigger Better Barn, with part of the proceeds going to the Montana Association of Chiefs of Police to fund their activities throughout the coming year.

BlackHawk lead vocalist Henry Paul said in an interview Tuesday that he's happy for the opportunity to play in Havre, along with other Montana locations, during this year's tour.

"It'll be pretty exciting to get up there," Paul said.

He said the band will play their hits as always, but they'll be pulling from all corners of their discography so people will hear plenty of music.

BlackHawk, founded in 1992, saw success with its first single in 1993, "Goodbye Says It All," which peaked at No. 11 on the Hot Country Songs charts in early 1994. Their double-platinum debut self-titled album had four more single hits, "Every Once in a While," "I Can Sure Smell the Rain," "Down in Flames" and "That's Just About Right," all of which made the top 10 on the country charts.

The band released three more albums in the '90s, with the single "There You Have It" reaching No. 4 on the country charts and peaking at No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Vocalist and guitarist Van Stephenson had to leave the band in 2000 due to complications of skin cancer, from which he died in 2001, and was replaced by Randy Threet, who performed in The Outlaws with Paul. The third founding member is keyboardist and vocalist Dave Robbins. Blackhawk continues to tour and record albums, with the album "Blue Highway" released this year.

Tickets for BlackHawk's Havre performance are available on 406tix.com for $42 for general admission, and $50 for VIP tickets.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with premium seating until showtime for all VIP ticket holders, and at 6 p.m. for general admissions.

Paul said Wednesday that the band still plays 120 shows a year and has no plans to slow down any time soon.

"Our tour starts in January and ends in December," he said.

Despite their rigorous schedule, he said, they still have plenty of time in the year to be with their families, but playing music is how they make a living and as long as there are still so many passionate and loyal fans, that's what they're going to keep doing.

"It's a lot of fun," he said.

Havre Police Cheif Gabe Matosich, who is also the regional director of the Montana Association of Chiefs of Police, said he's thrilled to get BlackHawk up to Havre.

"They're a great band," Matosich said.

He said money made from events like this go toward funding the association's yearly activities which include providing professional training to officers, funding the Montana Law Enforcement Museum and Montana Law Enforcement Foundation.

He said they can also use it for Camp Make-a-Dream, the Special Olympics of Montana, and the association's Junior Police Acadaemy, which events like this allow them to run free of charge.

Matosich said he's excited for this family-friendly event, and he wants to thank the community for their continued support for Montana law enforcement.