HAMILTON, Ont. — Brooks & Dunn, country music’s Entertainers of the Year, roll into Hamilton tomorrow and kicking off the show will be Spring Creek Carriers driver GM Paterson.

Paterson insists he’s thrilled to be performing as part of the Neon Circus — the official name of the tour — for its stopover in Hamilton.

Born on Manitoulin Island and raised in Sudbury before moving to the Hamilton area in 1980, Paterson says his roots run through both rock and country and lists his influences as Elvis Presley, George Strait, Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Aerosmith, George Fox and Def Leppard.

The trucker says 75 per cent of his songs come to him on the road between Hamilton and Wisconsin.

For the Neon Circus show, Paterson will be performing with his band, Jay Burha (drums), John Derrick (guitar) and Darryl Dray, formerly of Helix (bass) in the Exhibition Hall of Copps Coliseum at about 5 p.m.

Other acts slated to take the Copps Coliseum stage include Dwight Yoakam, Gary Allan, Chris Cagle and Trick Pony. It all starts at 4 p.m. Tickets are still available and range in price from $59.50 to $69.50. You can pick them up at the Copps box office or through Ticketmaster at 905-527-7666.