Photo by Jamie Plain
Heath and Molly Eric have spent more than a decade proving that you don’t have to be in a major market to make a major impact.
As founders of The Eric Group, the husband-and-wife team has built a full-service concert and event management company that specializes in bringing world-class entertainment to small and mid-sized communities across western Kentucky and southern Indiana.
“We’re not just a concert management firm trying to sell as many tickets as possible,” Heath said. “We view what we do as a long-term, tourism-driven economic engine to inject outside dollars into these local economies.”
Based in western Kentucky, The Eric Group has evolved from humble beginnings. The couple launched the business in 2011 while they were still touring musicians, initially offering sound and lighting services under the name Rumsey Records LLC.
They later rebranded to reflect the growing scope of their work, which now includes everything from marketing and graphic design to talent buying, staging, ticketing, security, sponsorships, and full logistical management.
“At our core, we’re entertainment and event consultants,” Heath said. “We manage every aspect of the event, from booking the artist to the final settlement.”
One of the group’s biggest successes is its partnership with the Beaver Dam Amphitheater, which Heath said has become a premier outdoor venue in the region. Now entering its 11th season, the venue has drawn tens of thousands of visitors annually and plays a major role in the area’s tourism economy.
“That team in Beaver Dam — the mayor, the city commission, the tourism commission — they all share the vision,” Heath said. “And what we’ve built together has been incredible.”
Beyond their work in Beaver Dam, The Eric Group has partnered with several venues and municipalities across the region, including Castle Knoll Amphitheater in Paoli, and Madisonville’s 4th Fest and Praise in the Park. In Owensboro, the company provides support for major events such as Friday After 5, BBQ & Barrels, LIVE on the Banks, and Groovin’ on the Green. They also manage the Summer Nights Concert Series in Munfordville.
Eric said Beaver Dam Amphitheater welcomed roughly 50,000 fans in 2024 alone, drawing visitors from all 50 states and more than 130 countries over the venue’s first decade. In Madisonville, the annual 4th Fest has become the region’s largest three-day outdoor music festival, bringing in more than 30,000 attendees each year. A 2024 study reported a $2.7 million economic impact tied to the city’s tourism efforts, with 4th Fest serving as the anchor event.
The group’s work with Owensboro’s Friday After 5 also yielded record-breaking numbers in 2024, their first year procuring all the entertainment. Heath said the June 14 performance by Ole 60 drew more than 17,000 people downtown — the largest crowd in the event’s history. Another standout night on July 19 featured KIDD G and The Crashers, drawing more than 11,000 fans.
Like many in the entertainment industry, The Eric Group faced enormous challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. But they quickly adapted, investing in a 60-foot video screen and launching drive-in concerts with acts including Tanya Tucker, Great White, and The Kentucky Headhunters.
“We marked off parking lots and sold car spots,” Molly said. “People stayed in their cars, listened through their radios, and just got to experience live music again. It was really special.”
Beyond logistics and lineups, the Erics said what drives them is turning visions into reality for their clients.
“Sometimes clients just have an idea, and we get to help bring it to life,” Molly said. “Whether it’s a corporate event, a festival, or even just a stage rental — we make it happen.”
That phrase — “We make it happen” — has become The Eric Group’s unofficial motto.
“We didn’t sit down and come up with it; it just started happening,” Molly said. “And now you won’t see our logo without it.”
Both Heath and Molly still carry their musician roots into every project. Heath’s background includes years working in artist booking and venue marketing, including a stint as director of marketing at the Executive Inn in Owensboro.
“That time shaped everything we do today,” Heath said. “It’s all about forming relationships and delivering a great experience — not just for the artist or the client, but for the community.”
Molly said that while she’s loved performing, she finds even more satisfaction on the business side.
“Helping people step into the spotlight and making their event shine — that’s what I love most,” she said.
Looking ahead, The Eric Group is preparing for another busy season. For Heath and Molly, though, it’s never just about the next big act — it’s about what that act can mean for a community.
“If we hit the mark, people will keep coming,” Heath said. “They’ll spend the night, eat in our restaurants, shop in our stores. That’s what matters most to me.” OL
