|
Brad Paisley: Live from the Drive-In
The Streets: Live From the Drive-In
The NOLA Drive-In Summer Concert Series
Read More
|
With 2020 looking more and more like a “lost year” in terms of live music, the industry has had to adapt, pivot, and make the most of things, given that traditional concerts in typical venues will likely be among the last to re-open. One of the best answers was to take a direct look into the past– the drive-in.
Drive-Ins began during the height of the Great Depression in 1933 Camden, NJ.
Richard Hollingshead Jr. dreamed of creating something that would bring a little fun to the tough daily life of the era and first gathered the materials to try it out in his own backyard before growing it in scale.
One of the big draws of the drive-in theater was that it gave families an activity to do together without bothering others, enjoying refreshments, freely smoking and talking as they wished. The first film shown was 1932’s ‘Wife Beware’ and the entry cost was 25 cents per car and per person after that, capped at one dollar (times have changed!).
Almost ninety years later, it’s turning out to be the best and most effective way to present live music to a fraction of the masses during this summer when so much remains in lockdown. The idea took hold first to some acclaim in April, but not in the U.S., in Denmark, when singer-songwriter Mads Langer held concerts in the coastal town of Aarhus, that immediately sold out.
In the States, early efforts included local LA musicians staging a show at Echo Park in late March, DJ D-Nice spinning for first responders in Florida, TX singer-songwriter Ben Ballinger playing an open field in Austin, and a surprise concert on May 14 near Nashville as Keith Urban played to 200 front-line workers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Country music has always been closest to the fans, so it made sense that as well as Urban, Alan Jackson played a series of Small Town Drive-In Concerts in rural Alabama, Garth Brooks pre-recorded a show (to mixed reviews) beamed to 300 drive-ins, and last weekend, Brad Paisley kicked off Live Nation’s multi-city outdoor series, encouraging car honking and even dialing in Carrie Underwood on-screen for a video meeting-style duet.
Christian acts are participating as well, with Toby Mac and Newsboys United each kicking off multi-city dates late last month in the South and Midwest, and a 10-city tour from Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman and Mac Powell started this Thursday.
Electronic artist Marc Rebillet played eight cities in June, Los Lobos played in Southern California on July 4, Andrew McMahon just reprised his Jack Mannequin days with a pair of successful shows in Anaheim last weekend, and jam band Spafford played a successful late May outdoor show in Mesa, AZ.
Smaller, more local venues have experimented with the format as well, as jazz club Crooner’s in the Minneapolis metro, the county fairgrounds in Lawrence, KS, and Fireside BBQ in suburban Overland Park, KS have all held previous scaled-down shows.
The UK isn’t being left out, with multi-city shows announced from the likes of The Streets, Kaiser Chiefs, and Spandau Ballet’s Tony Hadley, but Live Nation UK just pulled the last-minute plug on their series (feat Gary Numan, Brand New Heavies and more), due to recent localized lockdowns.
In most of these experiential events, health protocols are being followed including staggered reserved parking spots with dedicated tailgating areas for your group, contactless ticketing and concessions ordering via a phone app, temperature checks, and proper social distancing.
While not as intimate to the concert experience we’ve all become accustom to, drive-in concerts are providing a small glimmer of enjoyment in an otherwise bleak concert season; providing some welcome live entertainment, revenue, and jobs, and most likely, this year’s lone hope for any semblance of attending a full-scale live music concert.
Upcoming Drive-In Concerts of Note:
July 24 – Revivalists in New Orleans- ‘The NOLA Drive-In Summer Concert Series.’ Lakefront Arena parking lot
July 25- Blake Shelton is the latest artist to headline the Encore Drive-In Nights series.
The show will feature special guests Gwen Stefani and Trace Atkins. Similar to Garth Brooks’ show, this concert will beam to over 300 US drive-ins.
July 25 - Chainsmokers play Nova's Ark Project- Water Mill, NY in The Hamptons
(Tickets- $1,250 to $25,000!!! but are for charity and will benefit No Kid Hungry, Children's Medical Fund of New York, and Southampton Fresh Air Fund.)
July 31- moe. at Vernon Downs, New York- “Miracle Mile Live Drive-In Concert” (sold out)
August 1- moe. at Vernon Downs, New York- “Miracle Mile Live Drive-In Concert”
August 29- The Avett Brothers play their first live show in six months at Charlotte, NC Motor Speedway celebrating the release of their new album, The Third Gleam, out the day before.
Drive-In Concert, courtesy of Getty Images |
| john ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ facebook.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic |
Recent Comments