A quick glance at the calendar shows that the number of entertainment events is increasing. That’s fairly normal. Take a look at the calendar for the Tivoli and Memorial Auditorium, however, and you might notice something a little different. While it is not packed with events every night, the schedule is pretty full for the next two months, and it is filled with variety like I haven’t seen in a long, long time.
Beginning with John Prine’s sold-out show Saturday night and continuing to the “Riverdance” performances May 18-20, there is a gospel singing, a Broadway show in “The Color Purple” and several concerts. It’s the concerts that jump out at me as being noteworthy. Over the last couple of years, we’ve hosted some great shows, but we haven’t had a string like we will see in the next few weeks, and I am just talking about at these two venues.
After Prine, country artist Jamey Johnson will perform Thursday, followed by the Good Friday Gospel Sing the next night. On April 3, rapper Yo Gotti & Friends will perform, and the Six Strings at Sunset show is April 7. Comedian/songwriter Rodney Carrington is April 8, and the symphony’s “Hooray for Hollywood” show featuring composer George S. Clinton is April 10. Pop/rock act Heart is April 15 at Memorial, and the same night the symphony is back at the Tivoli for a Masterworks show.
Hard rockers Alice in Chains are here April 28, and the musical run ends with Widespread Panic on May 4 and roots/rockers Old Crow Medicine Show on May 5.
That’s a diverse lineup, and David Johnson, director of the Tivoli Auditorium Promotions Association, said it is not by accident.
“TAPA has a piece of it all,” he said. “I think if you look at the mix, each is in its own genre. That’s on purpose. We worried about oversaturation, but each of them is selling well so far.”
He said his office has been aggressively seeking shows and that it appears the tide might be shifting as promoters are once again looking to book in secondary markets like ours.
“I think the economy is changing, and these shows that have been sitting around and waiting are ready to get back out there,” he said.
“I think it is a win-win for the community and the city.”