You might not get close enough to feel the sweat pouring off their bodies, but a couple of musical favorites are finding ways to perform live in front of an audience, and you don't have to leave your car.
Country music icon Alan Jackson will perform a pair of shows this weekend on opposite corners of Alabama as he presents his first-ever "Small Town Drive-In" concerts. The first will be on Friday, June 5, in Cullman, Alabama, about 2 hours and 20 minutes from Chattanooga. The show will be on the open field site of the long-running Rock the South festival.
The second will be in Fairhope the following day on the grounds of the Oak Hollow Farm, bringing three decades of hits to music fans in a unique "drive-in meets concert" experience, giving attendees a quality-of-life activity during this current time of isolation and uncertainty.
Also, contemporary Christian acts Newsboys United and TobyMac have planned shows of their own with several that are much closer to Chattanooga. NewsBoys United will perform on June 18 in Marshall, Arkansas, at the Kenda Drive-In and on June 19 in Aurora, Missouri, at the Sunset Drive-in.
In addition to other shows around the country, they will be at the Blue Moon Drive-In in Guin, Alabama, on June 24, the Montana Drive-In in Estill Springs, Tennessee on June 25, the Hedegar Drive-In in Henegar, Alabama, on June 26, the Macon Drive-In in Lafayette, Tennessee on July 1, and at the Parkway Drive-In in Maryville, Tennessee, on July 6
TobyMac will be at the Highway 21 Drive-In in Beaufort, South Carolina, on June 22 and the Monetta Drive-In Theatre in Monetta, South Carolina, on June 23, the Stardust Drive-In Theatre in Watertown, Tennessee on June 25, the Pink cadillac Drive-In in Centerville, Tennessee on June 26, the Birdsong Drive-In in Camden, Tennessee on June 28, the Blue Moon Drive-In in Guin, Alabama on July 6 and the Montana Drive-In Theater in Estill Springs, Tennessee on July 7
You can find more information at driveintheatertour.com. with proceeds to benefit Food for the Hungry. Tickets for both are $100 for general parking and $175 for Gold Parking with up to six people per car.
Jackson will play to an audience of approximately 2,000 parked vehicles in accordance with and while promoting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Alabama state health guidelines regarding social distancing and other practices. Attendees will be required to stay with their vehicles, and concessions will be provided only via phone orders with delivery to vehicles.
Tickets went on sale May 27 at AlanJacksonDriveIn.com, with general admission pricing per vehicle (up to two passengers) at $99.99; additional passenger tickets may be purchased for $39.99. A limited amount of VIP parking, closest to the stage, is available starting at $199.99.
A portion of all proceeds from each Small Town Drive-In concert will go toward food relief efforts in the respective regions.
The Cory Farley Band, which frequently plays at Jackson's AJ's Good Time Bar in downtown Nashville, will open the shows.
Jackson has sold nearly 60 million albums worldwide, ranking him as one of the 10 best-selling male vocalists of all-time (rock, pop and country). He has released more than 60 singles – registering 50 Top 10 hits and 35 No. 1s (including 26 Billboard chart-toppers). He has earned more than 150 major music industry awards – including 19 Academy of Country Music Awards.
- Compiled by Barry Courter