Home   /   Reviews  /  What's New  /  Features  /   Safe Summer Songs Drive-In Concert Series Kicks Off With Cheley Tackett & Annie Mosher
Safe Summer Songs Drive-In Concert Series Kicks Off With Cheley Tackett & Annie Mosher

Photo courtesy of Think Country/Mary Beth Ippich

If you’re missing live music, you’re not alone.  Here at Think Country, we’re going through withdrawal too.  We’ve been hearing about drive-in concerts and we decided it was time to give one a try.  One of our favorite local places is the Nashville Craft Distillery, and it’s just what it sounds like it would be.  It’s a distillery where they make their own brand of some of the best spirits you’ll find anywhere.  They aren’t the biggest, but they sure are excellent.  Tucked away from the neon jungle of lower Broadway, they’re the perfect respite for anyone weary of the normally-crowded tourist areas of the city.  The best part is, they’re still within a hop, skip and a jump from the epicenter of it all.

Actually, at the moment, the very best part is Nashville Craft Distillery has kicked off its Saturday night Safe Summer Songs Acoustic Drive-in Concert Series.  The shows are presented by Nashville Craft Distillery, Peace, Love and Paws and Cheley Tackett and will run every Saturday through August 22nd with different artists each week.  Drive-in concerts are popping up in response to social distancing mandates due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I’m sure they’re all a bit a different, but I think we chose wisely for our first one.

Cheley Tackett, who co-headlined the first of these drive-in shows, is one of Nashville’s most gifted singer/songwriters, with an alto voice that soars.  She writes with some of the best in the business and that’s because she is among that select group.  Her most recent full-album, Buckeye, has taken all of us at Think Country by storm (see my album review  from 2018 https://thinkcountrymusic.com/whats-new/cheley-tackett/) and we simply can’t get enough of her music, right here in Nashville or over in the UK.  She’s played both sides of the Atlantic to packed venues, walking away with new fans each time.  She’s a powerhouse performer.

Photo courtesy of Think Country/Mary Beth Ippich

Video courtesy of Think Country and YouTube

Joining Tackett on this first drive-in outing at Nashville Craft, was Annie Mosher.  A Vermont native with a flair for penning songs that are wildly witty, while also having the ability to write thoughtfully poignant tunes as well, Mosher is one of those artists that you’ll want to see again and again.  Often on the same bill as Tackett, the two have a terrific onstage chemistry that makes seeing them together an extra special treat.

Photo courtesy of Think Country/Mary Beth Ippich

Video courtesy of Think Country and YouTube

Held in the parking lot of Nashville Craft Distillery, with the back of a large trailer serving as a stage, show number one in the series couldn’t have gone any better.  The sound was clear and crisp, not ear-shattering, but loud enough to hear anywhere in you parked.   There is definitely ample parking in the lot as well.  Attendees are asked to please remain at their vehicles during the show in order to comply with safe social distancing rules.  Lawn chairs are allowed as long as concert goers remain at their vehicles in their group.  Masks are to be worn when approaching outside vendor tables or when using the restroom inside the building (one person is allowed into the building at a time).

Photo courtesy of Think Country/Mary Beth Ippich

Although the event takes place at a working distillery, in order to comply with current mandates, the business is not allowed to sell mixed drinks, so they are doing the next best thing to keep themselves afloat and offer their wares to the folks that attend the shows.  They are selling full bottles of their various products, and as someone that has had the chance to taste them, I can assure you, they are top-quality, great tasting and more than well-worth the price.  I highly suggest everyone give them a try.

Photo courtesy of Think Country/Mary Beth Ippich

The artists also have their official merch available at shows and of course, we always encourage fans to check these items out, and even more now that times are especially difficult for those in the music community.  High quality, official artist merch is one of the very best ways to show these musicians you’re a fan and keep them going during a highly uncertain period.

Photo courtesy of Think Country/Mary Beth Ippich

For those that have been wary of attending a live music show because of COVID fears, please put those concerns to rest.  This was such a safe, relaxed environment.  We watched the entire show from the safety of our tailgate and never had to leave.  We brought a cooler of water to drink and it really was, in essence, like going to a drive-in, except we got to listen to real live music.  Not a livestream, not a video, real, live, interactive music.  The night was beautiful, and of course, because it was July 4th, Independence Day in the United States, we even had fireworks in the background.  Not quite the usual Nashville super fireworks, but plenty were going off from every direction.  Even Cheley Tackett probably couldn’t have added all those pyrotechnics to her own budget!  Bonus!

Photo courtesy of Think Country/Mary Beth Ippich

The entire setup would have put even the most nervous person at ease.  It was so incredibly well-run and adhered to every possible guideline set forth, not to mention the people in attendance were a friendly bunch, not willing to ruin anything for anyone, not the venue or themselves and risk having this weekly series being taken away.  It was obvious they were thankful to get back out to see some of what they’ve been craving and were ready to do whatever they needed to do to keep it going, right from the start.  Plain and simple, it was a good time, put on by good people.  If you’re looking for something to do in Music City on a Saturday evening, this is exactly it.  The shows run from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, not too early and not too late.  There’s just nothing negative to say about it.   We know we’ll be back for more!

 

Photo courtesy of Think Country/Mary Beth Ippich

For all the details on upcoming shows see the schedule graphic and visit the links below.  Tickets are available at  http://eventbrite.com  Please be sure to check out the event’s sponsors too.

Nashville Craft Distillery:  https://www.nashvillecraft.com/

Cheley Tackett:  https://cheleytackett.com/home

Peace Love and Paws:  https://peacelovepawsnashville.com/

Annie Mosher:  https://www.anniemosher.com/

*Featured image courtesy of Think Country/Mary Beth Ippich

 

 

Tags

Related Article