Eric Church. Photo: Mike Coppola
Eric Church will help launch Nashville’s new Ascend Amphitheater, located at Riverfront Park, with a solo acoustic performance on July 30. Tickets for Church’s show will go on sale April 30, at 10 a.m. The concert, as well as the full fall 2015 music lineup for the amphitheater, was announced by Mayor Karl Dean and Live Nation during a press conference this morning in Nashville.
“The newest addition to Music City’s live music scene will get off to a great start with a concert from Eric Church, who represents what’s great about Music City,” Mayor Dean said. “His songs can’t be confined to just one genre; he draws from country, rock and other types of music that help make the scene here in Nashville so vibrant and eclectic.”
The opening celebration will also include a concert from classic rock bands Earth, Wind and Fire, with Chicago, on Aug. 1.
The 6,800 capacity amphitheater will feature a large 100 foot by 60 foot stage providing panoramic views and terrific sight-lines from every seat in the venue. It will be part of the 10-acre Riverfront Park, which also opens on July 30.
On Aug. 2, an open house will be held at the park and Ascend Amphitheater from 1-5 p.m., featuring behind-the-scenes tours and performances from local bands.
The Nashville Symphony’s Alan Valentine, Mayor Karl Dean, Music City Music Council chair Ed Hardy, Ascend Federal Credit Union’s Caren Gabriel, Live Nation president of North American Concerts Bob Roux, and many others were in attendance to announce the venue’s name, concert lineup, and opening date.
“Ascend Amphitheater is a perfect complement to Music City’s wide array of other world-class performance spaces and is destined to become one of the most iconic open-air venues ever built,” said Roux. “We thank Mayor Dean and the City of Nashville for their vision and dedication to develop an absolutely perfect venue on one of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen. The Ascend Amphitheater was designed for live music fans and the artists we have the privilege to work with, and I can’t wait for everyone to come together and enjoy it.”
The amphitheater will also serve as an outdoor home for the Nashville Symphony, with the symphony’s first full season at the amphitheater beginning in 2016.
Riverfront Park will include 10 acres of gardens, 1 mile of paths, a 13,000-square-foot dog park, two half-court basketball courts, exercise facilities, and more.
Riverfront Park and the amphitheater will also become the new home for Music City’s biggest events, including the annual July 4th celebration, “Let Freedom Sing.” In addition the New Year’s Eve event will also attempt to incorporate use of the space.
Ascend Amphitheater’s 2015 fall music season lineup
Eric Church—July 30
Earth, Wind, & Fire; and Chicago—Aug. 1
Phish— Aug. 4
Jill Scott—Aug. 5
Counting Crows, Citizen Cope and Hollis Brown—Aug. 7
Steely Dan and Elvis Costello—Aug. 8
The Smashing Pumpkins and Marilyn Manson—Aug. 9
NEEDTOBREATHE, Switchfoot, Drew Holcomb and Colony House—Aug. 14
Idina Menzel—Aug. 15
Peter Frampton and Cheap Trick—Aug. 16
Sublime with Rome, Rebelution, Pepper and Mickey Avalon—Aug. 18
Australian Pink Floyd with LedZepplin2—Aug. 22
Old Crow Medicine Show—Aug. 28
Under The Sun Tour—Aug. 29
ZZ Top with Blackberry Smoke—Sept. 1
Widespread Panic—Sept. 5-6
Americanafest on the Riverfront (presented by AEG Live)—Sept. 19
Daryl Hall and John Oates—Sept. 23
Lynyrd Skynyrd—Oct. 2
Chris Tomlin (in partnership with Awakening Events)—Oct. 8
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals with Lake Street Drive (in partnership with NS2)—Oct. 10
About the Author
Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at [email protected]View Author Profile
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