By KJ MUSHUNG
It may be August but the summer concert season has shows well into September within easy driving distance and for a lot less than you might expect. But first, you’ll have to head south.
Fredericksburg
Celebrate Virginia Live
Celebrate Virginia Live has brought a wide variety of great performers to an area that didn’t used to host big name concerts. Residents of Fredericksburg are grateful not to have to drive to Richmond or D.C. for their entertainment. The good thing is neither do you.
Country music singer Trace Adkins plays tonight. Rocker Bret Michaels will perform Aug. 23. Tickets for that show start at just $18.50 for general admission but go up to $100 for platinum, ear-bleeding seats.
Richmond
There are multiple options for concerts in the Richmond vicinity. Two of the best are Innsbrook After Hours at the Snagajob Pavilion and the Groovin in the Garden series held at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens.
Innsbrook After Hours
The Band Perry is slated to perform Aug. 21 with tickets going from $30 to $60. Classic rocker and former Richmonder Pat Benatar (with Neil Giraldo) will kick it in gear Aug. 28 for $20 to $40 per ticket.
In September, country music fills the bill with Darius Rucker on Sept. 5 and Montgomery Gentry on Sept. 19. Tickets for those shows start at approximately $20 and run up to $60 and can be purchased at TicketsToBuy.com, which is a reputable locally-owned ticket-selling company.
Groovin in the Garden
This concert series is unique in that it takes place at a pavilion on the grounds of the botanical gardens. Although you must bring your own chair or blanket (unless you purchased Gold Circle seating), there are some benches just out of sight but within full hearing range of the pavilion. As with Innsbrook After Hours, there are food and t-shirt vendors set up. But really, you get to watch great performers create music in one of the most beautiful settings. And if the weather’s great that night, bonus!
One caveat, all these shows for all the venues listed here are outdoors and held rain or shine.
Fortunately, the weather held up nicely for this week’s performance. Virginia native Bruce Hornsby performed in the beautiful setting of the gardens Tuesday night. Railroad Earth opened. The show included surprises such as a rap by Hornsby’s son, Russell, a jam with opening band Railroad Earth and a version of Mandolin Rain not heard before the tour.
The event was a Music For Massey benefit concert.
The series’ next show will be Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn on Sept. 25. Tickets cost from $28 to $50 for that show and can be purchased at TicketsToBuy.com.
Bring a lawn chair or blanket (maybe an umbrella) and enjoy some superb music by some great performers.
Easy drives, low ticket prices, a chance to get friends together and go out before the summer’s gone. What’s stopping you?
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