April 4, 2008
Their Great Outdoors is Better than Ours
The e-mails come almost daily:
"Pearl Jam on Sale Tomorrow ..."
"Journey On Sale Date Announced ..."
"Budweiser Concert Series Welcomes Feist ..."
Needless to say, these e-mails are not promoting shows coming to the greater Roanoke Valley. These concerts will be in Virginia Beach and Charlottesville. Those places have amphitheatres.
Roanoke officials are pushing hard for an outdoor concert venue (at least some of them are). The odds are favorable that we'll have one someday, somewhere. Until then, don't expect many big tours to stop in the valley during the warm months.
Summer is prime concert time in the U.S. Just not here. More and more acts prefer to perform beneath the stars on hot August nights rather than inside stuffy, dark arenas. That's why we don't get a ton of shows during peak concert season.
Until the Riverside/Elmwood/Downtown/New Victory Stadium (or whatever it's called) gets built, better plan on some road trips this summer. With gas prices these days, summer concerts are an expensive proposition for Roanokers.
Comments
[April 5, 2008 1:57 PM]
Berkeley Dent : →http://www.bluemtnmusic.comWe have a great amphitheatre in Franklin County that is a perfect place for live outdoor music. With a little help could be what you are speaking of.
[May 2, 2008 2:12 PM]
Heather FroeschlHonestly, I'd rather be indoors...just in case it's gonna pour. Remember Linda Rhonstadt suing NYC? Someone taking a shot at Garth Brooks in Central Park? And who wants to get wet in a rowdy outdoor crowd? I grew up on LI, NY, and never did attend a concert at Jones Beach, but I did see Pink Floyd at Madison Sq, Halls & Oats at Radio City, Billy Joel at Madison Sq....I think we need a pull for the big names to come here at all, not just have an ampitheatre available. But you guys are the experts - what do I know?
[May 2, 2008 3:18 PM]
Tad : →http://www.roanoke.com/entertainment/insideout/musicWell, I hope we see no gunplay at our amphitheater -- assuming we ever get one!
[May 3, 2008 12:02 AM]
Amy Hanek : →http://www.houseonthegladehill.blogspot.comNow that my kids are too old for Dora the Explorer and Barney - I am just glad to get out for some adult-sized music - indoors or out.
I did see the Eagle's Hell Freezes Over Tour both indoor and out. I did enjoy the outdoor concert better for that genre - but the threat of rain that night made us mighty nervous!