The 2018 MLB season has arrived and the season opener for the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park will be today, Thursday, April 5th, but baseball isn’t the only thing that is played at the oldest major league ballpark in the nation. Country music has made its mark in Boston in recent years and what other way to spread the love of country music but to have a concert at the ball park.
Here are some of the country artists that have had the opportunity to perform for their fans at Fenway Park.
Jason Aldean
In July 2013 Jason Aldean made history by being the first country music star to play a concert at Fenway Park. Due to the selling out of his first night, of the 2013 Night Train Tour (with Miranda Lambert, Jake Owen and Thomas Rhett) in just seven minutes, a second show was added. Aldean followed up his 2013 appearance at the iconic ball park with another concert in September of 2016 when he performed for another two nights on his The Six String Circus Tour (with Kid Rock, Thomas Rhett and A Thousand Horses). “We’ve had this show circled on our calendar for quite a while,” said Aldean to cheers, “and I know you Bostonian’s have been drinking Sam Adams all day to get ready for this.” Jason was joined by Kid Rock for his 2016 show.
Photo Credit: Chris and Todd Owyoung
Zac Brown Band
Of all the country acts that have had the pleasure of playing at Fenway, the Zac Brown Band wins for the most appearances. In June 2014 The Zac Brown Band’s, The Great American Road Trip Tour played two nights to a sold-out crowd of 70,000 people. ZBB played for over 2 hours and sang 30+ songs. Because their 2014 shows were sold out and so successful ZBB decided to return to Fenway park the following year in August of 2015 for their Jekyll + Hyde tour. They performed for over 100,000 fans during the 3-day event. In August of 2016, ZBB came back to Fenway Park with the, Black Out the Sun Tour, for another two nights of country music. This event made Fenway Park history with the most tickets sold at a single concert, the most tickets sold over two nights of concerts by the same artist and the first band to sell-out seven consecutive shows over three years at the ballpark.
After skipping 2017 the ZBB will return to Fenway park in June 2018 for their Down the Rabbit Hole Live Tour. They will play two nights Friday June 15th and Saturday June 16th.
Florida Georgia Line
Florida Georgia Line headlined the first-ever stadium concert of their career July 7th 2017 at a sold-out show at Boston’s Fenway Park for their Smooth Tour. Joining FGL for their stop in Boston were the Backstreet Boys, Nelly and Chris Lane.
Luke Bryan
Adding to the list of famous country acts to have the opportunity to play at America’s Favorite Ball Park is four-time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan. Bryan and his band are set to rock the historic ballpark on July 6th as part of their What Makes You Country Tour. Joining Bryan will be superstar Sam Hunt, along with the award-winning Jon Pardi and the up-and-coming Morgan Wallen. Bryan had this to say about his stadium tours; “My excitement to play these iconic sports stadiums is truly uncontainable,” said Luke. “Playing my music live is the reason I do what I do and the energy of the FANS is what pushes me year after year to deliver a bigger and better experience. I’m so thankful to be in these venues and cities with some of the brightest names in country music. This lineup fires me up and I can’t wait to get this tour started!”
It’s exciting to see that country musicians are energized about performing at one of America’s oldest and most beloved ballparks and I’m sure there will be more country artists joining the ranks in the years to come.