Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, and Trace Adkins play drive-in concert showing at NEPA theaters on July 25
From a press release:
Following the national success of the Garth Brooks drive-in concert, Encore Drive-In Nights launches with more summer shows to air at drive-in and outdoor theaters across the United States and Canada, including several theaters in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
These all-new performances will be filmed exclusively for each one-night-only event and include cinematic interviews and storytelling. The concert experience will deliver a front-row look at the world’s most iconic recording artists to fans across North America, including locals at the Circle Drive-In Theatre (1911 Scranton/Carbondale Hwy., Dickson City), the Garden Drive-In (20 State Rt. 11, Hunlock Creek), and the Moonlite Drive-In (1190 Shoemaker Ave., West Wyoming).
The series kicks off on Saturday, July 25 with an all-new performance featuring country music superstar Blake Shelton, who will be joined by special guests Gwen Stefani and Trace Adkins. Tickets for this show, which are $114.99 per vehicle (up to six people), go on sale this Tuesday, July 14 at ticketmaster.com.
“This is such a great way to enjoy music with your family and friends and stay safe,” Shelton said.
“I’m excited we’re getting the chance to perform a concert for fans, and we’re going to go back and play old hits like ‘Austin,’ newer songs like ‘God’s Country,’ and we might even introduce something brand new! So fill up those popcorn tubs and get ready for some country music!”
The Circle Drive-In will once again stand out from other drive-ins across the country by offering a pre-show tailgate party organized by singer/songwriter Chris Shrive of Old Forge country band Flatland Ruckus, who has been performing safely outdoors in the back of his pickup truck throughout the coronavirus shutdown. At the Garth Brooks event, he played live with special guests Mike Elward and Marcus Welliver of The Wells River Band, Shane Fabiani, and Rob Husty on a stage built on the roof of the concession stand, and their sets were live streamed on the NEPA Scene, Flatland Ruckus, and Circle Drive-In Facebook pages. Shrive has confirmed that he will do this again, starting after gates open at 3:30 p.m.
The Encore Drive-In Nights series is presented by leading event production company Encore Live. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, drive-in theaters have proven to be a safe, creative way to deliver fans world-class entertainment thanks to their ability to engage and delight large groups of people in open-air layouts.
Fans will experience the concert features from the safety of their personal vehicles. Drive-in theaters hosting the Encore Drive-In Nights will adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended guidelines as well as all state and local health mandates. Staff will wear personal protective equipment and enforce at least six feet of space between cars. The series will also use contactless payment and ticketing systems and limit capacity in restrooms. Guidelines around concessions will abide by individual state regulations.
Encore Live launched the series in response to fan enthusiasm surrounding its “Garth Brooks: A Drive-In Concert Experience” production on June 27.
“After the overwhelming response to Garth Brooks’ drive-in concert feature, we knew we had to launch Encore Drive-In Nights to provide music fans across the USA and Canada the chance to see their favorite artists in a cool new way,” said Encore Live founder and CEO Walter Kinzie.
“We can’t wait to bring music’s biggest stars to outdoor movie screens all across North America so that people can get back out there again and safely enjoy engaging in-person experiences.”
With drive-in theaters all across North America lined up to air the Encore Drive-In Nights, fans everywhere will have access to a completely unique concert film experience. Additional Encore Drive-In Nights performances will be announced in the coming weeks.
Unlike traditional concert tickets that are bought for individual admission, each ticket for the Encore Drive-In Nights will admit one passenger car, truck, or SUV. That means up to six family members or friends (as many as there are legal seatbelts) can enjoy these exciting experiences together for one low cost.
Blake Shelton continues to add to his superstar status. His latest single, “Nobody But You” with Gwen Stefani, recently reached the top of the country radio charts for multiple weeks, marking his 27th career No. 1. The track has accumulated upward of 130 million streams and more than one million track equivalents, debuting at No. 1 on the all-genre iTunes Songs chart.
“Nobody But You” made its TV debut on the 62nd Grammy Awards, where Shelton was also nominated for Best Country Solo Performance for his smash “God’s Country.” One of the fastest country songs in 2019 to reach one million track equivalents, the double platinum “God’s Country” also earned the 2019 CMA Award for Single of the Year and most recently received three 2020 ACM Awards nominations for Single, Song, and Video of the Year. The track remained No. 1 on country radio for a multi-week run and marked his 16th No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Both tracks are featured on “Fully Loaded: God’s Country,” which was Shelton’s seventh and most recent album to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart.
An advocate for country music past and present, the platinum-selling entertainer recently wrapped his headlining Friends and Heroes Tour (with special guest Lauren Alaina as well as appearances by The Bellamy Brothers, John Anderson, and Adkins), with remaining dates to resume in March of 2021. As a coach for the Emmy Award-winning television show “The Voice,” Shelton is a seven-time champion, most recently with his contestant Todd Tilghman. The Grand Ole Opry member also remains focused on his Ole Red partnership with Ryman Hospitality, with locations currently in Tishomingo, Nashville, Gatlinburg, and Orlando.
