FEATURED
Concerts return in New Hampshire with Drive-In Live RICHARD DUCKET T
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WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
A U G U S T 6 - 12, 2020
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eople honking the horns of their cars, flashing high beams ... what does it mean? If you’re a band performing at Drive-In Live at the Cheshire Fairgrounds in Swanzey, N.H., it means they like you. “Obviously that’s been a bit different,” said Mike Chadinha, director of operations for Drive-In Live, of audience reaction. Drive-In Live bills itself as “New England’s largest live music series” in this unusual 2020 summer concert season. The bands are liking it. “They’re just happy to be bands at work. Everyone’s been happy to be back at work of some sort. Same with our crew members,” Chadinha said. Drive-In Live opened July 12 and will take place every Friday and Saturday through to Oct. 10 in the south parking lot of the Cheshire Fairgrounds, adhering to the state guidelines for drive-in movie theaters as it brings in a varied array of live music acts including blues, tribute bands, country and rock. Attendees purchase one ticket per mid-sized vehicle for up to five people, and tickets must be purchased in advance online — www.drive-in-live. com. Tickets can range between $60 and $159 per vehicle. Cars have 10 feet of space between them and will be parked in a staggered fashion for unobstructed sight lines. People will be able to bring lawn chairs and sit in the empty spot to the left of their vehicle. Aaron Lewis probably got the horns honking and high beams flashing for his show July 25 as the former lead vocalist of the alternative metal band Staind turned country soloist performed the first sold-out show of the Drive-In Live series. Upcoming shows include a Fireworks Fest by Atlas Fireworks and Grateful Jam from 8 to 10 p.m. Aug. 7; Fireworks Fest and Tom Petty Tribute 8 p.m. Aug. 8; G. Love and Special Sauce 8 to 10 p.m. Aug. 14; Guster, 3 and 8 p.m. Aug. 15; Badfish, 8 p.m. Aug. 21; Allman Betts Band 3 and 8 p.m. Aug. 22; and Martin Sexton, 8 to 10 p.m. Aug. 28. “We’re adding as we’re going along,” said Chadinha. “Our goal is to bring something for everyone. We try to mix it up as much as possible.” Music fans seem to be liking it.
“I think people are glad to get out of the house and have some comfortable entertainment, Chadinha said. The site is located just over the Massachusetts border, so a good number of those fans are from Worcester and Central Massachusetts. “We are getting people from Central Massachusetts because we’re not that far away,”Chadinha said. People are coming to Drive-In Live from a general radius of 50 miles. “They’re coming from Worcester. It’s a pretty easy day trip. There’s not much else as far as this neck of the woods. I would drive two hours for a show anyway, but now even more so.” Drive-In Live is produced by M.E. Productions (owned by Seth McNally), which has been presenting national level concerts for two decades in various New England venues. As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded shutting down most live music venues indoors and outdoors,
one response to the situation was drive-ins, which first started popping up across the ocean for music shows even though drive-ins in the most traditional sense are considered uniquely American. “We saw it happening in Europe. We thought it was a unique pivot to keep entertainment going,” Chadinha said. The idea began to pop up Stateside as well, and Live Nation has set up several Live From the Drive-In venues around the country, but Drive-In Live is not associated with them, Chadinha said. When New Hampshire allowed its drive-ins to open, “We worked on it to make it happen,” Chadinha said. After looking at several sites, the
Right, Mike Chadinha, director of operations for Drive-In Live. BRETT WITTEN
Blue Oyster Cult, performing July 18 at Drive-In Live at the Cheshire Fairgrounds in Swanzey, N.H. NATHAN EKIS
