Kenny Chesney will be performing at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA on August 26, 2023 as part of his “I Go Back” tour. Chesney is one of country music’s biggest stars and his concerts draw huge crowds. Joining him as opening acts at Gillette Stadium will be Dan + Shay, Old Dominion, and Carly Pearce.
When and where is the Kenny Chesney concert?
The Kenny Chesney concert at Gillette Stadium is scheduled for Saturday, August 26, 2023. The stadium is located at 1 Patriot Place in Foxborough, MA which is about 30 miles southwest of Boston.
The concert starts at 5:00 pm but the parking lots open at 1:00 pm for tailgating. The stadium has a seating capacity of over 65,000 for concerts so it will be a big crowd on hand to see Chesney.
Concert Schedule
Here is the schedule for the concert:
Time | Performers |
---|---|
5:00 pm | Carly Pearce |
6:00 pm | Old Dominion |
7:30 pm | Dan + Shay |
9:00 pm | Kenny Chesney |
Carly Pearce will open the show at 5:00 pm followed by Old Dominion at 6:00. Dan + Shay will take the stage at 7:30 before Kenny Chesney headlines starting at 9:00 pm.
Who is opening for Kenny Chesney?
Kenny Chesney has assembled an all-star lineup of openers for his Gillette Stadium concert. The opening acts represent the best in country music today.
Dan + Shay
Dan + Shay are one of the hottest country duos around. Comprised of Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney, they are known for hits like “Tequila”, “Speechless”, and “Glad You Exist”. Their smooth harmonies and pop-infused country sound have made them huge stars.
Old Dominion
Old Dominion brings their catchy country-rock sound to open the show. Fronted by singer Matthew Ramsey, they have notched hits like “Break Up with Him”, “Song for Another Time”, and “One Man Band”. Their latest album “Time, Tequila & Therapy” was released in 2022.
Carly Pearce
Rounding out the lineup is rising star Carly Pearce. The Kentucky native has steadily built her career with songs like “Every Little Thing”, “Hide the Wine”, and her duet with Lee Brice “I Hope You’re Happy Now”. Pearce’s traditional country voice is pitch-perfect for an opening slot.
What other big concerts are happening at Gillette Stadium?
Gillette Stadium is one of the busiest venues in the country during the summer concert season. Here are some other big concerts scheduled for the stadium:
Guns N’ Roses
Guns N’ Roses will bring their ongoing “Not in This Lifetime” reunion tour to Gillette on July 17. It will be the first time Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan have played the stadium together since 1993.
Lady Gaga
Pop superstar Lady Gaga will visit on August 19 as part of “The Chromatica Ball” tour in support of her 2020 album. Expect lots of costume changes and high-energy dance songs.
Rammstein
Known for their incendiary live shows, German metallers Rammstein will ignite Gillette on August 21. It should be a heavy night of pyro and metal mayhem.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Alt-rock legends Red Hot Chili Peppers bring their global stadium tour to Foxboro on September 10. It will be the band’s first Massachusetts show since 2016.
How much are tickets for the Chesney concert?
Tickets for the Kenny Chesney concert can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com. Prices vary depending on seat location:
Section | Price Range |
---|---|
Floor seats | $159 – $499 |
Lower level sides | $99 – $399 |
Upper level sides | $59 – $179 |
End zone/corners | $39 – $109 |
There are also VIP packages with perks like premium parking, lounge access, and merchandise bundles. Prices for those packages range from $750 – $1,750.
How to get to Gillette Stadium
Here are some tips for getting to Gillette Stadium on the day of the Chesney concert:
Parking
Onsite parking passes can be purchased in advance through Ticketmaster or the Gillette Stadium website. Prices range from $50-$150 depending on location.
Shuttles
Shuttles will run from various locations around Boston including Back Bay, South Station, and suburban malls. The cost is around $50 round-trip.
Ride Shares
Uber, Lyft, and taxis can drop off right at the stadium but pickups after the show are restricted to certain areas to avoid traffic jams.
Public Transportation
Gillette Stadium is accessible via MBTA commuter rail from Boston and Providence to the Foxboro station. Shuttles run to the stadium from there. The train takes about 40 minutes from Boston.
What to expect from a Kenny Chesney concert
Kenny Chesney concerts are known for being big high-energy parties. Here are some things fans can expect from the show:
Electric Atmosphere
Chesney knows how to amp up a stadium crowd. Watch for him running around the catwalks and jumping up on speakers to get close to fans. The crowd energy will be pulsating.
Hit Songs
Chesney has dozens of hugely popular songs to pull from including “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem”, “There Goes My Life”, “Summertime”, and many more. He’ll stick mostly to the fan favorites.
Beer Drinking
Chesney’s songs often reference drinking beer and he likes to indulge right along with the crowd during concerts. Don’t be surprised to see him slugging from a bottle of beer between songs.
Island Themes
Expect lots of island-themed stage decor and videos to go along with Chesney’s laid-back, beachy vibe. He might even come out in board shorts and flip flops.
Special Guests
As a country superstar, Chesney has plenty of famous friends. There’s a good chance a few unannounced guests will come out to sing duets during his set.
Setlist considerations
As one of country’s top touring acts for over 20 years, Kenny Chesney has countless hits to choose from when assembling a setlist. Here are some factors he likely considers when crafting the perfect setlist for stadium shows:
New vs Old Songs
Chesney has to balance his brand new songs from his latest albums with the old proven hits his fans expect to hear. He usually does 2-4 new songs mixed with a heavy dose of classics.
Up-Tempo vs Ballads
Keeping the energy high is important in a huge venue, so Chesney front-loads with a lot of uptempo, fun songs and scatters slower ballads through the back half.
Singles vs Album Cuts
While he has lots of great album cuts, Chesney knows to focus on songs that were released as singles. Those are what the masses of casual fans know best.
Covers
Chesney aims to surprise fans by mixing in a few unexpected covers. His last tour featured songs by Prince, Eddie Money, and Foo Fighters.
Fan Favorites
Some deep tracks might resonate strongly with his core fanbase. Chesney keeps his ear to fan forums and social media to see which album cuts they want played live.
Set Variety
He changes up the setlist on a nightly basis so fans attending multiple shows might get to hear different songs each night.
How Kenny Chesney’s touring has changed over the years
In his early years, Kenny Chesney played more intimate clubs and theaters where he gave rowdy, raw performances. Now as an established superstar, his tours have morphed into full-blown spectacles in the biggest venues. Here are some ways Chesney’s concerts have changed:
Bigger Venues
From clubs to sheds to amphitheaters to massive stadiums holding 60,000+ fans, the venues have exploded in size along with Chesney’s popularity.
More Production
With bigger crowds came more elaborate stage setups with multi-level catwalks, special effects, pyrotechnics, and huge video walls to entertain fans far from the main stage.
Insane Tailgating
Now infamous for the massive tailgating parties in the parking lots surrounding the stadiums, the pre-show festivities are almost as big as the concert itself.
Costumes & Theming
As his resources have grown, Chesney puts more work into special costumes and set dressing like beach balls, pirate ships, and inflatable palm trees to match each tour’s unique theme.
Guest Stars
Today Chesney can lure any huge name to join him on tour. Past stadium shows have seen guests like Taylor Swift, Eric Church, Zac Brown Band, and Kenny’s island pal Jimmy Buffett.
Chartered Jets
No more long bus rides for Chesney and his band. They now travel between tour stops on a luxury chartered jet to maximize rest and minimize fatigue from hectic tour schedules.
Kenny Chesney’s 5 biggest tours
Here are the 5 highest-grossing concert tours of Kenny Chesney’s career so far:
Tour | Year | Gross |
---|---|---|
Trip Around The Sun Tour | 2018 | $114 million |
The Big Revival Tour | 2015 | $105 million |
No Shoes Nation Tour | 2017 | $96 million |
Happy Together Tour | 2016 | $90 million |
The Flip Flop Summer Tour | 2010 | $76 million |
Kenny Chesney has absolutely dominated the touring charts over the past decade. His 2018 Trip Around the Sun Tour generated a whopping $114 million to become the highest-grossing country tour of the year. He shows no signs of slowing down as he heads into his current I Go Back Tour.
How has Kenny Chesney influenced other country artists?
Over his three-decade career, Kenny Chesney has had an undeniable influence on many of today’s biggest country stars. Here are some ways he has set an example for other artists:
Touring Work Ethic
Chesney is renowned for his tireless touring schedule, playing over 100 shows per year. Other stars like Garth Brooks now emulate his hard-working mentality on the road.
Stadium-Sized Shows
Chesney helped pioneer the massive stadium tours that have become commonplace in country music today. He proved the format could work which opened doors for artists like Taylor Swift, George Strait, and Luke Bryan to follow in his footsteps.
Party Atmosphere
With his easy-going vibe and songs about drinking beer on the beach, Chesney created a party-centric concert experience that appeals to big crowds. Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, and Florida Georgia Line have all incorporated that spirit into their own tours.
Producer Role
Chesney’s producing work with up-and-comers like Old Dominion has helped emerging stars find their sound and audience. His guidance has been a model for other established acts to foster new country talent.
Brand Building
Chesney has masterfully created a lifestyle brand image that feels authentic. Many top stars like Thomas Rhett have taken cues from his branding playbook.
Conclusion
Kenny Chesney’s concert at Gillette Stadium is sure to be one of the biggest country music events of the summer. The country superstar always delivers an electrifying show and a fun, high-energy atmosphere for fans. With top-notch openers like Dan + Shay and Old Dominion, the lineup inside the stadium will be stellar. And the parking lot tailgating scene will start the party early for the 60,000+ cheering fans. It will be another epic Saturday night in Foxborough for the king of the road, Kenny Chesney.