Church Ascends at Sold-Out Amphitheater Shows

(L-R): Eric Church, Lee Hendricks, and Craig Wright
Photo: Rick Diamond

Eric Church christened Nashville’s new Ascend Amphitheater last Thursday and Friday night (7/30 and 7/31) under a gorgeous full moon to sold-out crowds, and threw out the playbook for the special set of Music City shows. Performing acoustically, Church pulled out deep cuts and even tunes he’d never played live before during the two shows, which were the first concerts held at the brand new outdoor venue downtown.

“The thing about tonight is you get to see something you’ll never see again. Because after tonight we’re never doing this (bleep) again,” Church told the packed house during Thursday evening’s show before proceeding to perform songs like “Three Year Old,” a tune he’d never played live about the amusing challenges of fatherhood. The song got its inspiration from a fishing trip where his son threw his rod, reel, and tackle box into the water. “I’m 38, and I never knew a fishing rod sinks faster than a tackle box,” Church joked.

Staging for the shows included “The Outsider’s Joint,” an on-set bar with bartenders, friends, and band members seated beside his playing space and a couch where band members were invited up one by one to accompany Church on his many hits and favorite album tracks throughout the special evening.

Church’s pop-up store, The Outsider’s Joint, opened for two days through Saturday in East Nashville in conjunction with the two concerts and helped raise money for his Chief Cares fund, which supports people in need around the world.