Drive-In Concerts are Music to Our Ears

When most live entertainment went dark in mid-March, it seemed like it would be a long time before there would be musicians performing in front of an audience.

And then Scott Hayward re-invented live music.

Hayward, the owner of the Tupelo Music Hall in Derry, quickly retooled the venue for the pandemic, creating The Tupelo Drive-In Experience – an outdoor stage setting that has now put together a busy and impressive summer schedule, including the recently-added Livingston Taylor, who will take the outdoor stage in July.

Here’s how it works: The parking lot opens 45 minutes before each show. Get your tickets here, produce your email confirmation upon arrival, and you’ll get a flyer with information and a menu. Parking attendants will guide you to a spot (larger vehicles in the back, smaller cars in front and leave the RV at home). Every vehicle has an adjacent space on the driver’s side for lawn chairs.

Photo by Jerry LoFaro/Tupelo Music Hall

Also, starting this Friday, the Tupelo Drive-In Experience will have an outdoor dining tent with reserved seating during all shows (except for the special kids’ shows). Expect a full bar and waitstaff at tables designed for one, two, four and six people. The dining area opens 75 minutes prior to each show, and patrons in the tent will not need to purchase a drive-in ticket. The dining tent offers a side-view of the stage. Seats start at $20 each, and you’ll need to reserve an entire table. Reservations for the dining tent must be made in advance.

As for the artists – if the packed calendar is any sign, they are onboard. The next month includes:

Friday, June 12: Popa Chubby

Saturday, June 13: Steve Blunt & Friends (Kids show)

Sunday, June 14: Johnny A. (at noon and 3 p.m.)

Sunday, June 14: Real School of Music presents Rockdown After Lockdown (6 p.m.)

Thursday, June 18: Captain Fantastic (Elton John tribute)
Friday June 19: Captain Fantastic (Elton John tribute)

Saturday, June 20: Tusk (noon and 3 p.m. – Fleetwood Mac tribute)
Sunday, June 21: Tusk (noon and 3 p.m. – Fleetwood Mac tribute)

Friday, June 26: Jon Butcher

Saturday, June 27: Kashmir (noon and 3 p.m. – Led Zeppelin tribute)
Sunday, June 28: Kashmir (noon and 3 p.m. – Led Zeppelin tribute)

Later in the summer, the Tupelo Drive-In Experience will host Eaglemania, a tribute to The Eagles, Classic Stones Live, Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters, and the Music of Cream, among others.

The venue just announced a performance by Livingston Taylor, who will play a noontime and a 3 p.m. show on Saturday, July 18.