Navigating Nashville Nights: Your Guide to Tuning into Garth Brooks’ Black Friday Concert at Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk
In a move that might have fans wondering if he’s trying to outdo Santa Claus, country music icon Garth Brooks is set to kick off the holiday season with a special Black Friday concert at his new Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk in downtown Nashville.
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Streaming Shenanigans
Forget the hassle of Black Friday shopping or arguing over the last discounted flat-screen TV. Brooks has something better in store. The Amazon Music Live special concert, slated to begin at 7 p.m. ET, will be livestreamed for everyone’s viewing pleasure. And no, you don’t need an Amazon Prime subscription or an Amazon account to join the party.
Even if your idea of “streaming” involves crying at a sappy movie, this concert is for you. For those recovering from the Black Friday NFL game, where the Miami Dolphins face off against the New York Jets, the transition to Brooks’ concert promises to be smoother than trying to assemble that new furniture you just bought.
The concert pre-show, hosted by Amber Anderson and Kelly Sutton, kicks off at 6 p.m. ET on Twitch. These hosts are the brains behind Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast, ensuring that this pre-show won’t be your typical elevator music.
Honky-Tonk, Palm Trees, and Radio Duets
Garth Brooks, a Country Music Hall of Famer, joins the ranks of country artists with their own downtown Nashville watering holes. His Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk, located at 411 Broadway, aims to be the hottest spot in town. Notable country stars like Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley, and Miranda Lambert also have their own joints downtown. It’s like a musical pub crawl, minus the need for aspirin the next day.
During a press conference at the new bar, Brooks spilled the beans about his special guest for the Black Friday concert—Ronnie Dunn. The duo will perform their radio hit “Rodeo Man” live for the first time. Forget about Black Friday discounts; this is a musical bargain you won’t want to miss.
In a nod to his hit song “Friends in Low Places,” two towering palm trees grace the venue’s stage, named after the song’s creators, Earl Bud Lee and Dwayne Blackwell. Because nothing says “honky-tonk” like palm trees, right?
Why “Friends in Low Places”?
Brooks explained the naming choice, saying, “Hopefully as an artist, you realize that the song outlives the artist.” So, it’s not “The Garth Bar” because, let’s face it, whether you love or hate Garth Brooks, you’ve probably belted out “Friends in Low Places” at a wedding or some other social gathering.
But here’s the kicker: don’t expect a marathon performance from Brooks. He plans to keep it short and sweet, wrapping up in under an hour. After all, he’s not trying to put you to sleep; he just wants to leave you wanting more.
Neon Dreams and Giving Back
Despite the soft opening this Friday and weekend events leading up to March 2024, the full-on honky-tonk experience won’t be available until then. But don’t bother pestering Brooks for pop-up shows at the bar; he’s got bigger plans. The focus is on giving the next generation of artists a platform to shine.
In Brooks’ words, “My thing is, let’s get as many people in here. The more people get to play, the more chances new people get.” He’s all about the future, complete with a retractable stage and a green room to show off what’s to come. And as if to come full circle, the venue’s location holds sentimental value for Brooks.
It used to be Paradise Park Trailer Park bar, where he celebrated winning his seventh CMA entertainer of the year accolade in 2019. Now, with the Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk, Brooks is hoping to create something good for Lower Broadway. It’s like he’s giving Nashville the ultimate Christmas present—a neon-wrapped, palm tree-adorned, country music extravaganza.
