Larry Fleet to play packed Park

Park Theater crowds don't get much bigger than the one which will gather at 115 W. Main St. for a sold-out Larry Fleet show in McMinnville Friday at 7:30 p.m.

A Tennessee native who counts Merle Haggard, Otis Redding and Willie Nelson as some of his earliest influences, Fleet has become well known for his soulful sound and strong sense of storytelling. While gaining acclaim as a songwriter with credits including co-writing Morgan Wallen and Eric Church's No. 1 hit "Man Made a Bar," Fleet has reached stardom as a performer as well with five critically acclaimed releases since his 2019 debut "Workin' Hard," and continuing through his most recent album, "Another Year Older."

Fleet, whose current tour includes stops in Germany, the United Kingdom and Sweden, will appear in McMinnville one day after a show in Raleigh, N.C. and a day before a concert in Walhalla, S.C. The November announcement Fleet would be playing McMinnville was met with an overwhelming response with demand for tickets exceeding supply.

“We were really lucky to be able to book Larry when we did, and we are delighted by the response for this show from the community and beyond," Park Theater Assistant Manager Ashley Gillentine Wright said. "It’s going to be a very busy night on Main Street, and we hope concert attendees will take the time to get here early, check out the shops, have a bite to eat at one of our local restaurants and just enjoy a beautiful Friday evening on Main Street. We’re excited to have The Local on Morford in the building with alcoholic beverage sales for the 21-and-up fans in attendance. We also want to thank our hospitality sponsor for the evening, The Hitch Outfitters, for their support of the show.” 

With nearly 550 tickets sold, downtown parking will be at a premium, affecting both concert goers and downtown visitors. In addition to Main Street and courthouse spaces, parking will be available in the lot behind Park Theater and stretching to the Farmers Market.

The show will be the first for the Park Theater's newly installed sound system purchased with a Rural Arts Facilities Fund Grant through the Tennessee Arts Commission. The system was designed and installed by Tim Thomas, Declan Bartlett and Jessie Urban of Show Pro LLC from Lebanon, Tenn. Park Theater Manager Joe Harvey is excited about the new equipment and what it will add to shows such as the Larry Fleet concert.

"We have rented a nearly identical system before to make the Lorrie Morgan, Ronnie Milsap and Marty Stuart shows happen," Harvey said. "It is an industry-standard solution that not only allows for higher decibels but also provides better coverage to the entire room, including the balcony."

The system is manufactured by Danley Sound Labs in Gainesville, Ga. and provides over double the power and number of speakers that were originally serving the Park Theater. Speakers at the front of the stage are suspended from the ceiling to help better avoid feedback.

Doors for Friday's show open at 6:30 p.m. with opening act Dasher The Band taking the stage at 7:30 for an approximately 45-minute set. A brief intermission will follow the opener before Fleet's show begins.