First Came the Urban Transplants. Now Come the Concerts

The full article can be found here on WSJ.com.

By Anne Steele July 24, 2022 

Adam Cantrell is used to driving two or three hours to see a concert.

The 39-year-old live music fan has lived in Huntsville, Ala., his entire life. He has driven to Birmingham, Atlanta and Nashville—just far enough to warrant an overnight stay.

Now the big-name acts are coming to him. He recently saw Kenny Chesney and Dierks Bentley right in Huntsville at the new Orion Amphitheater, and said he plans to see Chris Stapleton there later this month. He might be able to see six shows there for the price of one show further away, he said.

“If you wanted to see one of those top artists, you were gonna have to travel,” said Mr. Cantrell, who operates a forklift for Costco. “Huntsville was just not attracting those kinds of acts.”