Wash your hands, strap on your mask and prepare to social distance as the Salem Civic Center welcomes the return of LIVE music. For the first time in its 53-year history, the venue will present its inaugural Drive-In Concert when local stars Crawford & Power hit the stage in the Taliaferro Complex’s Salem Stadium parking lot on Thursday, June 18, at 8 p.m.
“We wanted to find a way to bring the excitement of live music back to our guests.” says Wendy Delano, Salem’s Director of Civic Facilities. “By taking advantage of our versatile facilities, we can put on a concert in the parking lot, and still adhere to social distancing guidelines. You can bring a carload of friends or family members, listen to great live music and enjoy a summer night in Virginia’s Blue Ridge.”
Growing up in Franklin County, Jake Crawford and Ethan Power attended plenty of concerts at the Salem Civic Center, and their previous Salem performances have been extremely well-received. They were the opening act for Cody Johnson at the Salem Civic Center in September of 2019 and in 2018, they shared the stage with Maddie and Tae at the city’s Star-B-Q event. In addition, they have opened for country music legends Travis Tritt, Willie Nelson, The Marshall Tucker Band, Luke Combs and dobro virtuoso, Jerry Douglas.
Born of red clay, back roads, callouses and ingenuity passed down from mash makers in Franklin County, their roots are in country, Americana, and southern rock. Their unique approach to a fading genre has been lauded as a breath of fresh air amidst the commercialization of sacred American music genres. Their debut EP, "Play a Hank Jr. Song," was released on June 8, 2018 and is a no-holds barred approach to country music. C&P followed up the duo’s debut release with two singles in 2019, “She Liked to Get High” & “Dancing Alone” and have much more music in store for fans in 2020.
Tickets are $40 for a carload, based on the number of seatbelts in a vehicle. (If your car has five seatbelts, your ticket will admit five patrons) Cars will be spaced in every other parking spot to accommodate a total of 200 vehicles. Guests will be encouraged to sit in front of their car in the empty space or enjoy the concert from the air-conditioned comfort of their vehicle. A FM broadcast also will be provided. Additional guidelines and frequently asked questions can be found on the Salem Civic Center website. Tickets are on sale only through at Ticketmaster.com. The Salem Civic Center is still closed to the public through June 10.