Andrew McMahon
The concert-industry is showing resilience in the face of COVID-19, with promoters hoping that a drive-in live music model will help fans get through what most expect to be a painful summer caused by the pandemic bummer.
Earlier today (June 16), Nederlander Concerts became one of the largest independent promoters to try its hands at social-distanced shows, announcing the creation of Drive-In OC at the City National Grove of Anaheim in Southern California.
The series will feature both film and live music performances including two shows by Andrew McMahon, July 10 & 11. McMahon will perform the Jack’s Mannequin album, Everything in Transit, in its entirety, along with other popular songs from his projects Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness and Something Corporate.
The City National Grove of Anaheim parking lot will be able to host 236 cars per show and each vehicle can bring between five to seven passengers, depending on how many seat belts the car has. Tickets are $350 per car for front row and $200 per car for GA.
The series is the second drive-in concert to be announced in Orange County -- on Friday, Los Lobos announced they were opening the So Cal Drive In concert series on July 4 in Irvine with support from Mariachi El Bronx -- and comes at a time when promoters are looking for new ways to stage concerts in the face of a deadly pandemic.
The Nederlander-backed Drive-In OC series will be contactless with nearly all customer needs covered by a smart phone app. Audio will be handled be Mixhalo, sending audio from the mixing board to a dedicated smart phone app that can connect to Bluetooth-enabled speakers and most in-car stereo systems. Mobile concessions and merchandise will be powered by TapIn2.co, while virtual restroom queues will be facilitated via Waitwhile.
"We are thrilled to launch the Drive-In OC series, delivering quality entertainment to Southern California in a unique and safe environment," said Jordan Harding, City National Grove of Anaheim’s general manager. "Safety and wellness are our top priorities. We are working closely with both Orange County and the City of Anaheim to ensure all recommended guidelines set forth by the CDC and State of California are met or exceeded to provide the best entertainment experience for our fans and staff in a responsible manner."
Tickets for the McMahon show go on sale June 19 via AXS.com. Learn more at DriveInOC.com.