Kenny Chesney’s Flora-Bama-Jama: See Photos From His Only Concert of 2014
If a country megastar is only going to perform one concert all year, this is the way to do it. Kenny Chesney packed in a crowd of more than 40,000 on Saturday for his free Flora-Bama-Jama show at the legendary Flora-Bama Lounge in Pensacola, Florida, right on the Florida-Alabama state line.
"Man, when those people kicked in and started singing back to me, that just hit me in the heart," Chesney says. "A year without touring takes me away from that, and those fans… whether they know it or not… inspire me. So having spent the year writing and recording, that was like plugging into the source."
Chesney shares these photos from his massive, once-in-a-lifetime beach party.
-
Rock the Boat
Chesney played 32 songs in the course of more than 2 1/2 hours… and loud enough that those not on dry land could hear, as well. More than 300 boats docked to watch the show.
-
Beachcombers
Fans weren't just from Flora and 'Bama. Some came from as far away as Oregon, Ohio, Arizona and Oklahoma. "It was a party. It was a day at the beach. It was a good time," says Chesney. "But mostly, it was the gathering of the No Shoes Nation for the music and the fun, and just getting to see each other."
-
Hit Machine
Chesney plugged in for old favorites like "How Forever Feels" and "Don't Happen Twice," but went acoustic for "Old Blue Chair," "You and Tequila" and "When I See This Bar."
-
Big Show on Small Screen
Chesney's Flora-Bama-Jama was filmed by lauded video director Shaun Silva for a TV special to air this fall.
-
Sweet Home Flora-Bama
The country star opened the show with a song named after the iconic venue where he played, "Flora-Bama." "Man, when those people kicked in and started singing 'Flora-Bama' back to me, that just hit me in the heart," says Chesney, who is offering the song as an instant download for those who pre-order his Big Revival album.
-
Loyal Fanatics
Fans camped out overnight to get into the free show. "We had the No Shoes Navy, the No Shoes Nation, people who aren't afraid to get out there and live and just experience the moment," Chesney says of his fan club members and other concertgoers.
-
Gridiron Gift
This pretty-in-pink fan was brought on stage during Chesney's football-themed hit, "Boys of Fall." Her parting gift was an autographed football helmet.
-
Play It Loud
Chesney's sound system for the show included relay speakers around the 1/3 of a mile imprint, as well speakers pointed toward the water for the boaters.
-
Kids Play
Chesney gave fans a taste of his upcoming album, The Big Revival, including its first hit single, "American Kids." The song has been one of the Tennessee native's fastest-rising to date.
-
Beach Bumming
Chesney's Flora-Bama-Jama performance was on the beach, just steps away from the Flora-Bama Lounge and Oyster Bar, near Perdido Key, Florida. The legendary venue has been in business since 1964 — four years before the country star was born.
-
Murphy’s Law
David Lee Murphy was a surprise guest at Flora-Bama-Jama, singing his classic hits, "Dust On The Bottle" and "Party Crowd" with friend and frequent co-writer Chesney. "Since David Lee wrote 'Flora-Bama' with me, I know he knows about the heart and the soul of the people down here, how much they love music and love life," Chesney says. "There's a real vibe when people connected with the moment experience something that moves them… and David Lee had them singing along his songs, too."
-
Fast Lane
"The fact that we could announce this show two weeks ago, build it and have that kind of response to a crazy notion I had — one that started out with playing a little keg show in the upstairs of the club — and turned into a great big show on the beach? It says a lot about my team, the Flora-Bama's John McInnis and Cameron Rice and especially the people who came from all over to be here with us," says Chesney.
-
Revived
Chesney will release The Big Revival, his first album since last year's Life on a Rock, on September 23rd.