LOCAL

Drive in, rock out

Concerts return in New Hampshire with Drive-In Live

Richard Duckett
richard.duckett@telegram.com
Blue Oyster Cult, performing  July 18 at  Drive-In Live at the Cheshire Fairgrounds in Swanzey, N.H.

People honking the horns of their cars, flashing high beams ... what does it mean?

If you're a band performing at Drive-In Live at the Cheshire Fairgrounds in Swanzey, N.H., it means they like you.

"Obviously that's been a bit different," said Mike Chadinha, director of operations for Drive-In Live, of audience reaction. Drive-In Live  bills itself as "New England’s largest live music series" in this unusual 2020 summer concert season. The bands are liking it. "They're just  happy to be bands at work. Everyone's been happy to be back at work of some sort. Same with our crew members," Chadinha said.

Drive-In Live opened July 12 and will take place every Friday and Saturday through to Oct. 10 in the south parking lot of the Cheshire Fairgrounds,  adhering to the state guidelines for drive-in movie theaters as it brings in a varied array of live music acts including blues, tribute bands, country and rock. 

Attendees purchase one ticket per mid-sized vehicle for up to five people, and tickets must be purchased in advance online — www.drive-in-live.com. Tickets can range between $60 and $159 per vehicle.  Cars  have 10 feet of space between them and will be parked in a staggered fashion for unobstructed sight lines. People will be able to bring lawn chairs and sit in the empty spot to the left of their vehicle.

Aaron Lewis probably got the horns honking and high beams flashing for his show July 25 as the former lead vocalist of the alternative metal band Staind turned country soloist performed the first sold-out show of the Drive-In Live series.  Upcoming shows include a Fireworks Fest by Atlas Fireworks and Grateful Jam from 8 to 10 p.m. Aug. 7; Fireworks Fest and Tom Petty Tribute 8 p.m. Aug. 8; G. Love and Special Sauce 8 to 10 p.m. Aug. 14; Guster, 3 and 8 p.m. Aug. 15; Badfish, 8 p.m. Aug. 21; Allman Betts Band 3 and 8 p.m. Aug. 22; and Martin Sexton, 8 to 10 p.m. Aug. 28.

"We're adding as we're going along," said Chadinha. "Our goal is to bring something for everyone. We try to mix it up as much as possible." 

Music fans seem to be liking it.

"I think people are glad to get out of the house and have some comfortable entertainment, Chadinha said.  

The site is located just over the Massachusetts border, so a good number of those fans are from Worcester and Central Massachusetts.

"We are getting people from Central Massachusetts because we're not that far away,"Chadinha said. People are coming to Drive-In Live from a general radius of 50 miles. "They're coming from Worcester. It's a pretty  easy day trip.  There's not much else as far as this neck of the woods. I would drive two hours for a show anyway, but now even more so."

Drive-In Live is produced by  M.E. Productions (owned by Seth McNally), which has been presenting national level concerts for two decades in various New England venues.

 As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded shutting down most live music venues indoors and outdoors, one response to the situation was drive-ins, which first started popping up across the ocean for music shows even though drive-ins in the most traditional sense are considered uniquely American.

"We saw it happening in Europe. We  thought it was a unique pivot to keep entertainment going," Chadinha said.

The idea began to pop up Stateside as well, and Live Nation has set up several Live From the Drive-In venues around the country, but Drive-In Live is not associated with them, Chadinha said.

When New Hampshire allowed its drive-ins to open, "We worked on it to make it happen," Chadinha said. After looking at several sites, the Cheshire Fairgrounds seemed the most promising.

"We wanted to find a way to bring back live music with national level artists to New England but we also needed to make sure we were providing a safe environment for all attendees, staff and artists," Chadinha said. "With permission from the town of Swanzey, we are ecstatic to be able to bring live events to Cheshire Fairgrounds during these challenging times."

There is a big fair there every year,  but the 2020 edition was cancelled because of the pandemic.

"It's a big piece of property.  For us we just needed a parking lot," Chadinha said.

The south parking lot of the fairground can accommodate about 1,000 cars under normal circumstances. To meet social distancing and other requirements Drive-In Live takes a maximum of 430.

"We could do 450,  but there would be sight line issues. Every space is a double space —  with a little private tailgating area. Parking places are staggered so you're not surrounded by other people's groups," Chadinha said.

In terms of facilities, there are no concession stands, "to alleviate any over-mingling." There are restrooms  and hand washing stations.  People don't have to wear face masks in their designated space but  if they leave the space they must put masks on.  Food and beverages are permitted, but no alcohol is allowed (and no pets).

"We just want a safe environment," Chadinha said.

Audience members can expect a full concert experience with festival sound, lights and video. The band is live on stage — people won't be watching a virtual performance on a screen, although there are screens to the right and left of the stage for extra viewing, Chadinha said. There is an FM transmitter if people want to listen in their cars  

 Drive-In Live was supposed to open July 10, but poor weather delayed matters to July 12 when Echoes of Floyd, a Pink Floyd tribute, took the stage. 

"It went well. It was such a quick thing. We announced the show two weeks earlier. We announced the series two weeks earlier. It wasn't sold out,   but it went really well," Chadinha said.

"The following weekend we had the Ghost of Paul Revere (Portland folk trio) the 17th, and Blue Oyster Cult (classic rock icons) the 18th. They went great,  each show having more attendance  and more and more great feedback." 

Then came Almost Queen (Queen tribute), and the sold out Aaron Lewis show.

Asked what's surprised him so far in this version of the new normal, Chadinha replied "One  the biggest surprises is the parking. It's really important they go into a specific spot. It takes time. It's not something that people are used to."

The technical side of putting on concerts has been fairly straightforward. "We've done shows. Everything's gone well.  It's really the parking that's been the biggest  challenge, but it's gotten better and better each time," Chadinha said. 

The crew have to wear masks at all times.  "It's pretty easy to keep social distance when they're doing their job," Chadinha said.

The band has its own green room. "We're hyper-vigilant," Chadinha said, and the green room  gets disinfected after each visit. "We try to get the musicians to bring their own microphones," he added.

Chadinha knows what it's like from the musician's side of things. He was a touring drummer with Roots of Creation and  had stints with Badfish.  He has recorded with Stephen Marley, Melvin Seals, Marlon Asher and G Love, and worked with Bob Marley producer Errol Brown.  He is also the executive director of Uplift Music Festival, a community driven non-profit that raises money for various local charities.

"I did it  for a very  long time.  I really do feel for them. Their lifestyle before all this was hard.  It's hard enough. Never mind that  the music these days  is playing live concerts, it's not records. To have it   crashing down, I really feel for them," Chadinha said.   

Will there be a Drive-In Live in 2021? What will it mean if there is still a need for one?

"Next year I don't know. I do wonder if this drive-in concept is here to stay," Chadinha said. "I don't know how comfortable people are going to be going shoulder to shoulder again. This idea of being able to tailgate with your friends,  for me that's preferable. Who knows where it's gonna go?" 

Mike Chadinha, director of operations for Drive-In Live.