There has "never been a concert" at the Univ. of Georgia's Sanford Stadium, and after country singer Jason Aldean "stages one there next spring, there never will be again," according to Chris Talbott of the AP. Aldean Thursday announced the show during a surprise appearance at UGA's Legion Field, where he "played six songs for a crowd called together under the pretense of a pep rally for the football team." Aldean also announced "historic shows at Fenway Park in Boston and Wrigley Field in Chicago." He will be the "first country music star to play a concert at Fenway Park" on July 13, the "initial stop on his 2013 tour." Aldean made the announcement Thursday morning at Fenway Park "with the Green Monster in the background, and with an assist from" Red Sox President & CEO Larry Lucchino. Red Sox DH David Ortiz, 2B Dustin Pedroia and C Jarrod Saltalamacchia "welcomed Aldean in a video, and he signed the wall inside the scoreboard." Aldean said, "Being the first country music artist to ever come here and headline a show is amazing." Talbott noted the Cubs "gave him a blue team hoodie for the announcement in Chicago." Aldean is one of country music's "top draws, but the stadium tour will move him into rare company." Currently, only Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney "have that kind of drawing power" (AP, 10/18). In Boston, gossip columnists Shanahan & Goldstein noted Gillette Stadium reportedly "will soon announce dates" for a series of Chesney/Eric Church concerts at the stadium, as well as a "possible" Swift tour stop (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/16).
NOT UP TO STANDARDS: Aldean will be joined at Fenway Park by Miranda Lambert, and in Boston, Jed Gottlieb writes, "How boring is that?" Gottlieb: "Those modern country kings and queens have a place. And that place is Gillette Stadium." Fenway is "not a bad idea, but it's a bland one." Fenway shows "should be special" (BOSTON HERALD, 10/19). The ballpark has hosted Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Buffett, the Dave Matthews Band and New Kids on the Block, among others, in recent years (THE DAILY).
