The Arlington Music Hall is a vintage theater that is the centerpiece of the downtown Arlington revitalization that includes Babes Chicken Dinner House, Mellow Mushroom and other options that are all within walking distance of one another. As part of its renovation, the Arlington Music Hall underwent a $7 million makeover including state-of-the-art sound and lighting.
The complex that is also home to the Symphony Arlington and the weekly music variety show Arlington Live! has hosted such luminaries as Ray Price, Restless Heart and Willie Nelson. Friday evening, country music star Sara Evans joined the list of those to perform in its 1,150 seat auditorium. Cheryl LuQuire was the opening act and got the crowd going with a 30 minute acoustic set with her husband Adam alongside playing guitar. LuQuire also held a meet and greet in the theater's lobby area where she posed for pictures and signed complimentary copies of her CD.
The big crowd that packed the auditorium were treated to Sara Evans hits including No.1 singles Born to Fly, Suds in the Bucket and A Real Fine Place to Start. She also performed some of her other Top 10 hits such as I Could Not Ask for More, Cheatin' and Perfect.
Following her rendition of Cheatin' Evans took advantage of the intimate venue to ask the crowd if they realized she forgot the words to the song. She also pointed out that the bass player -- her brother Matt Evans -- failed to give her any help in remembering the words. It was moments like this and later in the show when she pointed out members of her family including her father that were in attendance. She also wondered aloud how much it had cost her to have so many guests at the show.
By the time she closed the show with covers of Stand by Your Man and I Want You to Want Me, everyone in the building was on their feet. Afterwards, several of us remarked how we really enjoyed how Evans opened up and chatted with the fans. A group of lucky fans actually did get to go backstage and get pics and autographs from the 2006 Academy of Country Music Awards Top Female Vocalist courtesy of the SaraEvans.com Meet and Greet.
Upcoming shows at the Arlington Music Hall include Loretta Lynn (Feb. 9), Rick Springfield (Feb. 17), Clint Black (Feb. 28), Charlie Daniels Band (March 9) and Neal McCoy (April 13). To purchase tickets, visit here.
ARLINGTON MUSIC HALL 224 N. CENTER ST., ARLINGTON, TX 76011 (817) 226-4400
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