Kenny Chesney and Old Dominion Shock Fans with Surprise Bar Show Ahead of Stadium Tour
Just two days before launching his Here And Now Tour in Tampa, Florida, Kenny Chesney gave a small crowd the night of their lives with an unexpected performance alongside Old Dominion.
On the evening of April 21, Chesney made a surprise appearance at Crowbar, a cozy venue in Ybor City with a capacity of just 300. The crowd was stunned when the country superstar stepped on stage wearing a red shirt and hat to join Old Dominion for a special rendition of “Save It For A Rainy Day.”
Old Dominion had announced the pop-up show just hours beforehand via social media, and within minutes, all available tickets were snatched up. In stark contrast to the 60,000+ fans expected at Raymond James Stadium that Saturday, this intimate set was a once-in-a-lifetime moment for those lucky enough to get in.
“Surprise show indeed! What a crazy fun night in Tampa!” Old Dominion shared on social media. “Thank y’all for showing up on such short notice! This tour is gonna be insane.”
The band has long-standing ties with Chesney, having toured with him several times before. Lead singer Matthew Ramsey described it as more than just a tour—it’s a reunion.
“It’s the dream gig,” Ramsey told ABC Radio. “This is our fourth time out with him. At this point, it’s a family reunion. We love it.”
“Save It For A Rainy Day,” written by Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey and Brad Tursi alongside Andrew Dorff, was the final single from Chesney’s The Big Revival (2014) and has since become a fan favorite.
The pop-up show was held just miles from Raymond James Stadium, where Chesney kicked off the Here And Now Tour on April 23, joined by Old Dominion, Dan + Shay, and Carly Pearce. The 41-city tour runs through August 27, ending with back-to-back shows at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts.
It’s safe to say: the tour may be massive—but sometimes the smallest shows make the biggest memories.