For all you avid country music listeners out there, here’s something that’ll liven up your summer, especially for you teens out there with no money: a free, yes, I said free, concert series called “Hot Country Nights” that takes place every Thursday night during the summer. They’re sponsored by the radio station, Q104.3.

I was first introduced to this by my brother about two summers ago. He went with some of his buddies to the concerts and there was one that he thought I would like to go to. My mom and I went and it was super fun. Ever since then, I’ve been to at least one every summer.

With these free concerts, there is a major downside: you have to be 21 or older to get in by yourself. They have security at every opening so there’s no way to get in without someone over 21 by your side. This rule is instated because Power and Light is basically an open area surrounded by bars. If your parents like country music or you have a sibling over 21, you can go, but otherwise, you can’t get in.

It’s super fun aside from that one downside. You get to listen to good music, hang out and the best part: you get to people-watch. It sounds weird, but I swear it’s fun. You look around and see what people are doing when they think no one is looking. Seeing what drunk people do after a few drinks is so funny. I’ve done lots of people watching at concerts and it’s the best place to do it because everyone is all out of sorts and it’s free entertainment while you’re listening to some good tunes.

I’ve been to five concerts there and with each one, the performers sound exactly like they do on the radio. Though you won’t be seeing Kenny Chesney or Carrie Underwood for free, the performers still sing very well-known songs.The most popular one I went to was Billy Currington and security wasn’t letting people into the open area. There were multiple lines outside the bars to get in because it was so full. The whole place looked like our student section at any home football game but five times bigger so it wouldn’t have been any fun to be in there anyways. My dad and I went to this one and we ended up getting some food from the grocery store down the street and went to the top-level of the parking garage on the North side of P&L and watched the concert from there. We could see the entire place and still could hear the concert clearly. Even though we weren’t very close, it was still one of the best concerts I’ve been to at P&L.

If you dig country music as much as I do, you’ll like this. It’s definitely fit for all country music lovers and it’s such a great time. The music is high quality, regardless if you like it or absolutely despise country music. It’s a great time and I highly suggest you check it out. It’s worth the drive and the late nights in downtown.
Here’s the lineup for this summer:
6/1: LOCASH
6/8: Eli Young Band
6/15: Travis Marvin
6/22: Chase Rice*
6/29: Josh Abbott Band
7/6: To be announced
7/13: To be announced
7/20: Gretchen Wilson
7/27: Randy Houser*
8/3: Corey Smith
8/10: Pat Green with LANco

*Tickets are available at ticketfly.com