The Botanic Garden is the setting of one of the city’s most popular summer concert series, Live at the Garden. The last show of the series on Sept. 20, presents famous country artist, and former Hootie and the Blowfish frontman, Darius Rucker.
According to the Botanic Garden website, the outdoor venue has amazing acoustics, excellent sight lines, and the lawn’s wide-open green space- creates an experience of natural beauty and elegance of the Memphis Botanic Garden all while listening to world-renowned music.
The music played is as diverse as the 26 unique specialty gardens. The stage is surrounded on all sides by a 14-foot tall living wall, HD video screens, plant-lined walkways, and welcoming gardens that will inspire and delight, according to the Botanic Garden website.
Live at the Garden is sponsored by Duncan-Williams Investment Bankers, FedEx, TruGreen, Classic Party Rentals and many others. The venue has attracted over 30,000 attendees annually. All performances are rain or shine and tickets are non-refundable. Children are allowed, but no pets.
You may bring your own beer, wine, coolers, lawn chairs, blankets, candles, foot, etc., to the concert lawn. But, the Botanic Gardens asks that you do not bring lawn umbrellas, tables, grills, beer kegs, athletic equipment, rollerblades, bicycles, Frisbees or trifold lawn chairs. There is also free general parking located on the north lot of Southern and Perkins, but it is first come, first serve.
Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the concert begin at 8:30 p.m. Past performers at Live at the Garden were Toni Braxton, Earth Wind and Fire, Steve Miller Band, Hootie & the Blowfish, Little Big Town, just to name a few.
Rucker’s first solo single, “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” released in 2008, made him the first African-American with a number one country song since Charley Pride in 1983.
Alta Shell, receptionist at Botanic Garden said “I think it is a great opportunity for those who never seen big artist live in concert,” she said. “Live on the Garden has many festivities, food, and it is a great event for college students or anyone with interest, to come out and have a good time.”
