Oliver Anthony's Next Concert? A Rock Fest With Pantera, Megadeth

Oliver Anthony has played two wholesome, country music-friendly venues since dropping "Rich Men of North Richmond." His next concert will test his appeal with an edgier audience.

The 2023 Blue Ridge Rock Festival features Five Finger Death Punch, Slipknot, Shinedown and Pantera as headliners. Supporting acts for the four-day event include Limp Bizkit, Megadeth, Evanescence and more.

Per WFXR-TV in Roanoke, Va., Anthony has been added to the Sept. 7-10 fest at Virginia International Raceway.

To date, Anthony has played two shows in North Carolina and reviews have been positive (see below).
YouTube streams of "Rich Men North of Richmond" are nearing 30 million, while Spotify streams are at 14 million since the song's Aug. 8 release.
A 2022 single called "Ain't Gotta Dollar" is his second most popular streamer, with just over three million plays on Spotify.

The exact date and time of Anthony's performance is not yet known, although a post at the festival's Facebook page says it won't be on Thursday, Sept. 7.

"Date/time will be released during set times announcement 10-14 days before the festival," organizers share in revealing the booking.

A full list of Anthony's upcoming performances is not available at his Facebook page, which he says is standing in for an official website until that's ready. Billboard did share one other upcoming concert during their interview with his manager: On Oct. 7, look for Anthony to play Big River Outdoors Campground in Irondale, Mo.

Oliver Anthony Concert Reviews:

Both Rolling Stone and Billboard attended Anthony's show in Moyock, N.C., on Saturday (Aug. 19), and both came away with positive and similar reviews. Anthony played for several thousand people (between 6K and 8K, Billboard says), and after an opening prayer he started his set with "I Want to Go Home."

"Ain't Gotta Dollar," "90 Some Chevy," and "I Gotta Get Sober" (all available on digital streaming platforms) led a simple, mid-tempo setlist that found the singer saying little beyond "thank you" to his fans.

There were no special guests this time (Jamey Johnson appeared during Anthony's first post-"Rich Men" show in North Carolina) and any mention of politics was muted. Billboard notes how even though some want to tie "Rich Men ..." to conservative politics, Anthony kept the focus on the music:

At one point, the crowd began chanting 'USA! USA!' and at another moment, a crowd member attempted to begin a 'Let’s Go Brandon' anti-president Biden chant that quickly fizzled, even drawing criticism from some attendees seated farther from the stage.

"It’s hard to say with certainty just how much the genuine in-person reaction for Anthony is reflected on the charts," Rolling Stone concludes, "but this much is true: On a golf course in North Carolina, the enthusiasm for Anthony’s music went far deeper than any promotional efforts from conservative influencers."

11 Country Stars Who Don't Write Their Own Songs + 1 You'll Be Shocked to Learn Does

If you think a country singer needs to write their own songs to be a legitimate artist, take this short quiz:

Which of the following five hitmakers is also an established songwriter: Luke Bryan, Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson?

Just two of those names make this list of 11 country stars who don't write their own songs, and one you'll be surprised to learn does. It's a list that includes four Country Music Hall of Fame inductees and at least two others sure to get in soon. The takeaway is that great singers are great storytellers, especially when they're telling someone else's story.

26 Country Stars You Won't Believe Aren't Grand Ole Opry Members

Fifteen living CMA or ACM Entertainers of the Year are not members of the Grand Ole Opry, and a few of them barely recognize the vaunted stage. George Strait, Kenny Chesney and Willie Nelson are three legends who rarely play the Grand Ole Opry. Why?

That answer is often difficult to determine, but this list suggests reasons where appropriate. Membership into the Grand Ole Opry comes with an obligation to play the show frequently, but that's often set aside (Barbara Mandrell is an inactive member, for example). Only living artists are considered, and once a member dies, they are no longer a member.

As of 2023, there are more than 70 members of the Grand Ole Opry. Historically, nearly 250 men, women and groups were members — so, it's a select group that excludes several Country Music Hall of Famers.

Filed Under: Oliver Anthony