Mary Evans
Country music sensation Chris Lane is returning to Oxford on Friday, April 5 for a concert at Proud Larry’s.
For Lane, the velvet ditch has always stood out as a perfect destination for his brand of high-energy country music, thanks to its devoted fan base of college students. Almost five years later, Lane reflected on his first time playing in Oxford in 2019.
“I remember that being one of my favorite shows. …The crowd knew every single word and they sang so loud,” Lane said.
Lane shared that the upcoming Proud Larry’s show is a part of his vision to bring his sound directly to the hearts of college towns. Inspired by country artist Kenny Chesney, Lane’s tour features a series of intimate shows that aim to recapture the energy and audience connection he felt in his earlier career.
“I saw Kenny Chesney do something very similar to this, where you go back into a really small venue that you’ve outgrown and just go in and play music,” Lane said. “Keep the tickets cheap and have a good time and a good night.”
As Lane gears up for his concert, he also embraces the challenge of playing at smaller venues.
“I think the biggest challenge of the whole thing will probably be the quality of sounds. But you know what, I already knew that going in. Challenge accepted,” Lane said.
From chart-topping hits such as “Big, Big Plans” and “I Don’t Know About You” to his newest E.P., “From Where I’m Sippin’,” Lane promises to deliver a night full of thrilling crowd favorites.
“‘From Where I’m Sippin’ is really just where I’m at right now in life. I’m getting back out there and starting to play some songs,” Lane said.
Lane shared that his most recent song, “Mistake,” was written for his wife, Lauren Bushnell.
“It’s a unique way of writing a love song since ‘Big, Big Plans’ was a career song for me,” Lane said.
Lane said that one of his biggest challenges being on tour is leaving his young family behind. However, he balances his career with his love for his family by bringing them along on parts of the tour.
“I’ve taken a lot of time off of work because I’ve got two kids under two years old at home right now, and when they’re this young it definitely makes it harder,” Lane said.
While on tour, Lane also misses one of his beloved pastimes: golf.
“One of my favorite things in life is to play golf. I’m generally off the bus in the morning to find a great golf course to play on, but some days it’s super challenging,” Lane said.
Lane is most excited to play “Big, Big Plans,” “I Don’t Know About You” and “Take Back Home Girl,” because of the “big reaction” he gets from the crowd.
“The audience’s energy is everything for the artist. … I’m probably speaking for all artists, but specifically for me, I feed off of the crowd,” Lane said.
With a heart full of love for his family and his music, Lane promises to bring enthusiasm to every strum of his guitar.
“For some reason, Oxford’s always stuck out in my mind as a great college town,” Lane said. “There’s a lot of great country fans, and I’m excited to get back. It’s been a hot minute.”
