This photo essay runs thanks to Humanities Nebraska, Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Peter Kiewit Foundation, Center for Rural Affairs, Pinnacle Bank, Nebraska Loves Public Schools, Union Pacific Railroad, Viaero Mobile, Huber Chevrolet and Sandhills Energy.
See coverage of Thursday night’s concert in Ord here.
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The party really started Sunday night when Lloyd McCarter announced his band’s final song, the real-country-music rally “Big Time.” Concertgoers young and old from Red Cloud and the surrounding area drifted into the stagefront area, once bathed in sunlight but now in the shadow of the Starke Round Barn. It was the most expressive crowd of the weekend in the Good Living Tour’s most idyllic setting yet.
When it was over, they cheered for one more song. The Honky Tonk Revival gave them four, joined for a rousing cover of “Blue Suede Shoes” with Jessica and Heather Hottman — the latter nailing the melody.
It was one of a flurry of moments from the tour’s first weekend that sticks out amongst the foundational routines of producing a concert tour. Some of the most memorable: student musicians sponsored by Nebraska Loves Public Schools; Kearney-based Minor Movements playing its second-ever show Friday night; the rooftop view from behind the Grand Island stage Saturday night; nights two and three of The Good Life’s run; the crowd singing “Happy Birthday” to bassist Stefanie Drootin-Senseney’s daughter before the band’s set; Lester Junction performing to the hometown crowd Sunday afternoon; the relief of every single weekend sunset; The Hottman Sisters gaining numerous new fans; and Lloyd McCarter’s fan-pleasing encore.
And sure, there were glitches, last-minute changes and oppressive heat. Their effects pale in comparison to moments like those above, and those below in our captioned photo essay, which covers Friday through Sunday.
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Friday: Kearney
Kearney High School Band represents Nebraska Loves Public Schools Friday during the central Nebraska town’s Good Living Tour concert | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
Musicians and fans take-in Minor Movements’ set at Kearney’s Good Living Tour concert | photo by Andrew Dickinson
Kearney-native Minor Movements plays its second-ever show Friday as part of the city’s Good Living Tour stop. | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
Minor Movements plays Kearney’s Good Living Tour concert Friday | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
DJ Kethro (Keith Rogers) spins between sets Friday night during the Kearney stop of the Good Living Tour | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
A group of fans sits outside the Museum of Nebraska Art Friday evening at the Kearney stop of the Good Living Tour | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
A pair of young fans stops by the Hear Nebraska booth Friday evening at the Kearney stop of the Good Living Tour | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
AZP performs outside the Museum of Nebraska Art Friday evening in Kearney for the Good Living Tour. The band played in Grand Island last year, closing out the inaugural concert series | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
AZP’s Ishma Valenti at the Kearney stop of the Good Living Tour | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
AZP performs in Kearney Friday night for the Good Living Tour | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
Fans dance in front of the stage Friday night at Kearney’s Good Living Tour Stop | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
The Good Life frontman Tim Kasher Friday night at Kearney’s Good Living Tour concert | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
Tim Kasher sings during The Good Life’s Friday night set outside The Nebraska Museum of Art | photo by Andrew Dickinson
The Good Life closes out its second-straight Good Living Tour Concert Friday night in Kearney | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
The Good Life guitarist Ryan Fox Friday night at Kearney’s Good Living Tour concert | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
Saturday: Grand Island
Omaha DJ Brent Crampton kicks off Saturday’s Good Living Tour concert in Grand Island | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
Student representatives for Nebraska Loves Public Schools perform at Grand Island’s Good Living Tour concert | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
Omaha rapper Conny Franko performs Saturday night at Grand Island’s Good Living Tour concert | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
DJ Kethro spins for Conny Franko at dusk Saturday for Grand Island’s Good Living Tour concert | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
Conny Franko and DJ Kethro perform Saturday evening for Grand Island’s Good Living Tour concert | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
A crowd gathers during Conny Franko’s set Saturday night during Grand Island’s Good Living Tour concert | photo by Andrew Dickinson
The Good Life’s Roger Lewis surveys the scene Saturday at Grand Island’s Good Living Tour concert |photo by Andrew Dickinson
A mother and daughter get ice cream at Anna Street Trolley during Grand Island’s Good Living Tour concert | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
Lincoln’s Mezcal Brothers performs just after sunset Saturday night at Grand Island’s Good Living Tour concert | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
Gerardo Meza during Mezcal Brothers’ performance Saturday night at Grand Island’s Good Living Tour concert | Lindsey Yoneda
The Mezcal Brothers perform Saturday night at Grand Island’s Good Living Tour concert | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
The Mezcal Brothers concludes its set Saturday night at Grand Island’s Good Living Tour concert | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
The Good Life bassist Stefanie Drootin-Senseney onstage with her two children prior to the band’s set Saturday night in Grand Island | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
Tim Kasher wails into the microphone Saturday night during The Good Life’s Saturday night set in Grand Island | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
The Good Life’s Roger Lewis (left) and Ryan Fox during the band’s Saturday night set in Grand Island | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
Photo of The Good Life by Lindsey Yoneda
Photo of The Good Life by Lindsey Yoneda
Sunday: Red Cloud
DJ Spencelove (Spencer Munson) welcomes guests to the Starke Round Barn Sunday to start Red Cloud’s Good Living Tour concert | photo by Andrew Dickinson
Concessions at Starke Round Barn, near Red Cloud | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
Lester Junction performs mid-afternoon at the Starke Round Barn near Red Cloud | photo by Andrew Dickinson
Lester Junction performs Sunday afternoon during Red Cloud’s Good Living Tour concert | photo by Andrew Dickinson
Inside the Starke Round Barn near Red Cloud | photo by Andrew Dickinson
Jessica Hottman (of The Hottman Sisters) during the band’s Sunday night set at Sarke Round Barn near Red Cloud | photo by Andrew Dickinson
Jessica Hottman and bassist Jon Ochsner during The Hottman Sisters’ Sunday afternoon set near Red Cloud | photo by Andrew Dickinson
photo of The Hottman Sisters by Andrew Dickinson
A farm cat greets guests Sunday night during Red Cloud’s Good Living Tour concert | photo by Andrew Dickinson
The concert grounds at Starke Round Barn during Red Cloud’s Good Living Tour concert Sunday evening | photo by Andrew Dickinson
Lloyd McCarter performs at sunset Sunday night at Starke Round Barn near Red Cloud | photo by Andrew Dickinson
Two children watch Lloyd McCarter and the Honky Tonk Revival from near the Starke Round Bar for Red Cloud’s Good Living Tour concert | photo by Andrew Dickinson
Honky Tonk Revival upright bassist Dave Morris in front of the Starke Round Barn | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
Stacy Rasser joins Lloyd McCarter & the Honky Tonk Revival onstage Sunday night | photo by Andrew Dickinson
Heather Hottman takes the lead for Lloyd McCarter on “Blue Suede Shoes” while Jessica Hottman looks on | photo by Andrew Dickinson
photo by Lindsey Yoneda
Two women dance in front of the stage Sunday night at Red Cloud’s Good Living Tour concert | photo by Andrew Dickinson
Concertgoers and crew dance in front of the stage during Sunday night’s Red Cloud Good Living Tour concert | photo by Andrew Dickinson
A couple dances in front of the Starke Round Barn Sunday evening during Red Cloud’s Good Living Tour concert | photo by Lindsey Yoneda
A group of dancers at Sunday night’s Red Cloud Good Living Tour concert | photo by Andrew Dickinson
photo by Lindsey Yoneda
The Rosser farm at dusk Sunday evening | photo by Lindsey Yoneda