Kenny Chesney has officially kicked off his residency at Sphere Las Vegas, which makes him the first country artist to headline the venue. Along with the show itself, Chesney has plenty of other surprises in store for fans, including the immersive pop-up experience “Guitars, Tiki Bars and A Whole Lotta Love” at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas.
The pop-up features two stories of memorabilia, photo galleries, interactive exhibits, handwritten lyrics and decades of tour artifacts, helping fans get even closer to the “When the Sun Goes Down” singer. Chesney curated the space with music-led destination experience company Vibee, and his input is clear, from personalized jerseys to a sing along setup next to a brightly-colored “American Kids” bus to the turf-like floor covering the space.
There’s also a merch store dubbed “Kenny Chesney’s Surf Shop,” giving fans more chances to score a physical memory of their time in Vegas with a Chesney-inspired twist, including exclusive merch like vintage tour t-shirts and custom ball caps.
There’s lots to look at and even more to interact with at the pop-up, with fans getting the chance to play corn hole or beer pong, sip a drink at the Spread the Love Bar, or snap a selfie with one of the many artifacts on display. There is also a stage for any fans feeling bold enough to hop on Kenny’s Stage, which features video walls playing some of Chesney’s live performances and music videos, grab a guitar and play.
What happens in Vegas can also stay in Vegas with a tropical “confessional” that lets visitors spill their secrets and release them as a Message in a Bottle, plus a small-town hardwood space echoing Chesney’s Tennessee roots.
Chesney announced “Guitars, Tiki Bars and A Whole Lotta Love” prior to the kickoff of his residency, explaining in a statement that “Vegas is too hot to tailgate, so we figured we’d bring as much of it indoors as we can.” Referencing the tailgate culture at his years of stadium shows, he added, “I hear everybody tailgating way more than they know… So many times, I want to just jump on a gator and come out there for the party. To not have that energy? I think our shows have always started when the parking lot opens, so consider this your chance.”
He also revealed that work on his upcoming book, Heart*Life*Music, inspired him to share some of his decades of memories with the people who have supported him along the way.
“I’ve been in my warehouse, my journals and my hard drives working on Heart*Life*Music, and I’ve found a lot of things that were too cool to leave at home,” he explained. “To be in one place, I can create a world where many of the pictures, the pieces of the puzzle, even the American Kids bus could be part of what we give you to say, ‘thanks for being part of this’ before you come to the show.”
Fans visiting Sin City don’t need to have a ticket to one of Chesney’s shows to visit “Guitars, Tiki Bars and A Whole Lotta Love,” which is open Wednesday through Sunday (11 a.m.–8 p.m. PT) during show weeks. Kenny Chesney’s Las Vegas residency runs through June 21 at Sphere Las Vegas.
