On August 14, the Pawn Shop Guitar Tour made its way to Charlotte, North Carolina, bringing Tim McGraw and 49 Winchester to Truliant Amphitheater for a night of country music.
Long before the first artist stepped onstage, the energy was already building throughout the venue. Early-entry parking opened at 5 p.m., giving fans plenty of time to find their spots, fire up the grill, and settle in for the evening. The parking lot quickly turned into its own pre-show gathering, with friends and families tailgating, sharing laughs, and enjoying the anticipation of what was ahead. When 7:30 p.m. arrived, the attention shifted toward the stage.
Hailing from Russell County, Virginia, 49 Winchester walked out to a crowd ready to get the night started. The five-piece band took their places one by one before launching into “Bluebird,” immediately setting the pace.
From the opening song, the band showed why they have become a rising name in the country and Southern rock scene. Their music carries the influence of where they come from, but their live performance gives those songs a life of its own.
The set moved into “Hays, Kansas,” “Bringin’ Home the Bacon,” and “Pardon Me” before the band delivered one of the night’s most fitting moments with “Russell County Line.” The song served as a direct connection to the band’s Virginia roots, bringing the story of where they came from into a venue filled with thousands of people.
49 Winchester continued with “Anchor,” “Everlasting Lover,” “Long Hard Life,” and “The Wind,” keeping the crowd engaged while showing their range. There was no need for unnecessary production or theatrics. The songs and the musicianship carried the performance.
As the set moved toward its final stretch, “Slowly,” “Tulsa,” “Last Call,” and “Changes” kept the momentum going. The biggest takeaway from 49 Winchester’s performance was that they didn’t approach the night like they were simply there to open for Tim McGraw. They stepped onto the stage and made the time they had count.
For a band rooted in the small-town community of Russell County, playing a major amphitheater in Charlotte was another opportunity to bring their story to a new audience. And they did exactly that.
At 9 p.m., Tim McGraw took the stage, officially kicking the Pawn Shop Guitar Tour into its headlining chapter. But the night had already found its footing. 49 Winchester came to Charlotte as the opening act, but they left having made their own impression on the Pawn Shop Guitar Tour.
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