All Feature Articles

Vince Gill Opens Four-Night Stand at the Ryman Auditorium in Fantastic High-Flying Fashion

by Rich and Laura Lynch

One of the most popular artists in modern country music, Vince Gill wasn't lying when he told the standing room only crowd on August 1, 2024 that he and his 11-piece band were "gonna play for a while" as they kicked off a much anticpated four night residency at the legendary Ryman Auditorium.


Vince Gill fronted an incredible 11-piece band at the Mother Church in Nashville.

Early in the set Gill complimented the historic building stating it was the "best place in the whole wide world for music" before saying that they were going to deliver a "cheating song right off the bat" in advance of a flawless rendition of the sparkling "Pocket Full of Gold".

After the fifth song - "High Lonesome Sound" - that Gill called a nod to his bluegrass past he once again exclaimed that "I'm just so excited about singing my own damn songs, I can't stand it" - a statement he backed up with both words and deeds as the generously long night in Music City played out before the assembled gathering of faithful fans, family and friends in Nashville.

There were several themes that connected the night with one being Gill's own decades long career in the music industry. His journey in the biz began in 1975 when he left home after high school to set out on the road as an in-demand guitar player and sideman. He would find success and fame not long after when he was selected to replace Craig Fuller in the country rock outfit Pure Prairie League. But, as Vince alluded to the crowd at the Ryman - he considers that his own time in the spotlight really began when he signed to RCA Records Nashville in 1983 - 41 years ago - that culminated in Gill winning the Top New Male Vocalist from the Academy of Country Music in 1984.

So, it was probably no coincidence that this evening's 4-hour plus concert featured 41-tracks over two sets and an extended encore.

The first half was marked by many songs and stories about life, love and loss with an emphasis placed on recalling Gill's father and his role in influencing the young guitar player and the impact the song "Old Shep" had on the boy growing up. The man Vince Gill then pointed out his longtime partner Amy Grant sitting entranced and enamored in the front row of the balcony before wrapping up the first set with "When My Amy Prays" dedicated to her who he called his "favorite person in the whole world".

Describing how he has always written - and explaining that he recently experienced an especially prolific period even for him - Vince opened the second half with a full record's worth of material as 10 new compelling compositions were debuted for the attentive audience. The first was an ode to Nashville's long-standing greasy spoon known as "Brown's Diner Bar" whose renowned cheeseburgers have kept Vince fed for decades. "Benny's Song" was a dedication to Gill's recently passed oldest friend who also served as his guitar tech for 35 years and the heartfelt tribute had the singer in tears at its completion.

Some of the new songs even seemed as though they might have been written for Gill's tenure in The Eagles - the legendary band he was drafted into after the 2016 death of their iconic co-founder Glenn Frey. That group has yet to utilize the charismatic and capable frontman in the studio and it would be a shame if that never happens even as their retirement seemingly looms. But, Vince's incredible 11-piece band - especially the three guitar attack that was presented on stage - at times did seem to mirror the influence and current configuration of The Eagles. So, perhaps time will tell.

With the post-midnight conclusion this concert alone would have gone down in the Ryman's record books particularly for its extraordinary length and notable debut of a number of new songs. But, for Vince Gill and company - it was just one down, three to go. See if you can score a ticket to this one - it's likely that you won't regret it or soon forget it.

Set 1: One More Last Chance | Take Your Memory With You | Pocket Full of Gold | Tryin' to Get Over You | High Lonesome Sound | You and You Alone | Never Alone | No Future in the Past | Young Man's Town | If You Ever Have Forever in Mind | Feels Like Love | When Love Finds You | I Still Believe in You | Look at Us | When I Call Your Name | It's Hard to Kiss the Lips at Night That Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long | The Key to Life | When My Amy Prays | Set 2: | Brown's Diner Bar | Hill People | Her Heart | Nobody Held Her Like Me | I Hope Everybody Lives to 100 | Benny's Song | Sometimes | Heroes | When a Soldier Dies | The Whole World | Next Big Thing | Sweet Thing | Guitar Slinger | Down to My Last Bad Habit | Ode to Billie Joe | Pretty Little Adriana | Go Rest High On That Mountain | What the Cowgirls Do | Oklahoma Borderline | Encore: | Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away | Whenever You Come Around | Liza Jane | I Gave You Everything I Had

Related Links: For more information on VINCE GILL and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links - Vince Gill | Ryman Auditorium


.





Do you like MCN??? Did you know that the easiest way to support this site is to BUY our founder's DEBUT ALBUM on BANDCAMP? At check out you can even throw in a bit more to really say "we appreciate you"! Thanks!!!



Did you know that MCN Founder Rockin' Rich Lynch hosts some of the world's top musicians and songwriters on his regularly scheduled webcast - watch all the episodes here - and please share the links far and wide!





Elvis Costello Is a Legendary Wry Man at the Ryman in Nashville



It's Now or Never: Museum of Music Icons Opens in Nashville



The 615 Goes Loco For Leopards at New Zoo Exhibit Opening in Nashville



Lukas Nelson Receives the Inaugural Rob Wasserman Memorial Ambassador Award at the Gibson Garage in Nashville



Cosmic Baseball Glows the Distance in Colorful Nashville Debut



Rock Legend Steve Miller Receives the Les Paul Spirit Award at the Gibson Garage in Nashville



The Blue Angels Triumphantly Take Flight On Sunday at The Great Tennessee Air Show in Smyrna



The CMA Fest Is a Great Way to Spend a Day in Downtown Nashville



Gibson Garage Fest '25 Strikes a Chord in Nashville



The 12th Annual K-LOVE Fan Awards Celebrate Music, the Messiah and So Much More at the Opry House in Nashville



The Indigo Girls Orchestrate a Classy Three-Night Stand in Nashville



Lukas Nelson and Kaitlin Butts Raise the Roof at Beloved BMI Bash in Nashville



A Grand Night at the Grand Ole Opry with TajMo and More in Nashville



MCN Founder Rockin' Rich Lynch Races Against Daytona 500 Champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at K1 Speed in Nashville



Billy Idol and Joan Jett Are Hot in the City of Nashville



There Goes Ryman Simon - Songwriting Legend Paul Simon's Unlikely Return to the Mother Church in Nashville



Shinedown Throw a Dance Party at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville



Shen Yun Is Divinely Inspiring at the Fisher Center in Nashville



The 41st Annual Main Street Festival Is a Fair Amount of Fun in Franklin



MJ The Musical - Nothing Bad About It at the TPAC in Nashville





Rockin' Rich Lynch's "Week In Review" - July 10, 2025



Rockin' Rich Lynch's "Week In Review" - June 13, 2025





• Meet Rich and Laura Lynch.

© 2025 MusicCityNashville.net
All Rights Reserved