Country music singer Cody McCarver will be heating up the stage Friday night as the Main Street Live summer concert series is cooling off. The final concert will offer a run at a new program – a night race.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” said McCarver. “I was born and raised close to McMinnville. It will be like coming home. We will try and step it up a notch, if we can. We are very entertaining, so I don’t know if we can do any more than that. We’ll see.”
McCarver was born and raised in Dunlap. He began his musical career at age 9, playing piano in a small church. Teaching himself to play multiple instruments, by age 17 he was performing in local honky tonks.
Playing so close to home may bring family members from Dunlap.
“I think my mom is going to try and be there,” said McCarver. “It has been about 10 years since she has heard me play. I’m on tour a lot. I’m looking forward to her being there.”
After playing with the country band Confederate Railroad for 12 years,  McCarver stepped out on his own with the Cody McCarver Band. He has garnered three No. 1 videos on CMT Pure with “Red Flag,” “White Trash With Money,” and “I’m America” featuring Charlie Daniels. He has four top 20 singles and was named Music Row’s Independent Artist for three consecutive years.
For Friday night’s appearance, McCarver will be playing his own hits and those from Confederate Railroad. He will also have T-shirts, caps, CDs, and bandanas on sale.
A national celebrity spokesperson for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America, McCarver is starring in a movie alongside Michael Madsen called “Cole Younger and the Black Train” that is due out in September. McCarver wrote and recorded the theme song for the movie “Outlaws & Trains” with a video due out soon.
There will be a variety of food and beverages available from vendors. Parking and admission are free, so bring a chair and enjoy the music. Come early and stake out a good spot.
Cody McCarver will take the stage and begin entertaining at 7 p.m. on the West Lawn of Security Federal downtown. Food and beverage vendors open at 6 p.m. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Smoking is not allowed in the crowd.
During 8 p.m. intermission, Main Street McMinnville will hold the inaugural Downtown After Dark 5K Run/Walk. Registration is $20 and can be made by stopping by the Main Street office this week or prior to the event. All proceeds go to benefit the program and its activities, such as Main Street Live. Trophies will be awarded to top finishers in each age division.
“This is going to be a huge night,” said Main Street McMinnville executive director Carla King. “Cody is an amazing performer and his presence alone fills the stage, but put him with his band and he will put on quite a show.”
Main Street Live is a production of Main Street McMinnville. Events are free thanks to sponsorship by Dr Pepper, the Law Offices of Galligan and Newman, Security Federal Savings Bank, River Park Hospital, Middle Tennessee Natural Gas, Ben Lomand, McMinnville Electric System, city of McMinnville, Peg Broadcasting and the Southern Standard, your source for local news.