Chase Rice Expands “Welcome to The Farm” to Chicago with Jimmy Butler & Forward Hospitality Group

Multi-Platinum entertainer Chase Rice has partnered again with Forward Hospitality Group, and star athletes with local roots Jimmy Butler and Roquan Smith, to announce a third iteration of his popular Welcome to The Farm entertainment venue. The new 10,000 square foot space will now bring the brand’s signature live music, drinks, and BBQ to downtown (​​15 W Illinois Street) with plans to open in early August. The Chicago venue will also include the brand’s ongoing partnership with Executive Chef Raheem Sealy whose noted Drinking Pig BBQ will find a home at The Farm.
 
“It’s been incredible to see the Welcome to The Farm response so far,” shared Rice. "I'm so excited to keep growing this project together with the great team at Forward Hospitality Group. Chicago has always been one of my favorite places to visit and to perform, and summer music festival season seemed like the perfect time to bring Welcome to The Farm to the city.”
 
The Chicago location will join both the most recent St. Petersburg location and original flagship, which opened in Cleveland in 2021, and was joined by Rice and Forward Hospitality Group’s “I Hate Cowboys” cocktail & bourbon lounge next door earlier this year. The completely renovated Chicago space located in the heart of River North will be anchored by a second floor stage that will frequently host a rotating lineup of live music. The space will have capacity to seat approximately 300 guests and will offer both indoor seating and a retractable rooftop to enjoy during the warmer months.  
 
After receiving acclaim as the “Best BBQ in Miami” Executive Chef Raheem Sealey will bring his delicious smoked ribs, brisket, cornbread, handheld sandwiches, elevated bare fare, and sides to the Windy City for the first time. Chicago’s Welcome to The Farm iteration of the Drinking Pig BBQ will be the perfect spot to grab a pre-show bite or to satisfy any late night BBQ craving. Guests can also expect The Farm’s bar menu to include an assortment of Farm Favorites Cocktails, a massive bourbon and whiskey list, along with new specialty coffee products from Butler’s coffee brand BIGFACE that will be available to consume while taking in the scene.
 
In addition to expanding Welcome to The Farm, Rice continues to unveil his next musical chapter with the recent independent release of guitar-driven anthem “Fireside” and the vulnerably autobiographical “Go Down Singin’.” He is also currently serving as direct support on Dierks Bentley’s Gravel & Gold Tour visiting arenas and amphitheaters nationwide through September in addition to prominent sets at major festivals including Summerfest, Windy City Smokeout and more.
 
For more information on all things Welcome to The Farm, visit WelcomeToTheFarm.com and follow @thefarmcle, @thefarmstpete and @thefarmchicago. For Chase Rice, visit ChaseRice.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter/X and TikTok @ChaseRiceMusic and on Instagram @ChaseRice. 

Courtesy of Forward Hospitality Group

About Chase Rice
With more than 2.6 million albums sold and over 2.8 billion total streams, plus a legion of passionate fans at his high-energy concerts across the globe, Chase Rice has established himself as a powerful force in Nashville and beyond. With new releases “Fireside” and “Go Down Singin’” available everywhere now as the follow-up to critically acclaimed album I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell, Rice’s sound continues to evolve to reflect the realities of his life; from emotional reckoning to an admiration of the Western way of life. The recent album, including standout tracks “Oklahoma” and “Bench Seat,” serves as a follow up to his three-part project, The Album, which featured his latest Platinum-certified No. 1 hit, “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen.” and the Platinum-certified Top 10 hit “Lonely If You Are.”
 
This is the same gravelly-voiced Chase Rice fans first fell in love with years ago – but better, freer; unbeholden and uninhibited. The new music builds upon the success of his sophomore album, Lambs & Lions, which featured the 3x Platinum, two-week chart topper “Eyes On You” – Rice’s first No. 1 as an artist and the most-streamed song of his career. Lambs & Lions followed Platinum-certified Ignite the Night, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums and No. 3 on the all-genre chart, producing a pair of Top 5 hits; Platinum-certified “Gonna Wanna Tonight” and Double Platinum “Ready Set Roll.” In addition to guesting on sold-out stadium shows with Kenny Chesney and Garth Brooks, Rice consistently sells out venues on his own headlining tours, including the recent Get Western Tour in support of his new music, and is serving as direct support on Dierks Bentley’s Gravel & Gold Tour this summer.
 
About Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat is a 6-time NBA All-Star and a 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist who was the 30th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft. Originally from Tomball, Texas, Butler (34) attended Marquette University and was the recipient of the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award in 2015. Jimmy is a 5-time All-Defensive Team selection, and a 5-time All-NBA Team honoree.
 
Butler’s vast off-the-court interests and passions include coffee, traveling, listening to music, fashion, and playing cards and dominoes with his friends and family. He also enjoys wine tasting, tennis, soccer and working out. Jimmy, an avid coffee aficionado launched his specialty coffee inspired lifestyle brand, BIGFACE back in 2021, that first originated from his hotel room during the 2020 NBA Bubble.

Morgan Wallen's This Bar & Tennessee Kitchen to Open Saturday, June 1

TC Restaurant Group announces its one-of-a-kind six-story venue in partnership with Morgan Wallen called “This Bar & Tennessee Kitchen” will open Saturday, June 1 at 11 am. The bar, restaurant and live music concept in downtown Nashville’s iconic Lower Broadway district is located by the front entrance of the famed Ryman Auditorium.
 
“We’re thrilled to welcome our first guests on Saturday, June 1, to This Bar leading into CMA Fest,” said Grant Burlingame, vice president of operations at TC Restaurant Group. “This venue has been a labor of love for us and Morgan. His fans and music lovers alike will love the experiences they will find at This Bar. We’re proud to open its doors.” 
 
After the June 1 opening, fans and guests can stay tuned on social channels (@mwthisbar) and the website (www.mwthisbar.com) for updates on on-going hours leading into CMA Fest. 
 
The opening comes after news that Wallen’s recent three-performance weekend at Nissan Stadium contributed to a record setting weekend of hotel bookings in Nashville, according to information shared by the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. 75,000 hotel rooms were sold from May 3 to May 4, the most in the city’s history. 
 
Wallen, who The New York Times calls “the biggest country star of the 2020s — and one of the biggest stars in pop, period,” partnered with trusted Broadway owner and operator TC Restaurant Group to bring his vision to life and deliver an experience true to himself and unique to the market.
 
Since launching his career, Wallen has primarily shared his music and stories with fans directly on the road at his live shows, and This Bar is an extension of the boy from East Tennessee’s life. Paying homage to growing up in Tennessee, This Bar incorporates pivotal elements that shaped Wallen’s life, with each level showcasing photos and memorabilia from his childhood as well as some of his most notable performances to date. 
 
This Bar and Tennessee Kitchen is designed and built from the ground up to deliver a unique experience on 4th Avenue adjacent to the historic Ryman Auditorium just off Broadway in the heart of Music City. The venue will be approximately 30,000 square feet and feature three live music stages, six bars and an open-air rooftop. 
 
The menu is curated by Wallen with Chef Tomasz Wosiak, Vice President of Culinary Development for TC Restaurant Group, and features southern delectables, bar bites, Tennessee favorites and some of Mama Wallen’s own recipes. 
 
The venue also features a gift shop with exclusive Morgan Wallen merchandise offerings and, yes, even an homage to his favorite Tennessee team. 
 
“Morgan Wallen is one of the most sought after stars in the music industry, and we are thrilled that he has trusted us to deliver a concept that will bring him closer to his fans, hold fast to his roots and enshrine his name among an exclusive group of artists who can claim international stardom with a Lower Broadway destination fans all over the world seek out,” said Adam Hesler, President at TC Restaurant Group.
 
Follow along on social media @mwthisbar and @morganwallen and at www.mwthisbar.com.

About Morgan Wallen:
When 11-time 2023 Billboard Music Awards-winner and Top Male Artist Morgan Wallen released his third studio album One Thing At A Time in 2023, its instant success left The New York Times proclaiming Wallen as “one of the biggest stars in pop, period.” One Thing At A Time has remained atop the all-genre Billboard 200 chart for 19 non-consecutive weeks, surpassing Garth Brooks’ Ropin’ the Wind with the most weeks at No. 1 for a Country album, and was the most-streamed album of the year on Spotify. The album’s 6x-Platinum single “Last Night” reeled in over 1.5 billion streams globally, becoming the most-streamed song of any genre in the U.S. across Apple Music and Spotify, and the longest running No. 1 solo song in Hot 100 history (16 weeks total). Recent collab with Post Malone, “I Had Some Help,” debuted at country radio with 167 first week adds, becoming only the second single in chart history to debut with the support of all reporting stations, opening at No. 15 on the Mediabase charts.
 
With 13 chart-toppers at country radio, Wallen played for 5 countries/3 continents in 2023 for his One Night At A Time World Tour stadium tour. Performing to over 2.4 million fans, One Night At A Time was named a Pollstar and Billboard Country Tour of the Year, surpassing attendance records in numerous stops; including Ohio Stadium, where Wallen became the largest weekend ever for the venue. The 36-show 2024 extension of One Night At A Time takes Wallen to 24 additional stadium-plays, and will include Wallen’s first European run with seven shows this fall. Wallen donates a portion from every ticket sold to his Morgan Wallen Foundation.
 
About TC Restaurant Group:
TC Restaurant Group serves as the trusted operator and partner to multiple entertainment and dining venues in Downtown Nashville, Pittsburgh and most recently, Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Concepts include Jason Aldean’s Kitchen and Rooftop Bar, LUKE’S 32 BRIDGE Food + Drink, Miranda Lambert’s Casa Rosa, Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottoms Up, Tequila Cowboy, Wanna B’s Karaoke Bar, Luigi’s City Pizza, Sun Diner, and It’s a Nashville Thing, Y’all Gift Shop.

Turn The Quiet Up: Eric Church Opens Chief’s

It took Eric Church and AJ Capital Partners’ founder and CEO Ben Weprin three years to reimagine and rebuild the historic building at 200 Broadway that officially opened last night as Chief’s. With a celebratory grand opening, the six-story bar, music venue and restaurant handed its keys over to the Church Choir. 
 
“This building is a lot like the songs I write … they’re mine until I release them, and then they’re not mine anymore, they’re yours,” shares Church. 
 
“We’re pretty good at storytelling through song, and I trusted Ben implicitly to bring what was in my heart and head for Chief’s to life as way of storytelling through space. The genesis of this place started with the vision of what the venue would be that we built the building around,” he adds of the two-story, 400-capacity Neon Steeple performance space in the heart of the building situated on floors 3 & 4. 
 
“When I came to Nashville in search of a place to play my songs, nowhere on this strip would have me. I went to Fiddle & Steel in Printers Alley and found my tribe,” Church shared with the original neon sign illuminating the theater balcony. “So, when we started building this, it was designed to be a place to bring original music back to the heart of historic Broadway.”
 
Church delivered on that promise with his first-of-nineteen residency shows, the aptly titled “To Beat The Devil.” In a journey chronicling his life and career, Church Choir members — as tickets were sold only to them — were treated to a nearly two-hour set solely for their eyes and ears. 
 
“I wanted a place I play songs that didn’t make albums — and this is the only place I’ll do a lot of these songs and share a lot of these stories. It’s a conversation in a place only for the people there.” 
 
Chief’s ticketed music venue is accompanied by Chief’s Tavern, a first-floor additional live entertainment space papered by more than 4,000 concert posters from throughout the CMA Entertainer of the Year’s career, and the second-floor Friendly Shadows Dueling Piano Bar, accented by highly-curated décor elements. Chief’s also houses a studio for broadcasting, inclusive of Eric Church Outsiders Radio on SiriusXM, with the capability of hosting broadcasts by various media partners. With street-level windows, the studio provides fans from around the world with a thrilling behind-the-scenes experience with a front-row view of broadcasting in action.
 
The venue also taps into Church’s Carolina roots in partnership with Rodney Scott, whose Whole Hog BBQ – part of the Pihakis Restaurant Group – occupies the fifth and sixth floors, overlooking downtown with its ‘Hell of a Q’ rooftop location.
 
Just as the Tennessean proclaimed of Church’s residency show, all six stories of Chief’s itself offer the “ultimate display of the honesty, personal touches and against-the-grain actions and thinking that have defined his quarter-century in Nashville.”

More at ChiefsonBroadway.com 

Photo Credit: Anthony D'Angio

About Eric Church:
A seven-time ACM Award winner, four-time CMA Award winner (including the 2020 award for Entertainer of the Year) and 10-time GRAMMY nominee, Church has amassed a passionate fan base around the globe known as the Church Choir, plus a critically acclaimed catalog of music. Church is currently working on new music as the follow up to his most recent chart-topping project, the Heart & Soul triple album, which featured the results of a marathon session during which he spent nearly a month writing and recording a song per day while sequestered in rural North Carolina. This followed his Gold-certified Desperate Man, which earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album (his third nod in the category) and prior releases including the Platinum-certified Sinners Like Me (“How ’Bout You,” “Guys Like Me”), Carolina (“Smoke a Little Smoke,” “Love Your Love the Most”) and Mr. Misunderstood (“Record Year,” “Round Here Buzz”), the Double-Platinum certified The Outsiders (“Like a Wrecking Ball,” “Talladega”) and the 3x Platinum-certified Chief (“Springsteen,” “Drink In My Hand”), as well as 30 Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum certified songs. Church is also a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, a co-owner of the iconic Field & Stream brand, has his own SiriusXM music channel, “Eric Church Outsiders Radio,” his own liquor offering, Whiskey JYPSI, and Chief’s, a six-story venue on Nashville’s famed lower Broadway.
 
For more information, visit www.ericchurch.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter/X @ericchurch and Instagram @ericchurchmusic.
 
About Chief’s:
Chief’s is a six-story bar, restaurant and live music venue designed to celebrate Eric Church’s ever-expanding musical legacy. Located in historic downtown Nashville, Chief features a ticketed music venue, inspirational interiors and a thoughtful focus on unique live performances, offering fans an unparalleled entertainment experience in Music City. Chief’s houses a studio for live broadcasting, inclusive of Church’s Outsiders Radio SiriusXM channel, with the capability of hosting broadcasts by various media partners. Chief’s also features a restaurant partnership with James Beard Award Winning Pitmaster Rodney Scott. Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ overlooks downtown with its ‘Hell of a Q’ rooftop offering. Situated at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Broadway, Chief’s is now open at 200 Broadway.
 
About Adventurous Journeys (“AJ”) Capital Partners:
Adventurous Journeys ("AJ") Capital Partners is a vertically integrated real estate investment manager founded by Ben Weprin in 2008. The firm specializes in creating distinctive, design-forward properties in high-demand yet underserved locations. The multi-disciplined team at AJ brings expertise in placemaking, inspired design and hospitality to fuel a diverse portfolio, currently valued at $5.3 billion across 100+ properties in 50+ markets. The company focuses on hospitality, mixed-use and residential sectors. Learn more at www.ajcpt.com.