No matter the singing competition, the format always appeared to be the same. A group of aspiring artists try to win over judges and viewers for a chance at stardom. While shows like The Voice and American Idol continue to entertain and make singers’ dreams come true, the upcoming show, The Road, executive produced by Blake Shelton and Taylor Sheridan, offers a different approach. Instead of taking over a studio, the show, helmed by Keith Urban, decided to give contestants real experience by taking them on tour. Giving them a glimpse into what it takes to be a top performer, the show apparently took over the famed Cain’s Ballroom for a special episode.
Originally constructed in 1924 as a garage, Cain’s Ballroom transformed over the years to become a hot venue for artists. Throughout the venue’s history, artists like Leon Russell graced the stage. And it also welcomed Sex Pistols back in the late 1970s. Holding such a important place in music history, Executive producer Lee Metzger said, “It’s a really cool space, anybody who’s everybody has played at Cain’s.”
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Keith Urban Ready To Bring Real-Life Experience To ‘The Road’
As for what fans should expect from The Road, Metzger added, “Part of the deal is we are playing in a lot of historical venues across the country, it’s really important as we’re breaking these country artists to let them see some of the history play in some of these venues a lot of their influences have played in at the same time win over fans in each city.”
Besides giving contestants a chance to make their own history, they will hit the road with country star Keith Urban. Loving the premise, Urban took a trip down memory lane, looking back at his early years. “I spent a lot of my underage life playing in some seedy pubs, sometimes just for the bartender. So I love the idea of throwing artists into a real-world environment to find out if they are artists.”
Seeing the tough moments as the ones that helped define his career, Urban insisted touring and spending time on the road was crucial for any performer. “For me, touring has always been my first love. It’s where the rubber meets the road. But it’s the only road to take if you want to be a performer.”
(Photo by: Trae Patton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
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