West Tennessee shows out for Nelly concert

JACKSON – Thousands of West Tennesseans packed The Ballpark on Friday night for one of the biggest events Jackson has ever hosted.

Excitement for the Nelly concert — featuring fellow musical acts Juvenile and Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony — has been high since the announcement of the event in late January and the crowd, which was expected to be more than 7,500 people, matched the initial buzz.

Here are the two biggest takeaways from a big night in Jackson.

A feeling of nostalgia

Nelly, Juvenile and Bone-Thugs-NHarmony all played many of their hit songs from the past, which resonated strongly with the crowd throughout the concert.

Nelly fan Samantha Holmes said she was excited when her work schedule cleared up allowing her to attend the concert.

“I bump (listen to) him all the time,” she said. “I’m a mid-2000s kind of rap fan.”

Nelly was the headliner but fans were also excited to Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony, who many listened to growing up.

“It means a lot because we don’t get a lot of shows in Jackson,” said Mike Sullivan.

Each artist thanked the fans in the crowd during their show for their support and enthusiasm, a strong sign both the artists and crowd mutually enjoyed Friday’s concert.

‘There’s something Jackson’ to do in

Friday night, The Ballpark gave Jackson the chance to see three big hip-hop acts, and the long lines outside The Ballpark for the concert continued well after the 7 p.m. start time. It was a welcome change for some who don’t often find things to do in Jackson.

“First time to get an opportunity to do something without having to travel to Memphis or Nashville,” said Nakiah Mercer, a concert attendee. “It’s a change of pace to spend some money here.”

The hope for organizers and fans alike is that the concert is the start of bigger acts making stops in Jackson in between shows in Tennessee’s larger cities. The success of Friday night’s event could increase the chances of West Tennesseans enjoying more nights like Friday in future years.

The Ballpark will host country music star Jake Owen on June 15.

Reach Omer Yusuf at (731) 425-9637, oyusuf@jacksonsun.com, or on Twitter: @OmerAYusuf.