Upcoming Yacht Rock Revue dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
See all ten players: the seat rule for this band
Choose a seat that faces the stage straight on, even if it costs you a few rows. Yacht Rock Revue fields ten musicians, with keyboards, brass and backing singers spread across the stage, and a sharp side angle can hide the horns or the keys at the far end. In a theater, the center orchestra (the main floor) is the top pick. If you plan to dance all night, a standing floor or the front of a general-admission room suits you better.
- Best seated view: center orchestra.
- Best for dancing: a standing floor, where the theater offers one.
- Best at an amphitheater: center reserved seats under the roof.
- Watch out for: side seats close to the stage.
Theaters, sheds and clubs: what each room offers
Theaters
The center orchestra gives the clearest view of a crowded stage. Some theaters pull out the front rows to create a standing section, which fits this audience, since much of it dances through the set. The front of the balcony is a good fallback with a full-stage view.
Amphitheaters
The covered pavilion has the reserved seats and the best sound. The lawn (general-admission grass behind the pavilion) costs less and suits a warm evening with friends, but the stage looks small from the back. Lawn rules on chairs and blankets differ by venue, so check the venue's current policy before you go.
Clubs and music halls
These rooms are usually standing only. Settle just off center near the soundboard for the most balanced mix of horns, keys and harmonies.
From an ironic club gig to a full-time band
Yacht Rock Revue began in Atlanta in 2007 as a side project of the indie rock band Y-O-U. Its members played a tongue-in-cheek set of soft-rock hits at a local club, the night turned into a weekly residency, and the side project became the main career.
The music is yacht rock: the smooth, studio-polished pop and soft rock of the late 1970s and early 1980s, the sound of Michael McDonald, Steely Dan and Hall & Oates. The band describes its concerts as immersive shows rather than a tribute act. Many fans dress for the theme, though nobody is required to.
The ten-person lineup is Nicholas Niespodziani, Peter Olson, Greg Lee, Mark Dannells, Mark Bencuya, David B. Freeman, Keisha Jackson, Kourtney Jackson, Jason Nackers and Ganesh Giri Jaya. That size is what lets the group reproduce the dense studio arrangements of the era live.
It is not covers only. The band released its first original single, "Step," in late 2019 and the album Hot Dads in Tight Jeans on February 21, 2020. It has also shared stages with musicians from the period, including Walter Egan, Robbie Dupree, Toto's Bobby Kimball, Chicago's Bill Champlin and Denny Laine of Wings.
Opening slots, sellouts and the Atlanta Revival
- Yacht Rock Revival, from 2011: the band's annual hometown event started at Andrews Entertainment Complex with roughly 1,000 people. By 2018 it had moved to State Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park and sold out to more than 6,000.
- 2023: opener on Kenny Loggins's "This Is It" farewell tour.
- July to September 2024: opener for REO Speedwagon and Train on a summer amphitheater tour.
- Headline sellouts: theater shows in Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta and Washington, DC.
The band plays more than 100 dates a year. Current shows are in the live listings on this page and on the band's tour page.
Groups, costumes and when Yacht Rock Revue sells out
- Blocks of seats go early. People tend to come in groups, often in costume, so several seats together are harder to find than a single.
- Weekends and summer lead. Friday and Saturday shows and summer amphitheater nights attract the most buyers.
- Atlanta is home turf. Hometown dates, the Revival included, have a long record of selling out.
- The front sells first. Standing floors and the nearest orchestra rows go before the balcony and lawn.
Resale prices can come in above or below face value and often move in the last few days. Every Reserved Seat order includes a 100% guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
Can you dance at a Yacht Rock Revue show?
Yes, much of the crowd dances. Some theaters convert the front rows into a standing area, and club dates are usually standing room.
Does Yacht Rock Revue only play covers?
Mostly it plays soft-rock hits of the late 1970s and early 1980s, but it has released original music, including the 2020 album Hot Dads in Tight Jeans.
What is the Yacht Rock Revival?
The band's annual Atlanta event, begun in 2011. It sold out State Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park with more than 6,000 fans in 2018.
Which artists' songs does the band perform?
The set draws on the soft-rock era of Steely Dan, Michael McDonald and Hall & Oates, along with a few of the band's own songs.
Do I need a costume?
No. Nautical and 1970s outfits are common, but they are optional. Follow the venue's rules on what you can bring inside.