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The Fred vs. The Villages: Which venue does it better? By a flamingo beak, The Villages

By JOHN THOMPSON,
LINDSAY BIANCHI
and MICHAEL BOYLAN

Memorial Day weekend is traditionally the start of the summer season with hours spent at picnics, trips to the beach and lazy afternoons by the pool.

In Fayette County, we also have the benefit of two amphitheaters for outdoor entertainment.

For three years, The Villages Amphitheater in Fayetteville and the Frederick J. Brown Amphitheater in Peachtree City have competed for the entertainment dollar on a head-to-head basis.

Fayette is one of the few counties in the metro area that has two competing venues for the summer dollars. So, the question naturally arises, which one is the better?

To find out the answer, we sent our two intrepid critics, Lindsay Bianchi and Michael Boylan, to sample the venues. We established a series of criteria and asked our culture vultures to cast a critical eye at the venues.

The critics headed to The Fred May 20 for the Styx show and visited The Villages May 28 for its free Memorial Day spectacular.

After checking out seating styles and sight-lines, our caustic critics have declared The Villages a winner by the smallest of margins. Here are their comments and reasons for picking Fayette’s newest amphitheater as the critics’ choice:

The Fred vs. The Villages - Lindsay’s opinions

Venue - There is a open air, park-like feel to The Villages amphitheater grounds, making it perfect for a casual evening’s entertainment. The seating at the amphitheater, located next to the new Fayette County High School off Tiger Trail in Fayetteville, is not very comfortable, though. I noticed several patrons who brought their own lawn chairs and folded up The Villages’ chairs. I sat through the last concert on one of the brick walls. I was actually more comfortable. Maybe they need to trade in those chairs. The steepness of the grassy hill at The Villages can be a little precarious, even if you’re in good shape. Hopefully, steps will be added in the future. I do like the large terraced picnic areas on either side of the seating and the lawn area at the top. It reminds me of Chastain Park, but it’s a much cleaner space.

The Fred off McIntosh Trail in Peachtree City is sequestered in a ring of pine trees, giving it an intimate atmosphere, almost like an indoor venue. The dance floor area is a unique touch allowing fans to shake their collective booty and to get a closer look at the performers. There are balconies on either side of the arena for handicapped patrons and whoever else wants a bird’s eye view. The permanent seating at The Fred feels a little cramped. I usually watch the concert from the back walkway, but only if I remembered to bring my glasses. They have made their smoking area more amenable for those who wish to have a cigarette. It’s a vast improvement over the unlit predecessor. Lights, tables and a mini-bar have made it more enjoyable for smokers and less like a penalty box.

The Villages

The Fred

Menu - Food at either venue is generally good, but since I rarely eat at a concert, I’m not sure what the point is. Personally I have dinner before such an event, usually at a nice restaurant. The last thing I want to do at a concert is fumble with a sandwich when it’s time to applaud. For those who do like to “nosh” and groove at the same time, The Villages’ goodies are a little cheaper than The Fred’s. I will have to give it to The Villages for providing a variety of beers, but The Fred has a better selection of liquor. My one complaint is that they serve Jack Daniels as their only whiskey option. A nice blended whiskey like Canadian Mist would be much appreciated. Jack gives me a roaring headache. I’m thinking if you are going to charge $45 per seat, then have a real bar with real drinks.

The Villages

The Fred

Series - I suppose the line-ups at both amphitheaters satisfy the patrons and season ticket holders who go there, and that’s fine. Suggestion lists are handed out each year to decide who will best fill the seats. I don’t have a problem with that. If I want to see something a little edgier and current, there’s always Atlanta. Just check the weekly listings in Creative Loafing. The Villages and The Fred are more like a trip down memory lane. The shows are enjoyable on their own level. I enjoyed Art Garfunkel at The Fred, but I also liked heading up to The Roxy to see The Scissor Sisters. I think overall I prefer the acts appearing at The Fred this summer as opposed to The Villages, although I’m looking forward to Johnny Rivers in July.

The Villages

The Fred

Additional uses - Fayette Idol, July Jam, Family Film Night, not to mention their free concerts for Memorial Day and the Sept. 11 “God and Country Night,” and Summer Shakespeare are just some of the other uses at The Villages. The Villages gives its citizens back a lot of great outings for the whole family. I would like to see The Fred do some of this for their citizens as well, especially since their concert series leaves plenty of room for other kinds of activities. Peachtree City seems almost cut off from itself when I go over there. Could it be the excessive landscaping?

The Villages - ***** The Fred - **1/2

Vibe - Patrons of The Fred really get into the show, singing along, dancing on the dance floor, and generally having a great time. The mostly middle-aged crowd still knows how to party, but I felt as if it’s just this side of an exclusive country club atmosphere. That’s one reason I don’t stay in my seat. I feel like an outsider. I’m more used to darker spaces like The Cotton Club (the original location), my personal fave. I suppose some of The Fred patrons would feel conspicuous there too. So I guess as long as you can enjoy the show it doesn’t really matter.

The Villages is more family-oriented, and maybe a little more low-key. The crowd isn’t as rowdy and there are usually more children present for many events. As for now, the venue is a mellower experience, but it fits with the placid surroundings. Again, most of the name acts are for an older crowd, so the atmosphere can be a little stodgy. Perhaps both The Fred and The Villages could add at least one act that is geared for a somewhat younger audience. I’m sure it would be appreciated.

The Villages - *** The Fred - ***

Mike’s opinions

Venue - The Villages is the younger of the two amphitheaters but The Fred still looks pretty good for its age. Both have a decent landscape with The Villages having a nicer yard at the top of the venue and larger lawn areas for seats on both sides of the seating area but the seats are just folding chairs and it can be a little buggy over there. The Fred has more comfortable seats and each seat has a good view of the stage. Kudos to The Fred for having a nicer picnic area on the side and down front.

The Fred - **** The Villages - ***

Menu - Things are a little cheaper at The Villages. They sell popcorn in $1 and $2 sizes, while The Fred sells it at $2. Cokes and water are $3 at The Fred and $2 at The Villages. The Fred has a better bar set up with Martini’s providing a champagne bar, a bar on the dance floor and mixed drinks by the entrance, while The Villages has a better beer and wine selection, as well as better desserts and an ability to pre-order several platters. This category is a push though because audience members can bring their own refreshments.

The Fred - *** The Villages - ***

Series - This category depends on your taste in music and neither venue truly satisfies my taste in music; maybe they will in another 20 years or so. The Fred has more relevant acts than The Villages and a little more diversity in their lineup (Kool and the Gang, Charlie Daniels Band, Loverboy, Debbie Reynolds), while The Villages has cheaper tickets and not every show costs the same ($20 for The Platters and the Coasters, $40 Kenny Rogers). All individual tickets at The Fred are $45 and I think that’s insane. Here’s why: my U2 tickets for their show this November are $52 apiece. U2 is still charting hits and “Beary Hobbs and The Drifters” have a few original members left and haven’t charted a hit in decades.

However, one more thing to consider is that The Swingin’ Medallions perform at The Fred on July 2 with tickets ranging in price from $10-$18. The band will play The Villages a week later for free. Which one will you go to?

The Fred - *** 1/2 The Villages - ***

Additional uses - This is an easy one. The Villages is used for a number of free or inexpensive community events throughout the year. In addition to Fayette Idol, family movie nights, and God and Country night, The Villages is also the site of theatrical performances (Shakespeare in the Park), band competitions and more. After their series runs, The Fred has Four Nights in October, one of the biggest Christian concert festivals in the country, and then nothing. When it first opened there were a number of other community events taking place there (Fayette Community Theatre presented “The Sound of Music” there forever ago) but now The Fred is dead for a large part of the year. That stinks.

The Fred - * The Villages - ****

Vibe - Party atmosphere or reserved atmosphere, you decide. The audience at The Fred seems to have a lot of fun, sometimes too much fun, while the audience at The Villages enjoys the show but doesn’t get too rowdy or talkative. This works both ways. It’s nice to be able to hear the music but at the Memorial Day concert, the audience appeared bored, just like the Air Supply show a while back.

The Fred - *** The Villages - **

The Fred got our critics’ choices in three categories, while The Villages was named tops in one. Our guys were impressed by the number of community events held at The Villages and depressed by the number of weeks The Fred sits vacant.

Finally, both critics were happy to see only one neon flamingo in tow in Peachtree City. Now that the bird is almost an extinct species, maybe the new head at The Fred can get to work at providing more of a community atmosphere with other events.