NEW YORK - In a year full of firsts, Luke Bryan is ready for another one.
Bryan has announced plans to become the first country star to headline Barclays Center. The Brooklyn stop of his “That’s My Kind of Night Tour” will be Sept. 14.
“It’s just amazing,” said Bryan, calling from a tour stop in Charlotte, N.C. “Brooklyn is such an amazing area, and it’s incredible, the thought of my country self in the heart of Brooklyn.”
Barclays Center chief executive Brett Yormark said Bryan’s show would launch the arena’s new Brooklyn Country concert series, which reflects the borough’s interest in country music. “We’re very excited about it,” said Yormark, who recently traveled to Nashville to meet with country agents and managers. “Our goal for our concert business is to continue to expand the volume and variety of our offering.”
Bryan said he was extra nervous in January, when he headlined Madison Square Garden for the first time. He expects the feeling will be the same when he comes to Brooklyn. “There were a lot of heightened expectations,” he said. “But we just had a blast.”
Expectations will only keep growing after Bryan’s remarkable 2014. He set a record for holding the top two spots on Billboard’s country chart with his song “Play It Again” at No. 1 and his appearance on the Florida Georgia Line song “That’s How We Roll” at No. 2. He is set to headline his first stadium dates this summer and recently was named Country’s Sexiest Man by People magazine.
However, Bryan said he isn’t looking for more accolades. He wants longevity, something on his mind after he fell off a stage in Charlotte last week - an accident that resulted in stitches but could have been much worse.
“My main focus is the music and having a career,” he said. “I want to keep playing fun venues and keep putting on great shows. … My main thing is being healthy, enjoying the shows, enjoying touring and being in a place where I can do this for a long time.”
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