This Country Singer Was Bumped For Paul McCartney, And He's Fine With It
Country singer-songwriter Max McNown didn’t mind moving his first-ever headlining gig for Sir Paul McCartney.
In 2023, Max McNown found viral success on TikTok with his 2023 song “A Lot More Free.” The country singer-songwriter, 24, reached a wider audience with his studio debut Wandering, released last April. Less than one year later, McNown is officially selling out shows. The Bend, Oregon native was set to make his headlining debut Feb. 11 before the first of two sold-out crowds at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom. Understandably, McNown was a bit miffed when he heard the news. However, learning that the artist in question was none other than Sir Paul McCartney likely took some of the sting out.
Admittedly, Max McNown and his agents “were a bit confused” to learn that his first-ever headlining gig needed to move to a new venue. “My agent told me this was an unusual situation that a venue would ask you to move, so we kind of knew there was something bigger going on,” the rising country singer told Billboard. “But our first response was, ‘I’m sorry, you want us to do what?’”
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Initially, McNown’s team pushed back against the request—until they learned that it was Sir Paul McCartney who would take over the venue. The former Beatle, 82, announced the first of two surprise shows at noon Tuesday, Feb. 11. He played another at the 575-capacity room the next night (Wednesday, Feb. 12.)
[RELATED: 4 Other Times Paul McCartney Played Surprise Concerts, in Honor of His New York City Club Gigs This Week]
Upon learning he was being bumped for one of the greatest musicians of all time, McNown suddenly felt much more charitable about moving his set to the 1,200-capacity Irving Plaza in Union Square. The “Freezing in November” singer called the move “a win-win in every way.”
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“Paul wanted to play in a smaller venue and make it special,” he told Billboard. “We had sold out Bowery months ago, so moving into a bigger venue and being able to accommodate more fans was great for us.”
Still, he does have one regret regarding Sir Paul McCartney. “I am disappointed we weren’t able to get him to open for us,” McNown joked.
Featured image by Jim Dyson/Getty Images