COVINGTON, Ky. — One of the hottest names in country music right now may make an appearance at a Covington staple.
Zach Bryan announced on his social media Thursday that he's celebrating his upcoming album, "The Great American Bar Scene," by choosing 23 bars across the U.S. that embody the spirit of the album.
Larry's All-American Cafe, which sits along W 9th Street in Mainstrasse, is one of the lucky bars.
The 23 bars will be playing "select cuts" from the album, which is set to drop July 4. The bar celebrations begin June 24.
"My intent with all this is to give everyone an early glimpse of this album, but more importantly this is in the spirit of bringing people together for a memorable moment," Bryan wrote on social media.
— Zach Bryan (@zachlanebryan) June 20, 2024
Larry's also announced that they were chosen Thursday, saying "Cat is out of the bar. Larry's is officially the coolest dive bar around."
"When you walk into Larry's you are welcomed by the warm embrace of the vintage neon lights and our bartenders friendly smiles. Everyone is a friend and time stops for a moment to enjoy a beer in a slow old fashioned way," the bar wrote on social media. "... maybe this is why Zach Bryan has chosen Larry's as one of the select few bars across America."
Bryan said in his post that he unfortunately can't go to every bar that was chosen, but he "will be visiting a few off the list to have a drink with ya'll."
It turns out it's just our luck that Bryan will be fairly close to Covington right before the bar celebrations begin. The singer-songwriter is performing at Buckeye Country Superfest in Columbus on Saturday and Sunday. So, in theory, with the celebrations starting Monday, Bryan could easily drive the roughly 2 hours down to Larry's on Monday.
Asked whether Bryan will make an appearance: "fingers crossed, but we'll see," said Stuart Mansell, partner at Larry's. "He's in the area, so we're really hoping he would."
Larry's released their full week of celebrations starting Monday including:
- June 24: Targeted album release
- June 25: Country karaoke from 9 p.m. to midnight
- June 26: "Whiskey Fever" night
- June 27: Veteran Appreciation Night
- June 28: Zach Bryan look-alike night
- June 29: Great American Bar Scene block party from noon to 1 a.m.
You can follow along with the bar's Facebook and Instagram.
Mansell said a regular customer from the area knew a member of Bryan's team and made the recommendation.
"It's the vibe that it gives off," Mansell said of why it was selected. "Once you come in here, there's already an atmosphere from the bartenders that are behind the bar and all the regulars."
"I've never really seen anybody not make a friend when they come in here," he said. "Everybody's a regular even though it's their first time. That 'locals-only' feel, but everybody's here."
For most of the time since the building has stood on Philadelphia Street, it's been a bar. Photos from the early 1900s line the wall, showing the bar in the same room.
Mansell and his business partners re-opened the establishment in 2019, inspired by the neighborhood bar scene in New Orleans.
"I kind of wanted to bring that style up here to Covington, and once I first saw this place, I instantly fell in love with it," he said.
The neon that hangs above the bar's mirror is original. He said the Bryan team will be sending an additional neon sign that's unique to the 23 bars that will preview the album.
"It's a second home to a lot of people," Mansell said.
