Posted by It was another picture-perfect summer evening at Northwell at Jones Beach Theater as fans gathered for Tim McGraw’s Pawn Shop Guitar Tour, with special guests 49 Winchester setting the tone for a memorable night of country music.
Before the gates even opened, the atmosphere was unmistakably country. While there weren’t quite as many cowboy hats as I expected, the parking lots were filled with American flags, lively tailgate parties, and groups of fans practicing their line dancing before the show. One thing became abundantly clear—the ball cap may very well be the new cowboy hat.
Tim McGraw’s 2026 Pawn Shop Guitar Tour has generated tremendous excitement, and it’s easy to understand why. Rather than delivering a traditional arena show from start to finish, McGraw presents the evening in two distinct acts.
The concert opened with an intimate six-song acoustic performance featuring Tim and the Dancehall Doctors. The stripped-down presentation transformed the expansive amphitheater into something that felt much smaller—more like an evening in a Nashville listening room than a venue overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Fans immediately responded, singing along from the opening moments as McGraw’s relaxed storytelling style set the tone for the evening.
Then everything changed.
The acoustic instruments gave way to a full concert production as the band launched into “Real Good Man,” igniting the crowd and shifting the energy into high gear. From that point forward, the evening became the stadium-sized celebration fans have come to expect from one of country music’s biggest stars.
Following “Southern Girl,” the audience received an unexpected highlight when Tim welcomed his daughter, Audrey McGraw, to the stage. Her performance of her single “Stronger” showcased both confidence and poise, earning an enthusiastic response from the Jones Beach crowd.
Perhaps the evening’s most touching moment came during McGraw’s performance of “Pawn Shop Guitar.” Before the song, he shared the story of pawning his high school class ring for $25 and discovering a guitar in the pawn shop for the very same price—a purchase that ultimately changed the course of his life. Continuing a tradition that has become a signature of this tour, McGraw then presented a locally purchased pawn shop guitar to a young fan seated in the front row. It was a heartfelt gesture that perfectly captured the spirit of the tour and inspired the next generation of musicians.
A Photographer’s Perspective
Every concert presents its own visual challenges, and this production was no exception.
As a concert photographer, I’ve never been particularly fond of excessive atmospheric haze. While it can dramatically enhance lighting effects and laser displays when used thoughtfully, I felt the amount used throughout this performance was excessive—particularly during the intimate acoustic opening set. Rather than enhancing the mood, it often obscured the artists and diminished the clean, natural look of the stage.
Lighting design is an art form, and every designer has a unique creative vision. In this instance, however, I felt a more restrained approach would have better complemented both the acoustic atmosphere and the larger concert production that followed.
Even so, Tim McGraw once again demonstrated why he remains one of country music’s premier live performers. Combining heartfelt storytelling, crowd-pleasing hits, and genuine moments of generosity, the Pawn Shop Guitar Tour delivered an evening that was both entertaining and memorable beneath the summer skies at Jones Beach
*Editor’s Note – The tour was unable to accommodate my photo pass request however they obliged me with a review ticket, therefore photos were taken from iPhone(sorry)!
SETLIST – (Acoustic Set) Forget About Us, Just to See Your Smile, Where the Green Grass Grows, My Best Friend, Down on the Farm, Don’t Take the Girl (Electric Set) Real Good Man, Indian Outlaw, Something Like That, Pawn Shop Guitar, Southern Girl, *Audrey McGraw – Stronger, Song for America, I Like it-I Love it, Felt Good on My Lips, Mexicoma, Live Like You Were Dying (Encore) King Rodeo, The Cowboy in Me, Humble and Kind, Truck Yeah!
Long Island Sounds 