5 Questions With The New Romance: Why This Saturday Night at Tarara Will Feel Like the '80s All Over Again
- Rusty Foster
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
The second Saturday of the season brings a different kind of energy.
Opening night is about the return.The following week is about momentum.
And on Saturday, May 30, that momentum heads straight into the '80s when The New Romance - The Ultimate '80s Tribute Band takes the stage at the Tarara Summer Concert Series for a night built around nostalgia, singalongs, big vocals, and the kind of songs that turn an already good crowd into a great one.
With gates opening at 5:00 PM and music beginning at 6:00 PM, this is the kind of Tarara night that invites people to settle in early, stay fully present, and let the soundtrack do the rest.
To help set the stage, we asked The New Romance five questions ahead of their performance, including one that hits especially hard this year as Tarara celebrates its Final Encore season.
Here is what they had to say.
1. What can Tarara fans expect from your show on Saturday night?
The New Romance:“Expect a high-energy, feel-good concert experience packed with the biggest songs of the '80s. We want people singing at the top of their lungs, dancing with their friends, and forgetting about the outside world for a few hours.”
That sounds exactly like the kind of night Tarara was built for.
There are some bands that simply play songs people know. Then there are bands that know how to turn those songs into a full crowd experience. The New Romance clearly aims for the second category.
And on a spring Saturday night at Tarara, that matters.
Because the best shows here are never just about what happens on stage. They are about what happens across the lawn when the music lands the right way and suddenly everyone is part of the same moment.
2. What’s one song or moment in the set that always gets the biggest reaction?
The New Romance:“Everything was bigger in the '80s, so we’ll give you two. First, the jaw-dropping moment when Erica delivers ‘Alone’ by Heart — it stops people in their tracks every single night. And then there’s the unforgettable sea of raised hands, phone lights, and even the occasional lighter during ‘Don’t You Forget About Me.’ It’s pure magic.”
That is exactly the kind of answer you want before a Tarara Saturday.
A huge vocal moment.
A full-crowd anthem.
A shared memory already waiting to happen.
Every memorable night at Tarara has a point where the crowd fully locks in. Sometimes it is loud and explosive. Sometimes it is emotional and collective. The best shows usually deliver both.
Based on that answer alone, Saturday sounds like it may have more than one moment people will be talking about on the walk back to their cars.
3. For someone seeing you for the first time, how would you describe the experience in one sentence?
The New Romance:“Lose yourself in the music, the energy, and the nostalgia — and by the end of the night, you’ll feel like part of The New Romance family.”
That is a strong promise, and it says a lot about the kind of band they aim to be.
Not distant.
Not overly polished.
Not just performing at the crowd.
Connecting with it.
That matters at Tarara, because one of the things that has always made the series special is the way the audience and the performers feed off each other. When a band knows how to make the lawn feel included, not just entertained, the whole night lifts.
For first-timers especially, that kind of atmosphere can be the difference between “that was fun” and “we need to come back.”
4. What makes an outdoor summer crowd like Tarara different from other venues you play?
The New Romance:“There’s just something special about live music on a beautiful summer night. As the sun goes down, you can literally feel the energy shift in the crowd. Tarara gives you the vibe of a beach party and a rock concert all at once, and the natural amphitheater setting makes it feel every bit as exciting as a major outdoor venue.”
That is one of the best descriptions of Tarara you could ask for.
Because it is true.
Tarara has always had a rhythm to it. The crowd builds slowly. People settle in. Food and drinks are part of the evening. The light changes. The air cools. Then the music takes over and the night becomes something bigger than the schedule on paper.
That shift is real.
The best bands notice it.
The best crowds feel it.
And when both happen at once, Tarara becomes exactly what people have loved about it for years.
5. This is the final season of the Tarara Summer Concert Series. What has Tarara meant to you?
The New Romance:“We were genuinely shocked and saddened to hear this is the final season. Tarara has been an incredible place for us over the years. We remember the early days before the lawn was raised, and we’ll never forget looking out at an entire hillside glowing with lights like a galaxy during the show. It’s been a special place for both the bands and the fans, and we’re truly going to miss it.”
This answer says everything.
For bands that have played Tarara over the years, the series has not been just another stop on the calendar. It has been a place with memory, atmosphere, and a crowd unlike anywhere else.
That image alone — a hillside glowing like a galaxy — says a lot about what Tarara has meant to the people who have stood on that stage.
It also reminds us why this Final Encore season matters so much.
These are not just concerts.
They are goodbyes, celebrations, and one more chance to be part of something that has meant a great deal to artists and audiences alike.
That is worth showing up for.
Bonus Round: “If you only come to one Tarara show this month, make it ours because…”
The New Romance:“Because nobody celebrates the music — and the audience — quite like The New Romance. This isn’t just a concert… it’s a party, a singalong, and a night you’ll be talking about long after the last song ends.”
That is a confident answer.
And honestly, it fits.
The New Romance is not promising background music. They are promising a full-on shared experience — the kind of Saturday night where the songs are huge, the reactions are bigger, and the memories tend to outlast the setlist.
There is a reason '80s nights work so well at Tarara. People do not just listen. They participate.
They sing.
They dance.
They laugh.
They remember.
And on a night like this, that combination can carry the entire lawn.
This Saturday at Tarara
The New Romance
Saturday, May 30, 2026
Tarara Summer Concert Series
Gates Open: 5:00 PM
Show Starts: 6:00 PM
Concert Club passes are still available, and private tents remain a great option for groups looking to experience the Final Encore season together.
Because if there is ever a year to stop saying “we should go” and actually go, this is it.
