Candlelight: Coldplay vs. Imagine Dragons in Sherman

The second Fever Candlelight show of the evening in Sherman turns the chapel into a friendly rivalry. One half of the program is Coldplay, with the aching melodies of "Yellow," "Fix You," and "The Scientist." The other half is Imagine Dragons, with the bombast of "Radioactive," "Believer," and "Demons." Performed by a string ensemble in a room of candles, both catalogs get stripped to their skeletons, and the result is surprisingly moving, stadium anthems with nowhere to hide and nothing to lean on but the melody.

It all happens at Wynne Chapel on the Austin College campus, 900 N. Grand Avenue in Sherman, starting at 8:45 PM. Because it follows the 6:30 PM Queen show, the audience turns over between performances, and tickets are sold separately for each show through Fever's app and website.

A different kind of concert night

The Candlelight format is built for people who might never go to a loud arena show. There are no bars, no crowds pushing to the front, no pyrotechnics. Instead there are candles, a chapel, and a string quartet, which makes it an easy date night, a family outing, or a quiet evening for anyone who loves these songs but wants to hear them anew. Dress is casual, photography is welcome, and the whole experience runs about an hour.

Why it matters for the area

Northeast Texas is rich in country, gospel, and community theatre, but a candlelit string tribute to modern rock hits is something new on the calendar. For residents of Lamar and Grayson counties, it means the cultural mix keeps widening, and for anyone considering a move to the region, it is evidence that the arts scene here reaches well beyond the square-dance hall. Sherman is about an hour from 3870 County Road 45080, an easy evening trip for a show you will not find anywhere else nearby.