“NASHVILLE, TN – MAY 10: The Peach Pickers’ Dallas Davidson, Rhett Akins, and Ben Hayslip perform during the 3rd Annual Jameson Irish Whiskey Presents Georgia On My Mind: A Night Of Georgia Music Hosted By The Peach Pickers To Benefit the Georgia Music Foundation at the Ryman Auditorium on May 10, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Georgia Music Foundation)”
Georgia is on the minds of music lovers as the first round of talent is announced for the “Fourth Annual Jameson Irish Whiskey Presents Georgia On My Mind” concert on May 16, 2017 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Hosted by the Peach Pickers – Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, and Ben Hayslip –the concert benefits the Georgia Music Foundation.
Tickets, which are available now, are $52.50 and $42.50 and will be available via Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com, ryman.com or by calling 800-745-3000.
Friends of the Peach Pickers scheduled to perform include current chart-toppers Lauren Alaina, Chris Janson, Kip Moore, and Michael Ray; Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter T. Graham Brown; Georgia Music Hall of Famers Drivin’ N Cryin’ and Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie; and back by popular demand this year, Dexter Redding and Otis Redding III, sons of the legendary soul icon Otis Redding. Additional announcements and surprise guests are expected. The evening also includes a special performance by students from the Georgia Pick and Bow Traditional Music School in Dahlonega, who received a grant from the Georgia Music Foundation in 2016 from concert proceeds.
The lineup is a who’s who of Georgia-bred singers and songwriters and those who wish they were raised in the Peach state. Organizers liken it to a family reunion, assembled and hosted by the Peach Pickers.
“This is as close to a Georgia homecoming as you are going to get in Tennessee,” explained Davidson, who also chairs the Georgia Music Foundation Board of Directors. “The popularity and success of this event is so rewarding because it celebrates our homegrown talent and allows us to give back to deserving music education programs.”
“At Jameson we believe music has the power to make a community a family, and we are excited to celebrate and be part of the Georgia-bred music family for the fourth year with ‘Georgia on My Mind,'” said Sebastien Borda, Director, Jameson, Pernod Ricard USA.
With a reputation for surprise appearances by unannounced guests, the event usually sells out in advance. Over the past three years, friends joining the Peach Pickers on stage have included Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Big Boi of Outkast, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, Kevn Kinney, Lee Brice, Craig Campbell, Tyler Farr, Maggie Rose, Daryle Singletary, Brent Cobb, and more.
The Georgia Music Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 1994, has distributed more than $150,000 in grants to deserving music education, preservation and outreach programs across the state in the past three years from “Georgia On My Mind” proceeds. Each year during the concert, the Georgia Music Foundation presents its Flamekeeper Award to a Georgia artist who tirelessly preserves and promotes Georgia’s musical roots and traditions. Info on the grant program is available at georgiamusicfoundation.org
The Peach Pickers, all Georgia natives, have accumulated more than 70 No. 1 songs collectively and individually since 2010, and earned numerous awards and accolades. Their respective catalogs include hit songs “I Don’t Want This Night To End,” “All About Tonight,” “Gimmie That Girl,” “Just A Kiss,” “When She Says Baby,” “Boys Round Here,” “It Goes Like This,” “We Owned The Night,” “I Don’t Dance,” “I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” “Point At You,” “That’s My Kind Of Night,” “Rain Is A Good Thing,” “Small Town Throwdown,” “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day,” “Star of the Show,” and many more.
Jameson® Irish Whiskey:
Jameson Irish Whiskey is a smooth and perfectly balanced triple distilled Irish Whiskey rooted in Irish heritage dating back to 1780 when legendary John Jameson released his first cask. The brand’s success comes down to the skilled distillers that ensure Jameson’s unique taste and the communities who have supported its handcrafted quality for hundreds of years. Reliably timeless and simple, Jameson is best enjoyed during great times with great friends. It has all the quality credentials to allow it be consumed straight, but is versatile and is equally great when mixed. Follow Jameson Irish Whiskey @JamesonWhiskeyUS on Facebook and @Jameson_US on Instagram and Twitter. Please enjoy Jameson responsibly.
Georgia Tourism is proud to announce that Georgia’s live music and music heritage landscape made National Geographic’s prestigious list of 21 “Best of the World” destinations for 2017. To plan your next vacation around Georgia music, visit www.exploregeorgia.org/music or connect with Georgia Tourism on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Wendy Pearl Public Relations, LLC, utilizes Pearl’s passion for music and her experience as a journalist and public relations professional to help artists and brands meet their communication needs with creative, strategic plans that engage, connect music to values, and meet the client’s multi-tiered objectives. Visit www.WendyPearlPR.com. She can be reached at Wendy@WendyPearlPR.com.