PHOTO: The Jacksonville State University Marching Southerners practice at Burgess-Snow Field where the benefit concert will be held this September. (Bill Wilson | The Anniston Star)
By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — Last April, a pair of devastating tornadoes tore through the City of Jacksonville, Ala. and caused severe damage to both the city and university. Fort Payne's own Grammy award-winning group Alabama announced a benefit show on Wednesday, September 26 and last week, they announced a few more special guests for their only headlining show in the state this year.
The local supergroup will welcome Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, John Berry, Gordon Mote, and SiriusXM's Storme Warren to the show as special guests. They join previously announced guests The Charlie Daniels Band, Shenandoah, Darren Knight of Southern Momma, and Jamey Johnson.
Jason Isbell, lead singer of Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, is a four time Grammy winner who took home two prizes for last year's album The Nashville Sound and its lead single, "If We Were Vampires." The album is currently nominated for four Americana Music Association Awards.
Gordon Mote is an ACM award-winning Christian/Country artists who has eight studio albums under his belt. He has toured alongside artists like Trisha Yearwood, Porter Wagoner, and the Gaither Vocal Band across his career.
John Berry is a country music artist that boasts more than twenty studio albums over his long career that began in 1979. Since 2017, Berry has hosted Songs and Stories with John Berry for The Country Network, Heartland, and AMGTV.
"We are so thankful and blessed that friends of ours, and some from our great state of Alabama, have offered to help raise funds to repair the damage from the horrific tornado a few months back," said Randy Owen, Alabama frontman and JSU alumnus. "The university has been so wonderful to work with helping us set up the concert. From the looks of ticket sales and strong support from sponsors, this will be a very special night for the attendees."
The event is sponsored by Nationwide Insurance (Randy Jones & Associates, Inc.), Dr. Pepper, Alabama Power, Alfa Insurance, Marc and Mary Angle, Ken and Jenny Howell, and Trycon Tufters.
More than 90 percent of tickets for the event have already been sold and these new additions will only make the tickets go faster. The rain or shine concert begins at 6pm on Wednesday, September 26 at Burgess-Snow Field at JSU.
Ticket prices range from $25 to $100 and are available at ticketfly.com or by calling (877) 435-9849. A limited number of tickets are available for purchase in person at the JSU Athletics Ticket office in Kennamer Hall. All proceeds from this show will benefit the Jacksonville State University disaster relief fund.
