The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Fla. is super excited to announce the signing of some of the best artists in country music who will entertain you at the 2018 Suwannee River Jam (SRJ) May 2-5! Those artists who will perform during the 27th Annual Suwannee River Jam are Alan Jackson, LOCASH, Josh Turner, Tyler Farr, Easton Corbin and Rodney Atkins with more to be announced soon.
Alan Jackson’s Honky Tonk Highway Tour coming to the Suwannee River Jam will find the country icon performing hits that have gained him legions of fans and songs that continue to draw new crowds as a younger generation discovers his music. Jackson’s repertoire stands the test of time; it has impacted a field of artists who cite Jackson as an influence. It’s these same songs – many written by Alan – that earned him his newfound place alongside country music’s greatest names and cemented his place in its history with membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Fans will hear the songs they love including his debut hit “Here in The Real World”…signature songs such as “Chattahoochee,” “Drive” and “Gone Country,” party anthems “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” “Good Time” and many, many more. Recently inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame, Alan Jackson’s membership among country music’s all-time greats is the latest in a long line of career-defining accolades that include three CMA Entertainer of the Year honors, more than 25 years of membership in the Grand Ole Opry, a 2016 Billboard ranking as one of the Top 10 Country Artists of All-Time, induction to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Heritage Award as the most-performed country songwriter-artist of ASCAP’s first 100 years. The man from rural Newnan, GA has sold nearly 60-million albums worldwide and ranks as one of the 10 best-selling male vocalists of all-time in all genres. He has released more than 60 singles – registering 50 Top Ten hits and 35 #1s.
LOCASH, a duo of Chris Lucas and Preston Brust, has performed at the SRJ for more than 10 years! LOCASH is revered as “one of Nashville’s hardest-working acts” (Rolling Stone) whose live show “has consistently been among the most energetic and entertaining in the country music genre” (Billboard). With two albums and eight charting singles to their credit, LOCASH broke out in 2015 with GOLD-certified hit, “I Love This Life," GOLD-certified #1 smash “I Know Somebody” taking them on their first trip to the top of the Country radio airplay charts – and 2017’s “Ring On Every Finger.” All three were part of their album, THE FIGHTERS, a Top 15 successes. They also wrote Keith Urban’s #1 “You Gonna Fly” in 2011 and Tim McGraw’s PLATINUM-certified “Truck Yeah” in 2012. In 2017, they were nominated at the ACM Awards for New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year, the CMT Music Awards for Duo Video of the Year (“I Know Somebody”) and the CMA Awards for Vocal Duo of the Year.
Josh Turner, a multi-platinum MCA Nashville recording artist, is one of country music’s most recognizable hit makers. With a rich, deep voice and distinctive style, Turner has sold more than 12.5 million units, is a disciple of traditional country music and one of the youngest members of the Grand Ole Opry. From his 2003 platinum-selling debut Long Black Train to his most recent 2017 Billboard No. 1 release, Deep South, Josh has garnered multiple Grammy, CMA and ACM nominations. Turner’s hits include “Your Man,” “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” “Firecracker,” “Would you Go with Me,” “All Over Me,” and “Time is Love,” the most played country song of 2012. Rolling Stone declared that Josh, with his “river deep baritone,” delivered an “eagerly awaited album from a country purist.” PEOPLE Magazine says the “Nashville veteran flaunts his deep bass” on Deep South and that the album is “an ode to down-home staples from finding that perfect love on “Hometown Girls” to savoring the laid-back life on the title track.”
Columbia Nashville’s Tyler Farr’s sophomore album, Suffer In Peace, made its debut in the top 5 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums and Billboard Country Albums charts. With the release of his debut album, Redneck Crazy, in 2013 and landing Farr at No. 2 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart and #5 on the Billboard Top 200, it made Tyler the only solo male country artist in the last 10 years to have his first two studio albums debut in the top 5 on the Billboard 200 Chart. His #1, platinum-selling title track “Redneck Crazy” was called the “song of the summer” by The New York Times and projected Tyler forward to celebrate back-to-back #1 singles, including his first #1 as a songwriter, with his Gold-certified hit “Whiskey in My Water.” He was named a 2014 CRS New Faces of Country Radio and 2014 Music Row “Breakthrough Artist of the Year” nominee, toured with Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Brantley Gilbert and Lee Brice, and has been on the Today Show and Fox & Friends’ All American Summer Concert Series. Tyler’s single off the Suffer In Peace Album, “A Guy Walks into a Bar,” is a radio hit, and RIAA Certified Gold.
With two No. 1 singles, multiple awards and nominations, plus performances on some of the biggest stages in the world, Mercury Nashville’s Easton Corbin, a native of Gilchrist County, Fla. a short distance from the SRJ, is lauded for his traditional country sound, authentic lyrics and mastery of understatement. American Songwriter says, “Easton Corbin has one of those rare, glorious voices that was made – just made – for singing country music.” His self-titled debut album released in 2010 spawned back-to-back hits “A Little More Country Than That” and “Roll With It,” making him the first country male artist in 17 years to have his first two consecutive singles reach No. 1. In 2012 his sophomore album, All Over The Road, included the Top 5 hits “Loving’ You Is Fun” and “All Over The Road.” Easton set a career-best debut on Country Airplay with his top 5 hit single, “Baby Be My Love Song,” from his No. 1 debuting album About to Get Real. He spent 2016 on one of the biggest tours in country music – Carrie Underwood’s The Storyteller Tour which Billboard named the #1 country tour of the first half of 2016. Forbes picked it as one of the 10 hottest tours of the fall.
Rodney Atkins has an impressive track record with hitting on sentiments that strike a chord with the country listener. He’s had five #1 hits from his first three albums from “Watching You” and “These Are My People” to his most recent smash, “Farmer’s Daughter,” which quickly skyrocketed to platinum. He’s sold over four million singles in the past five years alone. His latest single, “Take A Back Road” is on course to propel him to even bigger heights and was near platinum status just weeks after its release. Although his vocal energy on his new album may be amped up, Rodney is still the same hard-working, patriotic, rock-solid country boy who fans have loved since his 2003 debut of “Honesty.” Rodney likes to spend time with his wife and son, serves as a spokesperson for Massey Ferguson and the National Council for Adoption, a cause dear to his heart as he was adopted as a child.
This revered country music festival features an exciting pre-party in the Music Hall May 2 with music from a variety of artists from 6 p.m. until. Thursday, May 3, is a huge opening night show on the Amphitheater Stage with national country artists. Friday and Saturday SRJ Audition winners entertain on the Amphitheater Stage as well as national artists. National artists will also perform on the Main Stage Friday and Saturday. Other activities include Soap for Soldiers, a patriotic event to help our soldiers overseas a salute to our military at the Main Stage and a silent auction with autographed items donated by artists and others will aid area high school bands. One of the main attractions is family and friend reunions that have in some cases gone on for more than 26 years, campfire pickin’ and singing, golf cart parade and so much more!
Tickets – Tickets are available on the EZ pay plan with monthly installments through March. You may also purchase in advance at the SOSMP main office, by emailing spirit@musicliveshere.com, at www.suwanneeriverjam.com/tickets or at www.musicliveshere.com up until the gate opens May 2 at noon.
