Country Throwdown Tour To Help Tornado Relief Efforts In Alabama
As Willie Nelson’s “Country Throwdown Tour 2011″ prepares to launch, Willie Nelson, Jamey Johnson, and other Throwdown artists announce that they will donate their performance fees from the Orange Beach, AL show on June 5 to tornado relief efforts in Alabama.
Says Nelson, “I am saddened by the devastation in Alabama from the recent tornadoes that have hit that state. In an effort to pitch in, I am going to donate my income for the upcoming Throwdown date in Orange Beach on June 5. I believe this will assist the relief effort in that state to help people in real need.”
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Caitlyn Smith, and Alabama native Adam Hood will also be donating their performance fees.
Says Hood, “You never know how devastating things are until they hit close to home. Alabama is still where I hang my hat and this has changed the lives of many of my friends, family, peers, and supporters, and mine as well.”
Other artists pitching in to show their support include Randy Houser, Craig Campbell, Lee Brice, and Drake White.
The 24-city second annual music extravaganza launches at the Mann in Philadelphia on May 27 and the Country Throwdown headliners are sure to please. Willie Nelson, Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser, Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, Craig Campbell, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, and Drake White will take two stages for a full day and evening of musical entertainment.
“Willie Nelson is an American treasure,” said Jamey Johnson. “When I was asked to return on The Throwdown Tour and was told Willie would be doing the shows, it was a simple yes.”
The tour also is known for spotlighting emerging singer-songwriters, and Adam Hood, Caitlyn Smith, Austin Lucas, Brent Cobb, Dani Flowers, and Erin Enderlin have signed on for the specially designed Bluebird Cafe stage, giving fans the opportunity experience the “in-the-round”-style sets made famous at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe.
Johnson adds, “Erin is from Arkansas and she is a great writer. She is very intelligent and a very great singer. She has a lot of good albums in her future, even beyond this one. She is going to have a stellar career in country music, or any music for that matter. She is a great musician and a very good person too.”
“Country Throwdown offers country music fans a truly unique experience says Sarah Baer, co-producer for the tour,” we bring the legends and new faces closer to fans’ homes.”
iTunes has joined in the fun and is letting Throwdown fans in on a free download sampler featuring some of the acts on the 2011 Willie Nelson’s Country Throwdown Tour. The eight-song download features Willie Nelson’s “Man With The Blues” and Drake White’s “50 Years Too Late.” The singer/songwriters performing on the Bluebird Cafe stage during the tour also are included on the sampler, so fans will get a preview of Caitlyn Smith’s “My Lover’s Gone and Left Me”; Brent Cobb’s “I’ve Been Known”; Adam Hood’s “The Shape of Things”; and Austin Lucas’ “Thunder Rail” along with Dani Flowers’ “Calendar Girl.” 2010 Throwdown alum Dave Pahanish is also featured with “The One That Got Away.” The iTunes offer is available at http://www.countrythrowdown.com/itunes-download.
New this year, the “Harley-Davidson on the Road Report” will include behind-the-scenes updates, hosted by Beth Brinker and posted regularly on the Throwdown website. Visitors will get the inside scoop on life on road with special artist interviews, live performance footage and much, much more. Catch Brinker’s latest road report HERE.
[rmore type=”more”]Click the ‘more’ button below for a list of confirmed dates for the “Country Throwdown” tour.[/rmore]
Confirmed Dates:
5/27 – Philadelphia, PA @ The MANN
5/28 – Gilford, NH @ Meadowbrook US Cellular Pavilion
5/29 – Essex Junction, VT @ Champlain Valley Expo
5/30 – York, PA @ Sovereign Bank Stadium
6/3 – Nashville, TN @ The Woods at Fontanel
6/4 – Little Rock, AR @ North Shore Park at the Arkansas River in North Little Rock
6/5 – Orange Beach, AL @ The Amphitheater at the Wharf
6/9 – Southaven, MS @ Snowden Grove Amphitheater
6/10 – Columbia, MO @ Midway Exposition Center
6/11- Sparta, IL @ World Shooting & Recreation Complex
6/12 – Lawrenceville, GA @ Coolray Field
6/16 – Roanoke Rapids, NC The Rapids Jam Festival*
6/17 – Simpsonville, SC @ Charter Amphitheater at Heritage Park
6/18 – Waldorf, MD @ Regency Stadium
6/19 – Knoxville, TN @ World’s Fair Park
6/21 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheater
6/23 – Del Mar, CA @ Grandstand
6/24 – Ontario, CA @ Citizens Business Bank Arena
6/25 – Pozo, CA @ Pozo Saloon
6/30 – Mission, TX @ Las Palmas Race Park
7/1 – Corpus Christi, TX @ Concrete Street Amphitheater
7/2 – Eufala, OK @ Eufala Cove Amphitheater
7/3 – Siloam Springs, AR @ Osage Creek Amphitheater
7/4 – Fort Worth, TX @ Billy Bob’s, Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic & Throwdown
* Rapids Jam is a three-day country music and camping festival in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, June 16, 17, 18. The first day of the festival kicks off with the Willie Nelson’s Country Throwdown Tour. Single day and weekend general admission tickets, plus reserved tickets are available at www.rapidsjam.com.
