HEADLINE ENTERTAINMENT
Each year, the Florida Strawberry Festival® hosts world-famous headline entertainment from all over the globe. We work hard to provide our guests with a fresh festival experience each and every year by securing award-winning performers fit for guests of all ages. Gate admission is NOT included with the purchase of a concert ticket. We look forward to seeing you at this year’s event and encourage you to purchase your tickets soon!
All Headline Entertainment concert tickets go ON SALE December 11, 2025 at 8A.M. EST. DO NOT ORDER ADA SEATING ONLINE. PLEASE CALL 813.719.6680.
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Headline Entertainment
performing on the
Please note: Pricing varies by artist and by section — Pit, Floor, and GT Grandstands each priced separately. Sections 7-17 are elevated seating.
2026 Headline Entertainment Lineup
Thursday, February 26, 2026 · 10:30 a.m.
Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra
FREE w/ paid gate admission
At the time that rock was reaching its crescendo, and in the era when Country was dazzling the nation, a strange phenomenon was taking place. In essence, this phenomenon was the rising popularity of JIMMY STURR as the hottest musical attraction in the polka music field. The reigning king of the field is a good looking, smiling charmer with brown hair, blues eyes and charismatic rays emanating from his presence. Sturr is the fellow in front of the orchestra.
And what an Orchestra it is! JIMMY STURR AND HIS ORCHESTA has over 106 recordings; the excellence of these recordings has been recognized and rewarded throughout the very competitive music industry. The fact that JIMMY STURR AND HIS ORCHESTRA is on the Top Ten list of the All-time Grammy Awards, has won eighteen Grammy Awards and has received more consecutive Grammy nominations that anyone in the history of musical awards has made the music industry sit up and take notice. Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) has awarded JIMMY STURR & HIS ORCHESTRA its most valued award, the Commendation of Excellence. The only one ever awarded in the polka music field.The band constantly attracts crowds of screaming, adoring fans wherever their travels take them. Their tremendous popularity has resulted in not only numerous Grammy Awards, but also being voted The #1 POLKA MUSIC BAND IN THE COUNTRY for the past ten years.Many great things have happened to JIMMY STURR AND HIS ORCHESTRA, but none has been more exciting than just completing their Fourth recording with country superstar WILLIE NELSON. In addition they have recorded with other artists such as THE OAK RIDGE BOYS, CHARLIE DANIELS, BOOTS RANDOLPH, MEL TILLIS, BRENDA LEE, plus banjo virtuoso, BELA FLECK, and folk legend ARLO GUTHRIE.One of the major events in Jimmy’s career came when the Orchestra was asked to appear on The Grand Ole Opry. They were not only the only Polka Music Band to all appear, but the only band to appear with brass.A question on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? television show hosted by Regis Philbin, was Who is Americas polka Music king? The contestant won $250,000 by correctly answering Jimmy Sturr. Sturrs music has been heard on the TV show JEOPARDY and articles have appeared in print throughout the nation including a front page story on The Wall Street Journal and full length story in US World and News Report.The incredible popularity and success of JIMMY STURR AND HIS ORCHESTRA has caught the attention of many networks, including appearances on CNN, ABC, NBC, FOX NEWS and a fifteen-minute segment on CNN Headline News that aired worldwide.The band has made several appearances on Saturday Night Live. The quality and appearance of JIMMY STURR AND HIS ORCHESTRA makes them sought after for television commercials such as Budweiser, Pontiac, and Mrs. T’s Pierogies, who signed Jimmy to be their National spokesperson.Jimmy can now be seen on his national television show on the RFDTV network on Direct TV Channel 345, Dish Network Channel 231 on Friday’s at 7PM EST and on Family Net Sunday’s at 5:30PM EST. Jimmy Sturr syndicated radio show will now be heard on Sirius XM rural/radio Channel 80 on Saturday at 6PM EST.Due to the great demand for live appearances by The JIMMY STURR ORCHESTRA they have an extensive road schedule of 165 dates per year. They crisscross the country and make several international trips yearly. While on the road they travel in Jimmys forty-five foot customized tour bus. The Bands travels have taken them to some of the most prestigious venues in the world, including seven Sold Out concerts at Carnegie Hall and four Sold Out concerts at Lincoln Center in New York City and a sold out concert at The Palace of Culture in Warsaw, Poland where the band received seven standing ovations.The Band appears annually at many of the top casinos in the country including Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, CT; The Tropicana and Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, NJ; Patowatomi Casino, Milwaukee, WI; Soaring Eagle, Mt. Pleasant, MI; The Presidents Casino in Biloxi, MS; Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort, Chester, WV and Sam’s Town Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas where Jimmy was the first polka music band to be booked by a major casino. The sellout crowds at these popular events keep coming back for more wherever they see the band scheduled.Today, JIMMY STURR lives in the house he grew up in, his office is across the street from the high school he attended in the upstate village of Florida, New York with a population of 1,800. His hometown recently honored Jimmy by placing a Star of Fame in the walkway on Main Street. They also display HOMETOWN OF POLKA KING JIMMY STURR signs at each entrance to the village. Five gold albums, each representing five million dollars in sales, are displayed on his office walls where he runs his various businesses which include United Polka Artists, Starr Record Company, Jimmy Sturr Travel Agency, a publishing company and his syndicated radio show.A full scholarship gave Jimmy the opportunity to attend and graduate from Valley Forge Military Academy. Among his many accolades, and something Jimmy is very proud of, is his selection by The Valley Forge Military Academy as Man of the Year, he was honored with a full-dress parade in front of the Corp of Cadets at VFMA.No one has done more for the polka field than this young Irishman from the little village of Florida, NY. Seeing is believing. When you see JIMMY STURR AND HIS ORCHESTRA in person, you know why they draw the huge crowds, have been voted #1 in the country and considered THE BEST IN POLKA MUSIC
Thursday, February 26, 2026 · 3:30 p.m.
The Oak Ridge Boys
Pit, $45- Floor, $40- GT Grandstands, $40
Theirs is one of the most distinctive and recognizable sounds in the music industry. The four-part harmonies and upbeat songs of The Oak Ridge Boys have spawned dozens of Country hits and two Pop smashes, earned them Grammy, Dove, CMA, and ACM awards and garnered a host of other industry and fan accolades. Every time they step before an audience, the Oaks bring four decades of charted singles, and 50 years of tradition, to a stage show widely acknowledged as among the most exciting anywhere. And each remains as enthusiastic about the process as they have ever been.
“When I go on stage, I get the same feeling I had the first time I sang with The Oak Ridge Boys,” says lead singer Duane Allen. “This is the only job I’ve ever wanted to have.”
“Like everyone else in the group,” adds bass singer extraordinaire, Richard Sterban, “I was a fan of the Oaks before I became a member. I’m still a fan of the group today. Being in The Oak Ridge Boys is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.”
The two, along with tenor Joe Bonsall and baritone William Lee Golden, comprise one of Country’s truly legendary acts. Their string of hits includes the Country-Pop chartbuster Elvira, as well as Bobbie Sue, Dream On, Thank God For Kids, American Made, I Guess It Never Hurts To Hurt Sometimes, Fancy Free, Gonna Take A Lot Of River, and many others. In 2009, they covered a White Stripes song, receiving accolades from Rock reviewers. In 2011, they rerecorded a thirtieth anniversary version of Elvira for a Cracker Barrel Old Country Store project.
The group has scored 12 gold, three platinum, and one double platinum album—plus one double platinum single—and had more than a dozen national Number One singles and over 30 Top Ten hits.
Thursday, February 26, 2026 · 7:30 p.m.
Alabama
Pit, $85- Floor, $70- GT Grandstands, $65
It’s the kind of story you read about in books and watch on the big screen at the movies. For the band ALABAMA, it’s not just a story; it’s their life. It is a classic American tale of rags to riches. From humble beginnings picking cotton in the fields to international stars that went on to sell 73 million albums while changing the face and sound of country music.
It’s been over 40 years since Randy, Jeff and Teddy, left the cotton farms of Fort Payne, Alabama, to spend the summer playing in a Myrtle Beach, South Carolina bar called The Bowery. Having grown up working in the fields, the cousins were no strangers to
hard work. They didn’t flinch when it took six long years of working for tips and living hand to mouth playing in the bar.
Of the early days and their humble beginnings, Jeff says, “I don’t think we thought too far ahead. We were more concerned with paying our bills at the end of the week and playing music.”
Finally, word of mouth earned the major label deal they’d been dreaming of. In 1980 the band broke through with their first Top 20 hit “My Home’s In Alabama.”
ALABAMA is the band that changed everything. They brought country music to the mainstream and from side stage to the main stage. ALABAMA introduced rock style guitars, lights, pyrotechnics and sounds to the country audience.
“We were renegades in sneakers and T-shirts,” says Teddy. “We had long hair and played loud and some of the country folks resisted us for a while. But then of course they did accept us and then after that, our success made it lots easier for other bands to try it in country music,” concluded Gentry. Bands benefitting from that breakthrough include Zac Brown Band, Florida Georgia Line and Eli Young Band.
They have also inspired many of today’s brightest country stars including Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan as well as pop and rock stars from Ed Sheeran to Jon Bon Jovi.
“I was part of a benefit concert at the Ryman,” he says, “and I look over there’s Jon Bon Jovi. He walked over and said hello and it turns out he’s a fan of our music.”
ALABAMA’s reach goes far beyond their impact on other artists; their music is timeless and can be heard today as a part of every cover band’s set list in nearly every college town in America.
Not long ago, Teddy was witness to a scene that reminds us that their legacy of song remains as fresh as it ever was.
“I was in Nashville,” he says, “walking by this club full of young people–I’m talking 18 or 20. The band started playing ‘Dixieland Delight’ and everybody in the place started singing and sang all the way through. I had to smile at the longevity of the songs. Half the crowd at our shows is young people, under 25 years old. So I think that’s a tribute to the fact that we spent a career putting out good songs that stand the test of time.”
While their music continues to stand the test of time, their numbers and stats are beyond compare. The and has sold over 80 million albums. They have charted 43 #1 singles including 21 #1 singles in a row, a record that will likely never be surpassed in any genre. They have won over 178 CMA Awards, Grammy Awards, ACM Awards and counting. They’ve earned 21 Gold ®, Platinum ® and Multi-Platinum ® albums and were named the RIAA’s Country Group of the Century. They are members of the Country Music Hall of Fame and have a start on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They are also world-class philanthropists who have raised over 250 Million dollars for charity.
The band continues to perform to legions of loyal fans, selling out venues night after night. They were honored with the ACM Career Achievement Award at the Ryman Auditorium in the Fall of 2015 and were named “Album Of The Year” at the 2015 Dove Awards for ANGELS AMONG US” HYMNS & GOSPEL FAVORITES.
ALABAMA continues to thrill fans as their 50th Anniversary Tour Rolls throughout 2019 in the US and Canada. ALABAMA is and always will be the greatest country band in American history.
Friday, February 27, 2026 · 3:30 p.m.
Jo Dee Messina
Pit, $50- Floor, $40- GT Grandstands, $40
Jo Dee Messina, a chart-topping country music artist, is known for her powerful vocals and extensive catalog of hits. A household name, Jo Dee has achieved nine No. 1 and sixteen Top 40 songs and has been honored by the ACM, CMA, AMA, Billboard, and GRAMMY Awards. Jo Dee’s successes made her the first female in country music history to celebrate three consecutive multi-week, chart-topping songs.
Leader of the charge in country music’s “90s resurgence,” Jo Dee’s digital streams and YouTube views are beyond the billions barrier and consistently climbing. Additionally, her social media accounts, which include numerous viral posts, are collectively followed by millions of fans.
In addition to her studio accomplishments, Jo Dee’s passionate and high-energy performances have captivated audiences at every tour stop. Jo Dee continuously sells out venues of all types, with a live show that entertains fans of all ages and gives them opportunities to create memories, as generations come together and sing the songs that continue to make up much of their lives’ soundtracks.
Jo Dee is one of the most passionate, high-energy performers in the business. Sharing her hit tunes; unreleased, emotionally driven songs; worship music; and personal testimony, she travels the country and receives rave reviews for her authenticity, commitment, and openness on stage.
Friday, February 27, 2026 · 7:30 p.m.
Jamey Johnson
Pit, $75- Floor, $55- GT Grandstands, $45
Johnson, a ten-time GRAMMY nominee, has been called “one of the greatest country singers of our time,” by The Washington Post. His music has garnered international acclaim and is embraced by fans of classic and contemporary country, as well as Americana and mainstream rock.
The Grand Ole Opry member is also widely regarded as one of the greatest country songwriters of his generation. He is one of only two people in the history of country music (along with Kris Kristofferson) to win two Song of the Year awards in the same year–for “Give It Away” and “In Color”–from the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association.
A consummate storyteller, his songs have been recorded by George Strait, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Trace Adkins, James Otto, Joe Nichols and others. He is “a first-rate preservationist of classic country songwriting…,” says The New York Times.
His recent prime-time television performances have been widely recognized as the best of the shows, from singing “Georgia on My Mind” in the 2023 CBS special Willie Nelson’s 90th Birthday Celebration and “Angels Among Us” for the 2024 CMT Giants: Alabama to performing “Beer for My Horses” in August with Lainey Wilson for the top-rated NBC special Toby Keith: American Icon (available to stream on Peacock), debuting his powerful song, “21 Guns,” during PBS’ National Memorial Day Concert earlier this year, and delivering a standout performance of “Give It Away” at the 2024 CMA Awards.
The Recording Industry Association of America recently honored him for sales/streams of 9 million, including the 5X platinum-certified single “In Color,” the 2X platinum-certified album That Lonesome Song, the platinum-certified single “High Cost of Living,” the gold-certified song “Between Jennings and Jones” and the gold-certified single “That Lonesome Song.” Johnson just completed his “What a View” headlining tour and is now part of the “Life is a Carnival: Last Waltz Tour ’24,” the epic tour that continues the tradition of capturing the excitement of The Band’s historic 1976 Thanksgiving concert in San Francisco. The tour also features Ryan Bingham, Lukas Nelson, Don Was and others.
In October 2024, Jamey performed in “Life Is a Carnival: A Music Celebration of Robbie Robertson,” which was held in Los Angeles and filmed by Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese for an upcoming release.
Saturday, February 28, 2026 · 3:30 p.m.
Lonestar
Pit, $45-Floor, $35- GT Grandstands, $35
Lonestar is a celebrated American country music group that captured global attention with their timeless ballad “Amazed,” a crossover sensation that spent 9 weeks at No. 1 on the country charts and 2 weeks at No. 1 on the pop charts. Known for blending heartfelt storytelling with a polished pop-country sound, the band—comprised of Dean Sams, Michael Britt, Keech Rainwater, and Drew Womack—has left an indelible mark on the genre boasting a staggering 22 top ten singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, including 10 that reached No. 1.
Their meteoric rise began in 1995 with the top 5 single “Tequila Talking,” followed by No. 1 hits like the rock-tinged “No News,” “Come Cryin’ to Me,” and “Everything’s Changed.” The release of their quadruple-platinum 1999 album Lonely Grill cemented their legacy, delivering four No. 1 singles and showcasing their knack for emotionally resonant, radio-friendly songs.
Lonestar’s success has earned them widespread acclaim and numerous accolades, including Academy of Country Music awards for New Vocal Group, Single and Song of the Year, and Humanitarian of the Year. They were also honored with the Country Music Association’s Vocal Group of the Year and International Artist Achievement Award.
With more than 10.5 million records sold worldwide, Lonestar stands as one of country music’s most enduring and influential bands, continuing to inspire fans with their heartfelt hits and musical legacy.
Saturday, February 28, 2026 · 7:30 p.m.
Ty Myers
Pit, $75- Floor, $60- GT Grandstands, $50
Nashville/Columbia breakout singer-songwriter-guitarist Ty Myers is quickly commanding attention after delivering his acclaimed debut album, The Select (and the Deluxe and Acoustic), and earning his first RIAA certification for GOLD hit single “Ends of the Earth,” which is currently climbing at Country radio. With more new music promised soon beginning with “Leaving Carolina,” he’s already racked up 152 MILLION+ global streams (for “Ends of the Earth”), and notched an impressive 636 MILLION+ global streams to date (boasting 20 MILLION+ global streams per week). Inciting heartthrob-level pandemonium on the road, the fast-rising phenomenon has completely sold out his 66-date The Select Tour through the fall. The follow-up to his first sold-out headline run, he’s supported stages for Willie Nelson, Wade Bowen, and Randy Rogers Band, among others. The Billboard Country Rookie of the Month has also been featured in their high-profile 21 Under 21 all-genre list, in addition to being spotlighted as Apple Music’s Country Riser of the Month and hailed as an “Artist to Watch” by Spotify, Pandora, GRAMMY.com, and more. Myers first created a buzz with his debut single “Tie That Binds” in 2023, before “Drinkin’ Alone” exploded with 104 MILLION+ global streams. Born just outside of Austin, TX, the 17-year-old grew up on a cattle ranch owned by his family for more than six generations.
Sunday, March 1, 2026 · 6:30 p.m.
Riley Green
featuring Hannah McFarland
Pit, $135- Floor, $120- GT Grandstands, $110
CMA and ACM Award winner, Riley Green has been compelling Country music fans to raise a drink, shed a tear, and, above all, celebrate where they are from, since first releasing his self-titled EP in 2018 with Big Machine Label Group. His songs like the No. 1 2X-PLATINUM hit “There Was This Girl,” the 3X-PLATINUM-certified heart-tugger “I Wish Grandpas Never Died” (which he performed live at the 55th ACM Awards), and his chart-topping collab with Thomas Rhett, “Half of Me,” have made Riley synonymous with what Country Music does best: making listeners feel something with his no-gimmick, relatable writing and classic feel.
An avid sports fan, former athlete (Jacksonville State University quarterback) and outdoorsman, Riley is riding a wave of success after receiving four Academy of Country Music awards, being previously named a MusicRow Breakout Artist of the Year, a CMT “Listen Up Artist,” and one of CRS’s 2020 New Faces. Combs joined Riley on his third No. 1 single “Different ‘Round Here (Ft. Luke Combs),” the title track to Riley’s 2019 debut album that he re-recorded with Combs after seeing how fans connected to it.
The singer-songwriter’s third studio album, Don’t’ Mind If I Do, produced by Dann Huff, arrived on his birthday, October 18 with more of the signature Riley Green fans have come to know and love from the good ol’ boy who still lives in his hometown of Jacksonville, AL. Currently on an incredible hot streak, Green’s well-earned confidence in his work shines through across the 18-track set with five of the tracks being solely written including standouts “Jesus Saves,” the 2x PLATINUM “Worst Way” and the title track—which finds Green reuniting with his “you look like you love me” duet partner and recent tourmate Ella Langley. Green is currently on the road for his headlining Damn Country Music Tour, which finds him making stops in New York, Nashville, Chicago, and Boston, among many others. Please see dates and learn more at rileygreenmusic.com.
Hannah McFarland
In the tradition of country’s greatest songwriters, Hannah McFarland has a divine gift for bringing an unexpected beauty to moments of heartbreak. The daughter of a cowboy and a portrait artist, the Alabama native took up guitar at age 15 and soon began opening for country superstars like Kelsea Ballerini and Travis Tritt, immediately dazzling audiences with her soul-soothing vocal work. After honing her chops through countless gigs on Nashville’s live circuit, she began releasing her original songs and swiftly inked a joint global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music and The Core Publishing. As she stepped into the country spotlight — including joining Zach Bryan onstage for a duet of his Grammy-winning “I Remember Everything” — McFarland also signed to The Core Records/Capitol Records and made her major-label debut with “Hey Highway” (featured on SiriusXM The Highway’s On the Horizon). Named to Pandora’s 2025 Artists To Watch-Country list, she released her debut EP Broken Hearts in February 2025 and quickly landed on coveted lists like New Music Friday from NPR’s All Songs Considered. Hailed by Holler. as “one of country music’s quiet geniuses,” McFarland also appeared on Hits Daily Double’s New & Developing Artists round-up, joining the ranks of past honorees like Luke Combs and Chris Stapleton. In recent months, she’s gained acclaim for a series of A-list collaborations, including featuring on Riley Green’s “I Just Need You” and Brett Young’s “In Case You Didn’t Know 2.0” as well as linking up with Chase Rice for her late-summer single “Foolin’.” With her live experience including touring with hitmakers like Tucker Wetmore and Kip Moore, performing with Riley Green at the Grand Ole Opry, and taking the stage at major festivals like Boots and Hearts and Country Jam, McFarland will spend this fall on the road as support for Chase Rice and Riley Green.
Monday, March 2, 2026 · 3:30 p.m.
Gene Watson
Pit, $30- Floor, $30- GT Grandstands, $30
From his chart-topping soulful gospel albums to his No. 1 country standards, few artists have left a more indelible mark on America’s musical landscape than Gene Watson. As a newly inducted member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2020, Watson has been thrilling audiences for 60 years. This masterful country stylist from Houston, Texas, known as “The Singer’s Singer,” has more than 75 charted titles, 23 Top 10 hits, six No. 1 country singles and five No. 1 gospel hits. Watson is also a member of the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame and the Houston, Texas Music Hall of Fame. Fans are still transfixed whenever Watson performs classics like “Farewell Party,” “Fourteen Carat Mind” or “Love in the Hot Afternoon.” A road warrior and considered one of the finest pure-country singers of his generation, Watson offers up one of the best traditional country shows in the business. For more information, visit GeneWatsonMusic.com.
Monday, March 2, 2026 · 7:30 p.m.
Legends of Love featuring Brian McKnight, Ginuwine & Ruben Studdard
Pit, $80 – Floor, $45 – GT Grandstands, $40
BIO COMING SOON
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 · 3:30 p.m.
Sandi Patty
Pit, $30- Floor, $30- GT Grandstands, $30
COMING SOON
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 · 7:30 p.m.
Lauren Daigle
Pit, $85- Floor, $75- GT Grandstands, $70
Louisiana native Lauren Daigle is a two-time Grammy®, eight-time Billboard Music, four-time American Music, and twelve-time GMA Dove Music Award winner. She’s performed at the Super Bowl (“America the Beautiful” with Trombone Shorty), has garnered over a billion streams and years of sold-out world tours with performances spanning four continents (North America, Australia, Europe and Africa). From Carnegie Hall to the New Orleans Jazz Fest and Lollapalooza, Cape Town to the U.K. and Sydney, Red Rocks to The Greek Theater and Radio City Music Hall, Lauren’s status as a once-in-a-generation vocal powerhouse is undeniable.
Her latest GRAMMY-nominated album, Lauren Daigle consists of 23 new songs including the recent RIAA gold-certified single, “Thank God I Do.” The GRAMMY-nominated single earned Daigle her sixth Billboard No. 1, making her the first artist to have two songs top the chart for 20+ weeks. The album also includes the hit song, “These Are The Days” and her brand new single, “Be Okay.” Her current tour, The Kaleidoscope Tour, is taking arenas by storm and has been extended twice by popular demand, with additional dates throughout Europe, Australia, and New Zealand later in 2024.
Since the release of her GRAMMY® Award-winning, 2x platinum-certified 2018 album Look Up Child – which includes the breakthrough, 6-time platinum hit single “You Say” – Daigle has been a mainstay on the Billboard charts. When Look Up Child debuted at No. 3 on the Top 200 Albums chart, Daigle became the first female artist in history to simultaneously hit the Top 10 on both Billboard’s Pop and Christian Album charts. She went on to break another record when the LP reached 100 weeks at No. 1 on the Top Christian Albums chart, which is the greatest number of weeks that any artist has spent at the top of any individual album chart. Similarly, the 6x platinum-certified “You Say” is the longest-running No. 1 to appear on any weekly Billboard chart.
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 · 3:30 p.m.
John Foster
Pit, $35- Floor, $25- GT Grandstands, $25
John Foster is a country singer and songwriter from Addis, Louisiana, known for his rich, classic sound and honest songwriting. The American Idol Season 23 runner-up has been mentored by some of music’s most respected artists and has performed on the Grand Ole Opry six times, earning praise for keeping traditional country alive with a fresh, heartfelt style. Grounded in his strong Christian faith and Louisiana roots, he’s paving his own path while honoring the legends who came before him. Visit www.johnfmusic.com and follow @officialjohnfoster for music, tour dates, and updates
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 · 7:30 p.m.
Brantley Gilbert
Pit, $85- Floor, $50- GT Grandstands, $50
As one of the godfathers of country’s modern rock-and-rap edge, multi-Platinum The Valory Music Co. trailblazer Brantley Gilbert knows life has a way of leaving a mark. With his seventh studio album, Tattoos, available now, the Georgia native chooses to embrace it – inspired by the idea that his tattoos tell a story, just like his songs. And just like his songs, he’ll never hide the truth they reveal. An era-defining artist forever bonded to his fans, Gilbert’s been mining the timeless values of hard-working dedication, high-octane thrills and humble faith since his 2009 debut, A Modern Day Prodigal Son, creating a chart-topping grit-and-grace fusion which helped set the stage for today’s genre-blending format. With his dedicated BG Nation behind him, the fiery performer-songwriter has racked up more than 8.3 BILLION career streams, boasting back-to-back Platinum albums and seven No. 1 hits including the RIAA 7x Platinum “Bottoms Up;” 2x Platinum “Country Must Be Country Wide;” 2x Platinum “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do;” 2x Platinum “One Hell of An Amen;” and the Platinum-certified “What Happens In A Small Town” with Lindsay Ell. His world-class pen helped create a watershed hit with Jason Aldean’s 4x Platinum country-rap game changer, “Dirt Road Anthem.” And possessing a can’t-fake-it quality of fierce independence, the ACM, CMA and AMA award winner has toured alongside everyone from Willie Nelson and Toby Keith to Kenny Chesney, Nickelback and more. Tattoos further cements his legacy – 10 cowritten, co-produced tracks with an electrifying mix of in-your-face aggression and roughneck reflection, as Gilbert’s diesel-powered smoke-and-soul vocal delivers another full-spectrum soundtrack to modern country life. Tracks like full-throttle “Off the Rails” and intoxicating chart-climbing single “Over When We’re Sober” with Ashley Cooke lead a set packed with guest appearances from Gary LeVox, Justin Moore, Struggle Jennings and Demun Jones. Gilbert will embark on his headlining Tattoos Tour 2025 in February, with stops across North America through the spring, with additional festival dates this summer. For more information, visit BrantleyGilbert.com or follow on Instagram, TikTok and X @BrantleyGilbert and Facebook.com/BrantleyGilbertMusic.
Thursday, March 5, 2026 · 10:30 a.m.
Bill Haley Jr. & The Comets
FREE w/ paid gate admission
If only for the impact of “Rock Around the Clock,” Bill Haley would deserve a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (he was inducted in 1987)! Yet his impact in the early days of Rock and Roll went well beyond that milestone. Two years earlier he’d put out “Crazy, Man, Crazy,” an original amalgam of country and R&B that arguably became the first rock and roll record to register on Billboard’s pop chart. For most of the Fifties, Bill Haley was a presence on the record charts, and he appeared in several rock and roll movies aimed at teenagers. It is estimated that Bill Haley and His Comets have sold 60 million records worldwide. How important was “Rock Around the Clock”? Before it became a hit in summer 1955—more than a year after it was recorded—Rock ’n’ Roll was virtually an underground movement, something kids listened to on the sly. “This changed after ‘Rock Around the Clock.’ The music was everywhere!” Bill Haley has been called “The Father of Rock and Roll” and “Rock ’n’ Roll’s first star!” “We premiered it,” he told Rolling Stone in 1967. “We put country and western together with rhythm and blues, and that was rock. The first three years were ours, all ours, till [Elvis] Presley came along.” Bill Haley even helped give Rock and Roll its name! He penned a song called “Rock-A-Beatin’ Boogie,” whose chorus went “Rock, rock, rock everybody/Roll, roll, roll everybody” — a tune recorded by the Treniers in 1953 and adopted by disc jockey Alan Freed on his Cleveland-based Moondog radio show. Now his son, Bill Haley Jr. & The Comets, recapture the heyday of his famous father and The Comets and carry on the tradition his father started! Re-creating the music, the feel, the excitement, the authentic stage costuming, and the energy, Bill Haley Jr. & The Comets transport audiences back to the very beginning of Rock & Roll. Audiences will be on their feet, dancing in the aisles and singing along to every song during this incredible, all-ages, affordable show!
Thursday, March 5, 2026 · 3:30 p.m.
The Bellamy Brothers
Pit, $30- Floor, $30- GT Grandstands, $30
Celebrated worldwide for their smooth harmonies, heartfelt lyrics, and a mix of humor and clever themes, the Bellamy Brothers continue entertaining fans globally today as the duo approaches its 50th anniversary in the fall of 2025. David and Howard Bellamy, originally from Darby, Florida, catapulted to fame in the 1970s with their beloved smash hit “Let Your Love Flow” (1976), which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Following that pop success, they transitioned more into country music, becoming a staple of the genre through the 1980s with dozens of hits including “If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me,” “Redneck Girl,” “Do You Love as Good as You Look,” and “Old Hippie,” to name a few. The aforementioned “Old Hippie” is the name brand of their medical cannabis line with Trulieve. “If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me),” originally scrawled on a dinner napkin by David, rocketed them to the top of the country charts the way “Let Your Love Flow,” had done in the pop market just a few years earlier. It proved to be the first of a string of 14 No. 1 singles in the U.S. alone. They’re the only U.S. country music act who’ve toured commercially. Before forming their duo, both brothers played in various bands in the late 1960s and early ’70s. David wrote the song “Spiders and Snakes,” which became a hit for Jim Stafford in 1974. That success gave David his first big break in the music industry. By the 1990s, the Bellamy Brothers took a bold step and started releasing music independently under their own label, Bellamy Brothers Records. This allowed them greater creative freedom and a more direct relationship with their fans. They also began cultivating a massive international following, particularly in Europe, where country music continued to grow in popularity. Countries like Germany, Norway, and Switzerland became strongholds for their fanbase, and they’ve continued to tour internationally with massive success. In 2002, they won the CMA International Artist Achievement Award. The Bellamy Brothers hold the record in both the Academy of Country Music (ACM) and the Country Music Association Awards (CMA) for the most duo nominations without winning. Numerous Grammy nods have also been directed toward the brothers. The Bellamys have also opened up their lives to television audiences with their reality show, “Honky Tonk Ranch,” which chronicles their “unusual lives, blending music stardom, vigorous road tours and cattle ranching (Tampa Bay Times).” The first four seasons feature special guest appearances from Dennis Quaid, Blake Shelton, Tanya Tucker, Lauren Alaina, Joe Diffie, Johnny Lee, Gene Watson and many more of their famous friends. Each episode captivates viewers by the unpredictable misadventures the Bellamys face while balancing their globe-trotting touring schedule while running their sprawling family ranch in south Florida. Viewers can now watch episodes on American Country Network. In 2024, the duo released Double Dog Dare via Bellamy Brothers Records and Select-O-Hits. The 12-song collection includes their “sublimely country (MusicRow)” collaboration, “Forever Ain’t Long Enough” with Gene Watson and “I’d Lie to You For Your Love” featuring the late K.T. Oslin. In November of 2024, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inducted David Bellamy into the prestigious class of songwriters during the 54th Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala. This year, the brothers achieved another monumental moment when “Let Your Love Flow” served as the soundtrack for Budweiser’s new Super Bowl ad titled “First Delivery” featuring the Budweiser Clydesdales. The ad featuring the Bellamy’s became the No. 1 commercial according to USA TODAY’s Ad Meter contest by viewers.
Thursday, March 5, 2026 · 7:30 p.m.
Dierks Bentley
Pit, $90- Floor, $80- GT Grandstands, $70
After more than 20 years on country’s family tree, Dierks Bentley’s branch has grown strong and solid – despite never being perfect. But with his 11th studio album Broken Branches (MCA), he comes to appreciate the knots and gnarl.
Whittling down his essential sound to its rooted and most resolute, ready to twist with wind or rise toward the shining light of age-old inspiration, it finds a proud broken branch celebrating the outliers of country life – and of country music. Eleven songs embrace unruly characters wherever they’re found, ultimately adding beauty to the whole.
“The country music community has a lot of broken branches in it. That’s why we’re all here,” the perennial hit maker explains. “We want to do something a little bit different, and I think everyone sees themselves like that – certainly in country. This is the people’s music and it represents that spirit of individuality so well.”
To Bentley’s credit, it has worked so far. The multi-Platinum superstar counts eight Number One albums, 22 Number One songs, and nine and a half billion global streams – plus 15 Grammy nominations and membership in the historic Grand Ole Opry. A global headliner and against-the-grain torch bearer for country’s organic roots, Broken Branches finds him continuing the path, doing things like only he can. He builds from the ground up, ensuring only that each song feeds his heart (or sense of humor … or sonic appetite). And in the end, it’s another set that looks a little “different.”
“This record grabbed all that and it’s interesting for me to listen to, which is important,” he says. “If I didn’t feel like I was going somewhere new, then what’s the point?”
Over 11 songs, the new destination proved a daring drive to break with convention – even his own. Co-writing just four tracks and securing seven from outside writers (many for the first time), it’s the fewest number of songs Bentley has written for an album since 2010’s Up On The Ridge, but not from a lack of motivation. More like a wish to explore Nashville’s thriving new growth.
Bentley spent months listening to songs, often driving around the backroads of his Tennessee home, spinning raw demos with no names attached to the songs. Then he chose a mix of tracks with deep meanings and distinctive quirks, centered on the imperfect perfections of community spirit.
“The younger folks and new people really drive Nashville forward,” he explains. “A lot of us have wisdom, but these younger kids have the desire and the dream – that youthful energy that is so important in moving the music in a new way.”
“Broken Branches” became the anchor. Written by Zach Abend, Beau Bailey and Graham Barham, the grounded (but good-timing) anthem is a mood-boosting jukebox stomp in honor of nature’s black sheep – and to the circle of life that keeps spitting them out, adding color wherever they land. Representing multiple generations of broken branches, Bentley recorded it with living legend John Anderson and rising hit maker Riley Green.
“I just fell in love with the lyrics of that song. It says it in a fun way, but it’s also a pretty deep message – we are the broken branches off the family tree,” he says. “The song found me and I started collecting more around that idea of broken branches, just community and family.”
Others like “Cold Beer Can” take a new swing at an old theme, highlighting one of Bentley’s favorite new trailblazers. Co-written with co-star Stephen Wilson Jr., plus Jon Randall and Luke Dick, a dusky acoustic groove helps show a different way of looking at a frosty 12-oz. – like an emotional currency, capable of doing what money can’t. “What I love about this song is that the title and idea seem like such familiar territory for country music, but when you actually dig into the lyrics of the song, it’s much more meaningful,” Bentley says.
Elsewhere, heartwarming tracks like the banjo-led “Never You (feat. Miranda Lambert)” tribute the essential companion in each life, and Bentley made sure to record the set with a collaborative free spirit to match. Following each song wherever it wanted to go, that sometimes meant returning to his bluegrass beginnings – check out tracks like the feverish “Well, Well Whiskey.” Or sometimes it led to the unhinged Whitley-meets-Weezer fun of tunes like “She Hates Me.”
They all grew from acoustic-guitar foundation in whatever direction felt right, and Bentley calls that a testament to producers Jon Randall and Ross Copperman, plus musicians like Charlie Worsham, Jedd Hughes, Rob McNelley, and Bryan Sutton – real creative magic in the age of AI.
“I think that’s what’s special about country – we’re still making music in the studio,” Bentley says. “We’re still getting together and talking about the songs and letting these players have a big say.”
Tracks like the propulsive acoustic jam “Something Worth Fixing” celebrate life as a work in progress, while the grungy alt-country of “Jesus Loves Me” explores a heartbroken “gospel truth,” and “Off the Map” looks to quietly escape a relentless reality – whether on the beach, or a barstool. The theme speaks to what Bentley’s shows mean to him and millions of fans, a service he continues to provide on the Broken Branches Tour.
Meanwhile, the blazing heart of “Standing in the Sun” (by Kyle Sturrock) burns with the simple, life-giving power of true romance – a song Bentley says “I never in a million years could have written on my own, but luckily someone in this town did.” And while “For as Long as I Can Remember” tributes the Sequoia-like shelter a father provides. “Don’t Cry for Me” brings the project full circle.
Written by Bentley with Jim Beavers, who’s been with the star since the first seasons of his career, the pulse-pounding blast of roots-pop features a hard acoustic-guitar chop and rolling banjos, as his weathered vocal explores decades of personal detail. Like a hammer-down high-energy eulogy, it shows a broken branch proud of what he’s become – a strong, vital piece of country’s present, tied firmly to its story and soul. A survivor of storms who’s soaked in his share of sun, still growing toward a new dawn.
Friday, March 6, 2026 · 3:30 p.m.
The Marshall Tucker Band
Pit, $40- Floor, $35- GT Grandstands, $35
When you wake up and want to put a smile on your face, you think of the songs that always manage to reach down and touch your soul the moment you hear the first note. The Marshall Tucker Band is one such group that continues to have a profound level of impact on successive generations of listeners who’ve been “Searchin’ for a Rainbow” and found it perfectly represented by this tried-and-true Southern institution over the decades. “I’ve been in tune with how music can make you feel, right from when I was first in the crib,” explains lead vocalist and bandleader Doug Gray, who’s been fronting the MTB since the very beginning. “I was born with that. And I realized it early on, back when I was a little kid and my mom and dad encouraged me to get up there and sing whatever song came on the jukebox. It got to the point where people were listening to me more than what was on the jukebox! There’s a certain gift I found I could share, whether I was in front of five people or 20,000 people. I was blessed with that ability and I’m thankful I can share with others.” The Marshall Tucker Band came together as a young, hungry, and quite driven six-piece outfit in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 1972, having duly baptized themselves with the name of a blind piano tuner after they found it inscribed on a key to their original rehearsal space — and they’ve been in tune with tearing it up on live stages both big and small all across the globe ever since. Plus, the band’s mighty music catalog, consisting of more than 20 studio albums and a score of live releases, has racked up multi-platinum album sales many times over. A typically rich MTB setlist is bubbling over with a healthy dose of hits like the heartfelt singalong “Heard It in a Love Song,” the insistent pleading of “Can’t You See” (the signature tune of MTB’s late co-founding lead guitarist and then-principal songwriter Toy Caldwell), the testifying “Fire on the Mountain,” the wanderlust gallop of “Long Hard Ride,” and the explosive testimony of “Ramblin,’” to name but a few. Indeed, the secret ingredient to the ongoing success of The Marshall Tucker Band’s influence can be seen and felt far and wide throughout many mainstream digital outlets (Netflix, Amazon, etc.). In essence, it’s this inimitable down-home sonic style that helped make the MTB the first truly progressive Southern band to grace this nation’s airwaves — the proof of which can be found within the grooves and ever-shifting gears of “Take the Highway,” the first song on their self-titled April 1973 debut album on Capricorn Records, The Marshall Tucker Band. “We had the commonality of having all grown up together in Spartanburg,” explains Gray about his original MTB bandmates, guitar wizard Toy Caldwell and his brother, bassist Tommy Caldwell, alongside rhythm guitarist George McCorkle, drummer Paul T. Riddle, and flautist/saxophonist Jerry Eubanks. “The framework for Marshall Tucker’s music is more like a spaceship than a house,” Gray continues, “because you can look out of a lot of windows and see a variety of things that show where we’ve been and what we’ve done, and how we’ve travelled through time to bring those experiences out in all of our songs.” The Marshall Tucker Band’s influence can be felt far and wide through many respected contemporaries and the artists who’ve followed the path forged by their collective footsteps and footstomps. “MTB helped originate and personify what was to become known as Southern rock, and I was privileged to watch it all come together in the ’70s, night after night,” said the legendary late Charlie Daniels. “In fact, The Charlie Daniels Band has played more dates with The Marshall Tucker Band over the past years than any other band we’ve ever worked with. Even after all these years — after the tragedies, the miles, the personnel changes, and the many developments in the music business.” Daniels added that he never got tired of seeing his MTB brothers on the road: “Whenever Doug Gray walks into my dressing room with that big ol’ smile of his and then we hug each other and sit and talk for a while, the evening is complete.” “I remember seeing Marshall Tucker and The Outlaws play together in Jacksonville many years ago, when I was just a kid,” recalls Lynyrd Skynyrd lead singer Johnny Van Zant. “And I heard them all over the radio back then too. They were just so cool and so unique that I fell in love with the band, and I also fell in love with the music. Having them open for us on all those dates was like a dream come true, and they’re still as good as I’ve ever seen them. It brought back a lot of memories for me, because I really looked up to those guys when I was first starting out.” Ed Roland, the lead vocalist and chief songwriter for Collective Soul, adds “The Marshall Tucker Band had a big influence on me and they still do.” Roland, who’s lived the majority of his life in and around Atlanta, also proudly points out that his band’s biggest hit, “Shine,” owes a clear debt to the musical structure of “Can’t You See,” and he’ll often start off by singing the opening line to that song — “I’m gonna take a freight train” — whenever Collective Soul performs “Shine” live. “We don’t want to stray from what we grew up listening to,” Roland continues. “I think that’s something important for people to hear. It’s just who we are, and I don’t think we should run from it. Hopefully, people see that southern connection to the bands we love like Marshall Tucker in our music.” Doug Gray sees no end to the road that lies ahead for The Marshall Tucker Band, whose legacy is being carried forward by the man himself and his current bandmates, drummer B.B. Borden (Mother’s Finest, The Outlaws), bassist/vocalist Ryan Ware, keyboardist/saxophonist/flautist/vocalist Marcus James Henderson, guitarist/vocalist Chris Hicks, and guitarist/ vocalist Rick Willis. “You know, I think it was Toy Caldwell’s dad who said, ‘There’s more to gray hair than old bones,’ and we still have a lot of stories yet to tell,” Gray concludes. “People ask me all the time what I’m gonna do when I turn 80, and I always say, ‘The same thing that we’re continuing to do now.’ We’re road warriors, there’s no doubt about that — and I don’t intend to slow down.” May the MTB wagon train continue running like the wind on a long hard ride for many more years to come. One thing we absolutely know for sure: If you heard it in a Marshall Tucker Band song, it certainly can’t be wrong. —Mike Mettler, this ol’ MTB chronologist
Friday, March 6, 2026 · 7:30 p.m.
Forrest Frank
Pit, $90- Floor, $80- GT Grandstands, $70
Forrest Frank, a Texas native, found himself at a creative crossroads last summer, craving the freedom to make music just for himself again. Crafting his project Effortless with a group of friends in a cliffside Airbnb in northern California, Forrest’s music embodies urgent, joyous escapism. Drawing from ten years of honing his craft, his project reflects lyrical introspection, musical confidence, and thrilling beats. Influenced by chillwave and ’90s dance legends, Forrest aims to make music that feels good and encourages listeners to be themselves. After a chance encounter in college inspired his unshakable drive, Forrest pursued music full-time, finding success with SURFACES and releasing his solo album Warm in 2018. With more music on the way, including collaborations with Sir Elton John and new solo songs, Forrest’s creative wave shows no signs of stopping.
Saturday, March 7, 2026 · 7:30 p.m.
The Offspring
Pit, $90- Floor, $80- GT Grandstands, $70
The Offspring is an American rock band from Garden Grove, California, formed in 1984. Originally formed under the name Manic Subsidal, the band’s lineup consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Noodles, bassist Todd Morse, drummer Brandon Pertzborn, and multi-instrumentalist Jonah Nimoy. Over the course of their longstanding career, they have released ten studio albums. The Offspring is often credited, alongside fellow California bands Green Day and Rancid, for reviving mainstream interest in “Punk Rock” in the 1990s. They have sold over 40 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling bands in history.
Sunday, March 8, 2026 · 7:30 p.m.
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Pit, $75 – Floor, $55 – GT Grandstands, $45
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