Events & Lineup
10th Annual Honor John Jarrard Festival events and lineup are set.
Over the past 10 years, our Foundation has strived to keep alive the memory of Georgia Hall of Fame member John Jarrard through our support of local charities and songwriters. On the upcoming 10th anniversary of the first Honor John Jarrard & Friends concert, we have expanded to two days and have plans to make this the best event yet!
This year’s concert is scheduled for September 23-24 at Brenau University with a concert on September 23 and a family day and art exhibit, auction and the annual songwriter’s concert on September 24.
Friday, September 23
This year’s festival begins at 7 PM on September 23 on Brenau University’s Front Lawn with John Hopkins, a Gainesville native and the bass player with the Zac Brown Band, performing on the front lawn at Brenau University. Hopkins will be backed by Balsam Range, a bluegrass act from North Carolina. Blackberry Smoke and Rachel Farley will also perform. For those of you familiar with the Zac Brown Band, you’ve probably seen Blackberry Smoke on tour with them or as openers for acts such as ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Tickets are $20.
Tickets are also available for purchase from BB&T and Green’s Grocery or by calling (770) 710-9191.
Saturday, September 24
The festivities continue on Saturday with the First Verse Family Day scheduled from 10 AM to 4 PM at the Brenau Amphitheatre. this event will feature a fine arts exhibit sponsored by Quinlan Visual Arts Center, young songwriters performing throughout the day, along with inflatable jump houses and games for the kids. Admission is free for these events. In addition, multi-talented Stella Parton, younger sister of Dolly Parton, will be signing her book, “Tell It Sister, Tell It.”
Continuing in our annual Songwriters’ Concert tradition, our annual Honor John Jarrard & Friends benefit concert will be held Saturday evening. Concert gates open at 5 PM on the front lawn at Brenau University. At 6 PM, the Foundation’s First Verse program participants and up-and-coming local songwriters will be performing, followed by the live auction and Songwriters in the Round Concert.
This year’s main stage show on Brenau’s Front Lawn Saturday evening includes Grammy winning songwriter and producer Manuel Seal, Grammy winning songwriter Steve Dorff, Jan Smith, voice coach for Justin Beiber and other top artists, and the multi-talented Stella Parton.
Also announced, John Driskell Hopkins of the Zac Brown Band, Greg Barnhill, Marc Beeson, and Will Robinson will be performing.
Seal wrote Mariah Carey’s song of the decade “Always Be My Baby,” among other Carey hits, and has written songs for Usher, Destiny’s Child and many more. Dorff has written country favorites “Through the Years” for Kenny Rogers and “Cross My Heart” for George Strait and the theme song for the Clint Eastwood movie “Every Which Way But Loose.” Smith, who has also worked with Grammy winner Usher, is a talented songwriter and singer. Parton, a good friend of Jarrard, is singer, songwriter, writer and actress. Katie Deal, daughter of Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, will also perform. Additional performers for this year’s show will be announced later this month.
General admission tickets are $30. Table Sponsorships are also available by calling (770) 710-9191.
Tickets are also available for purchase from BB&T and Green’s Grocery or by calling (770) 710-9191.
