The concert, which benefits several local non-profit agencies, will feature Jim McBride, Randall Bramblett, Rachel Proctor, Mike Dekle, Pat Terry, Colt Ford, Bruce Burch and Allen Nivens.
"Now in our seventh year, we are continually amazed at the quality of writers that this show continues to attract and, thanks to the past performers, the event definitely has a positive buzz in Nashville," said Nivens, one of the concert organizers. "The songwriters know that the people of Gainesville come out for quality entertainment and sure know how to have fun."
Previous concerts have been held in August. This year's concert, which starts at 6 p.m. at the Smithgall Arts Council Depot in Gainesville, was moved to the fall to give concert-goers a break from the summer heat.
The large video screen that was added last year will provide excellent views of the stage from anywhere at the venue. Johnny's BBQ will once again be offering barbecue plates for sale at the concert. Milton Martin has donated a one-year's lease on a car that will be auctioned off. There will be an after concert party at Wild Wing Café on Jesse Jewell Parkway.
"We're expecting a great evening of entertainment and great weather," said Burch, one of the concert organizers and a friend of Jarrard.
Jarrard was a Gainesville native and Nashville songwriter who wrote songs for performers such as Don Williams, Alabama, George Strait, Diamond Rio and Tracy Lawrence. Jarrard battled diabetes before passing away in 2001. The concert honors Jarrard and benefits local charities: the Good News at Noon Clinics, Good News at Noon, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hall County, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Georgia Chapter and the Georgia Mountain Food Bank.
Organizers say this year's artists are some of the top singers and songwriters in the country.
McBride wrote No. 1 hits for Johnny Lee, Waylon Jennings and Alan Jackson. "Chattahoochee," which McBride co-wrote with Jackson, was named Song of the Year by the Country Music Association in 1994.
Bramblett has been writing songs since the 1970s. Famed pianist and keyboardist Chuck Leavell calls him "the most gifted and talented southern singer-songwriter musician of the past several decades." He has worked with the Rolling Stones, the Allman Brothers Band and Widespread Panic.
Procter, who performed in the 2005 Jarrard concert, has written for Jessica Simpson, Martina McBride, Kenny Loggins and Tanya Tucker. Proctor, who is the wife of Gainesville songwriter John Lancaster, co-wrote Simpson's current hit "Come on Over" with Simpson and Victoria Banks.
Dekle had his first No. 1 hit in 1983 with Kenny Rogers' "Scarlet Fever." He has penned songs for Ricky Skaggs, T.G. Sheppard, Keith Whitley and Tracy Byrd.
Terry has been writing and recording songs since the mid-1970s. He wrote chart-toppers "Help Me Hold On" for Travis Tritt, "It's A Little Too Late" for Tanya Tucker and "National Working Woman's Holiday" for Sammy Kershaw.
Ford, an Athens-native, has found a way to blend southern country, rock, rhythm-and-blues and hip-hop into an unusual sound that could be called country rock rhythm-and-rap. His first album is titled "Ride Through The Country."
Burch is Administrative Director of the University of Georgia Music Business Program. He is a successful songwriter who penned two No. 1 songs for Reba McEntire, "Rumor Has It" and "It's Your Call," and has had songs recorded by Faith Hill, George Jones, Wayne Newton and many others.
Nivens is a Gainesville songwriter and performer, who performed in previous Bruce Burch and Friends concerts. He has released a CD entitled "Living or Dying," selling more than 1,000 copies independently.
Tickets are $30 each and $25 each in blocks of five or more. They can be purchased online at www.johnjarrardconcert.org, or at The Times, WDUN, the North Georgia Community Foundation, the main offices of Regions Bank and Wachovia and BB&T's Brown's Bridge Road office.
Scene from last year's concert.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/9/213622