Are you one of those people who plans out their concerts for the year? If so, you may want to send yourself a save the date notice for Wednesday August 12, 2015. Forget Santa, Charlie Daniels is coming to town. The 40th Anniversary Charlie Daniels Band Volunteer Jam, to be exact. Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena will host the CDB and myriad guests of multiple genres.
Taking stage alongside the man who beat devil will be Billy Ray Cyrus, Montgomery Gentry, the Kentucky Headhunters, Travis Tritt, Lee Roy Parnell and the Outlaws. Being one of the most sought after charity tickets of the year attendees can expect some major surprise guests.
Charlie Daniels may be an old red state kook, resembling more Yosemite Sam than country music icon, but his dedication and affinity towards our U.S. Military servicemen/women is irrevocable. Proceeds from this notorious event go to The Journey Home Project. Daniels co-founded the non-profit to aid in the general needs of U.S. veterans. Also benefiting from the show is The Predator Foundation. Using fans love of sports the organization raises money for all manor of charities in and around the Nashville community.
The inaugural Volunteer Jam took place in 1974 when Charlie invited some friends to come “jam” on stage. Among those friends were members of the Allman Brothers and Marshall Tucker Band. Live recordings from that show made their way onto CDB’s Fire On The Mountain LP and over 100 radio stations broadcast a one hour tape of the show. In 1979, at Volunteer Jam V, Lynyrd Skynyrd reunited for the first time since the devastating plane crash just two years prior.
By 1984, the tenth incarnation, Volunteer Jam had become an international event boasting over 30 guest performers, a two hour syndicated TV special, and appearances by Dick Clark, Byron Allen and MTV’s Alan Hunter. And when it comes to genre Daniels shows no prejudice. Rock, country, bluegrass, gospel, comedy, soul, classical and southern rock have all been represented. No hip-hop as of yet.
“We never had any idea how big it would become”, says Daniels. “We thought it was a hometown thing. We never realized it would become an international event”. When asked why no hip-hop music yet Charlie was allegedly quoted as saying, “damn rackin frackin rappin varmints”!
The CDB has also made sure to make this show accessible to all fans. Tickets go on sale Friday January 30 at 10am CST and start at a meager $17.68. Others range from $40 to the $500 VIP ticket.
A great show for a great cause. If you do not live around Nashville this makes the perfect reason to come visit us in Music City this summer. Concert tix make great stocking stuffers so grab yours now at Bridgestone Arena Box Office or TicketMaster.
