Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell and More Giving Back to Home State With Charity Event
Five music acts are banding together to honor the state that birthed them. Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell and the Peach Pickers are joining American Idol winner Phillip Phillips and DJ Rock for a special performance titled Heart of South Georgia on Oct. 3 in Albany, Ga.
The concert will funnel all proceeds to benefit those affected by the 2017 Albany tornado, which tore through five of Georgia's counties, and was one of the most deadly and devastating on regional record.
Georgia roots run deep for each of the acts schedule to perform. Both Bryan and Swindell attended Georgia Southern University, and were members of the fraternity Sigma Chi. The two actually met on the campus when Bryan performed at the frat house while Swindell was a student.
The event also sees Bryan sharing the stage with his college roommate and Albany native Dallas Davidson, one third of the Peach Pickers alongside fellow hit songwriters Rhett Atkins and Ben Hayslip—the latter two who've known each other since childhood when they met in high school in Valdosta, Ga.
“My hometown is more than a place for me. It is a way of life,” Bryan says in a press release. "Growing up in south Georgia has had such an impact on me in so many ways and I’m so glad that this group of amazing artists and writers are able to come back home and help those who have been hit by such devastation over the past couple of years.”
Phillips also hails from Albany and shot to fame following his win during American Idol's 11th season, followed by the release of platinum-certified hits "Home" and "Gone Gone Gone."
The event also reunites DJ Rock with Bryan, who invited him to perform at his free block party celebrating the opening of Luke's 32 Bridge Food + Drink and travel on the road with him for the duration of his 2018 What Makes You Country Tour.
“When I was asked to be a part of this event I didn’t hesitate," says Swindell. "Even though I get to travel the country doing what I love day after day, there is nothing that gives me a sense of recharging than coming back home to South Georgia and being around the people who helped get me here. Being able to give back in some small way means the world to me."
The event is named after the foundation that the proceeds from the show will go toward, and will take place at the Exchange Club of Albany. Tickets are available now.
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