This stellar lineup includes: Rick Carter (Rollin In The Hay, Telluride), Stan Foster (Rollin in The Hay, Phil And Foster), Donna Hall (Wet Willie), and William “Moose” Harrell (Jason Ringenberg, Telluride). These savvy veterans have toured the world and then some; catch them soon at a festival or theater near you, as they celebrate the music of the great John Prine.
Carter is authentic in his role as one of his musical heroes and Donna Hall, member of the Alabama AND Georgia Music Hall Of Fame, is a stunning complement, as she perfects the Prine duets. With Foster on bass and harmony vocals, and Harrell on acoustic, electric, and lap steel guitars, as well as harmony vocals, a powerful musical experience is guaranteed.
If you’re a Prine fan, this show is a must-see. If you are just learning about the masterful writings of John Prine, then you can’t miss these Alabama legends in their show of deep reverence for an American music treasure. “Won’t be nothin but big ol hearts, dancin in our eyes”.s Days That We Dreamed Of sounds like home and the life he always imagined. More than anything, it simply feels like Georgia nights on his back porch.
After the kids are tucked into bed, every night Rhett Walker and his wife, April, can be found on their back porch, a safe haven for the couple who — against all odds — has been married for two decades. Beneath the Georgia pines and a starlit sky, the Walkers quietly talk about their day, reminisce about their teenage love and plan for the future. It’s in this sacred space that the realization of the present day recently dawned on them. They’re living in a season of answered prayers. A house in the country. A back porch in the woods. A yard full of kids. A simple life of love and faith. And that’s exactly what Walker honors on Days That We Dreamed Of, his fourth studio effort and first full-length project in partnership with BEC Recordings.
With a vocal that delivers equal parts southern drawl and southern rock, Walker first drew the interest of music fans with 2012’s Come To The River and 2014’s sophomore follow-up, Here’s To The Ones. His debut radio single, “When Mercy Found Me,” garnered the singer/songwriter a GRAMMY® nomination. Meanwhile, his third project, 2020’s Good to Me, sparked multiple hits with “Gospel Song,” which peaked at No. 2, and fan favorite “Believer,” which spent 23 weeks inside the Top 10 at Christian radio. A four-time GMA Dove Award nominee, Walker has been invited to play the Grand Ole Opry more than 15 times.
Like its predecessors, Days That We Dreamed Of will feel right at home inside that iconic Opry circle. In fact, Walker’s latest endeavor finds him fully embracing his country leanings more than ever before. Although he penned most of the 10 tracks outside of Nashville — the majority of them with producer AJ Pruis (Matthew West, Carly Pearce) — Walker recorded the fresh collection at a notable studio in the heart of Music City’s Music Row. Intentionally capturing a more analog sound, Days That We Dreamed Of features some of Nashville’s best session players, whose credits include Luke Combs, among other country superstars.
“I wanted everybody in the studio at the same time,” Walker says of his vision for the recording, “because there’s just this rare magic that happens when you’ve got all these incredible musicians in the same room.”
As he began sketching out the concept for the album two years ago, his oldest was graduating from high school. The milestone had the father of four reflecting on the surprise teenage pregnancy that began a family and an unexpected journey that, by God’s grace, resulted in a redemptive story and a marriage that defied every statistic.
Stephen Barker Liles
“The thing that started this record was the Prodigal Son story. I’ve been that Prodigal Son; but I started wondering what the Prodigal Son was doing 10 years after he came home,” Walker offers. “He’s not only remembering his daddy running to him; he’s also remembering how he was the one that messed this up to begin with, and I bet he’s thinking about all God has done since then.”
Putting himself in the shoes of that Prodigal Son wasn’t hard, and anchor track “’87 Chevy” soon roared to life. Named after both the year he was born and his favorite truck, Walker says, “That song is the story of me looking through the windshield at the things I can’t even imagine God has ahead of me, but also not being afraid to look in the rearview mirror at all the potholes I’ve hit that God’s brought me through.”
And that’s the journey Days That We Dreamed Of takes listeners on. The album is a retrospective of God’s faithfulness, while still acknowledging the missteps along the way; because every detour made Walker the man he is today — a committed husband and father, a confident believer and an artist full of conviction.
This ethos is evident from the opening track, “Somebody Say Amen,” a memorable country-pop anthem filled to the brim with gratitude. “He’s not just the God of the mountaintop; He’s the God of the valley. So there’s always a reason to say ‘amen,’ knowing we’re getting a grace we don’t deserve and can’t earn,” Walker remarks of the single, adding, “It’s cool how this song has become this unifying force reminding us we can all come together no matter our background, our last name or where we’re from. We can all agree on God’s grace and goodness when we say ‘amen.’”
Belle Isle and Cline
Admittedly, ‘amen’ shows up consistently in Walker’s vocabulary, so it wasn’t difficult to write. In fact, he reveals many of the songs for this project came quickly because they were being written from the well of real life. Lyrically, the album reads like an autobiography, with selections like the confessional “Where I Could’ve Been” and the self-penned “Lost and Found” taking pages straight from Walker’s story.
The testimony-driven “Look What God Can Do” adds another chapter to the larger narrative Walker relays on Days That We Dreamed Of. “I remember who I was when I was a pastor’s kid, who knew just enough Jesus to get out of trouble. The whole time, God was chasing me in those moments, going, ‘Dude, if you would lay this down, you wouldn’t believe what I can do with this,’” Walker reflects. “It’s just crazy to see how God can unfold a story when you’ve tried to make this the most difficult story for Him to unfold. But if I can be honest and go, ‘Look what God has done in my life,’ I hope it helps someone along the way see how He’s working in their story.”
Other songs provide a deeper glimpse into his home life. “Young Love” toasts 20 years of marriage as he marvels at the miracle of “summer love turned diamond ring.” Meanwhile, “Lived It” dispenses wisdom to his kids passed down to him from his own father and grandfather. “That little girl who made us a family is starting college this year. I was thinking about her, and I was thinking about my oldest son turning the age I was when I got married, and I just thought, ‘Man, if I could say anything to them, here’s what I would tell them,’” he shares of the advice he gives throughout the perceptive cut.
While there’s a distinct familial thread that runs through Days That We Dreamed Of, Walker’s faith is just as intricately woven into the carefully crafted narrative. Nowhere is this more apparent than on “Man on the Middle Cross,” which Walker penned alongside Pruis, Matthew West and Matt Jenkins. Inspired by a sermon clip he stumbled upon from Alistair Begg, the poignant lead single offers a unique perspective on the cruxifixction as seen through the eyes of the often-overlooked man to Jesus’ right. “That really does go back to where Scripture says that those who call upon the name of Jesus shall be saved. There aren’t pre-qualifications for salvation,” Walker asserts. “This is a great reminder that it’s nothing we could ever do. It’s only Jesus.”
Perhaps those two words best sum up the duel perspective of both the rocky trajectory and the subsequent redemption that got Walker where he is today, as reflected across Days That We Dreamed Of: Only Jesus.
“This record is just my family on display and what God has done,” he says. “I think it’s the most ‘Rhett Walker record’ I’ve ever put out. The songs on this record will feel as much at home in a church, as they will in a honky-tonk or the Grand Ole Opry. It feels most like me.”
A self-portrait in so many ways, Walker’s Days That We Dreamed Of sounds like home and the life he always imagined. More than anything, it simply feels like Georgia nights on his back porch.
Tickets:
$20.00 – Groups 10+
$40.00 – VIP – This comes with early admission at 5:30PM and a Q&A at 5:45PM
Eat a Peach is an Allman Brothers tribute band based in Birmingham, Alabama. The band was formed in 2009 while attending music school at The University of Alabama in Birmingham.
Over the last decade, Eat a Peach has played shows from the Carolinas to Colorado as well as festivals and private events. They focus on respecting this timeless music and playing it with passion and intensity! If you’re a fan of the Allman Brothers music, then you do not want to miss Eat a Peach when they come to your town!
CASHBACK, based in Birmingham, Alabama, is arguably the best Johnny Cash tribute band around.
Led by Leif Bondarenko, CashBack has been performing their outstanding rendition of Cash classics at venues around the country since early 2018. The band’s five core players, all professional music veterans are: Leif Bondarenko (lead Vocals Drums), Gary Edmonds (electric and acoustic guitars, vocals), Eric Onimus (bass guitar), Joshua Green (acoustic and electric guitars, vocals) and Tommy Bowen (trumpet, keyboard, vocals).
And in the tradition of all those great June and Johnny duets, the lovely and talented Lannette Brasher joins the group as special guest vocalist, adding another authentic and exciting dimension to the CashBack experience.
CashBack performs a wide variety of classic Cash songs spanning the “Man in Black’s” 51-year career. Eerily similar to Johnny Cash in his heyday, Bondarenko’s powerful voice is the star of the show, and along with blazing guitars and swingin’ rhythm, never fails to deliver a lively exciting, even heartwarming performance to the audience.
“Every time CashBack walks out on stage, we want to show our great respect for the legacy of Johnny Cash, while giving the very best performance we can give,” says Bondarenko. “I have no desire to be a Johnny Cash impersonator. I just love the music of Johnny Cash and try to sing in an honest and sincere manner. I love the vibe and the sounds that Cash and his band created on all those great recordings.” he adds.
Songs include:
“Folsom Prison Blues” – Johnny Cash
“Ring of Fire” – Johnny Cash
“Jackson” – Johnny Cash & June Carter
“Big River” – Johnny Cash
“Oh, Lonesome Me” – Johnny Cash
“Tenn. Flat Top Box” – Johnny Cash
“One Piece At A Time” – Johnny Cash
“Darlin’ Companion” – Johnny Cash & June Carter
“I Still Miss Someone” – Johnny Cash
“It Ain’t Me Babe” – Johnny Cash & June Carter (Bob Dylan)
The Maverick Lounge Series returns to The Historic Ritz Theater in Talladega on April 5 with “The History, Music, and Story of Muscle Shoals.” The show will include a narration of how the sleepy little river town in the northwestern corner of Alabama came to be a mecca for recording in the late 1960’s as the most sought-after destination for artists from all over the world. In addition, The Maverick Lounge Series’ “live rockumentary” format will also include performances (accompanied by visual media) from artists such as Percy Sledge, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Bob Seger, The Staple Singers, Rod Stewart, The Osmond Brothers, The Black Keys, as well as the story of “The Swampers,” the famed rhythm section that was heartbeat of those recordings. As always, The Maverick Lounge Series will feature an all-star lineup of some of the finest musicians in Alabama, providing an unforgettable evening of music and intrigue.
Join us as we explore the creation and development of the compact cassette tape and its lasting impact on the world of music.
Our historical exploration will be framed by classic rock songs from Grand Funk Railroad, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Eagles, America, Supertramp, The Moody Blues, Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks, Eric Clapton and many more.
When someone says “Led Zeppelin,” the go to soundtrack in your mind may be an epic rock anthem. But die-hard fans know that some of their best and most inestimable songs were when they unplugged their instruments, as in much of LED ZEPPELIN III. In 1970, after two huge albums and a grueling tour of North American, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant retreated to an 18th century Welsh cottage called Bron-Yr-Aur to recuperate and write some new songs. It was the first time the two had spent time together away from the rest of the band, and Page has said that was when he really got to know Robert Plant. Most of the songs written there were quieter, and gentler, more introspective songs. It was from this cottage that the idea of an all- acoustic Led Zeppelin band was born. Fittingly called Bron-Yr-Aur, four of the best musicians in the Southeast have pulled together their knowledge and talent to gratefully recreate this more subtle side of Led Zeppelin. Allen Barlow, Jon Campbell, Chris Kozak and Mark Lanter are seasoned and in demand performers who faithfully bring you back to the pastural surroundings of the Welsh countryside where the songs were born. Bron-Yr-Aur. Prepare for a spell bounding musical experience.
Three On a String sponsored by the United Way of North Talladega County and the Historic Ritz Theatre benefiting our 2024 Community Bed Build.
Three on a String performs all kinds of music from old standards, country, classical, bluegrass, and folk. Jerry Ryan, Bobby Horton, Brad Ryan and Andy Megginnis have been having a good time right along with their audiences all over the country for 50 years. Their four-part harmony has a unique and pleasing blend, from a heartrending country song to an unexpected acapella rendition, suitable for the entire family. They always pack the house wherever they appear, whether at a convention, music festival, or a symphony pop concert. Three on a String’s show has evolved into a well-timed, musically interesting, and funny presentation.
Three on a String has enjoyed working with performers such as the Statler Brothers, Ray Stevens, The Oak Ridge Boys, Hank Williams Jr., and Red Skelton. They have shared the stage with former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush. They have performed for, and with, symphony orchestras, arts councils, conventions, and concerts. Among their many awards, they were honored to receive the Governor’s Achievement Award and inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
From the first song to the standing ovation, your audience will be entertained by four talented and experienced performers who have paid their dues, know their business, and want to share their good time show.
Three on a String event raises money for our 2024 Community Bed Build in conjunction with Sleep in Heavenly Peace.
Thursday, November 16, 7 p.m. – $30 – For Groups of 10+ tickets are $25 each*.
DAVID PHELPS | AN AMERICAN TENOR
A graduate from Baylor University, David Phelps is credited among today’s most spectacular voices. His seemingly endless vocal range, which extends more than three octaves, coupled with his gift for communicating a song, has brought the house down in the world’s most prestigious venues. For nearly 20 years, David served as a member of the popular and prestigious Gaither Vocal Band, and during that time received numerous Dove Awards, two Grammy Awards, and multiple platinum-selling recording projects.
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As a solo artist, he received 2009 Dove Award nominations for Male Vocalist of the Year and Long Form Video for the Christmas DVD, O Holy Night to add to his many awards and honors. Since 2012, David has topped the Billboard charts time and time again with releases like: the 2012 live DVD Classic (#1), the 2015 live DVD Freedom (#1), the 2017 live DVD The Best Of David Phelps (#1 topping such popular video releases as The Beatles’ Eight Days A Week), and most recently the 2018 live DVD It Must Be Christmas (#2). The various recordings have been featured on numerous television networks, including the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) and have received acclaim in both secular and gospel music genres. In 2020, David returned with his newsest release, GameChanger. The album contains a sensational mixture of 15 pop, jazz, Inspirational, R&B and Broadway-inspired selections – all weaving together the themes of redemption and unity. Phelps says of the diverse group, “While some might think GameChanger is a departure for me, it’s really just the next step in my development as an artist; this is who I am. I started out in contemporary music before I joined the Gaither Vocal Band. I was blessed to be part of that amazing, iconic group and I loved those years very much, but I am and always have been a stylist, and that makes my music and career very eclectic.”
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Growing up in a musical family, his natural gift for song was evident when he was very young. Even as he sang in church as a teenager, he knew that he wanted to be a performer. At the age of 18, while earning his degree in vocal performance from Baylor University, David began what would be a life-long passion of traveling around the world to share music, inspiration and good news. While studying music at Baylor, David met Lori Purtle, who has been his wife and rocksolid partner in his career for three decades. The couple has four great kids – Callie, Maggie Beth, Grant and Coby. David and Lori reside on their farm outside Nashville, Tennessee.
Tickets are $30 each For Groups of 10+ tickets are $25 each*.
*Discount will automatically show in cart when 10+ tickets are in the cart.
Sean Dietrich is an author, musician, and stand-up storyteller. He began playing piano in church at age nine. By age fifteen, he was playing with adult bands in establishments his foot-washing Baptist mother would have preferred he avoided. A multi-instrumentalist, he started playing mandolin when he was seven, guitar at age eight, and threw away all hopes of a musical career by taking up accordion at age nine.
Having lived through enough heartache, joy, embarrassment, love, and renewal for several lifetimes, Sean condenses our human failures and triumphs into stories that make the Southern heart resound.
His wildly popular blog and musical podcast, “Sean of the South,” is suited for anyone with red clay on their car and sand in their shoes. His work has appeared in Newsweek, Reader’s Digest, Southern Living, Garden and Gun, and he has authored fifteen books.
His one-man shows have earned him a cult-like following in the southeastern United States and among closeted accordion players worldwide. Sean is a master storyteller in the tradition of Will Rogers, Mark Twain, and Lewis Grizzard. His brutally candid, laugh-out-loud, and sometimes painful tales remind us that we are not alone in our human experience.
Taking lessons learned from his hardscrabble childhood, this middle-school dropout and former construction worker/ice-cream dipper has earned a following for his painfully honest writing, songs, humorous observations, and blue-collar love of life. His tales of covered-dish suppers, camp meeting sing-alongs, funerals gone awry, and hounds that have crossed the Rainbow Bridge have audiences drying their eyes one minute and slapping their knees the next.
His latest book, “You Are My Sunshine”, published by Zondervan Books, is a true tale of a how two novice cyclists, a husband-and-wife duo who share the last name of “Dietrich”, tackled a 350-mile trail and not only lived to tell about it, but emerged more resilient and in love than ever.
Sean Dietrich, and his wife, Jamie, along with dogs Thelma Lou, Otis Campbell, and Marigold the Blind Wonder Dog are new residents of Birmingham, Alabama, but cannot shake the Florida panhandle out of their system.
