Station Avenue Productions, a division of The asterism* Group, and the official event producers for Cove Haven Entertainment Resorts in the Poconos, announces it will bring country legends Jimmie Van Zant and The Outlaws to entertain at Cove Haven's Second Annual Southern Rock Festival Aug. 30 to Sept. 1.
"Cove Haven's Southern Rock Festival Weekend was such a huge hit last year that we’re bringing it back," reports CJ DiRoma, CEO of Station Avenue Productions and Founder of The asterism* Group. "We’ve got those classic Southern Rock jams coming to Cove Haven - it will be all live country music and all live country awesome all weekend long."
Jimmie Van Zant was born in Jacksonville, Florida, a city known as "the home of southern rock royalty."His mother spent hours every day playing gospel tunes on the family's upright piano encouraging Jimmie to start piano and guitar lessons at the age of six. Jimmie's home continued to be filled with music whenever cousin Ronnie Van Zant used his living room as a rehearsal space for the band that eventually became Lynyrd Skynyrd. The tragedy of Ronnie's death in 1977 inspired Jimmie to focus on his own music career to honor the life and legacy of his cousin. He formed his own group, signed with a record label and recorded his first album. "Southern Comfort" included the single "Ronnie's Song" co-written by Jimmie as a tribute to his beloved cousin. He still plays this number as requested at his live shows.
In 2008, Jimmie released a second album "My Name is Jimmie," which included the hits "Ray Ray's Juke Joint" and Redneck Revolution. "Cut from the Same Cloth," Jimmie's upcoming album featuring collaboration with James Dean Hicks, Charlie Craig and Tommy Southern, has already yielded popular singles in the UK. In 2011 Jimmie and the band appeared in the made-for-television documentary Boots 'N' BBQ Presents: Grills Gone Wild - from the Back Yard to Back Stage. The film, now available on DVD, is awaiting its network air date. Also in the works is a national television show, currently in development with Jimmie's management team and production company Chappell Films and Entertainment. Jimmie honors his "Freebyrd" family legacy with the music that is rooted in his soul in every song he sings.
For The Outlaws, it was always about the music. For 40 years, the Southern Rock legends celebrated triumphs, endured tragedies and survived legal nightmares to remain one of the most influential and best-loved bands of the genre. Now The Outlaws return with new music, new focus and an uncompromising new mission: It’s about a band of brothers bound together by history, harmony and the road. It’s about a group that respects its own legacy while refusing to be defined by its past. But most of all, it’s about pride.
It’s About Pride is the new album from The Outlaws, a record four years in the making and perhaps 20 or more in the waiting. And for original Outlaws vocalist/guitarist Henry Paul, it’s a hard-fought revival whose success can be measured in old fans and new music. Formed in Tampa in 1972, The Outlaws – known for their triple-guitar rock attack and three-part country harmonies – became one of the first acts signed by Clive Davis (at the urging of Ronnie Van Zant) to his then-fledgling Arista Records. The band’s first three albums The Outlaws, Lady In Waiting and Hurry Sundown – featuring such rock radio favorites as “There Goes Another Love Song”, “Green Grass & High Tides”, “Knoxville Girl” and “Freeborn Man” – would become worldwide gold and platinum landmarks of the Southern Rock era. Known as ‘The Florida Guitar Army’ by their fans, The Outlaws earned a formidable reputation as an incendiary live act touring with friends The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Marshall Tucker Band and The Charlie Daniels Band as well as The Doobie Brothers, The Who, Eagles and The Rolling Stones. Henry Paul left after the group’s third album to form The Henry Paul Band for Atlantic Records, and later the multi-Platinum country trio Blackhawk.
Today it’s the new album – produced by Michael Bush and Henry Paul – that brings The Outlaws experience home. The disc opens with “Tomorrow’s Another Night”, a scorching take on the band’s history complete with monster harmonies and a killer hook. “Hidin’ Out In Tennessee” delivers classic Outlaws country/bluegrass energy. “Born To Be Bad” is badass biker boogie and “Last Ghost Town” is kickass guitar rock. “Nothin’ Main About Main Street” is an affecting Springsteen/Seger style look at lost small-town life. “The Flame” – Hughie Thomasson’s nickname – is a potent tribute to the much-loved late Outlaw. Chris Anderson’s “Trail Of Tears” electrifies via bitter history, intense vocals and searing guitars. “Right Where I Belong”, “Alex’s Song” and “Trouble Rides A Fast Horse” could easily be lost tracks from any of the band’s first three albums. The disc’s closer, “So Long”, is a haunting re-recording of Henry’s 1979 classic.
For more information on Cove Haven Entertainment Resorts Second Annual Southern Rock Festival, call Cove Haven Entertainment Resorts 877.500.2080 or visit: http://www.covepoconoresorts.com/entertainment/southern-r...
STATION AVENUE PRODUCTIONS
A division of The asterism* Group
http://www.asterismgroup.com
Station Avenue Productions, a division of The asterism* Group also headquartered in Merchantville, New Jersey, produces events and coordinates entertainment opportunities for leading venues, non-profit organizations, corporate entities and community organizations throughout the United States, with a targeted focus on New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and California. Led by entertainment industry veteran CJ DiRoma, Station Avenue Productions is a leading entertainment industry event production firm, producing memorable entertainment experiences that achieve success in all key areas of event production - entertainment coordination, creative branding and marketing, fulfillment of event goals and objectives, audience enjoyment, as well as public and media relations outreach and support.
For more information on Station Avenue Productions:
asterismgroup.com/StationAve
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