It’s time to Throwdown
Carlton Fletcher
Negotiations with major “national headliners” are still ongoing, but Sam Shugart knew it was time to “let the people know we are going to do this.”
So Friday afternoon Shugart and members of his core team announced the first group of performers signed to play at the SOWEGA Music and Arts Festival Georgia Throwdown at the Exchange Club Fairgrounds Oct. 12-14.
Heading the initial list of performers are alternative/Southern rock favorites Drive-By Truckers, touring in support of their 11th album, “Go-Go Boots,” and perhaps the hottest one-two songwriting team in Nashville: Albany’s Dallas Davidson and Valdosta’s Rhett Akins, who perform together as the Peach Pickers. The pair are reigning co-BMI Country Songwriters of the Year.
Also joining those stars on the bill are Georgia-born artists Corey Smith, Colt Ford and Easton Corbin, as well as Southern jam band favorite Col. Bruce Hampton.
“Hiring national acts the likes of ZZ Top or Lynyrd Skynyrd is complicated,” Shugart said. “We went after those acts hard
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