As the lineup for this year’s country music festival BamaJam continues to roll out over the weeks, we now know that the headliners will include Tim McGraw, Kid Rock, Zac Brown Band and, one of the most recent additions, Alan Jackson. It also was recently announced that Eric Church will play the Alabama music festival.

This year’s festival will be held June 14-16 in Enterprise, Ala. Though no additional artists have yet been announced, organizers promise more announcements will be made in the near future.

Though BamaJam had been an annual event for the previous few years, last year’s festival was cancelled. Fans who had tickets to the event were able to request refunds, but the Dothan Eagle reports that some fans never received their money back. In a way to make amends for this, new festival producer Rendy Lovelady said he will honor any 2011 tickets for the 2012 festival.

“My company technically has nothing to do with refunding the tickets,” Lovelady told the newspaper. “If anybody from the old BamaJam wants to come to our show, we will honor their ticket. I’m sorry that 2011 didn’t happen, but we’re a new company and we want to be in the Dothan and Enterprise (Ala.) area. Refunds aren’t our responsibility, but we want to do whatever we can do to help.”

The festival will be held at BamaJam Farms, a 1600-acre farm in Enterprise, Ala. The land includes ATV trails, camping and RV sites and a waterpark.

Singer Kid Rock spoke in a press release of his excitement about playing the festival, as well as working with the other artists playing the event.

“I’m looking forward to coming to ‘Sweet Home’ and playing with my friends, Zac Brown Band and Tim McGraw,” he said. “Turn it up! We’re gonna set this place on fire!”

Just before joining Alan Jackson on stage to perform “As She’s Walking Away,” their hit single, Zac Brown Band was honored as CMA’s Best New Artist.  Earlier this year the natives of Georgia won a Grammy Award for that same category, competing against rock and pop acts.

From the stage Zac Brown said, to all our fans thank you so much.  To our whole team, and especially our wives who have faith in us and who we go home to, to everyone that has given us a chance.  It’s an honor living a legacy and getting to do the things we love doing and trying to be just the best musicians we possibly can be.

Although some artists might let winning get to their heads, Brown assured the band’s fans that they were trying very hard to remain grounded.

Brown said earlier this year, we love the fans and have a strong connection with our fans.  He lamented that the schedule of the band hadn’t give them an opportunity for spending as much time with the fans as they would like.  Hopefully everyone will stay with us.  We’re not jerks or snobs.  We’re caught up in a whirlwind and just trying to figure how we can be accessible in the best way.  People sometimes think we’ve changed, but we haven’t.  We’re still the same.

Zac Brown Band was also nominated as Entertainer of the Year.

In 2010, Kenny Chesney, country singer, took a break from touring extensively, which was rare for him.  He is promising that his tour in 2011 will be the biggest for him in five years.

Next year, The “Goin’ Coastal Tour” is scheduled for nine stadium dates at least.  Zac Brown Band will be joining Chesney.  Uncle Kracker, who joined Chesney on the song “When The Sun Goes Down,” is opening all of the stadium shows except the Foxboro, MA stop in August.

There will be 7,000 tickets at  least priced at $25 for each of the stadium shows.  In late November to early December, tickets will be going on sale.  The show in Tampa, FL will have almost 14,000 tickets priced at $25.

Chesney’s website is offering pre-sale tickets.  Additional amphitheater and arena dates will be announced at a later date.

2011 Kenny Chesney Concert Tour
March 2011
19 – Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium

April 2011
16 – Dallas, TX – Cowboys Stadium

June 2011
4 – Washington, DC – FedEx Field
11 – Green Bay, WI – Lambeau Field
18 – Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field

July 2011
2 – Pittsburgh, PA – Heinz Field
30 – Kansas City, MO – Arrowhead Stadium

August 2011
20 – Detroit, MI – Venue TBA
27 – Foxboro, MA – Gillette Stadium

Grammy award winners Zac Brown Band is set to break new ground in the south and Texas when they make their first appearance on March 17, 2011 at the 78th annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  Brad Paisley will be performing at the event as well on March 19.  It will be the fourth year in a row he is performing on the rodeo stage and sixth overall appearance.  Sugarland will make their third appearance on March 3.  Scheduled to appear on March 6 is Selena Gomez, the teen Disney star.

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is scheduled to run March 1-20.  In January the complete entertainment lineup will be announced.

The next stop for Zac Brown Band will on November 10 at the CMA’s 44th Annual Awards show.  The band has received four nominations- for New Artist, Vocal Group, Entertainer of the Year, and the Musical Event award for their song “Cant You See,” which features Kid Rock.  The last time an act was nominated in the very same year for Entertainer of the Year and New Artist was in 1982 when Ricky Skaggs received both nominations.

In addition, band mates John Driskill Hopkins and Zac Brown scored individual Song of the Year nominations for “Toes.”  They co-wrote the song along with Shawn Mullins and Wyatt Durrette.  The band will also be performing along on “Country Music’s Biggest Night” with Alan Jackson.  The show will air live from Nashville at Bridgestone Arena on ABC at 8 pm.

“You Get What You Give,” the latest album from Zac Brown Band, is currently in stores.  “As She’s Walking Away,” their current single with Alan Jackson), is currently No. 2 on Billboard’s charts, which makes it a likely candidate to be the band’s fifth No. 1 hit.

Country newbies Zac Brown Band managed to move 153,000 units of their new release, “You Get What You Give” to land on the top of this week’s album sales as reported by Nielsen SoundScan.  Closely behind them in the list is pop-rock charmers Maroon 5 whose third studio set, “Hands All Over” sold 143,000 copies, a whopping 2/3 drop in sales from its predecessor, 2006’s “It Won’t be Soon before Long” which snagged the top of the charts upon its release with 429,000 copies sold on it first week out.

Joining Brown and Maroon 5 in the company of top 10 newcomers this week is Disney princess Selena Gomez at no.4 with “Year Without Rain” moving 66,000 copies, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and guitar legend Carlos Santana at no.5 with “Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time” also selling 66,000 copies and his follow-up to 2005’s “All that I Am”, piano man John Legend at no.8 with his ‘70s inspired soul set “Wake Up” moving 63,000 units and country act Billy Currington at no.9 with his fourth release “Enjoy Yourself” moving 45,000 copies.

On the other hand, top 10 old entries experienced a huge 70% drop in sales this week with a number of them dropping several notches in the rankings except for Linkin Park which still managed to secure the no.3 spot despite sales for “Thousand Suns” went down 71%, while Trey Songz, Weezer and The Killers’ Brandon Flowers all hit a bump down the charts this week.

With “Glee” returning in the small screen last week and with new music from the show making rounds in the airwaves again, “Glee: The Music VI” is an up and coming contender in the charts as it continues to climb up 11 notches this week landing at no.48 with an 8% increase in album sales.  With only its second episode airing tonight, expect more songs to come out of the show and to shake things up again in the charts week by week.

According to Coy Bowles, guitarist and keyboardist for the Zac Brown Band, the main portions of the band’s second album have been completed.  Zac Brown Band won the Grammy Award this year as best new artist.  Their fans won’t need to wait too much longer for their followup to “The Foundation,” their double platinum album from 2008.

Bowles said about the album, about 85 percent has been cut.  Zac has finished his vocals.  Maybe he needs to go back in to do some guitar work and other stuff.  I can’t give you a specific date, but I am pretty sure it’s set for coming out this fall.

Bowles, in describing the album that has a tentative title of “Get What You Give,” said the set steps in a mature direction without going over anyone’s head.  It has been seasoned some, but is the same wine still.  It just tastes a bit sweeter and is a few years older.

Zac Brown Band has already released one version of a new song, “Colder Weather,” on “Pass the Jar,” their new live album.

According to Bowles they reviewed around 50 songs when making the album.  He says he’s very excited about the diversity.

He added,  we still lean towards country/Southern rock, however there is definitely some radio-friendly material and a beachy, island vibe as well, and then we go off into the world of jam band.  I think it will be very representative of the place we are at right now.

Preakness Stakes organizers at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course have announced that one of the featured bands that will be performing at the Triple Crown event this year will be the Zac Brown Band.

Infield ticket prices at the race this year have been reduced to $40.  Race attendees will be able to enjoy all the beer they can drink for $20 as well as traditional Preakness partying.

Joining the Zac Brown Band at the Preakness will be O.A.R., a college favorite group.  Race organizers put the pairing together to help boost young audience attendance.  The race has been a long time favorite for young revelers.  However last year there was a major drop in attendance when infield ticket holders were banned from bringing in their own alcohol.

This year Pimlico is hoping to draw them in once more.  In addition to O.A.R., the Zac Brown Band and lots of cheap beer, a new slogan has also been added: “Get Your Preak On.”  On Saturday May 15 at 4:30 pm The Preakness Stakes will be aired by ABC.

The Zac Brown Band, before joining the Dave Matthew Band this summer, will undertake a headlining run this spring to support their upcoming live album.

The Georgia-based band, led by guitarist/vocalist Zac Brown, over the next few weeks will be on the road off and on before launching their late spring outing. They will kick off in Enterprise, AL on June 3 and will appear at the Bonnaroo Festival on June 13. The band in July will be opening for Dave Matthews Band, beginning in East Troy, WI on July 3-4.

“Pass The Jar,” the 2 CD and DVD set, is due out May 4. It features a performance on October 30 by Zac Brown Band in Atlanta at Fox Theatre. A variety of musical friends of the band’s made guest appearances, including Shawn Mullins, Little Big Town and Kid Rock.

The first studio set on a major label from Zac Brown Band, “The Foundation,” hit No. 2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart following its 2008 release. Three top 10 songs were spawned from the set: “Toes,” “Whatever It Is,” and “Chicken Fried.”

In January, the band won a Grammy for Best New Artist. They also received Grammy nominations for Best Country Album (“The Foundation”) and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals (“Chicken Fried”).

The band in February was a “We Are the World: 25 for Haiti” participant. The event was a remake of the original 1985 charity to benefit disaster relief efforts in Haiti following the earthquake.

Fresh off their Grammy win for Best New Artist, the Zac Brown Band is ready to tackle the west. The group has plotted a 15-city trek that begins in San Diego, California on March 2 and closes out in Everett, Washington on March 21. In July, the Zac Brown Band will meet up with Dave Matthews Band to open select concerts on their upcoming tour. Check Zac Brown Band Tour concerning dates on future shows.

The Atlanta-based band will be bringing along three musicians to help get the party started – Sonia Leigh, Levi Lowrey and Nic Cowen. All artists are members of Zac Brown’s new label Southern Ground Records. Prior to the shows, a select group of fans will get to feast with the band on some of their favorite Southern dishes.

Zac Brown Band released their debut album “the Foundation” in 2008 and it peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Country Album charts, supported by three top 10 singles “Chicken Fried,” “Whatever It Is” and “Toes.”

2010 Zac Brown Band Concert Tour
March 2010
2 – San Diego, CA – Sports Arena
3 – Phoenix, AZ – Dodge Theatre
4 – Las Cruces, NM – Pan American Center
5 – Colorado Springs, CO – World Arena
6 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Rail
9 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theatre
10 – San Jose, CA – Event Center
11 – Sacramento, CA – Arco Arena
12 – Los Angeles, CA – Gibson Amphitheatre
13 – Las Vegas, NV – The Joint
17 – Santa Barbara, CA – Arlington Theatre
18 – Bakersfield, CA – RaboBank Theater
19 – Redding, CA – Redding Convention Center
20 – Salem, OR – Armory Auditorium
21 – Everett, WA – Comcast Arena

On Sunday January 31, the Zac Brown Band and Taylor Swift were awarded the first Grammy Awards of their careers in Los Angeles for two of the higher profile categories of the night. “Fearless,” Swift’s album, claimed the final honor of the night- Album of the Year. Swift also won three country awards, for “Fearless” she won Best Country Album, and for her song “”White Horse” she won Best Country Song and Best Female Country Vocal Performance. The Zac Brown band was awarded the Grammy for Best New Artist for all genres.

Swift said, I hope all of you know just how very much this really means to my producer Nathan Chapman and me. Also all of the musicians you are seeing on the stage. We will take this home to Nashville. Our families right now are going crazy right in the living room. My younger brother and dad right now have lost their minds. This goes to my dad at home. Thank you Dad for all the times when you said that anything I wanted do in this life I could do. Mom, you are my very best friend.

Taylor continued excitedly, when we are eighty years old, all of us, we will tell over and over the same old stories. We will be telling our grand kids. They will be so annoyed. This story is what we will tell over and over. That in 2010 at the Grammys we won album of the year.

Midway through the evening Swift performed “Today Was a Fairytale”, her newest single from the Valentine’s Day sound track. Swift is one of the supporting roles in the upcoming film. Swift surprised the crowded when Stevie Nicks came out and she performed a duet on “Rhiannon,” the Fleetwood Mac song. Nicks also sang with Swift on “You Belong With Me”, the Grammy nominated hit single by Swift.

Earlier in the evening when Swift accepted her Grammy award for Country Album she stated, it’s my very first time to walk up these stairs on national television to receive a Grammy award. Thank you very much. First I would like to say thanks to my record label. They let me write all the songs on my album. What I keep thinking about is when you are in the second grade singing for the very first time in the talent show. People are joking around saying someday we’ll see on the Grammys. It seems like such an impossible dream. Right now I feel I am accepting the impossible dream. Thank you very much.

The two other country awards won by Swift were awarded before the telecast. She did lose Record of the Year to Kings of Leon who won for “Use Somebody,” and Song of the Year went to Beyonce for “Single Ladies.” She was also nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals (won by Colbie Caillat and Jason Mraz for “Lucky:) as well as Best Pop Female Performance (won by Beyonce for “Halo”).

The Zac Brown Band members, who are best known for “Chicken Fried,” their country hit single, all took their turn thanking all of the different businesses that have helped with their career. Brown said, there’s so many different people we want to be able to thank. It’s a very big honor being on this stage and to share in the big music amalgam here. We are very blessed and honored to be able to be here. We look forward to performing in a bit for you. Thank you very much.

Later Leon Russell joined the band for on a song medley, including “Chicken Fried” and “America the Beautiful.” Chris O’Donnell introduced them. He also acknowledged that the Recording Academy had given Harold Bradley, famous studio musician in Nashville, the Trustees Award that is awarded to non-performing individuals from the music business.

Keith Urban, before the telecast, won his third career Grammy. For “Sweet Thing,” he won Best Male Vocal Performance. The other Grammy award winning songs for Urban are “You’ll Think of Me” and “Stupid Boy.” Miranda Lambert and Urban presented the Grammy award to the Zac Brown Band. Urban and Lambert also acknowledged a Lifetime Achievement Award for Loretta Lynn and Trustees Award for Walter C. Miller, television director.

Lady Antebellum won the fist Grammy in their career. For their song “I Run to You” they were awarded Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. During the show, after the Jonas Brothers introduced them, they performed their song “Need You Now.”

Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis, added yet another Grammy award to their crowded mantle pieces. They were awarded Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for “I Told You So.” Travis now has seven Grammys in his career, stretching all way to the late ’80s from his albums “Old 8×10” and “Always and Forever.” In four years Underwood has been awarded five Grammys. In 2007 she won Best New Artist. Her other Grammy award winning hit singles include “Last Name,” “Before He Cheats,” and “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”

Underwood joined Smokey Robinson, Jennifer Hudson, Usher and Celine Dion on the 3-D “The Earth Song” Michael Jackson tribute. Then Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland joined Bon Jovi for a performance of “Who Says You Can’t Go Home”. In 2007 the song won the Grammy award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. Then Nettles announced that fans earlier had voted online that they wanted to hear “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi. Together they played parts of the classic and Jon Bon Jovi kissed Nettles on the lips.

Other winners announced before the show included Levon Helm for “Electric Dirt,” the Americana album. Two years ago “Dirt Farmer,” the previous album from Helm’s won for Best Traditional Folk Album. In that category Helms also won for “The Revolution Starts… Now” and “Washington Square Serenade.” Loudon Wainwright III received the first Grammy of his career. His album “High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project” won for Best Traditional Folk Album.

Steve Wariner won the fourth Grammy of his career. He won the award Best Country Instrumental Performance for “Producer’s Medley.” The song incorporates Wariner’s renditions of famous Chet Atkins country songs and comes from “Steve Wariner,c.g.p., My Tribute to Chet Atkins”. Wariner’s other Grammy awards were for collaborations as well with Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Asleep at the Wheel and Brad Paisley.

Steve Martin won his fourth Grammy. He was awarded Best Bluegrass Album for “The Crow: New Songs for the Five String Banjo”. In 2002 Martin received a Grammy for “Foggy Mountain Breakdown,” his Earl Scruggs collaboration. During the 1970s he won two Grammys for comedy recordings.

“9 to 5: The Musical” from Dolly Parton was nominated for Best Musical Show Album. However West Side Story won the award. “The Climb” from Miley Cyrus, written by on Mabe and Jessi Alexander, received a nomination as Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or other Visual Media. However the award went to “Slumdog Millionaire” by Jai Ho. “Playing With Fire” by Brad Paisley lost out for Best Rock Instrumental to “A Day in the Life” by Jeff Beck. “Love- All Together Now” by The Beatles beat out “America” by Johnny Cash and “Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy World Tour Live” by Keith Urban for Best Long Form Music Video.