Peach Fest Southern rockers Blackberry Smoke perform live at Circle Drive-In in Dickson City on Sept. 13
From a press release:
It was announced that Southern rock band Blackberry Smoke, a regular act at the Peach Music Festival in Scranton, will return to Northeastern Pennsylvania for a concert at the Circle Drive-In Theatre in Dickson City on Sunday, Sept. 13.
Presented locally by Stage West in Scranton and SLP Concerts, the live in-person show is part of the Georgia-based band’s Live at the Drive In Tour, which is taking the place of their extensive Spirit of the South Tour that is postponed until next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Gates open at 6 p.m., and the all-ages show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets, which are $149.50 per vehicle for general admission (up to four guests max) and $209.50 per vehicle for Gold Circle parking close to the stage (up to four guests max), go on sale this Saturday, Aug. 15 at 10 a.m. on ticketmaster.com, though tickets can be purchased now using the pre-sale code “SMOKEFAN.”
No campers, RVs, party buses, or motorcycles are admitted. Sealed water bottles are allowed. Food and beverages (alcohol included) will be available for purchase. Sitting outside your vehicle is permitted, but all attendees must arrive together and remain near their car. For more details, visit the Facebook event page.
The Circle Drive-In (1911 Scranton/Carbondale Hwy., Dickson City) is following Department of Health recommendations and “adhering to safety protocols, mandatory face covering requirements, social distancing, and strict disinfecting and cleaning procedures.” Restrooms will be open with attendants on-site.
Anyone attending a drive-in movie or event must wear a face covering and practice social distancing. The concession stand will have limited selections and has put extra safety procedures in place.
Blackberry Smoke’s special new EP, “Live from Capricorn Sound Studios,” was recently released on June 19, with a portion of all proceeds going to the Recording Academy’s MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund.
Recorded earlier this year at Capricorn Sound Studios in Macon, Georgia, the project consists of six new versions of songs that have special ties to the historic studio and town and was created as a lead-up to the band’s anticipated “Spirit of the South Tour: A Celebration of Southern Rock and Roll Music.” Songs featured on the project include The Marshall Tucker Band’s “Take the Highway” with special guest Marcus Henderson on the flute, The Allman Brothers Band’s “Midnight Rider” and “Revival,” Little Richard’s “Southern Child,” and Wet Willie’s “Keep on Smiling” and “Grits Ain’t Groceries,” both featuring special guest vocals from Jimmy Hall, a member of Wet Willie during Capricorn’s peak years who returned to the studio to record these tracks. The EP also features background vocals from The Black Bettys.
Produced by Blackberry Smoke, the EP marks two significant moments in Capricorn Sound Studios’ history, as it was the first time a major band has done a professional recording at the studio in over 40 years and was also recorded using entirely solar energy. By generating power through solar panels on their roof, the studio is making a push for a cleaner community.
Earlier this spring, the band’s new version of “Midnight Rider” premiered at Relix in celebration of two special anniversaries – the formation of The Allman Brothers Band on March 26, 1969 and the release of “Midnight Rider” on the same day in 1971. The track has a special connection to Capricorn Sound Studios, as Gregg Allman broke into the studio to record the song’s original demo. Blackberry Smoke lead singer Charlie Starr also plays Duane Allman’s iconic Goldtop Les Paul guitar in the band’s new version.
Postponed until 2021, the Spirit of the South Tour will feature special guests The Allman Betts Band, The Wild Feathers, and Jaimoe, a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band, the group that started the Peach Music Festival at The Pavilion at Montage Mountain in Scranton in 2012 and headlined its initial three years.
Created in celebration of the various roots and influences within Southern music, every show on the Spirit of the South Tour will conclude with a unique collaborative finale, which will feature Blackberry Smoke, The Allman Betts Band, The Wild Feathers, Jaimoe, and additional surprise guests showcasing the inspirations of rock, blues, gospel and soul music.
Additionally, for the first time ever, Blackberry Smoke is partnering with The Allman Brothers Band Museum at The Big House – located in Macon – to bring the band’s storied history on the road with a new mobile setup. The museum will feature never-before-seen archival items, including original handwritten lyrics, awards, rare family photographs, iconic pieces of clothing and jewelry, one-of-a-kind instruments played by the band, and more. Jaimoe will also be on-site at the museum and available for meet and greet opportunities at each stop. All Spirit of the South Tour ticketholders will be granted free access to the museum, with $1 of each ticket donated to The Allman Brothers Museum to help preserve its history and heritage.
Blackberry Smoke recently returned to the studio with Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb to begin work on their next album, including a new song with Jamey Johnson. The new music follows the release of their latest full-length album, “Find a Light,” which debuted as the bestselling country and Americana/folk album in the country, entered at No. 3 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and No. 2 on the Billboard Americana/Folk Albums chart in 2018. NPR Music praised the album saying it, “pushes the envelope while providing that famous Blackberry Smoke autonomy, delivered with soulful vocals, haunting harmonies, and kickass songs.”
Following “Find a Light,” Blackberry Smoke released two additional projects – a live album and concert film, “Homecoming: Live in Atlanta,” which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Americana/Folk Album Sales chart, and a six-song acoustic EP, “The Southern Ground Sessions.”
Blackberry Smoke is Charlie Starr (vocals, guitar), Richard Turner (bass, vocals), Brit Turner (drums), Paul Jackson (guitar, vocals), and Brandon Still (keyboards). Since their debut in 2004, the band has independently released six full-length records and has toured relentlessly, building a strong and loyal community of fans. In addition to their work as musicians, the group remains committed to charitable work and has raised nearly $500,000 benefiting children’s cancer research.
See NEPA Scene’s photos of Blackberry Smoke performing at the 2018 Peach Fest here.
