Alabama Readies for June Jam XVIII (Exclusive)

Alabama will anchor their June Jam live performance competition for the 18th time this weekend within the band’s native Fort Payne, Alabama. At 74 years previous, the band’s singer Randy Owen readily admits he is able to decelerate in most areas of his life – however he hopes June Jam is a convention his hometown retains going lengthy after he is gone.

“It’s one thing that me and Teddy did as a result of we thought we might assist our group and can be good for nation music,” Owen advised PEOPLE. “It’s a real story — do one thing for the group, and we’re capable of assist a number of causes that make life all worthwhile and assist individuals.”

Alabama’s June Jam XVIII is Saturday, June 1, on the VFW Fairgrounds in Fort Payne, Alabama. The group reestablished its well-liked nation music competition for the primary time in 26 years in 2023. Fans packed the competition grounds, and merchandise bought out in minutes. This 12 months’s occasion guarantees to be simply as well-liked. The lineup consists of Old Dominion, Shenandoah, Lee Greenwood, Montgomery Gentry Featuring Eddie Montgomery, Mark Wills, Exile, John Berry, Taylor Hicks, The Malpass Brothers, The Castellows, Jeff Bates, Worth the Wait and extra. 

As in previous years, June Jam will profit these in want and catastrophe reduction in and round Alabama.

“Our needs are the city retains doing June Jam after Teddy and I’ve handed on to the sunny aspect,” the singer mentioned.

Owen described Fort Payne as a “neat place to dwell and go to highschool” and likened it to the set of a Hallmark film.

“I simply pulled out of Fort Payne a couple of minutes in the past, and the development staff are engaged on the development website,” he mentioned. “They all waved at me after I glided by.”

If Fort Payne is the city that made Alabama, Alabama is the band that made Old Dominion.

Old Dominion members know they would not have a profession with out Alabama. And that is simply one of many causes nation music’s hottest up to date band will trek south on Saturday to play June Jam. 

Alabama’s former administration firm guides Old Dominion, who has had hit songs together with “Hotel Key,” “One Man Band” and “Break Up with Him.”

“I’m certain that issues that we do not even understand occurred to us have been modeled after them by the individuals who helped them get to the place they’re,” mentioned Old Dominion’s Geoff Sprung.

“They paved the way in which,” added Old Dominion’s Trevor Rosen. “They modified the notion of what it means to be a band in nation music. There wasn’t a profitable band in nation music so hastily individuals acknowledged it was attainable.”

Old Dominion’s singer Matthew Ramsey mentioned the group tries to comply with Alabama’s inventive trailblazing as carefully as attainable.

“They created their very own lane and the panorama they have been working in,” Ramsey mentioned. “They did not attempt to chase what anybody else was doing. They simply did what they did, and nobody might contact it. That’s what we try to do: ignore the temptation to chase after what we expect the radio desires or what individuals need and simply keep true to ourselves. We managed to create our personal factor, too.”

Owen is happy concerning the band’s hometown present on Saturday. He’s wanting ahead to taking part in Alabama hits ‘Mountain Music,’ ‘Tennessee River,’ ‘Feels So Right’ and extra. He mentioned it is only a matter of “getting on stage and doing it.”

“We cannot wait to see the followers who made all of it attainable,” he mentioned. 

Country Music Hall of Fame group Alabama has been a rustic music staple for greater than 5 a long time and an icon within the style for almost as lengthy. The group included Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry and Owen till Cook died after a decade-long battle with Parkinson’s illness in 2022. Now, Gentry and Owen journey the nation, retaining the band’s wealthy legacy alive.

The band, who’re additionally cousins, charted 43 No. 1 songs, together with “Mountain Music,” “Roll On,” “Dixieland Delight” and “If You’re Gonna Play In Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle In The Band)” and bought greater than 80 million albums – sufficient to make them essentially the most profitable band in nation music historical past. Owen and Gentry opted to maintain taking part in reveals — with Cook’s blessing — after his dying.

In addition to taking part in June Jam, Alabama can even take the stage in varied states this summer season throughout their ALABAMA 2024 ROLL ON II North America Tour. Stops embody reveals in South Carolina, Georgia, North Dakota, Canada and extra.

“Considering all of the stuff that is occurring on this planet with our buddies and all the pieces, I’m simply proud to be alive and proud to have the ability to nonetheless play some music,” Owen mentioned. 

ALABAMA 2024 ROLL ON II North America Tour Dates:

June 1 – June Jam XVIII  – Fort Payne, Al

June 13 – Live Oak Bank Pavilion At Riverfront Park – Wilmington, Nc

June 15 – Southeastern Bbq Showdown At Segra Park – Columbia, Sc

June 22 – Long Leaf Country Music Festival  – Gay, Ga

June 27 – Prairie Knights Casino and Resort – Fort Yates, Nd

June 29 – Dauphin’s Countryfest – Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada

July 19 – Bridgestone Arena  – Nashville, Tn

Jul 25 – Ohio State Fair  – Columbus, Oh

July 27 – The Amp At Log Still – Gethsemane, Ky

Aug 8 – Freeman Arts Pavilion – Selbyville, De

Aug 10 – Atlantic Union Bank After Hours at Servpro Pavilion – Doswell, Va

Aug 17 – Missouri State Fair – Sedalia, Mo

Aug 30 – Kickoff Jam – Panama City Beach, Fl

Sept 11 – The Summit At Pechanga Resort Casino – Temecula, Ca

Sept 13 – Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys – Stateline, Nv

Sept 18 – Washington State Fair – Puyallup, Wa

Nov 8 – St. Augustine Amphitheatre – St. Augustine, Fl

Nov 9 – St. Augustine Amphitheatre – St. Augustine, Fl