Homegrown: Zac Brown Band Opens July 22, 2016
NEW YORK – The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will explore Zac Brown Band’s rise to fame in Homegrown: Zac Brown Band, a career-spanning exhibition that opens July 22 and runs through July 2017. The exhibition will include stage wear, guitars, song manuscripts, photos and more from the band’s personal collection.
“It’s an incredible honor to have the history of our band captured by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum,” said Zac Brown. “From day one, it has always been about connecting with our fans by writing songs that come from our hearts, performing at our best, and creating unique ways to engage with them beyond the stage. It has been a crazy journey, and we’ve grown as musicians, as performers, and as individuals. We thank our fans for all their support and hope they enjoy the exhibit as much as we do.”
“Zac Brown Band did not set out to be country music stars,” says museum CEO Kyle Young. “Instead they ignored genre restrictions and focused on creating upbeat and soulful sounds that resonated with fans. Fifteen #1 hits later, they are one of the most innovative groups in country music today. With this exhibition we will trace the band’s organic path to stardom that can only be described as ‘homegrown.'”
Formed in Atlanta in 2002, the band scored their first hit in 2008 with “Chicken Fried” and have been making radio history ever since. Eight members strong, the band’s lineup includes Zac Brown (lead vocals/guitar/piano/bass/banjo), Jimmy De Martini (violin/vocals), John Driskell Hopkins (banjo/guitar/vocals), Coy Bowles (guitar/keys/banjo/vocals), Clay Cook (guitar/keys/mandolin/vocals), Chris Fryar (drums/vocals), Daniel de los Reyes (percussion) and Matt Mangano (bass/vocals).
Known widely for their musicianship, Zac Brown Band has earned critical praise for their live show as “one of modern country’s most exciting acts” (Rolling Stone). In 2015 their stadium tour made history with the first-ever, three-night sell-out at Fenway Park (105,000 tickets). Expanding their pre-show “Eat & Greet” ritual, the band has established the annual Southern Ground Music & Food Festival, an experience that allows Zac Brown Band to bring together their love of eclectic music and authentic food.
Over the years, the band has showcased their diverse musical tastes through collaborative performances with Gregg Allman, Jimmy Buffett, Chris Cornell, Dave Grohl, Alan Jackson, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen and James Taylor, among many others.
Off stage, Brown, a former camp counselor, has devoted his time to launching Camp Southern Ground, a destination that will allow children to overcome academic, social and emotional difficulties so that they might reach their full potential. The state-of-the-art campus will have activities to challenge, educate and inspire campers, with a special emphasis on children with neurobehavioral disorders, social or emotional challenges, and those with family members serving in the military.
For more information about the exhibit, click here. Follow @countrymusichof on Twitter and join the conversation using #ZacBrownBandExhibit.