Colt Ford :: Official Site

Auburn University’s homecoming weekend will kick off with a bang this Thursday. Country artists Colt Ford and Brantley Gilbert will be performing live at the Auburn Rodeo Arena for this year’s Homecoming Jam.

Ford’s “Ride Through the Country” song featuring country music star John Michael Montgomery is consistently on Billboard’s Country chart Top 25 each week and has sold more than 150,000 digital singles. Ford also boasts more than 45,000 plays per day on MySpace, making him the number five most-added country artist in the genre.

Gilbert, who is from Jefferson, Ga., is most commonly known for his two songs, “My Kinda Party” and “The Best of Me” off of his album entitled “A Modern Day Prodigal Son.” Country music singer Jason Aldean also recorded “The Best of Me” and can be found on his latest album “It was wild having Jason Aldean sing ‘The Best of Me,’” Gilbert said. “I was so used to hearing it another way. They get to choose from so many songs. When I got the news he was going to cut it, I was honored that he picked mine."

Auburn University students are eagerly excited about the two country stars coming to visit The Plains, and are also inviting their out-of-town friends to come hear Gilbert and Ford perform.

“I am so excited to be attending Auburn’s Homecoming Jam next Thursday,” said Chere’ McKeel, senior in marketing at Auburn. “A lot of my friends are coming up to see the game and to see Brantley Gilbert play. Some of my favorite songs he will be playing are ‘My Kinda Party’ and ‘The Best of Me.’”

Ford’s music is a mix of country, rock, hip-hop and rhythm and blues. His album also entitled “Ride Through the Country” just hit a record mark of more than 90,000 albums sold as of last week. Many other artists are starting to take notice of this unique blend of music as well.

“Trying to mix his vocal style and country music is like trying to blend oil and water, said country artist Jamey Johnson. “He might be the only man in town that knows the recipe.”

Ford and Gilbert are planning to perform “Dirt Road Anthem” at the event, which they co-wrote together.

Gilbert is currently in the studio working on his next album entitled “Halfway to Heaven” with record label “Average Joe’s Entertainment” with whom Ford is also signed with.

“As of now, his album ‘Halfway to Heaven’ is planning to be released in February 2010,” said Leigh Parr, publicist for both Ford and Gilbert at Essential Broadcast Media in Nashville, Tenn.

“Being in the studio has its days,” Gilbert said. “Some days things aren’t going right at all—it’s like Murphy’s Law or something. However, it’s a great feeling when it comes out right. Then it’s been a good day.”

Some of Gilbert’s two favorite songs he has recorded for his upcoming album are “Them Boys” and “Kick it in the Sticks” which Gilbert says is redneck rock at its best.

“The idea to do ‘Them Boys’ came from my granddad who recently passed away,” Gilbert said. “He used to hang out at Kenny’s, a hardware store in Jefferson, with his buddies and they would gossip and talk about life. One day me and my buddies were riding by in my truck with the windows down blasting music and my granddad looked at me and said to his friends, ‘Look at them boys driving by’ and that’s where I got the idea for the song.”

Ford has a Walmart exclusive album that was just recently released on Oct. 6 entitled “Country is as Country Does.” This is a short disc, containing only six songs, but included with the release is a DVD.

“The disc contains six songs,” Parr said. “It is a lot of fan favorites that have not yet been released. The DVD has a lot of behind the scenes footage that fans will enjoy seeing.”

Ford’s next album release will be around April 2010, and will be called “Chicken and Biscuits.”

Joining the two singers will be Jason Coley who is known for his southern rock style music.

The event will take place at 3A Arena on Sandhill Road next to Good Ol’ Boys in Auburn. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at multiple retail outlets including Kinnucan’s, War Eagle Supper Club and The Corner News in Auburn and multiple other outlets in surrounding cities including Phenix City, Ala., Columbus, Ga. and Opelika. Tickets can also be purchased online at ticketweb.com.

The concert begins at 8 p.m. and gates will open at 6 p.m. Coolers are welcome, but there will be a $5 charge. No glass is allowed. Those attending can also bring chairs, blankets, jackets and cameras. Carry-ins are subject to be searched. Venders will be selling food and beverages as well.
For more information on this event, visit www.auburntigerevents.com.