facebook
Home » Blog » Gatlinburg Events » Zac Brown Band to Headline Benefit Concert in Gatlinburg
A dramatic photo of Gatlinburg in the mountains.

Zac Brown Band to Headline Benefit Concert in Gatlinburg

The city of Gatlinburg is well on the road to recovery, and it’s getting some major help from a few famous friends! It was recently announced that the Zac Brown Band will headline a benefit concert in Gatlinburg on December 17. This all-day music festival will raise money for the Sevier County Community Fund, a charity established to help the families who were affected by the wildfires in the Smoky Mountains. Visit My Smokies has all the details on the Mountain Tough Benefit Festival.

Where and When

The Mountain Tough Festival will be held outdoors at 705 Parkway in Gatlinburg, next to Treasure Quest Miniature Golf. The musical entertainment will last all day on Saturday, December 17, 2016. For more details, call 1-800-588-1817.

Mountain Tough Festival Cost

The Mountain Tough Festival is completely free to attend and everyone is welcome! While it doesn’t cost anything to enjoy the music, the festival organizers are encouraging guests to donate to help Gatlinburg’s wildfire victims. For a complete guide to where to donate, read our blog about How to Help the Great Smoky Mountains After the Wildfires.

The Mountain Tough Festival is being sponsored by Ole Smoky Moonshine, Yee Haw Brewing Company, Music City Roots, and the Gatlinburg Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Mountain Tough Festival LineupA guitarist and drummer performing at an outdoor concert.

The Mountain Tough Festival is going to have an incredible lineup! The Zac Brown Band will headline the festival and were pivotal in organizing the event. Known for their hit songs “Chicken Fried”, “Homegrown,” and “Loving You Easy”, the Zac Brown Band is one of the nation’s biggest country acts.

The ZBB has been incredibly supportive of Gatlinburg in the past few weeks. When their friends at Ole Smoky Moonshine reached out to them after the fires, the band sent an 18-wheeler truck down to Gatlinburg with a commercial kitchen to provide food to folks who lost their homes.

In addition to the Zac Brown Band, the festival will feature the following musical acts:

  • Jim Lauderdale
  • Rodney Crowell
  • Sam Bush
  • Derek St. Holmes
  • Jason D. Williams
  • Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley
  • Randy Kohrs
  • Sarah Potenza
  • Moe Pitney and Chelle Rose
  • Even more great musicians!

Please note that the Mountain Tough Festival is a separate event from Dolly Parton’s televised benefit concert in Nashville on December 13. Follow the link to find out everything you need to know about Dolly Parton’s “Smoky Mountains Rise” Telethon.

How to Watch the Concert Online

If you won’t be able to make it to Gatlinburg for the Mountain Tough Festival, you can still enjoy the music (and still donate) online! Music City Roots, a weekly live radio show, will provide a live webcast of the event and broadcast the performances on WMOT/Roots Radio. A number of other statewide and regional radio stations will carry the festival as well.

Cars on The Strip in downtown Gatlinburg.Visiting Gatlinburg

As we previously reported, Gatlinburg is officially reopened and ready for visitors! One of the very best ways you can help the area is to take a vacation in the Smokies. To start planning your getaway, check out our guide to all of the best things to do in Gatlinburg.