The Pittsburgh Pirates, Play-by-Play Announcer Greg Brown and Joe Nichols announced today plans to host a “Special Acoustic Show” at Stage AE in downtown Pittsburgh, PA on February 6th for the children of Pressley Ridge, a local non-profit organization helping children and families. The special afternoon Joe Nichols show will also feature Greg Brown, the Pirate Parrot, and special Pirate giveaway items for the children, courtesy of Pirates Charities, the philanthropic arm of the Pirates.
Pirates Charities and Joe Nichols will also be teaming up to offer a special giveaway of VIP concert tickets to the show, a meet and greet with Joe Nichols, and a trip to Pirates Spring Training in Bradenton, Florida as part of the benefit concert beginning at 6 p.m. later that day.
The Special Acoustic Show is part of a Pressley Ridge benefit concert being held on Thursday, February 6th with gates opening at 6 p.m. and featuring country music stars Joe Nichols and Uncle Kracker. Local favorites The Stickers and The Joseph Sisters will also be opening the show starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the concert are on-sale at all Ticketmaster locations and through ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices for the benefit concert range from $25-$35 with proceeds of the concert benefitting Pressley Ridge.
“We are thrilled to be holding our benefit concert at Stage AE. Their support helps us to further our mission of doing whatever it takes to create success for children and families. And we can’t thank Joe Nichols and Uncle Kracker enough for being a part of this special performance. We’re extremely grateful”, says Pressley Ridge Chief Development Officer, Eddie Yongo.
“Events like this help to show our kids there are others in the community who support them. It allows them to see the possibilities of what their future can hold and is truly something that brings joy and hope to kids who face significant challenges in life. We are very appreciative and thankful to all who support us“, says Susanne Cole, Pressley Ridge President and CEO.
Joe Nichols, a native of Rogers, Arkansas, grew up watching his father play bass in a local country band. He himself played in a rock band during his teenage years but soon came back to country music, and then after high school took a night job as a DJ while supporting himself as a mechanic by day. He scored his first major hit, “Brokenheartsville” in 2003, six years after landing his first record deal.
He has released seven studio albums over his career and those albums have produced 15 Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Song charts. Among the chart toppers are his two other Number One singles “Tequila Maker Her Clothes Fall Off” and “Gimmie That Girl”, as well as five other Top Ten Entries. Joe single “Sunny and 75” hit the #1 spot on both Billboard Hot Country Songs and the Country Aircheck/USA Today charts in early December 2013. The song is the 4 time Grammy nominee’s fifth number #1 single.
After serving as DJ for his hometown chum Kid Rock, Uncle Kracker (born Matthew Shafer) stepped out from behind the turntables to release his debut solo album, Double Wide, in 2001. Uncle Kracker had performed alongside Rock since 1994, and both favored a combination of funky, post-grunge rock with a hip-hop aesthetic. Double Wide also sported a polished pop single entitled “Follow Me,” and the album went double platinum on the strength of that Top 10 hit
One year after the release Double Wide, Uncle Kracker returned with a sophomore album named No Stranger to Shame, scoring another Top Ten hit with a faithful rendition of Mentor Williams’ “Drift Away.” The single was number #1 on the US Adult Contemporary Billboard Charts for a record setting 28 consecutive weeks. Uncle Kracker continues to collaborate with his lifelong friend Kid Rock, as well as being part of his 2013 “Best Night Ever” tour.
About Pressley Ridge
Since 1832, Pressley Ridge, a non-profit organization serving disadvantaged kids and their families, has understood that all children can change and grow and that all families can use support. We help over 5,400 children and families annually through various programs and services in communities in six states which include Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, as well as internationally in Portugal and Hungary.
Web:
PressleyRidge.org | Twitter: @PressleyRidge | Facebook: facebook.com/PressleyRidge
To learn more about Pirates positive impact in the community, visit pirates.com/community.
