Sevier News Messenger Sevier County News and Opinion
Dollywood’s Rock the Smokies will feature two award winning contemporary Christian music groups.
Dollywood in Pigeon Forge announced today that Third Day and For King & Country will perform at the theme park’s newest Christian music festival set for Labor Day weekend. Dollywood and Premier Festivals have teamed up to produce Rock the Smokies, a powerful Christian rock experience on stage in Dollywood’s Celebrity Theater. Rock the Smokies will be a one-day event on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015. In addition to featured performances in the Celebrity Theater, more Christian artists will play on stages throughout the park.
A multiple GRAMMY©, American Music Award and Dove Award winning band, Third Day is set to release a new worship album entitled “Lead Us Back” in March 2015 and then head out on their Soul On Fire Tour. The band has appeared on “The Tonight Show,” “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” “60 Minutes,” ABC’s “Nightline,” and been written about in USA Today, the New York Times and Billboard magazine, which called Third Day “one of the best rock bands, period.”
(left to right) Mark Lee, Mac Powell, David Carr and Tai Anderson of Third Day
Photo Credit: Third Day/Eric Brown
Born in Australia, Joel and Luke Smallbone of For King & Country now call Nashville home. They released their debut album “Crave” in 2012. Billboard named For King & Country one of the New Artists to Watch for 2012, and American Songwriter called them “Australia’s answer to Coldplay.” They went on to win New Artist of the Year at the 2013 GMA Dove Awards. 2014 brought the release of their highly anticipated 2nd album “Run Wild, Live Free, Love Strong” which received a GRAMMY nomination last month for Best Contemporary Christian Album.
Run Wild, Live Free, Love Strong released in 2014 by For King & Country
Photo Credit: For King & Country
Rock the Smokies is part of Dollywood’s year long 30th Anniversary Celebration. For a complete lineup of festival performances, announcement of artists and show times, please visit rockthesmokies.com.
Tickets will go on pre-sale Monday, Feb. 2, 2015 and on sale to the general public Feb. 6, 2015. Admission to Dollywood, along with a reserved festival ticket is included with purchase of a Rock the Smokies ticket. Discount prices are available for groups and those who purchase tickets early. There will be VIP packages available to meet the band and take pictures.
