For the past 20 years, Georgia native Zac Brown and his band have performed more than 1,000 concerts, true workhorses on the road, moving from small bars to massive arenas and stadiums.
And after a few years taking New Year’s off, Brown decided to get the band together for a one-off hometown gathering at State Farm Arena on Dec. 31 with Georgian and “American Idol” runner-up Will Moseley as one of the openers. (Tickets available at Ticketmaster starting at $59.50.)
The set list, said Brown in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, will be far heavier on high energy party songs than normal given the occasion.
“It’s always a big night for a party and we decided it was a good time to finish a year that’s had a lot of challenges,” Brown said. “It’s a great reset for everybody. Music is powerful medicine and we want to give everyone a good dose of it going into the new year.”
Credit: TYLER LORD
Credit: TYLER LORD
The band performed several stadium dates opening for Kenny Chesney in the spring and summer, including a stop at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in May. The last time they performed a headlining show in metro Atlanta was at Truist Park in 2022.
State Farm Arena will be both relatively intimate and a bit like a family reunion.
“Everybody’s families can come and hang out backstage,” he said. “It’s going to be a sea of kids. Our band now has 26 kids total. I never imagined I’d have five myself. But I can’t imagine not having them.”
Brown is a natural fan of State Farm Arena in part because he has run a restaurant there called Zac Brown’s Social Club for the past six years. In 2010 and 2011, the band played New Year’s shows at Phillips Arena, which is what the place was called before it was renovated in 2018. “This is a special one for us because of our ties to the place. It’s like a big full circle homecoming.”
He said he also is happy to still have John Driskell Hopkins, who is suffering from ALS, in the band. “The ALS is slow moving and we’re grateful for that,” Brown said. “He can provide harmonies and be on the road with us. He was the first person in the Zac Brown Band. He’s the best background singer I’ve ever heard anywhere.”
Brown, who is in the midst of a contentious divorce after a very brief marriage with model and actress Kelly Yazdi and has his Cumming home up for sale, said he has managed the stress with help from a nutritionist, a trainer and a vocal coach.
“When you go through storms, you focus on things that matter and do the right thing by people,” he said. “You can’t let anyone steal your joy. It distracts you from being creative and being present with your family.”
His entrepreneurial bug has led him to create branded products over the years including wine and speakers. His latest: biltong beef jerky ($19.99 for eight ounces on zacbrownband.com). “It’s really healthy as opposed to jerky smoked with tons of salt,” he said.
Brown wants to exemplify the life and lifestyle of Jimmy Buffett, a friend of his who died last year.
“He created his own world, an entire culture of his own,” he said. “I want to follow in his footsteps. He was a mentor. And the great thing about him is he was so down to earth. I was watching football with him in Key West once and we saw someone fishing out on the rocks outside. He went out there and didn’t kick him out. He showed him where to throw the bait and the best bait to use. Then he came back inside and kept watching football.”
He recalled Buffett telling him that success doesn’t make him any better than anybody else.
“You have to lead by example and earn people’s respect,” said Brown. “I’m blessed to have such an incredible crew and band of people who trust me. And I trust them.”
Indeed, several band members have been with him since “Toes” and “Chicken Fried” became radio hits in 2009, including Hopkins, Clay Cook, Jimmy De Martini and Coy Bowles.
Brown said he feels “better than I have ever felt. Creativity is flowing. The songs are coming. We’re making a new album. We have huge announcements next year. Our goal is to keep elevating what we’re doing.”
Although he won’t say what that big announcement is, he did tease that it has something to do with Las Vegas, home to the Sphere in Las Vegas, which has hosted extended residencies for U2, Phish and now the Eagles. Brown has seen all three shows.
“It’s four acres of 16K video on the walls. It’s 160,000 speakers,” Brown said. “The place is mind blowing.”
IF YOU GO
Zac Brown Band New Year’s show
8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31. $59.50 and up. State Farm Arena, 1 State Farm Drive, Atlanta, ticketmaster.com.
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