Alan Jackson Bestows Big Opportunity to Lower Broadway Regulars on Upcoming Tour

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This story has been updated.

Country Music legend and Hall of Famer Alan Jackson recently announced the first round of tour dates for his upcoming 2019 arena tour to the excitement of many. Primary support on the tour has been revealed as up-and-coming major label revivalist William Michael Morgan, along with Randy Houser on certain stops. This should make for some pretty stellar evenings of true country music in itself. And now three other names have been added to select stops which you may have not heard before, but you should be paying attention to.

Jay Bragg and his 2018 album Honky Tonk Dream were first featured on Saving Country Music in June. He’s one of the handful of highly-talented country music performers who moved to Nashville to pursue their dream, and have found steady work playing nightly in the few true honky tonks down on Lower Broadway. Jay Bragg’s haunt has been Alan Jackson’s Good Time Bar, where he’s been playing regularly for the last few years.

Now he’s getting his chance on the biggest of stages, opening for Alan Jackson in Madison, WI; Grand Rapids, MI, Oklahoma City, OK and Omaha, NE on the upcoming tour. Not signed to a label or booking agency, it was his position at Jackson’s bar and the reception by patrons that earned him the opportunity.

“This is an absolute dream come true and about as validating as it gets for an artist like me whose been grinding it out 5 nights a week, 4 hours a show on Lower Broadway trying to get a chance at the big stage,” says Jay Bragg. “A huge thank you to Alan, the Good Time Bar, and all the folks involved who believed in me since day one when I showed up to the AJs stage for a Thursday morning shift with my guitar, a bass drum, a tambourine and played for about 5 people.”

The son of a singer, Jay Bragg first stepped on the stage at 8-years-old to play a rendition of “Turkey In The Straw,” and has never looked back on wanting to make country music for a living. He is one of a host of performers who plays regularly on Lower Broadway, trying to keep true country music alive, paying dues, while also attempting to launch their own career.

James Carothers, who regularly plays at the George Jones Museum and just released a George Jones tribute album, is another Lower Broadway revivalist who has also been selected to open some of the new Alan Jackson tour dates. He will be opening dates in Louisville, KY, Greenville, SC, Rogers, AR, and Wichita, KS. “Thanks to Alan Jackson and AJ’s Good Time Bar for the honor of opening his 2019 tour … We’re privileged to play for AJ fans every week and the Good Time Bar staff treats us like family. So glad that there’s a place that allows us to keep it country.”

Also announced as part of the new tour is Amanda Daughtry, who also regularly plays at AJ’s Good Time Bar, as well as Legends Corner, and The Stage Rooftop on Lower Broadway. She will be opening shows in Winston-Salem, NC, Hershey, PA, Orlando, FL, and Jacksonville, FL. Originally from Johnston County, North Carolina, she moved to Nashville in 2012, and released her debut album Don’t Let it Hit Ya.

Alan Jackson’s Good Time Bar will also be holding a contest to choose two more performers to open select spots on the upcoming tour. Details forthcoming.

Playing regularly on Lower Broadway is how Joshua Hedley got his start, who is now signed to Third Man Records, and has been making waves in 2018 with his record Mr. Juxebox.  Tom Buller, who often plays at Layla’s on Broadway and released the excellent When A Country Boy Gets The Blues this year is another Lower Broadway regular.

So if you happen to see Jay Bragg, James Carothers, or Amanda Daughtry up on stage opening for Alan Jackson and ask, “Who is this?” It’s someone whose honky tonk dream is slowly but surely becoming a reality.

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Alan Jackson has only released 17 tour dates for 2019 so far, but is promising more will be on the way.

Alan Jackson Tour Dates:

  • 1/25 – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center w/ William Michael Morgan, James Carothers
  • 1/26 – Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena w/ William Michael Morgan, James Carothers
  • 2/22 – Madison, WI – Alliant Energy Center w/ William Michael Morgan, Jay Bragg
  • 2/23 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena w/ William Michael Morgan, Jay Bragg
  • 3/10 – Bossier City, LA – CenturyLink Center w/ William Michael Morgan
  • 4/12 – Oklahoma City, OK – Chesapeake Energy Arena w/ William Michael Morgan, Jay Bragg
  • 4/13 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center w/ Randy Houser, Jay Bragg
  • 4/26 – Fort Wayne, IN – War Memorial Coliseum w/ William Michael Morgan
  • 5/10 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center w/ William Michael Morgan
  • 5/17 – Winston-Salem, NC – Veterans Memorial Coliseum w/ William Michael Morgan, Amanda Daughtry
  • 5/18 – Hershey, PA – Giant Center w/ William Michael Morgan, Amanda Daughtry
  • 8/9 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP w/ William Michael Morgan, James Carothers
  • 8/10 – Wichita, KS – Intrust Bank Arena w/ William Michael Morgan, James Carothers
  • 8/23 – N. Charleston, SC – North Charleston Coliseum w/ William Michael Morgan, Randy Houser
  • 8/24 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center w/ Randy Houser
  • 9/20 – Orlando, FL – Amway Arena w/ William Michael Morgan, Amanda Daughtry
  • 9/21 – Jacksonville, FL – Veterans Memorial Coliseum w/ William Michael Morgan, Amanda Daughtry

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