CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — As a part of the 2016 Austin Peay State University Homecoming week of events, the APSU Govs Programming Council (GPC) presents a concert featuring platinum recording artist Frankie Ballard, featuring special guest Jason Mizelle.
The concert takes place Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m. in the Foy Fitness and Recreation Center on the University campus. Tickets are $10 for students until Oct. 2 and $20 for students after Oct. 3, and may be purchased online at www.austinpeaytickets.com.
A native of Battle Creek, Michigan, Ballard scored three consecutive number one singles off of his 2014 release “Sunshine & Whiskey,” including the platinum-selling title track, “Young & Crazy” and “Helluva Life.” The album reached as high as fifth on the Billboard U.S. Country chart in the year of its release.
Ballard’s latest album, “El Rio,” came out of a need for the country musician to hit the road. Leaving his Nashville home behind, Ballard traveled to the world-famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama for a series of rehearsals before continuing to the Granada Theatre in Dallas, Texas — ultimately arriving at the Sonic Ranch recording studio, just outside of El Paso.
Once there, Ballard and his band threw themselves into the music, eating and sleeping at the studio with the goal of creating a bona fide album. The end result was “El Rio,” a collection of 11 songs with a sonic through-line, invocative of Ballard’s inspirations, including Bob Seger and the Rolling Stones.
“I spur myself sometimes … [El Paso] is as far away as you can get. I was trying to get my blood moving,” Ballard said, of his grueling road trip to El Paso.
Taking the stage before Ballard is Nashville-based singer-songwriter Jason Mizelle. An up-and-coming performer, Mizelle’s first single, “Motown,” is now available on Spotify.
Thursday’s concert is just one of the many events that will take place the week of Oct. 17-22 in celebration of 2016 Homecoming: “Home is Where The Govs Are.” For more information on this, or any homecoming event, visit the APSU Office of Student Life and Engagement online at www.apsu.edu/student-life/aphomecoming.
