Sawyer Brown band is ready for Saratoga

Sawyer Brown, an award-winning and chart-topping country band, will play at the Platte Valley Community Center on Sunday, July 20. The show will be this year’s Valley Strong benefit concert presented by Brush Creek Ranch and the proceeds will go to over 20 local non-profit organizations.

The concert is nearly sold out, and both ticket sales as well as interest in non-profits has increased since last year’s concert.

“We appreciate the community’s support and are encouraged by the ticket sales, as they are selling quickly,” stated Jan Grabow, Director of Marketing for Brush Creek Ranch. “There are still tickets available to support your selection of over 20 organizations, and join together for a great evening of entertainment.”

Gregg “Hobie” Hubbard, keyboard player, and band member since the beginning says they are “Looking forward to getting here and having a good time. When folks know the money is going to a good cause they come out to support it and have a good time.”

Sawyer Brown has been making records for 30 years and has been together for 34-years. The current lineup includes Mark Miller with lead vocals, Shayne Hill on guitar and background vocals, Hubbard on keyboard, Jim Scholten on bass, and Joe Smyth playing drums and percussion.

When they play on Sunday, they will cover their fan favorites from the entire 34 year span of the band. “You want to hear the music that you know,” said Hubbard. They will probably play a couple of tunes from the new album “Travelin’ Man.”

As far as his musical influences go, Hubbard says he listens to a little bit of everything. On the tour bus it is rare to have music playing, instead, the band prefers to watch sports on ESPN.

From the beginning, Sawyer Brown didn’t feel like they needed to fit in a box and conform to industry expectations. They wanted to make music in their own style.

“Walk Out of the Rain” is their newest single and Hubbard just found out it has reached No. 1 on British chart Hotdisc Top 40. Currently the band is getting songs together for a new album which they will likely cut in a studio in Franklin, Tenn., their home base outside of Nashville.