Grant Pirkle, owner of Pappy’s Place and originator of the Boogie, said Danny Shirley is bringing the popular group to help out the area veterans.
Pirkle is carrying on the work of his step-father, John Simmons, who died July 27, 2009.
Simmons was a veterans advocate who envisioned the need of a home for veterans in the Southeast and situated in Bradley County.
“John had a personal desire and saw the need for a facility to give fellow veterans an opportunity to retire with the honor and dignity they so well deserve after bravely serving their country. The Southeast Tennessee Veterans Home will serve veterans in Bradley County, as well as those in Bledsoe, Hamilton, Loudon, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Rhea, Roane, and Sequatchie & Polk Counties,” Pirkle said.
Land has been donated and two other Boogie events have aided in raising funding for the facility.
The proposed plan is for the state-of-the-art facility to have 108 beds.
Hardboiled will open Saturday’s music-filled day at the barn beginning at 1 p.m.
They will be followed by the Dexter Thomas Band and then the Collins Brothers will take to the stage prior to Shirley and his Confederate Railroad.
“Hits such as ‘Queen of Memphis,’ ‘Jesus and Mama,’ ‘Trashy Women’ and many more, Confederate Railroad will be rocking the stage at the barn,” Pikle said.
Confederate Railroad took top honors as Best New Group during the 1993 Academy of Country Music Awards ceremony as well as many nominations through the Country Music Association and British Country Music Foundation.
A Grammy nomination for “Trashy” led to the band’s establishment of the song as their signature.
Six hits came from the album.
The band charted 18 hits and sold millions of records.
Confederate Railroad band members include Cody McCarver on keys, who is also making his breakout in the music and film industry, Mark Dufresne on drums, Wayne Seacrest on bass and Rusty Hendrix on lead guitar.
Hardboiled plays a variety of covers and will open the day.
The ever-popular Dexter Thomas Band, one of Cleveland’s most active R&B groups, will follow with cover hits such as “When a Man Loves a Woman,” “R-E-S-P-E-C-T,” “Soul Man,” and many others.
Another crowd favorite will be the Collins Brothers Band.
Cory and Joe-Joe, the brothers who played together and stay together, will lead the way toward the featured act and should begin their performance at 7 p.m.
“Their music has been phenomenal,” said Pirkle.
“The Collins Brothers are also seeing success and recognition nationally — we will let them share that news with us at the Boogie on Saturday. We are also very pleased that Danny and the Railroad are coming to help us. We have other great music venues coming up during the summer and later this year when we should be able to make another announcement of a popular entertainer...or two or three, who want to come help us,” Pirkle said
A special veteran’s recognition will also be held Saturday during a break in the music.
For additional information, visit www.boogieatthebarn.com or call 614-0900. Ticket sales are ongoing at a number of locations in Cleveland.
Directions to Pappy’s Place located at 185 Morgan Road:
From Interstate 75 at exit 25 in Cleveland, travel Highway 60 north to Eureka Road. Turn right on Eureka Road and go approximately seven miles. Parking is located on Eureka Road, just follow the signs, according to Pirkle.
From Interstate 75 at exit 33, travel Lower River Road west until it transitions into Eureka and it transitions into Eureka Road, then follow the signs.
