Three Fun Facts About This Year's Acts
Our 2018 C Spire Concert Series officially kicks off this Saturday, April 14th at the Wharf Amphitheater with classic rock legends Styx and REO Speedwagon. Yep, you heard us right! It’s here and we cannot contain our delight for the jam-packed lineup of heavy-hitting performers.
Here are some rarely known tidbits about each of this year’s acts to file away in the fandom folder of your brain. Some of the facts you may know; some may be surprising to hear. Either way, follow along and enjoy!
- They were the first band to have four consecutive platinum albums
- Named after the river that flows through Hades in Greek mythology
- In 2011, Mr. Robata Grill and Sushi Bar opened in New York, drawing inspiration from the hit song “Mr. Roboto”
- Dan Fogelberg used to open for them during shows in college
- An REO Speedwagon is a flatbed truck from the early 20th century created by Ransom Eli Olds
- There is a street in Champaign, Illnois named “REO Speedwagon Way”
- He’s a huge fan of breakfast food, any time of the day
- When Chris performed on The Tonight Show the first time, Jay Leno went through his phone and called his mom to chat
- He was on tour with Alan Jackson for most of 2010
- David Matthews was born in Johannesburg, South Africa
- DMB officially formed as a group in 1991
- In 1999, they created The Bama Works Fund that has raised over $40 million dollars for numerous charities
I Love the 90’s Tour: June 15th
- Salt-N-Pepa’s first smash hit “Push It” from 1986 began as just a joke
- Coolio, known as the Ghetto Gourmet, released a cookbook titled “Cookin’ with Coolio” in 2009
- Play, of Kid ’n Play, designed Salt-N-Pepa’s iconic leather jackets
- 2018 will mark 10 years since Jackson first performed at The Wharf Amphitheater
- Hidden talent – he can wiggle his ears!
- He started to wear a cowboy hat to cover a scar on his forehead
- Jason has graced us with his presence four times at our Amphitheater (…and we sure are thankful, am I right?!)
- His dad taught him how to play guitar
- He turned down a college baseball scholarship to chase a career in music
- An avid dog lover, Miranda and her mom founded the MuttNation Foundation in 2009 to help find shelter pups a forever home
- In sixth grade, she was voted “Most Likely to Become a Country Singer”
- A confessed “girly” tomboy, Lambert loves to hunt and ride four-wheelers in her spare
time.
- Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman met at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.
- The band debuted at the famous Grand Ole Opry in 1999.
- In 2017, they were chosen as the first band to hold residency at the historic Ryman Auditorium.
- They established the Tyler Robinson Foundation to help support pediatric cancer patients
- Vocalist Dan Reynolds can sing and play piano, drums, AND guitar
- The band’s debut album Night Visions was recorded inside the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas
- At 15 years old, Keith dropped out of school to pursue a music career
- One of his first bands booked a gig playing a baggage claim carousel in an Australian airport
- He has collaborated with The Rolling Stones, Alicia Keys, and John Fogerty, just to name a few
- Bo and Bear Rinehart first learned to play instruments by performing at their father’s church
- Bear was named after legendary football coach, Paul “Bear” Bryant
- The group has been touring for over 15 years now, selling out shows in venues as vast as Red Rocks in Colorado