The Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater has brought in a wide array of talent to Peachtree City over the years, including such legendary performers like Ray Charles and bands like Foreigner, Styx, Huey Lewis and the News and more. Over the last two summers, they have also hosted The Tribute Series, the brain child of Peachtree City resident Chris Verdon. The series gives audiences a taste of the sights and sounds of large national acts at a fraction of the cost.
Verdon is bringing the series back to “The Fred” this summer with A1A, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band, performing this Saturday, June 16 and Departure, a Journey tribute band that performed here last summer, returning Aug. 25.
“The Tribute Series has been a learning experience,” Verdon said, adding that one of the big lessons he learned last year was not to compete with college football on a Saturday night in the fall. “I’ve seen what works well and I’m trying to continue to build the series.”
A1A, which is considered the official and original Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show, has been performing for 20 years. Founder Jeff Pike has performed with Jimmy Buffett and many members of Buffett’s band have performed with A1A on recordings and in concert over the years.
“A1A sounds very authentic and brings such a party atmosphere,” Verdon said. “We hope that the audience brings out their Hawaiian shirts, flip flops and parrots if they have them.”
By 1989 Jeff Pike had developed an enormous following in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia with his one man, first-of-it’s kind tribute to Jimmy Buffett. In 1991 Jeff formed A1A. In 1992 Jeff and A1A won a Margaritaville Records-sponsored Jimmy Buffett Sound Alike Contest. As the first band ever to showcase a high-energy four-hour concert composed of nothing except Buffett’s best songs spanning every era of his career, A1A became the only Tribute Band personally sanctioned by Jimmy Buffett. While countless other bands have followed in A1A’s wake and cited them as their main inspiration, A1A remains the first and foremost Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show.
Gates for the shows in The Tribute Series open at 7 p.m. Ticket prices range from $15 for lawn to $40 for gold tables. Visit www.amphitheater.org for more information or www.ticketalternative.com.
