Charlie Daniels Band Surprise Headliner at Havre de Grace Seafood Festival in August

For weeks, there has been talk around Havre de Grace about a surprise, big-name band that may be coming to perform at the Seafood Festival next summer. City officials and event organizers have been tight-lipped about (and, eventually, contractually-bound from) discussing the name of the performer until tonight, when it was revealed the special guest is none other than infamous fiddler Charlie Daniels and his southern rock band.

The official announcement is expected to be made by City Council President Bill Martin during tonight’s city council meeting, but Lori H. Maslin, Havre de Grace Seafood Festival Coordinator, confirmed just prior to the meeting that indeed Charlie Daniels and his band are coming down to Havre de Grace.

Charlie Daniels, 74, is an iconic southern rock musician most widely known for his famous fiddle-off song “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” which reached No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard charts in 1979.

“When we met Charlie Daniels and saw his show we knew that this true Southern Gentleman was the act we wanted to bring to Havre de Grace. We are confident that this will be an unforgetable show,” Maslin said Monday.

From the Havre de Grace Seafood Festival official release:

The Havre de Grace Seafood Festival is the Largest and Longest Running Seafood Festival in Maryland. Havre de Grace’s Premier Event is expanding to 3 days for 2011. August 12th, 13th and 14th, 2011.

Over the years the event organizers, Lori and Chuck Maslin, have brought first class entertainment to Havre de Grace. The Beach Boys, Three Dog Night, The Oak Ridge Boys, Phyllis Diller, George Carlin, Rita Rudner and more.

This band has released over 50 albums, has a star on the Country Music Walk of Fame, is a member of the Grand Ole Oprey and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

In 1958, our headliner began his professional music career performing with The Rockets. And over 50 years later he and his band will perform in our temporary Ampitheater overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. In 2011, they will perform from Nashville to California to Alaska, and Havre de Grace.

On August 12, 2011 at 7:45 pm, the 31st Annual Havre de Grace Seafood Festival will host the original Long Haired Country Boy, just a Fiddle Player from Georgia. The Charlie Daniels Band will be Live in Tydings Park.

The 31st annual Havre de Grace Seafood Festival, Maryland’s oldest seafood festival, will be expanded to three days for 2011 and will be held August 12-14 in Tydings Park. While the event is always popular, there was early buzz that this year’s festival would include a special guest. The Havre de Grace Seafood Festival website has been promoting a “Major Concert” to be held at the conclusion of the first night of the festival – 8 p.m. on August 12.

The official website for The Charlie Daniels Band was even mum on the appearance, indicating only that the group will be playing a festival in Minnesota on August 4 and the Alaska State Fair on August 29.

Ticket information:

Tickets go on sale on Tuesday December 21, 2011.

Limited Inner Circle Tickets – $150.00
• Light Refreshments
• Front Rows Seating
• Souvenir, Take Home Seats
• Souvenir Logo Glasses
• Unlimited Beer, Wine and Sodas
• Autographed Photograph from Charlie Daniels
• Chance to win and Autographed Fiddle
• Personally Meet Charlie Daniels and the Band Back Stage Before the Show – first 50 tickets only.

Reserved Seating – $50.00
General Admission Lawn Tickets – $35.00
Every Ticket Holder Will Have a Chance to Win a Fiddle Autographed by Charlie Daniels

Seating is very limited. Only ticket holders will have access to the show. Tickets are available by calling (410)939-1525, or http://www.SeafoodFestival.TicketLeap.com/ Inner Circle tickets by phone only.

Other festivities at the Havre de Grace Seafood Festival include over 25 vendors serving more than 150 different foods with an abundance of mouthwatering seafood delicacies and other great foods; 100 arts and craft Vendors featuring locally made products; a charity raffle with a great prize; 24 hours of live entertainment; and a silent auction with interesting items.

Want to learn more about Charlie Daniels?
Here you go:

CHARLIE DANIELS RECEIVES T.J. MARTELL HONOR
Charlie Daniels was honored in New York City Oct. 27, the day before his 74th birthday with the Lifetime Entertainment Achievement Award from the T.J. Martell Foundation during the organization’s 35th Annual Awards Gala. Daniels performed at the event, along with Enrique Iglesias and Colbie Caillat, while Jaron and the Long Road to Love were in attendance. Other honorees included Kenny Loggins and the late Ronnie James Dio. Loggins was presented with the Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award. Dio, who died of cancer earlier this year, was honored with a tribute. The T.J. Martell Foundation’s Awards Gala was a benefit for the organization that raises money to support research for treatments and cures for cancer, leukemia and AIDS.

CHARLIE DANIELS JAMS with WIDESPREAD PANIC IN NASHVILLE
Charlie Daniels rocked the house Oct. 6th when the legendary musician joined popular jam-band Widespread Panic at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. Daniels surprised the sold out crowd when he appeared on stage, fired up his fiddle and jammed with WSP.

CHARLIE DANIELS INDUCTED INTO IEBA
Charlie Daniels was inducted into the International Entertainment Buyers Association Hall of Fame on Oct. 5th. Daniels delivered the closing keynote speech at the annual conference of the IEBA in Nashville and was presented with a plaque to conclude the induction.

LAND THAT I LOVE PATRIOTIC COMPILATION
The CDB’s current cd release is Land That I Love, a Patriotic compilation (rel date 8/10) with two new cuts that were released for digital download on July 4th (Iraq Blues and What This World Needs is a Few More Rednecks 2010) on Blue Hat Records/E1 Ent.

“NOW THAT’S HOW YOU START A TELEVISION SHOW, SON!”
Charlie Daniels helped kick off the 45th Academy of Country Music Awards April 18, in Las Vegas alongside Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert and John Fogerty with an electrifying version of the Creedence Clearwater Revival classic, “Travelin’ Band.” In a reference to his popular GEICO commercial, the legendary fiddle player concluded the award show’s opening performance when he looked straight into the camera and declared, “Now that’s how you start a television show, son!” The GEICO/Charlie Daniels commercial was featured prominently during the three-hour ACM awards show, as well.

CHARLIE DANIELS RELEASES A CHRISTMAS BLUEGRASS CD/DVD – 2009
Blue Hat Records/E1 Entertainment has released a new Christmas cd/dvd, Joy to the World, a Bluegrass Christmas with Charlie Daniels and Friends . The collection of Christmas standards features guest performances by Jewel, The Grascals, Aaron Tippin, Kathy Mattea, Evelyn and Suzanne Cox from the Cox Family and Dan Tyminski. Songs include O Come All Ye Faithful, Joy To The World, The Christmas Song, Silent Night and more. A bonus dvd, A Twin Pines is included.

CHARLIE DANIELS EARNS STAR ON THE MUSIC CITY WALK OF FAME
Music City, Inc. has announced the seventh class of inductees to the Music City Walk of Fame, presented by founding sponsor Gibson Guitar: The honorees, Charlie Daniels, Dolly Parton, Kid Rock, Tootsie Bess, and Ernest Tubb were recognized with the unveiling of commemorative sidewalk markers Nov. 8, 2009, in the Hall of Fame Park in downtown Nashville, sponsored by Great American Country.

CHARLIE DANIELS INDUCTED INTO MUSICIANS HALL OF FAME
Charlie Daniels, Chet Atkins, Billy Cox, Dick Dale, Victor Feldman, Fred Foster, Paul Riser, and Toto were inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame on Oct. 12th, at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville. Dickey Betts, former guitarist for the Allman Brothers Band, hosted Daniels’ induction. Other guest performers included Rascal Flatts, Steve Wariner, Beach Boy Al Jardine, Union Gap’s Gary Puckett, Stevie Ray Vaughn/Double Trouble’s Chris Layton and Tony Joe White.

CHARLIE DANIELS CELEBRATES OVER 50 YEARS OF MAKING MUSIC
In 1958, Charlie Daniels began his professional music career performing with The Rockets and 50 years later (Jan. 2008) was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, a lifelong dream come true.