Brown Opens for Hitmaker Justin Moore at Southern Grand Slam Festival

The crowd was loud and the fans were many as Jim Brown returned to Florida as opening act for country superstar Justin Moore on the final day of the Southern Grand Slam Music Festival in Port Charlotte, Florida. Jack Michael Music and the Tom Jackson Band completed the Saturday lineup, and Brown’s mix of down-home country, rowdy rock ‘n’ roll, and Southern charm was right at home between the local favorites and hitmaker Moore.

Right out of the gun, Brown heated things up with the Elvis classic, “Trouble,” followed by his raucous version of Charlie Daniels’ “The South’s Gonna Do It Again,” garnering raised glasses and screams from the crowd. He maintained the momentum as he offered up gems from his own releases. The “countrier than mud” nod to his hometown, “E-I-E-I-O,” was a definite favorite, and his most recent “Never Quit Never Does” resonated as his ode to the unwavering spirit of the hardest working among us.

Brown loves to welcome guests to his stage, and this show was no exception. Backup singer and country newcomer Maddye Trew shined brightly as she introduced “Dear Loretta,” her love letter to idol Loretta Lynn, in advance of its release on May 27, 2022. She quickly won over the crowd, and the sing-along spirit of the crowd-pleasing “Friend with a Boat” had the crowd shouting and swaying along.

She then handed the mic over to the legendary rock guitarist and vocalist Derek St. Holmes, known both for his early role with Ted Nugent as well as his collaborative work with Brad Whitford of Aerosmith. Holmes drove the band through rock classics “Stranglehold” and “Hey Baby” with a grace and fire that is unmatched among many of today’s so-called “rockers.” Brown then returned to the stage for a kickin’ collaboration with Holmes of Brown’s upcoming single, “Tears in the Water.”

Together, the mix of Brown, Holmes, and Maddye Trew made for a tasty appetizer for the main event, Justin Moore, who left the audience cheering and ready to return next year to start the party all over again!