Zac Brown cooking up some Southern-fried hits - March 20

Friday, March 14, 2014

photo The Zac Brown Band will perform tonight at McKenzie Arena.

IF YOU GO¦ What: The Zac Brown Band in concert.¦ When: 7 p.m. today March 20.¦ Where: McKenzie Arena, 720 E. 4th St.¦ Admission: $45, $59.50, $69.50, $69.50, $74.50.¦ Phone: 423-266-6627.¦ Website: www.tickettracks.com. ZBB LINEUPZac Brown, lead vocals and guitarChris Fryar, drumsClay Cook, multiple instrumentsCoy Bowles, guitar and organDaniel de los Reyes, percussionJimmy De Martini, violin and vocalsJohn Driskell Hopkins, bass and vocals

Longtime local music fans might remember when the Zac Brown Band was playing in local clubs. Those days are long gone.

These days, the star is playing in much bigger rooms, such as McKenzie Arena, where he'll be tonight, March 20, for a rescheduled January date canceled due to weather.

Since releasing "Uncaged" in 2008, the band has earned three Grammy Awards and released three platinum-selling albums, with more than 6 million copies sold. They've also had 10 songs reach No. 1 and been seen live by more than 1.3 million fans.

Atlanta is home to the band, which was passed over by just about every country label in Nashville before signing with Atlantic Records. Brown is represented by Will Ward, a 1989 Baylor School graduate, and Roar Global (see today's Life section for more on Ward.) Brown formed his own label, Southern Ground Artists, in 2011 to find and develop new acts.

Fans, however, seem to like the group's country/folk sound as eight of the band's singles - "Chicken Fried," "Toes," "Highway 20 Ride," "Free," "As She's Walking Away," "Colder Weather," "Knee Deep" and "Keep Me in Mind" - have topped the country charts, and another, "Whatever It Is," made it to No. 2.

In addition to being a popular musician, Brown knows his way around a kitchen as well. He and his father opened the now closed Zac's Place in Eatonton, Ga., in 2004. In 2012 Brown opened the Southern Ground Social Club in Senoia, Ga., where, by the way, AMC's "The Walking Dead" is filmed.