Saturday, April 25, 2015 - 8pm show

NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY.

Rodney Atkins knows the value of taking the long way home, of veering off the beaten path onto that road less traveled once in a while. You can hear it in his music, in the lyrics of his smash new single, "Take A Back Road," a song that celebrates that feeling of getting away from the noise of everyday life, really living in the moment, and getting right with your soul. And you can see it in the way he lives his life: putting family first, listening to that inner voice and remaining true to himself, and striving to evolve and find unique ways of expressing himself through the music he puts out into the world. It’s a philosophy he tries to employ throughout his life, and it has led him to some amazing places.

The hardworking artist gathered up a whole new set of colors when he set about creating his latest masterpiece/fourth CD, "Take A Back Road," and he cranked the whole recording process up a notch in intensity -- which is saying something for a guy who is pretty darned intense to begin with. But he wanted this project, his first in nearly three years, to convey and express some emotions and feelings in an authentic yet different way. Simply put -- Rodney had a lot to say musically, and he wanted to say it in exactly the right way.

The East Tennessee native has an impressive track record with hitting on sentiments that strike a chord with the country listener: he’s had five number one hits from his first three albums, from "Watching You" and "These Are My People" to his most recent smash, "Farmer’s Daughter," (which quickly skyrocketed to platinum,) and he’s sold over four million singles in the past five years alone. His latest single, "Take A Back Road" is on course to propel him to even bigger heights with its irresistibly catchy chorus and easygoing, windows-down, breezy summer vibe. The tune is near platinum status just weeks after its release.

"This album is different in that it’s got more edge on it. It’s got a lot more dive-bombs. With a smaller band, songs like "Back Road" feel like it’s right up in your face and not affected. It’s a more soulful album…”, Atkins says.  “And sometimes you just want to cut loose and have fun, and you have to do something unexpected…you just have to kind of roll with it. That’s how I try to be onstage, and the shows get better the more spontaneous they are, the less the band knows what’s going to happen. I like not knowing exactly what’s going to happen. But typically, I always know where I’m going. I’m not saying I always know how I’m gonna get there. But as long as I know where I’m going, I’m good. I like to just be in the moment, to focus on the power of now -- this album felt that way for me.”

Though his new crop of songs has some edge, and the vocal energy may be amped up a notch, Rodney is still the same, hard-working, patriotic, rock-solid country boy that fans have grown to know and love since his debut with 2003’s "Honesty." After all, the road back to the tiny hometown where he got his start may be a long one, and a long way from the glitzy one he travels now as a country star, but for Rodney, nothing could ever beat the power of taking that back road and returning home to your roots.

Tickets are $60, $45 & $30 plus tax and an online/phone ticketing fee (this fee is waived when tickets are purchased in the Gift Shop).  Tickets in the ADA section are for patrons with mobility disabilities and up to three companions.  If companion seating is not available because the ADA section is sold out, RCGR will offer other seats as close as possible to the accessible seat, if available, at the purchase price of the other section.   Tickets are on sale in the Gift Shop and online.

Hotel packages are available by calling 877-677-3456.  Packages are $275 and include a one night stay in a deluxe king or double queen room, two tickets to the show and two dinners at Robert's Buffet.  There are a limited number of hotel packages available.

Doors open at 7pm for the 8pm show.