Marshall Tucker band to play NIBROC

Southern rock legends the Marshall Tucker Band will rock, roll and ramble their way into Corbin for the city’s annual NIBROC Festival this August – the first of a wave of entertainers planners have on tap for the three-day celebration.

Corbin Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bruce Carpenter said Tuesday the band, which released its first recordings 37 years ago in 1973, is a worthy addition to the festival’s tradition of bringing top notch, free musical entertainment to the area.

"They are one of the top southern rock groups and they had a number of hits in the 1970s and 80s. They have a good following," Carpenter said. "I’ve talked to other promoters who have had them this year and they said the Marshall Tucker Band puts on a really great show."

The band, which released a compilation of love songs in February, is still fronted by lead singer, and founding member, Doug Gray.

The Marshall Tucker Band got its start in Spartanburg, S.C. when Gray teamed up with Tommy Caldwell and Toy Caldwell, Paul T. Riddle, George McCorkle and Jerry Eubanks, borrowing the name "Marshall Tucker" from a piano tuner whose name was found on a key ring in their old rehearsal space. In 1972, they signed with Capricorn Records, the same label that guided The Allman Brothers Band, Wet Willie, and others to national fame. The MTB opened shows for The Allman Brothers in 1973, and the following year, they began to headline their own shows across America due to the platinum-plus sales of their debut album.  They toured constantly playing sheds, stadiums, theaters, fairs, and festivals. Along the way, the band has recorded twenty two studio albums, three DVDs, three live albums and many compilations.

The groups hit singles include "Heard It In a Love Song," "Fire On The Mountain," "Can’t You See," and "Take the Highway."
The Marshall Tucker Band earned seven gold and three platinum albums while they were on the Capricorn Records label. During the 90’s, the band scored four hit singles on Billboard’s country chart and one on Billboard’s gospel chart. Their music has also been featured on the soundtracks of movies such as Smokey and the Bandit, The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper, Shipwrecked, Crank 2, Don’t Mess with Zohan, Stop Loss, Swing Vote, Taking Chance and many others as well as many TV Shows.

Opening for The Marshall Tucker Band is genre-busting singer Paul Thorn who will be playing NIBROC in support of his latest CD "A Long Way From Tupelo," a collection of songs "which once again illustrates Thorn’s versatility and authentic connection to the music of the Mississippi heartland…"

"He’s just truly an entertainer. He writes all of his own songs and he has a story to tell about every song and how it relates to his life," Carpenter said. "He has a real good connection to the audience."

Thorn can’t be pigeonholed, described as a little blues, country, gospel and rock all in one. He played a sold out show at The Depot on Main last month.

Besides the musical lineup, Carpenter announced a few changes to this year’s NIBROC. The festival will only stretch three days this time around, Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 13-15. The gospel music night will be moved back to Thursday, he said, to help accommodate those that want to see the entertainment but were obligated to Wednesday night church services. Gospel entertainment for the festival has yet to be announced,  but any concert will tentatively be held at Central Baptist Church.

Limiting the festival to just three days is a decision driven by economic reality, among other things, Carpenter said. The Chamber of Commerce, the group that sponsors the festival, is considering not opening the carnival until Wednesday, Aug. 12, with the festival officials opening the next day.

Other changes include moving the NIBROC volleyball tournament to empty lots on Main Street near the News Journal. Carpenter said the move will allow the tournament to expand. Coupled with a cornhole tournament that will be sponsored by the News Journal, the area should see and increase in festivalgoers and participants.

Sand will still be poured at the site of the old volleyball tournament near NIBROC Park and will be used as a children’s play area. Carpenter said organizers want to expand games and other offerings for children in that area.