From staff reports
ROYSTON – A full afternoon and evening of entertainment will be on stage Saturday at the City of Royston’s Freedom Celebration 24.
The free concert, being held in partnership with Georgia Legends Concert of Royston, will begin Saturday at 2 p.m. at the amphitheater at the Royston Wellness and Community Park.
Grand Ole Opry member T. Graham Brown, a native of Madison County, will headline the event, taking the Williams Family Stage at 8 p.m.
Brown has had seven number ones and 10 top tens – including “I Tell It Like It Used To Be,” “Hell and High Water,” “Don’t Go To Strangers,” “Brilliant Conversationalist” and “Darlene.”
Singer/songwriter David Wills will sing beginning at 6:15 p.m.
Wills penned top songs such as “If You’re Thinking You Want A Stranger” for George Strait, “Wild Horses” for Garth Brooks, John Schneider’s last number one hit, “You’re The Last Thing I Needed Tonight,” and charted 21 songs from 1974-88.
At 5:15 p.m., country-turned-gospel artist Leon Everette will be on stage.
Everett had country hits in the early 1980s with “Over,” “Hurricane,” “The Lady She’s Right” and the biggest selling record of 1983, “Give Me What You Think is Fair” before turning to gospel music, in which he has recorded “I Stand The Tallest When I’m Down On My Knees” and “Would Jesus Be Welcome There?”
Just before Everette goes on, military heroes will be honored at 5 p.m. in a special recognition.
The Joe Olds Band, known as one of the best cover bands in North Georgia, will sing beginning at 4 p.m.
They will be preceded by the Country River Band at 3:30 p.m. and Waylon Jennings tribute artist Hokey Sloan at 3 p.m.
The show will begin at 2 p.m. with opening remarks from city officials.
Franklin County native Kori Marie Esco will open the show at 2:30 p.m.
The schedule for the concert was changed this week when Sammy Sadler, who was set to perform, had to cancel his appearance.
Sadler is unable to perform due to a health setback suffered by his father.
The Country River Band was called in to perform in Sadler’s place.
In addition to the on-state performers, the Sam Meyers Classic Country radio show will also be on hand to broadcast from the event.
Meyers will bring the Big Blue Rolling Radio from Texas to Royston to broadcast his classic country radio show live. He will be joined by fellow D.J. and friend Roger Allen.
Meyers’ internet radio show is available at SamMeyersClassicCountry.com.
Food trucks and vendor tables will be available at the event.