Page 16 - South Mississippi Living - June, 2024

COAST NOTES
A Grand Milestone
Grand Magnolia Music Celebrates 10 Years
story by Becky Stowe photos courtesy of Grand Magnolia Music
Grand Magnolia Music is celebrating its 10th anniversary of bringing world- renowned musicians to The Grand Magnolia Ballroom.
To celebrate that milestone, June promises to be one of the biggest months in the history of the venue that has hosted numerous Grammy Award-honored artists at what has become a frequent stopping point for some of the biggest names in the live music business.
The “Grand Mag Grammy Gala” will be a two-show series featuring Steve Earle and John Hiatt. Earle will bring his Alone Again Tour to Pascagoula on Sunday, June 2, and Hiatt will follow 15 days later on Monday, June 17.
“We actually started doing shows in 2013, but like everyone else we lost a year due
to Covid,” Grand Mag Music Executive Director Curtis Rockwell said. “So we decided we would celebrate our 10th anniversary this year, and we wanted to make sure we celebrated it with some really big names.”
Not that the venue hasn’t already had some really big acts in the past decade. Jimmy Buffett, Mac McAnally, Rodney Crowell, The Bellamy Brothers, Dena Carter, Michael Martin Murphey and Firefall are just a few of the acts to grace the stage
at The Grand Magnolia, along with Paul Overstreet, J.D. Souther, John Conlee, Lee Roy Parnell, Louisiana’s LeRoux, John Ford Coley and Marcia Ball among others.
McAnally, a member of the late Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band for almost 30 years, is a fan favorite when he comes to Buffett’s hometown as he has sold out six shows at the Grand Mag in the past four years.
“I’m a Mississippi guy,” said McAnally,
a 10-time Country Music Association Musician of the Year. “I like coming back home and playing my songs. I like playing my own shows in small venues because my music is like a story you would tell to a small room of friends. The Grand Magnolia is one of my favorite rooms to do just that.”
Moss Point resident Dr. Wayne Adkison and his wife Vicki travel all over the Southeast on an almost weekly basis to
see live music at various venues of various sizes. They are two of Grand Mag Music’s biggest supporters.
“Vicki and I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to great music at the Grand Magnolia over the past several years,” Dr. Adkison said. “To have an intimate venue with great acoustics and not a bad seat in the room where big-name talented artists like to perform all within a short drive from home is priceless.
“Curtis Rockwell and (Grand Magnolia Ballroom owner) Richard Chenoweth have done a super job providing a great place for live music with world-class musicians. And although it’s close to home for us we often meet music fans from other states that have traveled hundreds of miles to see the artists that Curtis has lined up.”
Although Grand Mag Music is not officially a part of The Grand Magnolia Ballroom and Suites, Chenoweth kindly opened its doors to the organization when it came calling.
“It has really become bigger than anyone, even Curtis I think, thought it would,” said Chenoweth, who also owns Scranton’s Restaurant and Catering in Pascagoula. “The high-level of musical talent that has played here is unprecedented in this area over the past 10 years. It’s really been a lot of fun.”
Hiatt and Earle will each be making
their first-ever appearances in Jackson County. Hiatt has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards and has been awarded a variety of other distinctions in the music industry. Earle has been nominated 11 times and has won three Grammys.
Rockwell has worked in the music festival business for the past three decades and credits his connections in the music industry that he has made along the way as a big reason for the success of Grand Mag Music.
“It’s pretty amazing what we have been able to accomplish, and it just continues with these two guys,” Rockwell added. “We couldn’t have done any of it without the help of the Chenoweth family. They’ve helped out in every possible way for us to bring live music to Pascagoula.”
For more information, go to www.grandmagmusic.com.
16 | June 2024
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