WMOT/Roots Radio 89.5 FM will be the flagship live broadcaster for Saturday’s benefit concert to help those affected by the fatal Smoky Mountain wildfires that ravaged parts of the Gatlinburg, Tennessee, area in late November.
In addition, NPR Music-affiliated World Café and the VuHaus digital music video service will host the video stream of the show produced and served by Music City Roots, the Americana radio show produced live on stage at The Factory at Franklin. Roots emcee Jim Lauderdale is among the performers in “Mountain Tough.”
All this week, artists and radio stations have been signing on to support “Mountain Tough,” an all-day, free outdoor musical celebration and fundraiser that will be held from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, at 705 Parkway in Gatlinburg.
The full show will be carried by flagship broadcaster WMOT/Roots Radio 89.5 FM (http://wmot.org), which serves Middle Tennessee from the College of Media and Entertainment at Middle Tennessee State University. The show is being produced by Yee-Haw Brewing Co., Ole Smoky Moonshine, Music City Roots and the Gatlinburg Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The word went out on social media Wednesday just after noon from Zac Brown Band: Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is open for business & welcoming visitors! We’ll be there playing the #MountainTough Benefit Show this Saturday, December 17. You can donate to ongoing fire relief efforts here: http://bit.ly/DonateETF.
In addition to Zac Brown Band, the talent lineup continues to take shape, organizers said. Nationally renowned duo The Secret Sisters signed on within the past 48 hours. Other artists committed include: Sam Bush, Jason D. Williams, Derek St. Holmes, Jim Lauderdale, Chuck Mead, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Shannon Whitworth & Barrett Smith, Sarah Potenza, Firewater Junction, Greg Reish, Chelle Rose, Carl Anderson, R.B. Morris and Mo Pitney.
Zac Brown Band will take the stage last at about 7:50 p.m. Saturday.
While the benefit is free, donations are encouraged, with all proceeds going to the Sevier County Community Fund. To make a contribution, visit https://etf.givingfuel.com/sevier-county-community-fund. Donations can also be sent by checks payable to East Tennessee Foundation with “SCCF” in the memo line. Mail to: East Tennessee Foundation, 520 W. Summit Hill Drive, Suite 1101, Knoxville, TN 37902.
Other stations committed to broadcast or stream Mountain Tough include: Knoxville country powerhouse WIVK-FM, Knoxville indie/Americana station WDVX-FM, Nashville public radio station WPLN-FM, University of Tennessee stations WUTK-FM and WUOT-FM and Chattanooga’s WUTC-FM.
Social Media: #mountaintough / @TravelGburg / @zacbrownband / @olesmoky / @yeehawbrewing / @musiccityroots / @wmot_rootsradio
