Travis Tritt, Parmalee, 38 Special and Foghat coming to Callaway Gardens

The brilliance of colorful blooming azaleas aside, this spring and summer are shaping up to be memorable for Callaway Gardens on a musical note.

The recreational resort inside a nature preserve, about 40 miles north of Columbus, has scheduled several events on Robin Beach Lake that include country performer Travis Tritt, up-and-coming country group Parmalee, southern rock staple 38 Special, and ’70s rock band Foghat.

Tritt, whose show is 8 p.m. May 16, has been a frequent performer at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts in Columbus. His No. 1 country hits include “Help Me Hold On,” “Anymore,” “Can I Trust You With My Heart,” “Foolish Pride” and “Best of Intentions.” Cost is $35 in advance; $45 day of the show. Opening is Daniel Lee.

Parmalee, a group out of North Carolina, hits the stage at 8 p.m. May 30. The band scored a top single in 2013 with the song, naturally, called “Carolina,” followed last year by the hit, “Close Your Eyes.” The group is comprised of two brothers, a cousin and a childhood friend. Cost is $25 in advance; $35 day of the show. Opening is Ricky Gunn.

Originally out of Florida, 38 Special kicks off its rock beach jam at 8 p.m. June 26. The band had a string of hits in the ’80s, including “Hold On Loosely,” “Rockin’ Into the Night,” “Caught Up in You,” “Second Chance” and “Teacher Teacher.” Tickets are $25 in advance; $35 day of the show.

Foghat, which launched in England in 1971, kicks off its show at 8 p.m. July 18. Known for its relentless touring, the group’s hits include “Slow Ride,” “Fool for the City,” “Stone Blue” and a cover version of “I Just Want to Make Love to You.” Cost is $25 in advance; $35 day of the show.

Meanwhile, singer-songwriter nights — featuring performers looking for their big break — will take place this Saturday and on March 28, with performers explaining the story behind the song, how and why it was written, then playing it.

This weekend’s event features Daniel Lee, Sam Koon and Cory Quintard, each with varying influences musically. Lee describes his style as “not country, it’s not rock, it’s southern,” Callaway said, while Koon is “a rustic rock singer with blazing original songs” and also part of the band, Sons of Samson. Quintard is a Florida native who began writing in high school and has released the “alternative-pop project” called “Volunteer.”

On March 28, taking the beach stage will be Davis Nix, Kyle Wilson, Rick Brantley and Neal Lucas. Nix, a Montgomery, Ala., native whose album “Fade” is now out, dubs his style “a mix of southern, Americana, blues and country,” Callaway said, with Wilson, a native of Alexander City, Ala., basing himself in Texas and constantly in touring mode. Brantley is out of Macon, Ga., and, according to the resort, describes his music as “southern rock-n-roll with the heart, soul and body of a young Bruce Springsteen or Bob Seger. Lucas, from nearby Talbot County, Ga., is bluesy rock with influences that include the Allman Brothers, Gov’t Mule, BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughan and the late Precious Bryant (herself a Talbot County native).

The singer-songwriter shows start at 7:30 p.m. each night, with advance tickets $15; $20 day of the show.

And, finally, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra brings its “Symphony on the Sand” performance to the gardens at 8 p.m. April 24. Cost is $25 in advance; $30 day of the show for general seating, with discounts available for gardens’ annual passholders and military personnel and their families.

For more information, visit online at www.callawaygardens.com, or call 1-800-463-6990.

This story was originally published March 17, 2015 at 11:13 AM with the headline "Travis Tritt, Parmalee, 38 Special and Foghat coming to Callaway Gardens."