February 11^th, 2017 is truly a day that we at Athens Area Habitat won’t forget. Thanks to Rising Tides Lift All and The Foundry, Athens Area Habitat gained way more than we could have hoped for from the House that Music Built benefit concert.

First off, thank you to The Foundry for hosting the event. The venue couldn’t have been more perfect for the occasion. With optimal seating, fantastic service, and delicious food and beverage, The Foundry showed us why this literally historic location has become an iconic venue for the Athens music scene in the 21st century.

Also, we want to give a gracious “thank you” to Rising Tides Lift All, Inc. Founded recently by Athens attorney Josh Branch, Rising Tides strives to raise funds for other organizations through hosting concerts. What a great mission, and such a fun way to help others through the power of music.

Showcased that night were Dave Marr, Packway Handle Band, and the Randall Bramblett Band. All three acts put on an incredible show.

Dave Marr is a singer-songwriter based in Athens, Georgia, and the former frontman for the seminal alt-country band The Star Room Boys. It was a true pleasure to be able to enjoy an intimate and soulful solo performance by Marr, whose first solo album We Were All In Love was previewed in limited release last year and is currently pending arrangement for official release and distribution. Marr’s powerful songwriting and delivery combined effortlessly to create the feeling of a full band with just his voice and guitar. Dave is returning to Athens after performances in Nashville and St. Louis and we sure hope to see and hear more from him in the coming year.

Packway Handle Band is one of the hottest new-grass bands in America. Formed by Josh Erwin, Michael Paynter, and Tom Baker in 2001 and later joined by Andrew Heaton in 2003, PWB burned up the 2015 Cheap Date tour with Kid Rock and Foreigner, and have recently come off a string of cross-country gigs to get back in the studio and record a follow-up album to their 2015 release Take It Like A Man. Their lively, active performance energized the crowd and really got everyone on their feet.

Concert headliner Randall Bramblett is a powerhouse blues rock performer, songwriter, and icon of the Athens music scene who has enjoyed a storied solo career and has long worked as a touring and session musician, playing with fellow artists like Gregg Allman, Widespread Panic, Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson, Elvin Bishop, and Steve Winwood. His songs have been recorded and performed by a wide range of artists, such as Bettye LaVette, Hot Tuna, and Delbert McClinton. Recently Bonnie Raitt opened her 2014 Grammy winning album Slipstream with the Randall Bramblett original “Used to Rule the World” which kicked off his set at The Foundry. And it was a real thrill to see Randall give a little love to the up and comers by joining Packway on stage to jam on saxophone. We’re honored to have Randall and his band spare us a night from their current tour of the Southeast to rock the house and help raise funds for our mission.

Once again, thank you to Rising Tides Lift All Inc. and The Foundry for putting on such a fantastic event and thank you to Dave Marr, Packway Handle Band, and Randall Bramblett for captivating the crowd all night long. What a wonderful way to raise funds to help our neighbors!