CAIRO — The City of Cairo has announced a benefit concert that will take place Friday, March 6 at the Grady County Cultural Center to help raise funds for future downtown music events.

Headlining the show will be outlaw country singer Ward Davis, whose music Main Street director Alyssa Blakley describes as “raw,” “gritty,” and “powerful.”

“I feel like it’s something different that we’re bringing in, and I feel like the community is really going to enjoy it,” she said. “He puts on a really good show.”

Davis’ particular brand of “outlaw” or “red dirt” country music has a big following in Texas, Blakley said, and proof of the genre’s rising popularity can be found in the singer’s growing demand. Davis tours the country extensively, playing more than 250 shows each year.

Part of the reason why Davis was selected for the show was because citizens in the community told Blakley that they like country music, but are not fans of newer “pop” entries to the genre. Rather, these residents prefer older country stars like Hank Williams Jr., Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard — musicians who blazed the trail that Davis now follows.

Opening for Davis will be the Tobacco Rd Band, a Tallahassee-based country rock group which has been playing in the area since 2010.

“They’re really going to get everybody pumped in the beginning,” Blakley said. “They’re going to put on a pretty good opening for Ward.”

Tickets will go on sale Friday, Jan. 17. Advance tickets will cost $20. Day-of tickets will cost $25.

Tables can also be purchased for $400 and will include entry tickets for eight attendees as well as eight drink vouchers and eight raffle tickets.

Raffle prizes have yet to be determined, though Blakley said they could potentially include autographed items from the night’s performers.

Proceeds from the event will be used to help bring more free musical entertainment to downtown Cairo. Four such free concerts took place on Broad Street in 2019.

To purchase tickets, visit warddavismusic.com.

For questions regarding sponsorship opportunities, contact Blakley by phone at (229) 377-1722, extension 185, or by email at ablakley@cairocity.net.