The Georgia music scene has produced many icons, from the soulful tunes of Ray Charles to the upbeat party anthems of Luke Bryan and other country legends. Get to know the behind-the-scenes of the music scene through the eyes of the state’s number one tourism band — C.A.R.D.S. Formed by a group of local tourism professionals who turned their love of music into a reality, Journey snagged an exclusive interview to uncover the musical landscape of the beloved Peach State. 

Meet the C.A.R.D.S. members

Journey: “Can you share with our readers about your role in Georgia’s tourism industry?”

Jonathan Dorsey: “I’m the Executive Director of Carrollton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.”

Sam McDuffie: “My title is Executive Director of the Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Convention and Visitors Bureau for Discover Dahlonega.” 

Andy Williams:  “I’m the President & CEO of Visit Roswell.”

Jay Markwalter: “I work as the Statewide Tourism Director with the Georgia Department of Economic Development.”

Justin Samples: “I’m the Vice President of Marketing & Operations of Visit Statesboro.” 

Journey: “The band name C.A.R.D.S. is really unique. Can you guys share why you picked that name?” 

Andy: “It’s an homage to the various locations where our members reside in Georgia: Carrollton, Augusta, Roswell, Dahlonega and Statesboro.”

Combining Music and Tourism

Journey: “Can a few of you share what it’s like being in a band with other tourism professionals?”

Andy: “I love the fact that we’re all tourism professionals who can come together once or twice a year to put on a show for our peers in the travel industry. To have been in this industry for 18 years and to see faces in the crowd that I’ve known since I was a 21-year-old is really fulfilling.”

Justin: “The fact that we can get together at a conference, throw together one partial practice, and put on an entertaining show the next night speaks volumes. The C.A.R.D.S. is representative of how well our industry works together as a whole, with all of our different talents and assets, to promote this beautiful state we call home.”

Sam: “What started in Albany, GA., as a late-evening jam turned out to be something truly remarkable. The fact that we can only play once a year and pick up like we’ve been playing for years shows the talent that each of these individuals has.”  

Jonathan: “I absolutely love playing with the C.A.R.D.S. Every one of these guys is a great musician and it is an honor and a real pleasure to play with them. We have so much in common, as both tourism professionals and musicians.” 

Georgia’s Diverse Music Scene

Journey: “Y’all live in different parts of Georgia – what’s happening musically in your area? Any local bands or venues that people should know about?” 

Sam: “Dahlonega truly has a great music scene.  We are known for our bluegrass/traditional Appalachian music. Still, once you scratch the surface, you will discover bands like Radford Windham & Step Back Cadillac, Ugly Cousin, Kurt Thomas, Bells & Whistles, and many more.” 

Andy: “Roswell is lucky to have a variety of live music. Most of our venues are on the smaller side and consist of breweries, restaurant back-rooms and small stages, so we feature a lot of local musicians. One of our brewpubs, From the Earth Brewing Co., actually produces its own Back Porch Concert Series on the backside of the property.” 

Jay: “The Augusta region is always offering something to enjoy from seasonal festivals and entertainment lineups to large and small venues. For more cozy shows, one of my recent favorites is The Fox’s Lair. It’s an intimate underground venue featuring weekly live music and a monthly Southeastern Songwriters Series.”

Justin: “There are so many spots for local/live music in Statesboro. My top picks in no particular order are: Dolan’s Barbecue, Tandoor and Tap, Vino 1910, Pour House Pub, and Eagle Creek Brewing Company.”

Jonathan: “Carrollton and West Georgia have a great variety of music spots like Sutton’s American Grill, Printer’s Ale, Samba Loca, Carrollton Center for the Arts and The Amp amphitheater.  There are rock, country, bluegrass, jazz bands, symphonic bands, gospel … for almost every type of music, someone is performing it here.”

A Vibrant Music Landscape 

Journey: “How would you describe Georgia’s music scene?” 

Andy: “Soulful and all over the place. How could it not be? Georgia was home to the Allman Brothers, Otis Redding, Black Crowes, Usher, Ray Charles, Outkast and R.E.M. The list goes on and on and the diversity in music is outstanding.”

Sam: “We celebrate all music from soul, blues, indie rock, hip-hop, classical music, jam bands, and everything in between. I love this State, and the music scene is integral to its history.”

Justin: “Georgia is a music state! We have produced a massively talented and incredibly diverse musical legacy in every generation.”

Jay: “On any given weekend, you can catch bluegrass on the public square in Dahlonega, an international sensation with thousands of fans in Atlanta, visit the sites and sounds all over Macon, Georgia’s music heritage attractions, or walk in the footsteps of James Brown around Augusta.” 

Where Music Legends Are Born 

Journey: “Georgia has been home to a ton of famous musicians and bands — can you name a few who come from your area?” 

Sam: “Probably one of the biggest names in country music a few years ago is from Dahlonega — Zac Brown from the Zac Brown Band. Several musicians now live or once lived in Dahlonega. These are Amy Ray from the Indigo Girls, John Bell of Widespread Panic, Betsy Franck of Bloodkin and Shawn Mullins, who even lived here briefly while attending college at the University of North Georgia.” 

Jay: “The most notable would be James Brown, Jessye Norman, Sharon Jones, Wycliffe Gordon, Amy Grant, Dixie Dregs, and Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood from Lady A.” 

Jonathan: “Thomas Dorsey, who is the father of gospel music, was born here in Villa Rica. The country singer Zac Brown attended the University of West Georgia, which is our local university. There are a few band members who lived here too, like Rick Fowler from Fortnox.” 

Justin: “Country music icons Cole Swindell and Luke Bryan both attended Georgia Southern University in Statesboro.” 

Journey: “Who are some up-and-coming artists that visitors should check out when visiting?”

Sam: “One of my favorite bands to see locally is Bells and Whistles. They are a group of friends and siblings who play often and they’re a phenomenal group of talented musicians.”

Andy: “I’m personally a big fan of Tyson Halford. He’s made his name well-known in Roswell and can often be found around town playing. His passion for music began at the early age of 8, where classical piano training laid the foundation for future music endeavors.”

Justin: “Some acts you can’t miss while in town are Cole Goodwin, Rachel Wiggins, The May Belles, Juliet Muldrew, Miranda Winter, The Ripleys and of course Mary Hannah Samples!”

Whether you’re interested in indie, hip-hop, country, bluegrass or a little bit of everything in between, Georgia’s music scene has you covered. From diverse venues, both intimate and large, to the vibrant sounds of musicians and bands finding their sound, Georgia is alive with the rhythm of music.