December 8, 2004

Brad Paisley, Sara Evans and Andy Griggs bring Mud & Suds Tour to Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Convocations will present country star Brad Paisley with special guests Sara Evans and Andy Griggs in the Mud & Suds Tour at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 5, in the Elliott Hall of Music.

The concert series, which is named from the combination of Brad Paisley's current single and CD title, "Mud On The Tires," and Sara Evans' recent multiweek No. 1 song, "Suds In The Bucket," launches Jan. 14. At present, this is the only scheduled Indiana performance.

"It's not often you get to do tour dates with people that you have known for as long as the three of us have known each other," Paisley says. "I'm looking forward to the fact that between the three artists, there are countless hits. And looking back on what Sara and Andy have done in their careers, I'd be tempted to be in the audience myself, cause I'd love to hear those songs, too."

Paisley released his debut album, "Who Needs Pictures," in 1999. Since then he has earned recognition as both a singer and songwriter. Paisley has earned three CMA awards, two platinum albums and the NSAI Songwriter of the Year Award. His most recent release, "Mud on the Tires," includes the single "Celebrity," which takes a humorous look at the realities of reality television.

"The thing that makes Brad such a good songwriter is he can make people cry, then turn around and have them laughing on the same record," says Grand Ole Opry member Bill Anderson.

Country artist and mother of three Sara Evans joins Paisley on tour, celebrating the success of her recent hit "Suds in the Bucket." "Restless," her most recent CD comes out as Evans' 2000 release "Born to Fly" is nearing double platinum status. "Restless" includes hit songs "Backseat of a Greyhound Bus," "Restless," and "Suds in the Bucket."

"I've been wanting to tour with Brad for a long time. I think he is such a talented artist," Evans says. "Ever since we wrote 'New Again' together for the 'Passion of the Christ' soundtrack, he and I have become friends. We are excited to hang out with him on the road."

Andy Griggs moved to Nashville in 1994 and has earned five Top Ten hits, including his debut release "You Won't Ever Be Lonely." The Louisiana native's current album, "This I Gotta See," has yielded the No. 5 hit "She Thinks She Needs Me."

"Brad, Sara and I all toured with Alan Jackson a few years ago, and I've never looked forward to a tour more than this one. It's almost like a class reunion," Griggs says.

Tickets are $34, which includes a $1 facilities fee. Friends of Convocations may order advance tickets now through 5 p.m. Monday (Dec. 13) by calling (765) 494-9712 or downloading an order form and faxing it to (765) 494-0540. Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Thursday (Dec. 16) at campus box offices and all Ticketmaster outlets. Those interested in becoming Friends of Convocations should contact Shannon Milton at (765) 494-5840.

CONTACT: Katie Hutton, Purdue Convocations marketing director, (765) 494-5045, krhutton@purdue.edu

To the News Service home page