J.D. Shelburne, who has entertained UK fans before a home football game, will be in Lawrenceburg Friday night for a free concert. (Alex Otte Photo)
If you are a J.D. Shelburne fan, then Friday night you might want to be in Lawrenceburg when the country music singer — and huge University of Kentucky sports fan — has a free concert. Food Truck Friday Live at Lawrenceburg Green will include an acoustic performance by the country singer from Taylorsville starting at 7 p.m.
“It is at a venue right off Main Street that is really nice,” said Shelburne. “Just bring your chairs and blankets and make a night of it because it is free to the public. I have never played at this venue but I have done shows in Lawrenceburg before and I love it there.
“I am not quite sure what to expect crowd-wise but from what I have been told there has been a hellacious buzz about us coming. They have parking for a lot of folks, so come on and join us.”
You can count on a lot of University of Kentucky fans at the show because Shelburne always attracts a Big Blue crowd — and he says have no doubt that his infant son, Jax, is already a Kentucky fan.
“Usually about 85 to 90 percent of our fans are UK fans with maybe a few Louisville and even a few Indiana fans depending on where we are,” Shelburne said. “This state is full of Kentucky fans and I have been building my fan base over the last 10 years. Every show we play, we have more fans. We had 10,000 in Taylorsville earlier this summer, so that’s why I am expecting a good crowd Friday. Hey it is the home of (former UK basketball star) Jimmy Dan Conner.”
Shelburne also has big expectations for UK football — and hopefully UK basketball after last year’s 9-16 debacle.
“I am a die-hard basketball fan but I love football, too,” Shelburne, who recently released his new album “Straight From Kentucky,” said. “All the chatter I have been hearing about basketball is that he (coach John Calipari) has a plan and it sounds to me like he does based on what he’s done since last season ended. But I am high on football right now.”
His workload is on a high right now also. He recently opened for ZZ Top and is booked solid in September and has shows coming up in Missouri, the Kentucky State Fair, Belle of Louisville, Eastern Kentucky University and Madison, Ind., the hometown of his wife, Amy.
He’ll be back home in Nashville Sunday to play on one of the main stages before the Music City Grand Prix, an IndyCar Series race on the Nashville street circuit.
“I have no idea what to expect,” Shelburne said Tuesday while he was at the credential office trying to get his band’s credentials. “Qualifying is Saturday, then the race is Sunday. It could get crazy with all the folks coming in.”
