Gin Blossoms, Queensryche to headline Jonesboro BBQ and Music Festival

Two iconic bands are slated to headline the Jonesboro Advertising and Promotion Commission’s Downtown Jonesboro BBQ and Music festival in September. Gin Blossoms and Queensryche will be the marquee entertainment during the two-night event.

Queensryche will perform Sept. 23. and the Gin Blossoms will perform Sept. 24 on the Ritter Communications stage in downtown Jonesboro. Morris Day and the Time, Blind Melon, Smash Mouth, FUEL, Scotty McCreery, Brett Michaels, Brothers Osborne, The Commodores, Lee Brice, 38 Special, Rick Springfield, Easton Corbin, Barrett Baber and Night Ranger are some of the other bands that have performed at the festival.

The festival also hosts the First National Bank, Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned Arkansas State Championship with over $13,000 in prize money. The Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) is the largest BBQ organization in the world. Each year, the Grand Champion is invited to the American Royal and Jack Daniels World Championship. The event includes the third annual SCA Steak Cookoff on Friday night with the grand prize of $1000 and an invitation to the SCA Championship in Houston Texas.

TKK, Hayefield, Seven Hollows, Damn Randy’s, EG Vines, JB Strauss, Johnny Hayes and the Loveseats will perform Saturday on a second stage.Food and craft vendors will be set up. The BBQ Contest, Steak Contest and Vendor applications are on the Facebook page.

Queensryche has sold more than 30 million records with hits such as “Eyes of a Stranger”, “I don’t believe in Love”, “Empire”, and “Walk in the Shadows.” The group has built a dedicated legion of fans while touring the globe alongside Metallica, Bon Jovi, ACDC, Def Leppard, The Scorpions, and currently Judas Priest. Queensryche’s 15th studio album “The Verdict” was released in 2019. The band dominated rock radio in the 90’s with a string of hits including “Jet City Woman” and “Silent Lucidity.”

“EXCITER,” a KISS tribute band will open for Queensryche Friday night along with the band Skinny Powers.

The Grammy nominated Gin Blossoms play a mix of melodic rock, pop, folk and country music. Fans around the world are very familiar with Gin Blossoms’ five-time Platinum breakthrough album New Miserable Experience, containing hits like “Until I Fall Away,” “Found Out About You,” “Hey Jealousy” and “Allison Road.” Those hit tracks were followed up by the Empire Records Platinum Soundtrack hit, “Til I Hear It From You.” In 1996, the group had hit singles “Follow you Down” and “As Long As It Matters.” The band has sold more than 10 million records. The Flatland Funk Donors will serve as the opening act along with the band Greasy Tree.