Drake White at the Rust Belt -- June 21.
Friday, June 21, 8 p.m.
The Rust Belt, 533 12th Avenue, East Moline IL
Acclaimed by Taste of Country as "a natural storyteller" who is "capable of reaching every single fan without pulling a muscle," country singer/songwriter and Billboard sensation Drake White headlines a June 21 concert at East Moline venue The Rust Belt, the musician an inclusion among Rolling Stone’s "10 Country Artists You Need to Know" and the recipient of the British CMA Awards’ citation for International Song of the Year.
A native of Hokes Bluff, Alabama, the 40-year-old White, as stated at AllMusic.com, "sang in the choir at his local church, and after getting a guitar at the age of 14 from a neighbor down the road who played bluegrass, he began writing and playing songs, continuing to do so while attending Gadsen State Community College and then Auburn University. After graduation, White took a job with a general contractor in Nashville, working by day and playing the song rounds at night, developing, with his band the Big Fire, a crackling and energetic stage presence that often found him freestyling lyrics in the middle of songs."
The artist's ensemble Drake White & The Big Fire opened performances for such musicians as Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tyler Bryant, and Channing Wilson, while as a solo artist, White has opened for Little Big Town and the Zac Brown Band. In early 2013, the singer/songwriter released his debut single "The Simple Life" through MCA Nashville. White subsequently signed to Big Machine Records' re-establishment of Dot Records in June 2014, and his singles "It Feels Good" (number 33 on Billboard's U.S. Country Airplay chart) and "Livin' the Dream" (number 12) released to country radio the following year In August of 2016, White released Spark, his debut album under Dot Records, and the recording rose to number four on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart.
Since then, White has released a quartet of EPs in 2018's Pieces, 2018's Drake White & the Big Fire Live, 2020's Stars, and 2023's The Bridge, with new songs including the country hits “Power of a Woman” and “Giants." Additionally, in August of 2019, White collapsed on stage due to a hemorrhagic stroke, and doctors told him he might never perform again. After undergoing a series of operations to repair his Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) and months of physiotherapy, however, he proved them wrong, embarking on his "The Optimystic Tour" to spread his incredible positivity to his fans.
Drake White plays his East Moline engagement on June 21, with an opening set by Roseland, admission to the 8 p.m. concert is $25.75, and more information and tickets are available by visiting TheRustBeltQC.com.
