Hootie & The Blowfish Give Back During Charleston's Annual Homegrown Concert

Charleston, SC. (Top40 Charts/ ResortQuest) - Two-time Grammy Award-winning Hootie and the Blowfish return to the Charleston area for their annual Homegrown Concert on Friday, August 15 at the Family Circle Magazine Stadium on Daniel Island. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring school supplies to the show which will be donated to local schools. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. and the concert begins at 8:00 p.m. with opening act Josh Kelley.Tickets range from $25.00-$38.00 and can be bought at ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster Charge-by-Phone (843) 554-6060, local Publix outlets, or weekdays at the Family Circle Tennis center ticket office.

Originally inspired by the band's desire to do something about budget cuts in education, the Homegrown concerts help raise awareness of the needs of schools in the local community. Since its conception in 2003, the concert series has expanded to include a 24-city tour, helping to raise funds and donate supplies to schools in each community.

The band, made up of lead vocalist/guitarist Darius Rucker, Mark Bryan, Dean Felber, and Jim Sonefeld first met up as freshmen at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. By the time they graduated, they had built a strong local following which later exploded into stardom in the 1990's with hits like "Hold My Hand," "Let Her Cry" and "Only Want To Be With You".
Rucker's rich, gutsy baritone is the driving force behind the group's crossover success, appealing to rock, folk, country, blues, pop and R&B fans alike. Their debut album, Cracked Rear View, is one of the best selling albums of the 1990's, going platinum sixteen times and establishing them as a musical force to be reckoned with.