JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The southern rockers of Jacksonville's own Lynyrd Skynyrd will come home to play their final concert in September. The band's Johnny Van Zant and Rickey Medlocke took the stage at the Jaguars' annual State of the Franchise presentation, saying they were both born and raised in Jacksonville and would be proud to play their final concert in their home town.
The final stop on that tour will now be Sept. 2 at what will then be TIAA Bank Field, the Jaguars announced. Walking outside the stadium after the big announcement, Van Zant and Medlocke enjoyed a special moment when they saw their concert flyer posted on the jumbo stadium South End Zone scoreboard.
"It can’t get any better than that for it to be able to culminate here with a celebration like that; it’s going to be great," Medlocke said.
The concert, which will be the first at the stadium since 2015, will also feature Kid Rock and Jason Aldean, along with other "special guests" to be announced later. Van Zant said the acts will all be a mix of country and rock, because "that's what Lynyrd Skynyrd is all about."
In addition to performances, the all-day, all-night event will also include food trucks, games and more.
Original member Gary Rossington joined by Van Zant, Medlocke, Mark “Sparky” Matejka, Michael Cartellone, Keith Christopher, Peter Keys, Dale Krantz Rossington and Carol Chase are ready to rock their hometown of Jacksonville.
Rossington said that they are excited to have friends Jason Aldean and Kid Rock join them in their hometown of Jacksonville. “Playing where the band got its start all those years ago is always special but having these guys with us makes it even sweeter. We can’t wait to rock EverBank Field!”
Medlocke, 68, said he was still living in Jacksonville when the league announced the city would be getting an NFL team.
“I just thought that was just the baddest thing I'd ever heard in my life: 'Wow, Jacksonville's going to have an actual NFL team,'” Medlocke said. “I am so proud of this town. … I'm just proud to be a part of Jacksonville. Proud that I was born and raised here.”
Medlocke said he and Van Zant have talked about getting a chance to finally go to some of the team's games now that things are winding down for the band and they won't be touring after September.
“My brother and Gary and Alan Collins started this band a long time ago,” Van Zant said. “We are on our farewell tour. It’s time to wrap it up. To be able to play Jacksonville, here, with the Jags, come on. It doesn’t get any better than that.”
Tickets for the Labor Day weekend concert, which is the final one slated for the Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour, are now on sale. Get them before they are sold out.
For information on upcoming dates and to purchase tickets, visit www.lynyrdskynyrd.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
