Tampa Bay’s premier philanthropic community event, the Tampa Pig Jig, will welcome three-time GRAMMY-Award winner and one of country music’s most talented and decorated male solo artists Brad Paisley to Julian B. Lane Park on Saturday, October 21. Multi-platinum singer/songwriter Riley Green, indie folk artists The Head And The Heart, folk duo Shovels & Rope, and GRAMMY Award-winning singer/songwriter Amanda Shires join him in the lineup. The event, presented by RIPA & Associates, Valley Bank, and Baldwin Risk Partners, donates proceeds to NephCure and supports its mission to find treatment and a cure for Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and Nephrotic Syndrome. The Tampa Pig Jig has become one of Tampa’s favorite fall events combining live music, games, a silent auction, and delicious food and drinks into one fun-filled day.
A group of local men founded the Tampa Pig Jig to support their friend fighting against FSGS, a rare kidney disease. Kidney disease affects more than 1 in 7 adults in the U.S., and Nephrotic Syndrome, which includes FSGS, is one of the most severe and debilitating forms. Currently, there is no cure. Since its inception, the Tampa Pig Jig has helped NephCure increase funding for critical research, growing from just three clinical trials in 2011 to nearly 60 now underway. As it enters its twelfth year, the nonprofit event has raised more than $5 million and inspired events in San Jose (Silicon Valley Pig Jig), Colorado Springs (Rocky Mountain Pig Jig), and Staten Island (1st Annual Staten Island Pig Jig).
Brad Paisley has earned his place in country music history as one of the genre’s most talented and decorated male solo artists. For more than 20 years, his songwriting and unmatched showmanship have won him numerous awards, including three GRAMMYs, two American Music Awards, 15 Academy of Country Music Awards, and 14 Country Music Association Awards, including a highly coveted Entertainer of the Year honor and recognition as the most successful CMA Award co-host in history, alongside Carrie Underwood, for 11 consecutive years. A member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2001, Paisley has written 21 of his 25 No. 1 hits and, in 2008, became the first artist to achieve ten consecutive Billboard Country Airplay No. 1 singles. The superstar’s past works have amassed nearly 5 billion career streams.
Riley Green’s musical perspective has been hailed as “Drinks-in-the-air Nineties Country at an Alabama vs. Auburn tailgate,” and that is just the type of energy fans have come to expect. Raised on the sounds of traditional Country, Bluegrass, and Southern Gospel music, the Jacksonville, AL native learned the spirit of songwriting and performing at a young age while spending time with his grandfather, Bufford Green, who ran the Golden Saw Music Hall. He fittingly shares co-writing credits posthumously alongside his two grandfathers on the 2x Platinum-certified “I Wish Grandpas Never Died.” His debut album Different ‘Round Here (BMLG Records), featured the Platinum-certified hit No. 1 “There Was This Girl,” and his Behind the Bar collection with Gold-certified “If It Wasn’t For Trucks” and We Out Here: Live followed as the 2020 ACM Awards New Male Artist of the Year has “brought Country back to its roots (Whiskey Riff). His collaboration with Thomas Rhett on “Half Of Me” earned Green his second No. 1 as he continues to deliver tracks directly to his loyal following, including his new single “Different ‘Round Here (Feat. Luke Combs).”
Acclaimed Seattle band, The Head And The Heart is fresh off the release of their fifth studio album, Every Shade of Blue, and a headlining North American Tour. Known for their introspective lyrics, the band’s 2011 self-titled debut album was certified Gold and included instant classics such as “Rivers and Roads,” “Lost in My Mind,” and “Down in the Valley.” 2013’s Let’s Be Still and 2016’s Signs of Light settled into the top 10 of The Billboard 200 album chart, with Signs of Light securing the No. 1 position on Rock Album charts, scoring the band’s first No. 1 on Alternative radio with “All We Ever Knew” and also holding the No. 1 spot at AAA for nine straight weeks. The Head And The Heart have achieved both commercial and critical success, earning recognition as one of the leading bands in the indie folk genre.
Shovels & Rope’s visceral, bold, and at times deeply personal album Manticore takes aim at idol worship, homelessness, social justice, the experience of fierce parental love, and marital strife. The album is another example of the raw and gritty songwriting that has earned artists Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst a dedicated and loyal fanbase. The duo released O’ Be Joyful more than ten years (2012) ago to critical acclaim. In the decade that followed, Shovels & Rope released six full-length albums, three collaborative covers albums (Busted Jukebox Volumes 1-3), a curated music festival in their hometown of Charleston, SC (High Water), a musical film (Shovels & Rope: The Movie) and countless dynamic live performances all over the planet.
GRAMMY Award-winning singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Amanda Shires has made an extraordinary career out of pursuing her deepest instincts and passions. Since getting her start playing fiddle with the legendary Texas Playboys at the young age of 15, she has brought her nuanced songwriting and cutting-edge originality to a series of critically acclaimed solo albums. Shires is a founder of the super group The Highwomen, whose members include Maren Morris, Natalie Hemby, and Brandi Carlile, and is also a member of GRAMMY Award-winning Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit.
Tickets for the 2023 Tampa Pig Jig go on sale this Friday, May 19, at 10 a.m. and start at $125 for general admission. This year, the Tampa Pig Jig has unveiled the Tito’s Handmade Vodka Stillhouse, an exclusive Tito’s tent area complete with lounge seating, cooling misters, and interactive experiences to sip, sit and mingle with friends. Stillhouse tickets are $275 and include entry into the event, complimentary Tito’s Vodka drinks, a meal of choice from the event’s incredible lineup of Food Row vendors, private bathrooms, and tent access. These tickets are limited, so early purchase is recommended. Children 10 and under are free and receive the same event access as the accompanying adult. To purchase tickets, inquire about event sponsorship, become a volunteer, or for general event information, please visit tampapigjig.com.
About Tampa Pig Jig
The Tampa Pig Jig is an annual fundraiser event hosted on downtown Tampa’s beautiful waterfront featuring live music, great food, a corporate BBQ competition, drinks and games. The event benefits NephCure Kidney International, the only nonprofit organization committed to supporting research, improving treatment and finding a cure for the debilitating kidney disease, FSGS (Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis) and Nephrotic Syndrome. Since its founding, the Tampa Pig Jig has raised more than $5 million, with proceeds benefiting NephCure. The Tampa Pig Jig was founded by Old Florida Federation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization made up of several local Tampa Bay gentlemen. For more information, visit tampapigjig.com.
About NephCure
NephCure’s mission is to empower people with rare, protein-spilling kidney disease to take charge of their health, while leading the revolution in research, new treatments, and care. Founded in 2000 by a group of committed patient parents, NephCure has invested more than $40 million in kidney disease research and helped create a landscape where there are now new treatments and more than 60 interventional drug trials for rare kidney diseases. NephCure is a U.S. tax exempt 501(c)(3) public charity.