South Carolina’s own Darius Rucker comes to Anderson for the Southern Fried Circuit charity concert.
Darius Rucker is very vocal about his love for his home state of South Carolina.
Born in Charleston, the three-time Grammy Award winner has traveled the world as the frontman for the rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, whose album Cracked Rear View has sold more than 21 million copies. Lately, he’s been traveling the world as a multi-award-winning solo country artist, but he’s quick to point out his affinity for sweet tea, Southern hospitality, country roads, and his beloved Carolina Gamecocks. As he’s stated in song, no matter where he is, he’s always in a “Southern State of Mind.”
The 57-year-old says he is “absolutely” thrilled to return to the stage in the Palmetto State as the headliner for Southern Fried Circuit, which benefits The Upcountry Fiber Foundation. The foundation exists to create stronger connections between local organizations that help people in need and local grassroots organizations that provide help across the Upstate in the areas of education, youth services, and health and human services.
“Any time I’m back in South Carolina, it’s a good day,” Rucker says. “We’re lucky to have incredible fans all over the world and to have played some incredible places over the years, but there is just something special about a hometown show.”
Focus on Philanthropy
The fact that the Southern Fried Circuit concert is a fundraiser is not lost on Rucker. Philanthropy is an extremely important part of his life, a passion instilled in him by his late mother, Carolyn. “My mom was a nurse at MUSC and was always doing everything she could to help people,” he says. “She taught me that no matter how much or how little you have, you should always be looking for ways to support others who need help. Philanthropy was important to us from the earliest days of Hootie and it’s something I still prioritize now.”
In 2021, the guitarist and father of three invited 1,000 frontline workers in the Lowcountry to a free beachfront concert. A couple hundred of those free tickets were reserved for MUSC employees, as Carolyn Rucker worked for MUSC for more 30 years.
The avid golfer has also raised millions of dollars for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through his annual Darius & Friends benefit concert and golf tournament, and he is an advocate for multiple charitable causes that support education and youth programs.
Philanthropy is just one of the many things that Darius credits to his mother. He reminisces back to his youth and his love for soul music, and talks of one particular musical legend whose vocals captivated him. “My mom always had Al Green records playing and all I wanted in the world was to be able to sing like him. And then my siblings and cousins would play the R&B and hip-hop that was popular at the time. I grew up surrounded by all kinds of music. We had an old radio and WSM (Opry Nashville Radio) was one of the only stations we could get to come in on the dial, so I’d listen to the live Grand Ole Opry show every week, and that fostered my love for country music. I really did listen to everything.”
Since that time, Rucker has become one of the most beloved faces and talents in country music. He has a reputation for being just as kind as he is talented. On the horizon for the rest of the year: a new album titled Carolyn’s Boy. A single, “Fires Don’t Start Themselves,” inspired by classic ’90s country, has already been released, and the Starting Fires tour kicked off in June.
He saved the date for Southern Fried Circuit, which has created quite a buzz in his home state. But no one is more excited about it than the headliner himself. “Music has always been one of the best ways to bring people together,” he says. “When we’re onstage and feeding off the energy from the fans, and able to give that energy back to them, there’s nothing like it. We can all forget about anything else going on during that time and just enjoy the connection.”
You Can Go
Southern Fried Circuit will take place on July 28 at the Civic Center of Anderson and will also feature country music artist Lindsay Ell.
William A. Floyd Amphitheater, Civic Center of Anderson, 3027 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Anderson
General admission, $75
6pm, doors open; 7:30pm, Lindsay Ell; 8:45pm, Darius Rucker
Fact File: Darius Carlos Rucker
