A Q&A with Mountain Music & Moonshine Headliners Keith Anderson and Tommy Townsend
As the whole city preps for a weekend of food, music, entertainment, and DRINKS, we asked folks on social media if they wanted to know anything about our headliners.
Keith Anderson and Tommy Townsend are taking the stage at GDM on July 30 for an unforgettable concert at Blairsville’s Mountain Music & Moonshine Festival.
Keith and Tommy are answering your questions on everything from cars to breakfast to their favorite North Georgia spots. Scroll to read or click a question below to jump ahead:
- Who are you listening to lately?
- What's one of your favorite things about visiting North Georgia?
- If you’re getting breakfast in Blairsville, where are you going and what will you order?
- Which made you more nervous: performing on stage or going on a blind date with Paula Abdul on the Dr. Phil show?
- What’s your favorite song to perform at your shows?
- What was your dream car growing up?
Alright y'all, who are you listening to lately?
TOMMY - Colbie Caillat, Tyler Childers, and Steve Miller Band. I met Colbie recently—she was so nice and soft spoken. She was helping cater an event we were at, taking out the trash! Her voice is so pure and her songwriting is always spot on. Tyler Childers is a great young singer that used to open for us in and around Kentucky. He's got that true, traditional bluegrass, country outlaw sound. In my opinion, you can’t go wrong there. And then of course, 1970's rock and roll icons Steve Miller Band. I love the energy and rawness of their music and songwriting.
KEITH - I've been listening to the Beatles this last month. To be honest, I never liked their music when I was growing up, but I saw The Beatles Love show in Vegas a couple of years ago and it really hit me in a completely different way. I've loved their stuff since then.
Okay Keith, what's one of your favorite things about visiting Blairsville?
KEITH - Blairsville, and the whole North Georgia Mountains, is a great area for all kinds of outdoor activities. Some really good mountain bike trails and hiking trails. It's a beautiful area!
These days when I’m not playing music, I’m riding my mountain bike. I'm honestly not sure if I love biking or playing music more sometimes!
Tommy, if you’re getting breakfast in Blairsville, where are you going and what will you order?
TOMMY - If I'm getting breakfast locally, it's usually one of two places: Hole The Wall or The Blairsville Restaurant.
At Hole In The Wall, I usually order biscuits, gravy, scrambled eggs, and crispy hash browns. If it’s a Blairsville Restaurant morning, I'll order a Mexican omelette or a sausage and egg biscuit with home fries.
When I’m making breakfast at home on any ole day, it’s always greek yogurt with peanut butter powder, nuts, and honey.
Keith, let's get personal, which made you more nervous: performing on stage or going on a blind date with Paula Abdul on the Dr. Phil show?
Ha! That's funny! Most people don't remember that.
It was on a Dr. Phil Valentine's special. I was definitely more nervous about the date with Paula! I perform on stage every weekend, so I'm used to that. But I had the biggest crush on Paula Abdul when I was in high school (As, did most of my friends) and never could have imagined actually going on a date with her! She was very sweet and genuine, but my heart was pounding out of my chest the whole time we were at dinner.
This is for both of y'all, what is your favorite song to perform live in concert?
KEITH - I love doing all the hits, but there's just something about "Pickin' Wildflowers"! I don't know if it's because it was my first hit, but there is something amazing about the crazy reaction we get every night from the audience the SECOND that opening guitar lick kicks in!
TOMMY - Wow! That's tough.. I guess it would be Southern Man on my current album.
Last question in honor of the car show at MM&M Festival, Tommy what was your dream car growing up?
TOMMY - My dream car growing up was a Corvette, which my parents bought me when I was a senior in high school. I used to love driving it way too fast over Blood Mountain—I could go from one side to the other in 10 minutes!
I guess my dream car today would be the brand new Cadillac Escalade. I'd just drive it anywhere, back and forth to Nashville a lot probably. I’ll have one before too long! And if I could slap a vanity license plate on it, it’d be HEADDOG.
Grandaddy Mimm’s Moonshine Cocktails You Can Make At Home:
