2026 Ford Football Concert Series Lineup Announced

MACON – Nashville songwriter Conner Smith will be joined by fellow rising country music superstar Micah Fletcher on August 29 to kick off the popular Ford Football Concert Series lineup that was unveiled on Saturday by athletics department officials at Mercer University.

The Ford Football Concert Series, which will celebrate its eighth season in the Fall, gives Mercer Football faithful the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enjoy live music from a variety of nationally-known recording artists and local talent at Toby Town, the designated tailgating area on Black Field which is located adjacent to Five Star Stadium. Admission to all musical performances is free.

Jones County product and country-rap phenom Demun Jones will take the stage prior to Mercer's matchup with Presbyterian on September 5, while The Stews will have headliner honors on September 12 when the Bears open up defense of their back-to-back Southern Conference titles against Furman. Dani Rucker, a cinematic, folk-leaning artist, will take on opening-act duties ahead of Jones, and Macon native JB Strauss is scheduled to rock Black Field as the opener for The Stews.

Atlanta-based pop-rock artist Penelope Road will kick off pregame festivities as part of Mercer's Family Weekend contest against Western Carolina, with Mothafunka, a student band that opened Mercer's annual Bearstock event in 2025, taking on opener responsibilities. Macon product Cam Smith will open pregame festivities at Black Field on October 31, with southern rock group Bottomland headlining the pregame performances ahead of Mercer's tilt with The Citadel.

The Restless Natives, a Macon-based modern tribute band to the Allman Brothers, will put the wraps on the Ford Football Concert Series on November 21 when Mercer squares off with Southern Conference rival East Tennessee State.

Reserved-seat season tickets for the 2026 home football schedule have already gone on sale and can be purchased for as little as $75 by visiting MercerBears.com/Tickets.

Access to game day parking in the BEAR PLUS lots will continue to be based on giving levels to the Mercer Athletic Foundation. For more information about the BEAR PLUS program, e-mail maf@mercer.edu or call (478) 301-4003.

AUGUST 29 VS. EAST TEXAS A&M
Conner Smith (with Micah Fletcher)

About Conner Smith
Already a seasoned veteran of Nashville's elite songwriting community, Conner Smith has quickly become one of country music's most compelling new voices. An uncommon talent with a rare blend of prime-of-life passion and old-soul perspective, the chart-topping artist pairs his honeyed vocals with earnest emotion and timeless melodies, crafting an instant-classic sound infused with modern appeal. Moving the genre forward while honoring its all-natural roots, Conner brings grit, resilience, and heart to every song that flows from his pen. His salt-of-the-earth voice and tradition-steeped storytelling speak powerfully to a new generation, bridging eras of Country music with authenticity and soul. A true songwriter at his core, Conner Smith continues to carry the torch for Country's timeless spirit – while carving out his own unmistakable place within it. I Hate Alabama Learn From It Roulette On The Heart
About Micah Fletcher
Straight out of Gordonsville, Virginia, 21-year-old Micah Fletcher is a rising Country artist with a fresh yet familiar sound, a captivating image, and a voice that stands out in today's music scene. His style blends the heartfelt songwriting of Country hits with the energy of modern-day anthems, creating music that bridges audiences. Drawing inspiration from artists like Nate Smith and Warren Zeiders, Micah focuses on chord progressions that hit your chest and make you feel something, ensuring his songs connect on a deep level. Music has been in Micah's blood since childhood. He started out singing along to the choir at church, picked up the drums at eight, and by eleven, he was the full-time drummer at his church. By his early teens, he was playing guitar and leading worship for his youth group. Micah keeps it honest and raw, writing about love, faith, and personal struggles. His 2025 song "Like A Stone" was inspired by a family member going through a tough time, reflecting the emotions of feeling like you're drowning, like you're sinking—a feeling he himself experienced. The track has resonated with fans far and wide, garnering over 350,000 streams since its release at the end of January. His overall catalog has now surpassed 1 million streams, in addition to over 23 million views on his TikTok channel. Looking ahead, Micah's highly anticipated upcoming EP, "The Highway to Heaven" is due out this Spring and will feature some of his favorite songs to date. The Look In Your Eyes More Like Jesus Good God
SEPTEMBER 5 VS. PRESBYTERIAN
Demun Jones (with Dani Rucker)

About Demun Jones
Every corner of the country tells its own story as part of the larger American experience. Nestled in the heart of Georgia, occupying approximately 395 sq. miles lies Jones County, the place Demun Jones proudly calls home. Demun is a rapper, singer, songwriter and independent artist whose music is infused with rustic instrumentals, hip-hop fundamentals and exceptional lyricism. Demun grew up the third of six children, with two older brothers who first introduced him to the music of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and AC/DC - who he experienced as his first live concert. His mom would spin the classics of the Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Jim Croce and Jones County's very own, Otis Redding. Demun recalls, "For as long as I can remember, there was always music in our home." During the time of waiting for music videos to air on Friday evenings and building his own library of favorite artists, some of which included Tupac, Biggie, Wu-Tang Clan, and Johnny Cash, at the age of fifteen Demun began writing his own rhymes. He admits, "I couldn't sing like Otis Redding or play the guitar like Jimmy Page, but I knew I could try to rap like the Beastie Boys." After having his stereo stolen from his car, Demun would ride around tapping a beat on his window and freestyling rhymes to entertain his friends. From an early age, Demun was all to familiar with the meaning of hard work. He worked as a brick mason along side his father and brothers during the hot summer days of his school years and continued early on during the pursuit of his dreams in music. Feeling Good Backyard Lullaby Bronco
About Dani Rucker
Born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina, Dani Rucker is an indie-folk artist whose intimate songwriting and quietly captivating voice blend the warmth of Americana with modern indie pop. After moving to New York, she refined her craft as a songwriter before heading to Nashville to develop her debut project with Charleston based producer Corey Campbell. With vivid lyricism, understated production, and emotionally rich performances, Dani's music explores love, identity, and the complexities of growing up with striking honesty. Influenced by artists like Clairo, Kacey Musgraves, and Lizzy McAlpine, she has cultivated a sound that feels both timeless and distinctly her own. As she releases her debut music, Dani is establishing herself as a compelling new voice in the indie-folk space. Breadwinner Where Do I Belong My Best/Your Worst
SEPTEMBER 12 VS. FURMAN
The Stews (with JB Strauss)

About The Stews
Forming at Auburn University, The Stews ultimately decided to leave school to meet the massive demand for their live shows and raw, high-energy rock music. The now-Atlanta-based band since have graduated from the 'college band' label, selling out venues nationwide from NYC's Bowery Ballroom, to DC's 9:30 Club and Wilmington's Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, and bringing their electrifying stage presence to festival stages like Bonnaroo, Hangout, Lollapalooza, Sweetwater 420 and more in only a couple of years. Comprised of Preston Hall (Lead Vocals/Guitar), Blake Dobbs (Rhythm Guitar), Bennett Baugus (Bass), and Wyatt Griffith (Drums), The Stews burst onto the southeastern rock scene in 2021 with their self titled EP, all while recording and releasing music in a frenzy. The southern four-piece's debut album 'What Was' came out in April 2022, and 2024's follow up record 'Chicken Fight' has already taken them to new heights. A daring body of work that can't be confined to one genre, 'Chicken Fight' delivers as a single sit-through record, with its 11 songs touching on sonic palettes of The Allman Brothers, Audioslave, Pink Floyd, and Kings of Leon, amongst others, yet still uniquely The Stews. Single "Make It Out" continues to make waves, earning over 4 million streams on Spotify, and radio play nationwide. Now they're back in the kitchen continuing to push the rock genre past its age-old roots, and cooking up new recipes for high fidelity head-banging and heart-capturing music. Hourglass Make It Out Fade Away
About JB Strauss
From the alluring southern city of Macon, Georgia and a family steeped in oral tradition, JB Strauss meshes music with storytelling in effortless fashion. Influenced by the heavy, electric style of bands like The Allman Brothers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Lynyrd Skynyrd along with poetic and witty writers like John Prine, Gram Parsons, and Jim Croce, it is fitting JB borrows from the notion that 'everything that rises must converge.' Also noteworthy are the years JB spent with family and friends on Georgia's Golden Isles. His music is redolent of the intricacies and depth of life in the marshes and intracoastal waterways and leans on their life-giving elements to feed the soul when the rivers of home run murky. As JB followed in both of his grandfathers' footsteps, achieving a law degree all his own, he learned the stories hidden beneath the surface of life in the South. The musical result is an ability to deftly balance the human qualities of contradiction with spiritual redemption. "These songs are part of the foundation of who I am as a person and now as an artist," JB says. P--- Ant Hill Abilene Ocmulgee Moon
OCTOBER 10 VS. WESTERN CAROLINA
Penelope Road (with Mothafunka)

About Penelope Road
Penelope Road is here to bring real performance back. It's a goal as easy to grasp and slyly ambitious as the Georgia soul-pop band's music itself, and that mission is playing out across the country to the tune of 20,000 tickets sold in 2025 alone. "We just want people to come to a show or throw on our music and feel like they're in the '70s," says Max Moore, guitarist and one of two lead singers in the group, "where everything is happening on stage or in a studio — for real — and anyone tuning in is fully immersed in the music." Call it throwback if you like. Penelope Road won't mind. They don't disdain old-school musical values; they embrace them. They're a quintet of twenty-somethings who get visibly excited at the mention of AM radio rulers like Ambrosia and Pablo Cruise, who cover America and The Eagles at their increasingly legendary jam-heavy gigs, and who serve up a stew of perfect pop hooks, funky grooves, and sweet harmonies that'd fit into any yacht rock playlist worth its salt. The Penelope Road story starts on the Atlanta street that gave the group its name. Moore and bassist James Kopp were headquartered on Penelope Road with the rest of the initial lineup when things first got going in 2022, developing their sound amid some shabby circumstances. "We lived in an old, rickety house on the West End in the middle of nowhere. It was definitely a college house. We ran that place into the ground," says Kopp. "It was gross," Moore adds. But that house was the breeding ground for a special musical spark. And when the current band roster came to fruition the next year — including singer/keyboardist Charles Eastman, guitarist Koan Roy-Meighoo, and drummer Anthony Smith — Penelope Road moved from idea to action. With a shared musical background encompassing classic pop and rock, and a lingua franca of seminal R&B, the fellas quickly forged a sound that's instantly accessible yet powered by real-deal musicianship tooscarcely seen in modern music, on full display in their 2024 self-titled debut EP. Penelope Road started out building a grassroots following at venues in and around the city. They got a big bump up the ladder when they began posting videos on social media, including the gently funky "Out Tonight," filmed in the attic of the old Penelope Road house. Its cozy, homegrown feel quickly went viral, attracting labels, managers, and agents. Out Tonight So It Goes Chance Encounter
About Mothafunka
Their journey began with a Talent Show debut. From there, MothaFunka, a student band at Mercer University, received an invitation to open for Mercer's biggest event of the year: Bearstock. In the weeks leading up to Bearstock, the members of the band faced challenges with being students, learning new songs, and working together in a large band consisting of eight people. 2025 Bearstock Performance
OCTOBER 31 VS. THE CITADEL
Bottomland (with Cam Smith)

About Bottomland
Originally from Southeast Texas, Bottomland features Justin Gates and Cannon Brand, two singer-songwriters who were pursuing individual artist careers before forming the duo. Local performances at the same venues and on the same festival bills led to songwriting collaborations, features on their solo recordings, and ultimately to the discovery of an undeniable synergy. The duo then got to work, cutting their teeth performing at venues throughout Texas and across the US, further honing their sound. Bottomland's fan-favorite song "Over You, Over It" kickstarted their momentum, with the track racking up 7.8 million global streams and counting. Now signed to Sony Music Nashville, Bottomland is off to the races, ready to take their career to the next level. Over You, Over It Hope You Know Sorry State
About Cam Smith
One of Georgia's rising country artists, Cam Smith delivers a show packed with crowd favorites, modern country hits, and original music that keeps audiences singing all night long. After graduating from the University of Georgia and sharing the stage with artists like The Castellows, Cole Goodwin, and Kenny Whitmire, Cam is taking his music full-time, bringing authentic country sound and high-energy performances wherever he goes. The Girl Next Door Outta My Head

NOVEMBER 21 VS. EAST TENNESSEE STATE
The Restless Natives

About The Restless Natives
The Restless Natives are Macon's tribute to The Allman Brothers Band. Specializing in the early music created by the "Original 6," The Restless Natives bring a fire and energy unparalleled in tribute acts. The band was formed in 2020 by members all "native" to the Macon and middle Georgia area, and has performed dozens of festivals and special events around the southeast. Out of the many tributes there are to this great band, The Restless Natives present something unique in that they all grew up immersed in this music, and strive to create an authentic experience for the audience each night! Opening Set At The Big House Museum

2026 Ford Football Concert Series Lineup Announced

SEPTEMBER 5 VS. PRESBYTERIAN

SEPTEMBER 12 VS. FURMAN

OCTOBER 10 VS. WESTERN CAROLINA

OCTOBER 31 VS. THE CITADEL

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