Three’s Company Rising country stars reunite in Augusta for Mud and Suds Tour

For Brad Paisley, Sara Evans and Andy Griggs, it’s almost like a class reunion.

The three up-and-coming country-music performers toured with Alan Jackson back on his 1998 tour, at a time when they all were just starting out. Now they’re together again on the Mud and Suds Tour, which stops at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, at the Augusta Civic Center.

“It’s been a while since the three of us worked together,” said Griggs by phone from his home in Nashville, Tenn. “We’re going to have a blast.”

The concert series name comes from the combination of Paisley’s current single and album title, “Mud on the Tires” and Evans’ recent No. 1 hit, “Suds in the Bucket.”

Paisley is the best known of the trio, with three back-to-back platinum-certified albums, three No. 1 singles, eight Top 5 hits and multiple nominations. His hits include “Celebrity,” “Little Moments,” “I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song)” and “He Didn’t Have to Be.”

Over the course of four albums, Evans has gained three No. 1 singles, including “Born to Fly” and “No Place That Far,” as well as six Top 10 hits.

Griggs’ debut single, “You Won’t Ever Be Lonely,” went to No. 1, and he has enjoyed five Top 10 singles.

The Louisiana native most recently was in Maine in 2003 and 2001, at the Houlton Agricultural Fair and Bangor State Fair. The fair atmosphere is one that he enjoys.

“Fairs are one of the greatest venues to play,” he said. “It’s one of the most family-oriented environments you have. The vibe makes it that much more fun to play.”

Griggs is touring in support of his third album, “This I Gotta See.” The recent release is the most diverse of his career, and he credits producer Randy Scruggs for that.

“He’s a genius,” Griggs said. “He’s got such a range musically from left to right, and it matches me. The album has a dirt road muddy sound, and I think Randy helped me get that.”

Griggs had co-written eight songs for the album, but in the end, only two of his remained, as instead he chose songs by other writers.

“I didn’t move to Nashville to write music,” he explained. “I came to Nashville to sing and make the best albums I can.”

How does Griggs make songs written by others his own?

“You’ve got to believe it, or you’ve got to have lived it,” he said. “If not, then you’re lying, and that makes it hard to sing. If you can’t sing with 100 percent of your soul, then you need to do something else.”

Music has always been a kind of solace for Griggs. When his father died of cancer when Griggs was 10, he and his older brother Mason would listen to their Dad’s favorite Merle Haggard album.

Mason remained interested in music and became a songwriter and musician in a country-gospel band, while Andy turned to football. But when Griggs was 18, Mason died of a heart attack. He picked up his older brother’s guitar and began his journey in music.

Griggs has been pleased with the way his career has developed over the past eight years.

“You see these people who explode on the scene, then disappear,” he said. “When I first came to Nashville I’d always hoped to take baby steps, to make it a long-lasting career. I’ve been lucky, and I thank God every day.”

Thankful for his success, Griggs has given back to the community through charity work. He organized an annual archery tournament to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Why archery?

“I hate golf and I don’t like to play with serious golfers,” he said. “There’s a lot of hunters here. Obviously, firearms wouldn’t work with crowds, so what about archery? It’s gotten bigger and bigger every year. I can’t believe it.”

Griggs has a simple wish for the next eight years of his career.

“I want to have my guitar in my lap, whether I’m playing for free in my living room or filling out arenas,” he said. “The biggest thing in my life is that six-string guitar.”

A limited number of tickets for the Mud and Suds Tour stop in Augusta are available at the Augusta Civic Center box office, 626-2400, all Ticket Master outlets, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.