For The Outlaws, it was always about the music. For 40 years, the Southern Rock legends celebrated triumphs, endured tragedies and survived legal nightmares to remain one of the most influential and best-loved bands of the genre. Now The Outlaws return with new music, new focus and an uncompromising new mission: It’s about a band of brothers bound together by history, harmony and the road. It’s about a group that respects its own legacy while refusing to be defined by its past. But most of all, it’s about pride.

It’s About Pride is the new album from The Outlaws, a record 4 years in the making and perhaps 20 or more in the waiting. And for original Outlaws singer/songwriter/guitarist Henry Paul, it’s a hard-fought revival whose success can be measured in old fans and new music. “Because The Outlaws have been out of the public eye for so long, it’s almost like starting over,” he explains. “But because of the band’s history, we’re seeing this as a new chapter. We’ve written and recorded this album on our own terms, and we’re out to make a significant impression. What our fans loved then they still love now, because we are just as good or even better than we were. Most of all, they recognize the heart of what it is we still do.” For co-founding drummer/songwriter Monte Yoho, the journey is both bittersweet and jubilant. “I still think about the friends we made when we first came into this industry, how we struggled to define this thing that became known as ‘Southern Rock’,” Yoho says. “This new album embodies all the things we shared musically and personally, as well as the relationships we have with our fans to this day. It’s about where we’ve been, where we’re going, and why we still love to do this.”

History lesson: Formed in Tampa in 1972, The Outlaws – known for their triple-guitar rock attack and three-part country harmonies – became one of the first acts signed by Clive Davis (at the urging of Ronnie Van Zant) to his then-fledgling Arista Records. The band’s first three albums The Outlaws, Lady In Waiting and Hurry Sundown – featuring such rock radio favorites as “There Goes Another Love Song”, “Green Grass & High Tides”, “Knoxville Girl” and “Freeborn Man” – would become worldwide gold and platinum landmarks of the Southern Rock era. Known as ‘The Florida Guitar Army’ by their fans, The Outlaws earned a formidable reputation as an incendiary live act touring with friends The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Marshall Tucker Band and The Charlie Daniels Band as well as The Doobie Brothers, The Who, Eagles and The Rolling Stones. Henry Paul left after the group’s third album to form The Henry Paul Band for Atlantic Records, and later the multi-Platinum country trio Blackhawk. Over the next 20+ years, The Outlaws would experience rampant personnel changes, tonal missteps, ill-fated reunions and bitter trademark battles that left fans – not to mention Paul and Yoho – frustrated and saddened. And with the tragic deaths of co-founding members Frank O’Keefe and Billy Jones in 1995, and especially songwriter/vocalist/lead guitarist Hughie Thomasson in 2007, it was feared that The Outlaws’ trail had come to an end.

“The Outlaws were the one area of my career where I had regrets,” admits Paul. “More importantly, I think it was the one area in my career where I thought I still have something to prove. I felt compelled to stick my neck out and take a chance of putting this band back together. I knew we would be judged, but I hoped we would be judged on our abilities.” Along with founding members Paul and Yoho, the band features several of Southern Rock’s most respected veterans.  Keyboardist/vocalist Dave Robbins is a co-founding member of Blackhawk, and has written hit songs for artists that include Restless Heart, Kenny Rogers and Eric Clapton. Longtime Outlaws’ bassist/vocalist Randy Threet has performed with Trisha Yearwood, Pam Tillis and Blackhawk, and is familiar to TV audiences from USA Network’s ‘Nashville Star’. Lead guitarist Steve ‘Grits’ Grisham was a member of the Soldiers Of Fortune era Outlaws, as well as a noted songwriter whose tracks include The Henry Paul Band’s Top 40 hit, ‘Keepin’ Our Love Alive’.  Co-lead guitarist Dale Oliver is one of Nashville’s most versatile producers/songwriters/musicians and was formerly Blackhawk’s lead guitarist and bandleader for more than 10 years, co-writing their hit ‘Almost A Memory Now’.  “From the very beginning, our band had a heart,” Monte Yoho says. “And a lot of people who come out and see this incarnation of the band respond to the exact same things we used to put on that stage in the ‘70s and ‘80s.”

On that stage, the band burns hotter than ever: “The Outlaws helped define Southern Rock for me and for generations of fans,” wrote music journalist Bill Robinson in June 2012 in The Huffington Post. “Seeing them onstage with The Charlie Daniels Band, Marshall Tucker Band, Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd or countless others was, for a long time, one of the best experiences I could have. And so it was again when I saw The Outlaws play recently.” The Outlaws’ live shows – more than 150 per year – are blazing 2+ hour tributes to the band’s rich history and fiery rebirth. Classic tracks and fan favorites from the first three albums – as well as The Henry Paul Band’s definitive “Grey Ghost” – share the spotlight with songs from the new disc that are already being embraced by audiences. “I think the new songs go back to those first three classic albums, when the band was proud of its influences from country, blues and jazz,” says Billy Crain. “Plus, Chris Anderson and I have honored and maybe even stepped up the legacy of the ‘guitar army’. Fans are coming away from shows feeling a part of the Outlaws experience.”

The Outlaws are now headed back on the road, back on the radio and back into the hearts of fans nationwide. “I’m seeing this thing we’ve had for more than four decades be exposed to whole new audiences,” Monte Yoho says. “We’re having a second life as a band, and it feels better than ever. Best of all, I’m still doing it with some of the same people I’ve known for most of my life.”

“I want people to hear this album and see our show and realize that The Outlaws are back,” says Henry Paul. “Our goal is to unite the fans and bring the band back into the light. In a way, this is like a second chance at my first love. It’s about finishing what we started.” For Henry, Monte, Billy, Chris, Dave and Randy, it’s about a band of brothers who love playing their own style of rock, and who 40 years ago first got the chance to take it from Florida to the world.

For The Outlaws, it’s still about the music. And now more than ever, it’s about pride.

It’s going to be an awesome weekend.  We hope you’ll join us.

All General Admission Tickets are sold via the Print At Home option.  You must print out your General Admission Tickets from your computer or download them to your phone and bring them with you to the festival for admission.  Be prepared to show a photo ID.

All single-day General Admission Tickets are day-specific, so when ordering please make sure you indicate which day you wish to attend.

For our Ticket Polices/Info/Disclaimer, CLICK HERE.

Camping is the best way to experience Rock, Ribs & Ridges 2018.  Make a weekend of it, partying with friends old and new.  The campgrounds are only a 3-minute walk from the festival!

Buy your camping (and RV passes) now and save big!!  Prices subject to change without notice.

EXCLUSIVELY FOR OUR CAMPERS:

Friday campers-only concert.

Friday night bonfire, following the campers-only concert.

Saturday evening campers-only concert.

24-hour access to restrooms and showers.

NEW FOR 2018!  Sunday Morning Get Together

Join us on Sunday morning for:

  • Free coffee and donuts
  • Complimentary copies of The Sunday Star Ledger
  • 30-minute walking tours of the beautiful Sussex County Fairgrounds (get that blood flowing)
  • “Storytime With Howard”. Howard Freeman, founder and president of Promo 1, will regale you with stories of life in the festival business, and take your questions

IF YOU’RE THINKING OF CAMPING, PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO READ THESE IMPORTANT NOTES

Each camper must purchase either Camping With General Admission or Camping With VIP Admission.  Please don’t purchase a General Admission Weekend Pass or VIP Weekend Pass.  Those don’t include the ability to camp.

If you are bringing an RV, you must purchase an RV pass in addition to your Camping With General Admission (or VIP) Passes.  As for what qualifies as an RV, please see below.

Children ages 4 – 12 camp for free, but must have either a Children’s General Admission Pass or Children’s VIP Weekend Pass.

Choose either Campgrounds West (quieter, lots of tent camping, electrical hookups available for RV’s), or Campgrounds East (the place for the hard-core partyers).  Make your selection when you place your order.  (For a map of the campground locations, CLICK HERE.)

For more RV info, CLICK HERE.

For all the Camping Do’s and Don’ts, CLICK HERE.

Camping is the best way to experience Rock, Ribs & Ridges 2018.  Make a weekend of it, partying with friends old and new.  The campgrounds are only a 3-minute walk from the festival!

Buy your camping (and RV passes) now and save big!!  Prices subject to change without notice.

EXCLUSIVELY FOR OUR CAMPERS:

Friday campers-only concert.

Friday night bonfire, following the campers-only concert.

Saturday evening campers-only concert.

24-hour access to restrooms and showers.

NEW FOR 2018!  Sunday Morning Get Together

Join us on Sunday morning for:

  • Free coffee and donuts
  • Complimentary copies of The Sunday Star Ledger
  • 30-minute walking tours of the beautiful Sussex County Fairgrounds (get that blood flowing)
  • “Storytime With Howard”. Howard Freeman, founder and president of Promo 1, will regale you with stories of life in the festival business, and take your questions

IF YOU’RE BRINGING AN RV, PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO READ THESE IMPORTANT NOTES

If you are bringing an RV, you must purchase an RV pass.  As for what qualifies as an RV, please see below.

Then – and this is really important - each person in the RV must purchase either Camping With General Admission or Camping With VIP Admission.  Please don’t purchase a General Admission Weekend Pass or VIP Weekend Pass.  Those don’t include the ability to camp.

Children ages 4 – 12 camp for free, but must have either a Children’s General Admission Pass or Children’s VIP Weekend Pass.

Choose either Campgrounds West (quieter, lots of tent camping, electrical hookups available for RV’s), or Campgrounds East (the place for the hard-core partyers).  Make your selection when you place your order.  (For a map of the campground locations, CLICK HERE.)

For all the Camping Do’s and Don’ts, CLICK HERE.

OTHER IMPORTANT RV STUFF

An RV is any vehicle equal to or larger than a 15-passenger van.  All oversized vehicles, trailers, campers that are towed, and buses are considered RV’s.  These vehicles, if staying with us the entire weekend, need an RV Pass.

RV spots are 20′ X 40′.

20, 30 and 50-amp electrical service is available in Campgrounds East.  However, the number of 50-amp hookups is limited, so please order early.  Campgrounds West only has 20-amp electrical service.

All RV’s have access to a water spigot (gravity feed) and to the waste water dump site on the festival grounds (you empty your own waste tank). If you desire, you can make arrangements with our portable toilet company to have them pump out your waste water tank on Sunday morning, June 24.  The contact information for this service will be given to you on site at check-in.

Looking to park your RV next to your friends?  We’ll make every effort to accommodate you; there’s a place to indicate your preference when you’re buying your RV Pass.

A Miller Mezzanine Reserved Table is a fantastic way to enjoy the festival with your friends, valued employees or key clients.

Tables can be reserved for 4, 6 or 10 guests. But hurry – Miller Mezzanine Tables ALWAYS sell out.

Miller Mezzanine Tables come complete with:

  • A reserved table for 4, 6 or 10 guests
  • A close-up, unobstructed view of The Main Entertainment Stage;
  • One (1) complimentary, mouth-watering barbeque meal for each guest, courtesy of one of our bbq concessionaires;
  • T-shirt for each of your guests;
  • Free bottles of water;
  • Private restroom facilities;
  • Private cash bar – no standing in line.

All single-day Miller Mezzanine Reserved Tables are day-specific, so when ordering please make sure you indicate which day you wish to attend.