Country Artist Ben Chapman to Play Fundraiser Show in Ringgold

RINGGOLD, Ga. (WDEF) — Country music artist Ben Chapman is returning to North Georgia this weekend to put on a benefit concert.

Since moving to Nashville, the LaFayette native has been staying busy writing new songs, and playing shows in the Music City and across the country.

News 12 caught up with Ben at CMA Fest to see what he’s been up to.

Chapman moved to Nashville about four years ago to pursue a music career.

Even though he’s in Middle Tennessee now, he’s still staying involved in his hometown, playing Honeybee Festival to kickoff summer.

“LaFayette’s so awesome, and they do that every year, and we do it every year,” Chapman said. “Once June rolls around, we’re like, ‘All right, we’re headed back to LaFayette.'”

Ben says fellow LaFayette country artist Channing Wilson encouraged him to move to Nashville if he wanted to take songwriting seriously.

“He’s kind of like my musical father, for sure,” Ben said. “He’s taught me everything, and kind of how to act in crowds and, you know, just who to meet, and who to say hey to and everything. So he’s awesome.”

They even have a song together. “Things People Say” is on Ben’s first album from last year.

More recently, Ben released a new song during CMA Fest – “Is It Ever Really Gone” (featuring Ashley Monroe).

“We actually had it on Amber Sound, Vol. 1. But the way we did it, I was like, ‘I think we could redo this.’ And I have Ashley sing on it, and it’s just such a special song. So I feel like it needed a little more life. So I’m so glad it’s out.”

And Ben has big plans for the rest of 2023.

He says he’s working on a new record, which he hopes will come out by early next year.

Ben’s already opened for Lainey Wilson on her sold out Country With A Flare tour. One of the shows included a stop right here in Chattanooga.

“Just looking out and seeing people that you know, and it’s a feeling that you don’t feel very often,” Ben said. “I always love a hometown show, especially that’s sold out with Lainey, so it was awesome.”

Ben also does a lot of shows in his new home in the Music City.

He started a residency last year at The Basement called Peach Jam, with a nod to his North Georgia roots.

“We do it four times a year. We did do it once a month when we first started it, but then we got on the road so much that we were like, ‘We really don’t have time to do all this.’ So we cut it back down to four times, and it’s going to be really fun,” he said. “The jam is just for the – sometimes just how it happens. You know, we never really have a set planned. It’s sometimes we look out in the crowd, and be like, ‘Hey, get up here. Like, we know you get up here and jam.’ So it’s great. So that’s kind of where we got the name.”

On Saturday, June 24, Ben’s looking forward to being back home in North Georgia – playing at Crossroads Unity Family Park’s “Welcome to Summer” Outdoor Concert.

After that, he has a few shows in the southeast, and then he’ll head out west.

“We’re going to do a couple of festivals, and then we’re going to do a couple of co-headlining shows with my buddy Tyler Halverson, and just kind of all over the place, so wherever they’ll have us.”

The remaining shows for Peach Jam this year are September 13 and December 13 at The Basement in Nashville.

Proceeds for Saturday’s show in Ringgold will go toward an all inclusive playground dedicated to U.S. veterans.

In addition to Ben, the bands Iron Horse, Neon Moon, and Low Down Revival will also be performing that night.

You can get tickets here.