Shawn Mullins returns to UNG for benefit concert

DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and University of North Georgia alumnus Shawn Mullins is coming home this fall for a special concert that blends music, memories and philanthropy.

Mullins, a 1991 UNG graduate, will headline a benefit concert on Friday, Oct. 16, kicking off Dahlonega’s annual Gold Rush Days Festival weekend. The performance will take place at Hoag Auditorium on the UNG campus, with doors opening at 7 p.m. and the show beginning at 8 p.m.

Joining Mullins on stage will be fellow UNG alumni and accomplished songwriters Wayne Baird (’89) and James Corbin (’02), creating an evening that celebrates the university’s musical talent and longtime traditions.

The concert will benefit the UNG Corps of Cadets Golden Eagle Band, Georgia’s oldest college marching band. Mullins is donating his performance, allowing every dollar raised through ticket sales to go directly to the Golden Eagle Band Endowment Fund. Donations are also being accepted online.

Organizers say the fundraising effort will help provide scholarships for student musicians while also supporting instrument repairs, uniforms and travel to performances. The additional funding is intended to strengthen a program with more than 150 years of history, as state appropriations alone do not fully cover its needs.

The intimate setting of Hoag Auditorium is expected to make for a memorable evening, giving fans a rare opportunity to experience Mullins in a smaller venue.

Best known for his Grammy-nominated hit “Lullaby,” Mullins has built a decades-long career as a singer-songwriter, blending folk, rock and Americana influences. His return to the Dahlonega campus offers alumni, students and music fans alike a chance to see one of UNG’s most celebrated graduates perform where his journey began.

Because seating is limited, organizers expect the concert to sell out quickly and encourage those interested to purchase tickets early.

The concert is part of Gold Rush Days weekend, one of North Georgia’s largest annual festivals, which draws thousands of visitors to downtown Dahlonega each October for live entertainment, arts and crafts, food vendors and community celebrations.