Dierks Bentley Fans React to Miles and Music For Kids Record-Breaking Event

Dierks Bentley had plenty of reason to smile big, in awe of the crowd on September 28, 2014.  He broke his own record Sunday, raising $335,479 for the kids at Monroe Carrell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, in Nashville, Tennessee. That topped the 2013 amount of over $307,000.

The Miles and Music For Kids celebrity motorcycle ride and concert marked his ninth year and more than $2.6 million for the kids all total.

This year, a pre-event creative campaign gave a jump start to the annual fund-raiser with, Riser bird flockings and "flock" insurance.

DB Congress (fan club) reps were feeling a mix of emotions-reverence, respect, and pride for our DB Congress president and all he has accomplished because of  his huge heart! He truly does 'give it all he has to give,' to borrow a line from "Up On The Ridge." Many of them shared their most memorable moments below, happy to support him and the kids in this worthwhile event.

I loved it when he gave a shout out to George Jones' wife, Nancy, (who was watching from a roof top building) and talked about how he influenced him.  When he gave a shout out to DB Congress for being there and mentioned Riser birds and the pilots in the crowd, I know my friend Jessica and I were proud to be part of congress and we were repping our pilot outfits! It was fun having people ask us for pictures and why we did it.  Loved Dierks' reaction to the total dollar amount raised! I honestly thought he was gonna cry. - Adrian Taylor, NC

It was my first MM4K. I loved everything. The way people from all over the country gathered to support Dierks and his cause was amazing. Dierks had so much positive energy and it radiated to the crowds.  I will make this a definite annual trip!  I just love my DB Congress buddies. Best fan club ever! - Brandy Knight, MS

My two favorite parts were when he presented the check to the hospital and his intro to "I Hold On." That story never grows old. The truck, the guitar with George Jone's autograph....awesome when a superstar remembers and appreciates where they came from. Class act, DB!
- Greg Birkmann, MO

Watching Dierks hang out with his peers side stage is always fun, you know he's having a blast. It really does feel like CMA fest, except the weather is better and you know your money is going towards something worth while! - Takara D., MO

I love seeing the families of Dierks, Dude Inc., and the guests. The fact that the event is family-oriented makes it all more special. Here is a great pic that I love.  - Meredith Mauer, SC

Brian Layson (lead guitar) and his kids

Funny thing though... Moses was trying to take pics or videos of dad, Brian Layson! He was so focused! - Kristin Houghland, IN

Dierks is one of a kind! He has a heart of gold and appreciates his fans! He knows without the fans he wouldn't be where he is today! Proud to be a member of DB Congress and a long time fan! 

- Lee Ann Boyle, NE

My favorite part was that he acknowledged that we had been with him on the road the last four days. He knows when we are there! - Sandra Grubb, NC

I love how excited he is about playing in Nashville, not only that but the joy he gets from giving back to people. He's such a humble, great guy! I also loved how he brought his mom along with him! 

- Katie Prater, TN

I love both making new friends and meeting up with "old" friends. Traveling alone isn't so bad when you know your DRT friends will be there. Picking them up from the airport and sharing a favorite spot for lunch is especially fun. For me, Saturday night's Indy concert was the first time D never seemed to know I was at a show. Knowing he's gotten so big that so many people are there to see him and that he is so in the moment of entertaining and enjoying every minute of it is bittersweet. Seeing him on Sunday at the dealership saying quick hellos to everyone, getting a hug and a how are ya... Always great. When I told him awesome show last night, he looked at me and questioned "you were there?" I think he felt bad for not having seen me, and yet you could tell he seemed humbled that fans would drive such distances to attend multiple shows back to back. He's the real deal folks! 

- Kristin Houghland, IN

Two highlights for me were the check presentation and his shout out to us for following him for four shows in a row. -Kathy Butler, IN

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

David Mattingly, DBC rep in Kentucky, coordinated the annual pre-party for MM4K9. They had dinner/drinks and some card signing at Joe's Crab Shack in downtown Nashville Saturday night before the ride/concert on Sunday.   Reps brought with them some 'Get Well' cards for the children at Vanderbilt. "This is a huge hit and the hospital staff appreciates and acknowledges our efforts," David posted.

Each rep and each of the 176 get well cards received a Dierks Bentley guitar pick from the current Riser Tour. Janet Marlborough flew in from California to help sign cards and posted this photo:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Storme Warren, Sirius XM The Highway (Master of Ceremonies) and Ricky Kelley, Harley-Davidson of Columbia tell the crowd all the many states and Canada that all the riders came from!

Special Guests

Eric Close (Teddy on ABC's Nashville)

Chip Esten (Deacon on ABC's Nashville)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

People magazine captured Dierks and baby boy Knox (who turns one on 10/9) and Dierks and his mom, Cathy, who rode on the back of his bike with him to the Riverfront

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The music

Dee Jay Silver warmed up the crowd, followed by Riser Tour opener, Jon Pardi

Randy Houser, backed by Dierks band, wowed us. Then finished his set solo, with a goose-bump version of "Like A Cowboy"

Steve Misamore, Cassady Feasby

Tim Sergent, Dan Hochhalter

Kip Moore performed a moving acoustic rendition of "Hey Pretty Girl" after several of his hit songs with Dierks's band backing him.

Chris Young couldn't say enough good things about Dierks, after being on the Riser Tour with him, then launched into his power ballads

And the main man....Dierks!

Dierks said he saw a lot of fans in the audience that came to show after show and he was always trying to find something to make the same show a little different and special for them.  One way he thought was to sing his new single, "Say You Do":




-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


It is about the money... "We've come a long way from passing a Gatorade bucket around with Dalton."



Guess all that pre-event flocking helped boost the total!



And the final bow...the "I'm not worthy" bow...(yes you are!)

And one final with Brian Layson's son Moses!

We can't wait for #MM4K10 to set a new record again!

Grace, The Happy Intern, Gets Surprised by Dierks Bentley

Grace Lenehan is a long time member of the Dierks Bentley Congress, representing Ohio.  But this summer she interned for Sirius XM The Highway and on her last day, Storme Warren surprised her with getting Dierks to stop by the studio on August 14.

Grace found an emotional connection with Dierks's music after watching him perform Long Trip Alone on the Opry on GAC TV in 2006.

Right before he played the song he said, “I don’t know if you’re the praying kind, but if you are, make this your prayer tonight.” I realized that listening to the song in that way put an entirely new meaning on it, and it really hit me hard.  Many artists have music that have said something to me...but Dierks’ music was the first one to really hit me in the face and make me fall in love with country music.

During his visit to The Highway, Dierks did an on-air interview with Storme, who will also be hosting Dierks' Miles and Music For Kids event in Nashville, September 28 at the Riverfront.  Dierks admitted that DB Congress flocked his yard and Storme mentioned Grace was a DB Congress member and she told him she had been to a few Last Call Balls "back in the day."  I had the pleasure of meeting Grace and her mom Carrie at Last Call Ball in 2009.

At the end of the interview, Dierks said he would be filming his next video that weekend for "Say You Do," so I think it's safe to say that's the next single!

Grace was so surprised by his visit, she said that her summer was "complete" and tells how much Dierks and his music means to her in this blog.  She also got a chance to tell Dierks he was one of the artists that got her into country music, and Dierks thought that was the best compliment!

You can listen to the 20 minute audio of the interview with Dierks here.

One of my favorite parts of the audio is toward the end when Dierks reminds everyone again that Grace is a part of the DB Congress.  That emotional connection keeps us fans for life!

Ronna
DB Congress Chair (FL)

Buy Your Own Flock! Dierks Bentley's Riser Bird Movement for Kids - Not just for Nashville Residents

They say birds of a feather, flock together.  DB Congress is Dierks Bentley's flock, and he needs our help! 

If you can't be at the ninth annual Miles and Music For Kids this year (September 28), or you just want to give more support to the kids at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, you can buy your own flock and decorate your own yard--even if you don't live in Nashville!

All awareness and support is appreciated!  Let's hit this campaign hard and help our president (Dierks) donate his biggest check ever! That mean's "rising" above last year's record breaking $307,296.

Here's an idea.  If the $80 for a flock of 8 Riser birds is a little out of your donation range, ask family and friends to share in the cost with you!

Let's land these birds all across the DB Congress Rep world!  Send us your pictures of the birds in your yard and we'll post them!  We'll even give away some DB autographed items.  Email us your photo and you'll be entered to win!  Email us at dbcongress@yahoo.com.

To buy your own flock CLICK HERE.

Please flock it forward.  Share this post on Facebook, and Retweet it!

Riser Bird Flocks Nashville; Announces 9th "Miles & Music For Kids" on 9/28/14

Flocks of Riser Birds began descending on Nashville this week to help announce country music star Dierks Bentley's ninth annual "Miles & Music for Kids" celebrity motorcycle ride and all-star concert scheduled for Sun., Sept. 28 in Nashville, TN.   Randy Houser, Kip Moore, Jon Pardi  and Chris Young have been tapped as the first artists to take part in the event, which has raised over $2.5 million to date for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the country.

Presale tickets are available beginning tomorrow, July 9 on www.dierks.com and general public tickets go on sale this Fri., July 11 at 10:00A CT.

"The Riser bird symbol we've been using to represent this album has really come to mean something to my fans.  I've been hearing stories about it on the road, people are getting tattoos of it.  It's a symbol of strength and resilience, and I think it's perfect to extend into what we do for Miles & Music, especially when we are talking about the history of the event, the bikers and fans who come out every year to support it and most importantly, the children and their families being treated at Vandy. ” said Bentley. “The Riser Bird Movement that started this week is a cool way to get the community involved in a deeper way and earlier this year….it's been fun to see it start to spread across town." 

This year’s annual event will once again begin at the Harley Davidson of Columbia (1616 HarleyDavidson Blvd., Columbia, TN) for an hour-long ride that ends downtown at Nashville’s Riverfront Park. From Riverfront, Bentley will take the stage for a family-friendly day of music with a lineup that will continue to grow as the event approaches.

Fans can purchase a combo ticket for the ride and concert for $50 or individual concert tickets for $30. Special VIP packages and student tickets are also available. This month, Nashville residents can “Flock It Forward” at www.dierks.com/riserbirdmovement by sending Riser Birds to their friends, also benefitting “Miles & Music.” All proceeds from both events will benefit Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, a Children's Miracle Network Hospital. For more ticket info, visit www.dierks.com.

Need flocking protection? Flock insurance protects your yard from being flocked!

About Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt:
 Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, a freestanding hospital dedicated to serving only children, is nationally recognized as a leading provider of pediatric health care services. Experts treat and work to prevent all health issues ranging from common childhood conditions to serious, advanced diseases. Featuring Centers of Excellence for the treatment of diabetes and congenital heart disorders, Children's Hospital also operates the region's only level 1 pediatric trauma unit and a neonatal intensive care unit with the highest designated level of care. In addition, Children's Hospital is a top-level teaching and research facility. No child is denied care on basis of limited ability to pay.