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Florida Georgia Line


Tuesday will be a busy day for the guys in Florida Georgia Line.

In the morning, the country duo - Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard - will announce the Country Music Association Award nominees live from "Good Morning America" studios in New York City. Hours later, Florida Georgia Line will headline a concert at the York Fair grandstand.

It's been that kind of summer for the group, Kelley said during a recent interview before a gig at the Appalachian Fair in Tennessee. In fact, he added, the group hasn't had many days off since January.

It's been a bit of a whirlwind since the band's December debut, "Here's to the Good Times," which earned the highest sales of any other new country artist in 2012. The album featured platinum hits "Cruise" and "Get Your Shine On."

Kelley, who hails from Florida, and Hubbard, who grew up in Georgia, met at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. They were soon making music together, each bringing the flavor from his home state.

"The 'Line' is where we meet in the middle," Kelley said of the group's name. "It's where the magic happens."

The duo has continued to make magic on stages this spring and summer - supporting Taylor Swift and Luke Bryan, who headlined a 2012 York Fair show. Kelley credited both artists as inspirations.

"We're getting to learn from two of the best," he said. "There is advice every day if you just open your ears. We're out there just trying to soak it up."

This fall, Florida Georgia Line will embark on its first headlining tour. The group has already sold out a Nov. 16 date at the Tower Theater in suburban Philadelphia. It will take the stage the following night in Reading.

But for now, the guys are enjoying playing summer fairs, which draw people from far and wide.

"There is always an electric feel," Kelley said. "They are always nights you end up talking about. The fans have been continuing to blow our minds."

And Florida Georgia Line has tried to return the favor by re-tweeting fans and offering random giveaways via Twitter.

"It's a great outlet," Kelley said. "You can't connect with everyone at the show."

Fans who do score tickets to concerts should expect things to get rowdy, he added, since the band packs a party-ready setlist. And after a recent studio session, the band is plotting a pre-holiday present for listeners, Kelley said, adding that he couldn't elaborate.

That will be about a year after Florida Georgia Line dropped "Here's to the Good Times."

Kelley realized how far the group has come when it was invited to announce the CMA Award nominees Tuesday morning with Sheryl Crow.

"It's crazy because last year we were just invited (to the CMAs)," he said.

This year, the band earned New Artist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards and Breakthrough Video of the Year at the CMT Awards. So are Kelley and Hubbard hoping to see Florida Georgia Line among the CMA nominees?

"You never know," Kelley said. "That would make the morning a little bit better."

- ERIN McCRACKEN,
FlipSide staff

If you go

Country duo Florida Georgia Line will perform 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on the York Fair Grandstand, 334 Carlisle Ave., West Manchester Township. Colt Ford will open the show.

Tickets cost $39 for the pit area, $29 for plaza and center grandstand seats and $25 for side track, side plaza and side grandstand seats. Get them at the York Fair box office, by phone at 717-848-2033 and online at www.yorkfair.com. There is a processing fee for phone, mail and Internet orders.

Going to the concert? Use the hashtag #yorkfair when you tweet and take Instagram photos.

Read more about York Fair entertainment and find out whats new at the fair.

Online

Website: www.floridageorgialine.com

Twitter: @FLAGAline

Facebook: Facebook.com/floridageorgialine

YouTube: YouTube.com/floridageorgialine