Brantley Gilbert says he won't sing about anything he hasn't been through himself, and that's why people are drawn to his music.

The new Southern rock style that Gilbert pumps out nightly at shows all over the South tells stories of his life and growing up in Jefferson.

"We call it new Southern rock; it's got a little bit of country in it," Gilbert said. "We'll play some old stuff, some new stuff; we'll try to mix it up and let everybody know what we are working on, what we've done and where we're at."

Currently the Brantley Gilbert Band is recording a follow up to their first album, "A Modern Day Prodigal Son." It includes popular singles like "My Kinda Party", "G.R.I.T.S." and "Whenever We're Alone."

"The first album ... I wrote all of those by myself," Gilbert said. "It was kind of a themed album and told a story about my younger years and being in high school and things, all the way up to my first couple years of college. And this one is going to pick up right where that one left off."

Gilbert said he's been working with Rhett Akins in Nashville, Tenn., along with some other big names, to put out the record.

"I think there's an influence in a lot of the stuff we are doing ... from growing up and changing a little bit."

Along with Gilbert, who performs lead vocals and plays guitar, members of the Brantley Gilbert Band include John Merlino on lead guitar, bass player Jonathan Waggoner, Jess Franklin on rhythm guitar, keyboard and background vocals and drummer Ben Sims.

The Brantley Gilbert Band will be playing on Saturday in Gainesville as part of the John Jarrard Foundation series of concerts. The foundation has put on one annual concert in Gainesville, but they have added more concerts to their series this year.

The foundation is working on details for a summer concert with dates to be announced, and the main benefit concert will be Sept. 24 at Brenau's amphitheater.

But for Saturday night, folks can gather at the amphitheater when doors open at 6:30 p.m. Allen Nivens will open for Brantley Gilbert at 7:30 p.m. All seats are general admission and guests are welcome to bring chairs, blankets and small coolers.

Gilbert said fans should be prepared to have a great time at the show.

"I guess we do it like we do everything else - wide open," he said.