ARF

DIERKS BENTLEY TO ‘COME A LITTLE CLOSER' AT CHAIFETZ ARENA ON JANUARY 17 FOR TONY LARUSSA'S ARF'S STARS TO THE RESCUE BENEFIT CONCERT

TICKETS GO ON-SALE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18 AT 10 A.M. AT METROTIX.COM

(St. Louis, MO - December 15, 2009) Country superstar Dierks Bentley illuminates Chaifetz (SHAY-fetz) Arena at Saint Louis University as Tony LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation brings their Stars to the Rescue benefit concert on Sunday, January 17 at 6:30 p.m.  Missouri-native David Nail and rock group Lovehammers are also scheduled to perform.

Tickets are $27, $37 and $52 and go on sale on Friday, December 18 at 10 a.m. at MetroTix.com, the Chaifetz Arena Box Office, MetroTix outlets at select Schnucks and Macy's stores, and charge by phone at 314-534-1111.  Proceeds from Stars to the Rescue will benefit Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation as well as many animal rescue organizations in the greater St. Louis area.

Dierks Bentley has been on "Fire" this past year with his February 2009 release of Feel That Fire.  With two singles off that album and his vast catalog, Bentley has now hit the Billboard Hot Country charts with 12 singles and seven number one hits. These number one songs include "Come a Little Closer," "Settle for a Slowdown," "What Was I Thinkin'," "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)," "Every Mile a Memory" and "Feel that Fire" and "Sideways" off his new album title track.  Bentley won the 2009 CMT Award for Performance of the Year for his live show, which is filled with high energy and audience interaction.

Bentley heads into 2010 with a Grammy nomination for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals with Patty Griffin for "Beautiful World."  His mix of bluegrass and modern country stemmed from his college years in Nashville sneaking into popular and underground clubs. This provided him a foundation to write on and he quickly started his career in those very clubs. Bentley became successful through his devotion to music, not on formal lessons or trying to be the popular artist. 

Joining Bentley will be fellow country artist and Missouri native David Nail. Nail just released his debut album, I'm About to Come Alive, and hit the country charts at number #7 with his single "Red Light". This album includes tracks that are co-written by Kenny Chesney and Rascal Flatts' lead singer Gary LeVox.

Lovehammers will add variety to the stars featured in this lineup coming from a grunge and punk rock background. The Chicago-based quartet released their latest album, Heavy Crown, this past July. Lead singer, Marty Casey, is best known from his appearance in the popular reality television show Rockstar:INXS in 2005.