THOMASVILLE- Levi “Legend” Knop passed away on January 29, 2019, when his car was fatally struck by a speeding driver. However, his presence lives on forever through the Legend Music Festival.
The Live Like Levi Foundation will be hosting its fifth Legend Music Festival on Saturday, April 13, at the Ritz Amphitheater to honor Levi’s life, his love of music, and to raise awareness about how quickly an accident can happen. The festival will also raise money for the Levi Knop Memorial Scholarship.
According to Levi’s mother, Joy, the scholarship was originally awarded to a baseball player, but it now is given at Cairo High School, Thomasville High School, and Thomas County Central to deserving students.
The festival also raises funds for random acts of kindness the Knop family does throughout the year.
“Levi would give anyone the shirt off his back, so we perform random acts of kindness in his honor,” Joy said.
These random acts include adopting a family at McIntyre Park Middle School, where Joy teaches, each year and providing them with Christmas and other necessities throughout the year.
Joy is excited to see Saturday’s turnout, as she expects it to be one of the largest to date, due to headlining artist, Corey Smith.
Smith, a Georgia native, is famous for his song “Twenty-One,” which details his wish to be 21, while living out his life in Athens, at the University of Georgia.
The song is all too familiar to Levi’s sister, Lakin, who attended UGA and sought out Smith to perform at the music festival in honor of her late brother.
“We have a great team, but 90% of this wouldn’t have been possible without Lakin, who helped us secure Corey Smith,” Joy said.
While Smith’s music may lean toward a younger crowd, Joy reminded those interested that the Legend Music Festival is an event for families.
“Nothing would fill my cup more than to have everyone out there, while I talk about Levi,” she said.
Joy explained in the past she has tried to make Levi the forefront of the festival, but this year her goal is to make sure every artist in attendance knows Levi’s story.
“It is my heart’s desire for the bands to know his name and story before they leave that stage,” she said.
The musical guests on Saturday include Cairo High School’s Tillman Stalvey, who will take the stage at 4 p.m., followed by Will Jones. At 7 p.m. Smith’s opening act, the Michael Miller Band will take the stage before Smith pumps up the crowd at 8:30 p.m.
The gates will open at 3 p.m., where guests of all ages can begin setting up their chairs and lawn blankets. However, once in the amphitheater, there will be no re-entry. Also, only clear bags will be allowed this year.
Advanced tickets are $35, with VIP access for $150. VIP ticket sales will end on Friday afternoon. Tickets will also be available at the door for $40.
Knop hopes to see everyone in attendance and said merchandise from both the Live Like Levi Foundation and Corey Smith will be on display for purchase.
For more information and tickets, visit legendmusicfestival.ticketspice.com.