Party in the Plaza: Join rock band Mad Margritt in downtown Milledgeville - The Union-Recorder (original) (raw)

Published 8:46 am Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Milledgeville Allied Arts will present Party in the Plaza, featuring a high-energy live performance by Mad Margritt on May 22.

Hailing from Atlanta, Mad Margritt delivers explosive, crowd-driven shows rooted in classic hard rock and glam metal. With decades of touring experience, they’ve shared the stage with legendary acts like Ratt, Skid Row, and Whitesnake — bringing that same arena-level energy to every performance.

The band consists of Eddie Smith on vocals, Mark Cook on guitar, Brian Kirtland on bass and Rick Shoemaker on drums. The band released its debut, “Cold Sweat” in October 1997, and before long it caught the attention of Delinquent Records who offered the band a recording contract.

In July 1999, Mad Margritt released “In the Name of Rock” on Delinquent Records. It was followed by the band’s first U.S. tour. During the 1999-2001 tour, Mad Margritt opened up shows for national acts including Ratt, Cinderella, Great White, Warrant, Slaughter, Quiet Riot, Skid Row, The Bullet Boys, Tesla, Every Mothers Nightmare and Pretty Boy Floyd. They were also featured in several national publications including Metal Edge and Spin Magazine.

While performing at the Ultra-Sound Music Conference in Las Vegas Nevada, Mad Margritt caught the eye of Perris Records president Tom Mathers. He offered the band a deal to release its next CD on Perris and added Mad Margritt to an already impressive roster. Perris Records has released and distributed cd’s by Warrant, LA Guns, Enuff Z Nuff, Ratt’s Stephen Pearcy, Pretty Boy Floyd, Helix, Love/Hate, Every Mothers Nightmare, Roxx Gang, and several others.

In June 2002, Mad Margritt was featured on the Perris Records compilation “Bon Appetite: A Tribute to the Bon Scott Years of AC/DC.” The CD also featured members of Guns ‘N Roses, Ted Nugent, Britny Fox, Dangerous Toys, Tyketto, Every Mothers Nightmare, and original AC/DC vocalist Dave Evans. Later that year the band released its next full-length project, “New Sensation,” NEW and embarked on another U.S. tour that included shows with Kiss, Poison, Whitesnake, Warrant, Slaughter, Great White, Bret Michaels and Winger.

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The band’s “Love, Hate and Deception,” hit stores on Sept. 16, 2016. It was once again released worldwide on Perris Records.

Guests for Friday’s show are encouraged to bring their own chairs and settle in for a great night of live music.

Showtime is 6 p.m. at the Black Heritage Plaza in downtown Milledgeville, 101 Floyd L. Griffin St.

Experience one of Georgia’s most electrifying rock bands live on stage.

There is no charge for admission. The show will be held rain or shine.