The Friends of White Bluff, Inc., a local 501(c)3 non-profit philanthropic organization is once again sponsoring the White Bluff Arts and Music Festival, which they initiated last spring. The event will take place on May 27, from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on the grounds of the Bibb-White Bluff Civic Center.
“For our first one we were very pleased with the response,” said Jeff Martin, Board Chair, Friends of White Bluff, Inc. “Outdoor festivals are always so dependent upon the weather. Last year we had a beautiful day and we hope for the same this year.”
Last year the organization estimated that between 800 and 1,000 folks came to the event. There were approximately 20 art vendors participating last year and four musical groups.
All types of music will be offered at the festival. This year there will be five local groups/individuals performing. The music will kick-off at 11:30 a.m. with Sally Barris. At 12:50 p.m., Kenny Durham will take the stage. Jason Sutton will perform at 2:10 p.m., and Paul Jefferson at 3:30 p.m. Jonathan Wells will close out the performances at 4:50 p.m.
Sally Barris is a Nashville singer-songwriter who has had songs covered by such top-level artists as Kathy Mattea, Martina McBride, and Lee Ann Womack. Her song “Let The Wind Chase You”, recorded by Trisha Yearwood and Keith Urban, received a Grammy nomination for vocal collaboration in 2009. Her voice has been described as an expressive mountain soprano. Sally also performs with Templeton Thompson and Sam Gay in a trio called “The High Lonesome Dreamers”. The Minnesota native has performed at the New Bedford SummerFest, Wildflower Arts & Music Festival and The Kerrville Folk Festival. In 2021, Sally released her new album “Grasshopper Mile”.
Unique is the best way to describe Kenny Durham. He has a distinctive handlebar mustache, wears tall boots, a cowboy hat, and looks like an old West poet. He sings a wide variety of musical styles, including rock, bluegrass and some oldies. He has performed with George Jones, The Charlie Daniels Band, and Barbara Mandrel, to name a few. He has also written music, including “Fireworks” for Alabama and “Goodbye, John” as a tribute to John Denver, who has been a lifelong influence.
A native of South Carolina, Jason Sutton is the Stage Director of Hank Williams, Jr. Enterprises. He has also performed with his brother, Mark, as part of the country duo, Brother Trouble. They were a staple at The Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville for many years after winning Kenny Chesney’s Next Big Star competition in 2009, and they opened for Chesney for four of his shows on the Pirates & Poets tour. Their debut video Summer’s Little Angel recently premiered on GAC (Great American Country) in 2011. Having played music since being a small child, he knows his way around a guitar.
Originally from Woodside, California, Paul Jefferson is an American country music artist. He charted in the 1990s on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles and Tracks Chart. He has had his songs recorded by Keith Urban, Buddy Jewell, and he co-wrote Aaron Tippin’s number one hit, “That’s as Close as I’ll Get to Loving You.”
Jonathan Wells describes himself not as a singer, but as a “Warrior Poet.” His parents surrounded him with music as a child, and he learned to play the piano, saxophone, flute and guitar. While he grew into a musician, he also heard the call of the warrior and after moving to Nashville from his home in Concord, North Carolina, he joined the Tennessee National Guard. It changed his life and his views on songwriting.
“I think a song needs to be more than just a formula if it’s going to move somebody,” Wells said on his website, “more than verse-chorus-verse and we’re out. It’s not that simple, and that’s what a lot of the songs I hear on the radio are; just formulas. My goal is to craft a song that the listener’s own story can fit into, but one that’s still vague and clever enough that it makes you really think, too. The song is just the framework. I want to give listeners that rich moment, when you just feel it, and you know you’ve been there.”
This event is free and open to the public. There will be food available from Morgan Chandler of One 19 Brew and Desert Rose Cantina, both Dickson favorites. Chandler will be here “slinging delicious grub and serving locally crafted beer.” There will be hot dogs and such for the kids as well.
Parking will be available at the Bibb-White Bluff Civic Center with overflow parking at the adjacent Dickson County Health Department – White Bluff Branch and the White Bluff Firehall. Adjacent parking lots are connected to the Bibb-White Bluff Civic Center complex via sidewalk.
“Being Memorial Day weekend, there will also be a special Veteran’s display area inside the Bibb-White Bluff Civic Center,” said Martin. “We encourage everyone to come inside and pay their respects to these local heroes.”
Friends of White Bluff is focused on facilitating the economic development, historic preservation, cultural enrichment and life-long learning for the community of White Bluff, Tennessee.
The Bibb-White Bluff Civic Center is located at 1054 Old Charlotte Rd., White Bluff, TN 37187.
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