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Travers Brothership live at The Hummingbird in Downtown Macon
Bragg Jam 2017 in Downtown Macon
The last Saturday of July is Macon, Georgia's ultimate summer music festival where, rain or shine, 80+ bands take on 20+ stages and put on one unforgettable shows after another in a jam-packed, country, rock, blues, electronic and soul-infused night. But the Bragg Jam Festival isn't just for live-music lovin' night owls. During the day, Bragg Jam's Arts @ the Park hosts a free daytime event where families are invited to create, perform and play in the heart of the city. The event features art, food and beverage vendors, live music and community performances and nature-oriented activities. As the sun goes down, Bragg Jam's signature Concert Crawl is already geared up, featuring 56 live music performances at a variety of Macon hotspots, with free trolley service throughout the night. In addition to bars and theatres, there are all-ages performance venues that are smoke-free and family friendly. Admission to the Concert Crawl gets you an armband that gives you access to all participating venues! Bragg Jam donated a portion of this year's net proceeds to the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail, the Cox Capitol Theatre and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame's M.I.K.E. (Music in Kids Education) program. Inspired by late musicians and brothers Brax & Tate Bragg and operated as a 501(c)3 under a volunteer board of directors, as of 2010 the festival has contributed over $150,000 of its net proceeds to charitable organizations.
New Mantra Live at The Hummingbird in Downtown Macon
Named for its hometown of Athens, GA, the famed birthplace of some of the most celebrated names in music, “Athens” is one of the newest bands that’s got this town in a frenzy. The members, all younger than 17, are well on their way to establishing themselves as an incredible force of pure rock. Headed by 16-year old vocalist and rhythm guitarist Chase Brown, they’ve come a long way from their early days of playing sidewalks and parties. Along with 17-year-old Zak “Blond Blur” Smith ruling the drums, 17-year-old Justin Granados killing it on the bass, and 14-year-old lead guitarist Beau “Monkey” Anderson leaping, writhing, and shredding away in true rocker form, “Athens” has gathered quite a following. As well-loved performers and often headliners in the scene, these guys give their fans an unbelievable mix of impressive original songs as well as awesome covers of rock classics, and they keep getting better and better, entrancing the whole crowd as they take over every stage they play. Over the past few years, “Athens” has drawn the interest of several big names in the industry. Veteran rocker Carl Jah of Dread Zeppelin heaped praise upon the band, offering to write their song “Roll On” for their first album. Steve Taylor, lead guitarist for Bill Gentry of Wild Bills fame and 80s band The Blondz, was completely wowed by the boys and chose to help produce their upcoming CD which is due out by the end of the year. The band’s newest original songs are already blowing audiences away, and fans are sure to be thrilled with the release of this album. Helped along the way by members of countless bands including Back N Black, HOLDCELL, and Mad Margritt of Atlanta, “Athens” has established itself throughout the state, and there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that a record deal will soon be in the cards for these guys. They are eternally grateful for all of the support, encouragement, and praise they’ve received over the years, and truly, they’ve only just begun. It’s certainly not about the novelty of their youth anymore. “Athens” just simply rocks!
Sarah Shook & The Disarmers w/ Greco live at The Hummingbird in Downtown Macon
Sarah Shook & The Disarmers are a country band with a sneer, a bite, and no apologies. Shook's original songs take on the usual country spin on shitty relationships, bad decisions, and excessive alcohol consumption for damn good reasons. Songs with self-explanatory self-deprecation, "Fuck Up", tangled in with a portrayal of a doomed relationship dripping with sarcasm,"The Nail", are bastioned by the subtleties of a bar patron considering taking a chance on a stranger in title track, "Sidelong". When Shook's first band, Sarah Shook & the Devil, broke up after a solid three year plus run, Shook and her guitarist, Eric Peterson, continued to meet, practice, and plan. In late 2013 they put together brief stint called The Dirty Hands which ended after a handful of shows. The project they were looking for soon arrived with the addition of former Two Dollar Pistols frontman, John Howie Jr., (now frontman for John Howie Jr. & the Rosewood Bluff) as drummer. Sarah Shook & the Disarmers was born. Shook and chief engineer of Manifold Recording Studios, Ian Schreier, had worked together some years before when he supervised intern Mario Bianchi recording the Devil's seven song EP simply titled, Seven. Shook and Schreier had been discussing creating a full length album together for an age and, finally, during the first weekend of April, 2015, it happened. After nearly a decade of playing solo or fronting a band, Shook is releasing her first full-length album, Sidelong, on October 16, 2015. Greco: Greco's musical hope is summed up in four words: Sing. Dance. Sweat. Sex. Do these things while listening to the music and it will make for such a better experience for everyone. Their hooks, rock & roll lyrics, and on stage antics will make you understand why your mama warned you about boys like these. Greco connects to the audience through common experiences, sung out over blistering riffs, while giving the crowd a chance to jump in a wild and morally ambiguous party. Their latest stage show reflects their breaking out of the stereotypical pop rock genre, and touching the dirty bits of life that happens to everyone and relating to how we all can keep pushing on.
Baby Baby live at The Hummingbird in Downtown Macon
Channeling the Beastie Boy’s silly irreverence and Andrew W.K.'s party-rockin’ spirit, Baby Baby blend their homemade Fun Rock songwriting with a hip-hop swagger and an emphasis on the live experience. Imagine if National Lampoon directed the next Legally Blond and you'll start to get an idea of what BABY BABY is all about. Baby Baby convened in the summer of 2009, when singer/guitarist Fontez Brooks and drummer Grant Wallace shook off the sleepiness of the suburbs of Carrollton and set out to bring a new element to the Atlanta scene. Packed with broody self loathing artists, haters galore, the crossed-over-arm generation and the strip-club rap scene, The ATL simply needed some fun rock. And that’s what Baby Baby — which now includes Ryan Burruss on Keys, Colin Boddy on percussion and Hsiang Wen on bass — delivers on their sophomore album, Big Boy Baller Club, the follow-up to 2011’s Money, out April 1 on the Gospel of Rhythm Recordings. Baby Baby is a big, inclusive tent. There’s room under it for friends, foes, Nickleback fans, even haters; we all need someone to keep us in check, don’t we? All they ask is that you come ready to dance and make some new friends on the floor. They’ll take care of the rest.
The Dog Apollo w/ Analog Existence live at The Hummingbird in Downtown Macon
Trae Pierce and The T-Stones live at The Hummingbird in Downtown Macon
Trae Pierce began playing music at the tender age of 7. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, his first instruments included the piano and guitar before finding his calling on the bass guitar at age 9. After playing with many local bands, groups, and churches, Trae went on the road at 13, sharing stages with the Blind Boys of Alabama, Sugarfoot & the Ohio Players, Dr Hook featuring Ray Sawyer, Emmylou Harris, Susan Tedeschi, James Brown, Peter Gabriel, and more. In addition, Trae has produced toured and recorded with artists such as Flo-Rida, Jodeci, Mavis Staple, Susan Tedeschi, Michael Franti (Spearhead), Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), Flava Flav, Ce Ce Peniston, Robert Plant, Robert Randolph Lexxus, Bizzy Bone of Bone Thugs & Harmony, K-Ci & Jo Jo, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Randy Travis, Lou Reed, E-Town Live, and the Mighty Clouds of Joy. Trae has made appearances on several national television shows, including the Jay Leno Show, the Wayne Brady Show, David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Regis & Kelly, and many more. His movie credits include the Fighting Temptations, Brother Bear, and HOP, which is in theaters now. Trae’s efforts have earned him four Grammy Awards, three Dove Awards, an NAACP Image Award, and in 2010 he was inducted into the Alabama Hall of Fame. Heavily influenced by Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, John Patitucci, and Victor Wooten, Trae has expanded his talents to the next level, and is currently working on a bass-oriented solo project featuring some of the friends made during his 30 years of touring and playing music. Trae, who still tours with the Blind Boys of Alabama and Sugarfoot's Ohio Players, is known for sporting a top hat on stage and wowing crowds with his blistering riffs played on slide (yes, slide!) bass, as well as playing/singing talk box bass. Trae's versatility is well-utilized with his solo project, Trae Pierce and the T-Stone Bnad, which can be found touring and performing at major venues nationwide and worldwide.
Dynamo live at The Hummingbird in Downtown Macon
Dynamo is Nashville-based, nationally touring band whose music fuses jazz, rock, and funk with elements of soul and R&B. The culmination is a sound that’s both spontaneous and composed—and an energy that’s undeniably infectious. Formed in late 2012, Dynamo consists of nine core musicians. When they’re not performing or recording in Nashville, the band is on the road, spreading their unique brand of feel-good music to audiences all over the world. Group members include Kevin Gatzke (Tenor sax), Andrew Golden (trumpet), Joshua Blaylock (Keyboard/Trombone), Ryan Connors (Piano/composer), John Murphy (Guitar), Hank Born (Guitar), Adam McPhail (Guitar), Zach Witcher (Bass), Ross McReynolds (Drums/Perc.) Nathan Felty (Drums/Perc.) and Dain Ussery (vocals).
Slow Parade w/ Pony League live at The Hummingbird in Downtown Macon
Slow Parade is a new project from a group established atlanta/athens musicians headed up by songwriter Matthew Pendrick. After calling upon bassist Andrea Demarcus (Cicada Rhythm) and multi instrumentalist Paul Stevens ( Grand Vapids ), Slow Parade was formed out of the need for a new extension. The goals were explicitly implied through means of analog conversion : follow sonic bliss until it exceeds the order of 38 db RMS above unity gain, translate the oft mud caked melodies back to silver vibrations of which they were born , catch the tail of the echo loop that does knows no decay.
Coyote Anyway live at The Hummingbird in Downtown Macon
A Coyote chorus howls against a fading summer swelter. The mellow jangle of rusty strings picked with a fierce intuition Coyote Anyway makes music like that. Both fresh and familiar. With a tip of the hat to a hundred years of American music, their sound is informed by classic wax from both sides of the tracks. A lazy country shuffle, a touch Bo Diddley flavored mambo, a few barnburner blues romps. Maybe when the lights go lower and the bar is filling, they turn up a bit and this potent blend sounds a bit like Rock & Roll, the way your grandpappy thought of it. The story of Coyote Anyway is a long road with many forks. Comprised of Dave Kirslis , Matt Garrison, Zeke Sayer and Matthew Pendrick, the group has roots that run deep. All born and raised in Georgia, the members of this coyote collective have steeped in the rich music culture of the south, and digested its potent tonic to heart. It’s the sound of old friends coming together to play what comes naturally and what feels good. Over the years they have shared a thousand stages with some of the best around. “A real appreciation for tradition doesn’t mean you must be tied to the past…really it’s freeing. To use those sounds and ideas as spring board to our own twist on it, not unlike the way any one of our heroes did in their day.“ "Every member of this group is doing really great things on their own and with other projects and such,” says Pendrick. “I think that’s part of what makes it so fun. There’s a lot of mutual respect for each other as players and writers, so when we have a chance to get together, there’s a genuine excitement that comes from being in such good company.” Audiences around the South who have been privy to the bands live set have said much the same. Toes get to tappin. Hearts get to bumping. Everybody have a real good time.