BERT’S ON THURSDAYS WITH CAM PIERCE, CRAIG ANDERSON, & JL FULKS
05.04.2023 - I tell you folks, there is definitely a “scene” developing at the Harvester, located in Historic Downtown Smithville, TN. The “scene” is the growing number of truly next generation, undiscovered talented songwriters that our friend and fellow music-loving associate Jake Nokes comes across while he’s honing his own songwriting skills (thanks, Jake!).
Coinciding with the Downtown Merchants’ Shop Late-Shop Local monthly event, Bert’s on Thursday’s live music kicked off for an evening of “independent” songwriter/performers, when JL Fulks from Greenville, SC, started off the evening with his debut at the Harvester with a powerful introductory set of his own compositions...to me, JL’s original songs sound so generally appealing and current, that if he did slip a #1 cover tune in there, it fits seamlessly right in the vibe of his original comps. It’s HARD for someone who doesn’t have a lot of name recognition, playing original music no one is familiar with…well, I watched JL Fulks win over the early birds at the Harvester right away with his original songs and strong guitar/vocal performance…so maybe, “Easy for some”.
Right after JL’s set, Craig Anderson from southern Illinois (guitar, harp, vocals), who definitely has a few road miles under his belt and is just delightfully cruising at this point (onstage and off), and James Tillman from Lynchburg , Virginia, (electric guitar) from Catfish Seminar (the name of the band—what?), did a few very appropriate warm-up tunes before Cam Pierce (Medford, Oregon) took the stage…not only did Cam take the stage, he captured all present and took us on a musical experience frankly like no other I’ve seen. Great distinctive vocals? You bet! Good guitar player? Uh-huh! Good songwriting? Check out “Yesterday’s Blues” and you won’t ask that again. Cerebral? Yes. Spiritual? Definitely. Americana? That, too – but different! What else? Look you straight in the eye, tell you the truth, music. RE-freshing! I detected a hint of Greg Brown inspiration in the storytelling which is a high compliment
Songwriters are a rare breed who put their hearts and souls into trying to touch other peoples’ hearts and souls…then, after such a fanciful flight, they still have to be realistic enough to be able to present their art in a live performance that is acceptable to audiences (“acceptable” has quite a bit to do with “groceries”). After conversing with Cam a few months ago, we immediately made a tree connection because we too are the nursery business and we conduct quite a bit of business from the “west coast” and particularly the Willamette Valley east of Portland is blessed with farm land. The northwest US is a rainforest and the connection with the earth makes a fantastic natural combination and connection to the agrarian south, specifically middle Tennessee. Cam sees it and feels with that magical third eye that puts everyone at ease. Thus, a man after my own heart that values nature and then interprets it in a song. Thanks, Cam, y’all were great and look forward to your return visit.
Live performances of original music (like JL’s and Cam’s) that require much dedication and resolve deserves to be played to a full house. Don’t worry–with our growing network of songwriters who are blown away by the attentive/responsive audiences at the Harvester Center, and when word gets around with true music-lovers that there’s a songwriter’s “scene” developing at the Harvester in Smithville, I predict tix are gonna be hard to come by (as it should be!).
Thank you, JL, Craig, James, Cam for being the non-ego pros that you are during your debuts at the Harv!
Thanks also to Tio’s Taco Truck for their superb authentic Mexican food, the Security and Bar Staff , Phil Stafford (Sound Engineer), and Tabitha Thierjung for bringing her display of uniquely beautiful glass art to another Bert’s on Thursdays.
Up next is Benefit for Bobby on Thursday, 5/11, with Dramatic Endings and Kelly and Sarah, our first theatrical performance with the Nashville Shakespeare Festival’s Education Experience Tour at the Harvester on Thursday, 5/18, Collins Horton (winner of the Harvester’s 2023 TN Songwriters Qualifying Round) and Bobby Kropp at the Burlap Room on Thursday, 5/25 (on sale this Sunday!), and our annual Summer Solstice Shindig with Airshow and Austin Grimm on Saturday, 6/17! All the details for upcoming events at burlaproom.eventbrite.com. Stay up-to-date with all the events in the Bert Driver Network (Nursery, Burlap Room, and the Harvester) by signing up for our Burlapper Newsletter - released every other Tuesday morning straight to your inbox!
