Bert’s on Thursdays with Zach Davis

03.30.2023 - Oh, what a beautiful evening...I know it’s “morning” in the lyrics to that old song, but it was indeed a glorious Tennessee evening with FIVE planets (Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, Mercury, and Mars) flung across the cool spring sky – and once again, a very appropriate setting for the first 2023 outdoor Bert’s on Thursdays at the Burlap Room in Smithville, TN. 

The Wisteria Stage, on the north east side of the Taphouse was the lighted launch pad for the 2023 Burlap Room Series with a newcomer to our showcases, Zach Davis. Zach was a standout high school and college football player while growing up in Arkansas, and from the looks of his physique, could very well be playing NFL ball today, were it not for a career-ending injury his sophomore year in college. 

Zach had pretty much resigned himself to a hometown Arkansas lifestyle that had served him very well growing up, and was just about ready to take over Dad’s Angus cattle biz, but the BIG talent agency in the sky had other plans that Zach had never really seriously considered...and young Zach suddenly found himself progressing into the semi-final rounds of American Idol TV Show. Wham! Based on that one (seemingly) coincidental break, Zach’s whole life changed, and he realized that the musical talents he has sorta taken for granted as he was focused for years on sports were now indeed a shot to have a career doing something he loved – music admittedly wasn’t his first love, but because of his upbringing and family playing and singing, it was certainly up there pretty close to football. 

Once again, blessings and curses are really hard to identify in real time while they’re actually happening. I’m thinking that Zach Davis was divinely guided to excel in team sports, sustain injury, get recognition on American Idol, move to Nashville, and be presented with opportunities to record and appear in live performances so that other people - the whole world for that matter - might possibly one day be touched by his writing, singing, and playing talents.   It’s an amazing story, made even more so because it’s true. Zach already has a couple albums released and has another one in the can ready to debut soon, and is opening for name acts all across America. He’s savvy to the “new showbiz” platforms that are vehicles to success these days, and certainly has a unique talent to present with his writing and vocal talents. I predict big things for this big ole boy! 

Here’s the kicker - Zach Davis is one of the nicest, down-to-earth folks you’ll ever meet…and you do need to meet him, and listen to his stories and songs. It’s good to be back doing live music outdoor shows at Bert Driver’s Burlap Room for the 2023 Summer/Fall Season - let’s make it a record-setting FUN year!

Here’s the upcoming docket for The Harvester Performance & Event Center and the Burlap Room: Finally Fridays at the Harvester, 3/31, Bert’s on Thursdays at the Harvester, 4/6, with the Joey Fletcher Band, Comedy Night with JJ Barrows, Amber Autry, and Doug Sanders on 4/13, Earth Day X on Saturday, 4/22, with Bee Taylor, Zion Stovall and “The Mojo Kingz”, an authentic taste of NOLA prepared by the Boil Bros. at the Burlap Room, Finally Fridays at the Harvester, 4/28, with Tom Tippin, and Bert’s on Thursdays at the Harvester, 5/4, with Cam Pierce and Craig Anderson. And be on the lookout for our first theater performance as the Nashville Shakespeare Festival makes its way to Downtown Smithville - details coming soon! 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!