Bert’s on Thursdays with Lee Rolfes

01.12.2023 - As I approached the bar at Bert Driver’s Burlap Room during 2023’s first Bert’s on Thursdays live music series, I heard Bert saying to Lee Rolfes (the evening’s musical entertainer), “Yeah, well, you know what to do about those Redbuds better than I do”, and realized I had stumbled into a conversation between two professional landscapers - admittedly, one of my personal weaker expertises.  

This led to a conversation about how after having several different successful bands in Cincinnati, OH, Lee Rolfes had moved down to Tennessee twenty years ago and gave what I call the “Nashvegas Muzik Crazy-ass Machine” a shot, but quickly determined that his landscaping skills (which he loved using because of the outdoor factor), could more consistently put food on the table, and required a whole lot less of his soul than the big time music biz demanded. That’s when he ran into Bert Driver, in the “Nursery World” and had forged a friend/biz relationship, that morphed the last few years into Lee playing live occasionally at the Burlap Room. It occurred to me that these two gents and their passion for plants and music were good examples of the “Live Trees - Live Music” term we use sometimes to describe the vibe at the Burlap Room.  

The real payoff for me was when that conversation at the bar ended, and Mr. Rolfes then sat down in front of the assembly of regular Burlappers, and sang three original songs in a row that were as melodic, catchy, commercial, and a heck of a lot more appealing to me than anything I’ve heard from Nashville in awhile. His original “Orlinda from Virginia” might not be top-forty country material, but it’s a damned well-written song, and more entertaining and thought provoking than most current Nashville drivel, in my opinion. 

He was “present” immediately with the audience and his back-and-forth banter set a relaxed, living-room ambiance, but nobody was talking much at all during the songs – the songwriting and Lee’s performance were that good! From John Prine to Neil Young, and from Tom Waits to the original JT (James Taylor)...Lee powered through some awesome playlist of fan favorites.  Along the way, Lee also told stories in between songs  about his adventures with his hometown hero Lonnie Mack and some fun times on the Gulf Coast Circuit...you know, Lee, from one picker to another, I’m thinking maybe you oughta give Nashvegas one more shot! 

Thanks to Tio’s Taco Truck and the Burlapper Faithfuls who braved the opening throes of the cold front moving in to spend a warm, cozy, memorable evening with Lee Rolfes at Bert’s on Thursdays at the Burlap Room.

Up next we return to the Harvester in Downtown Smithville for Finally Fridays, 1/20, with Kelly & Sarah, Comedy Night with Headliner Rene Vaca, Opener Fiona Cauley, and Host Amber Autry on Thursday, 1/26, Tennessee Songwriters Week 2023 Qualifying Round on Thursday, 2/2, and another Finally Fridays with Southern Sunrise on 2/10. All the details at burlaproom.eventbrite.com.

 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:  The Harvester Performance & Event Center, in association with the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree, has been selected as one of several venues across the state to host a Qualifying Round for the 2023 Tennessee Songwriters Week competition. This special event, presented by the Burlap Room, has been scheduled for Thursday, 2/2/2023 at the Harvester – if you would like to enter this competition, fill out the entry form here, and check out the official rules on the Tennessee Tourism website here.

 Thanks to everyone who contributed to an amazing 2022 for the Burlap Room and the Harvester.  Happy New Year, and be sure to stay tuned in 2023 for more exciting, unique experiences – onward/upward! 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! All tickets for all Burlap Room and Harvester Event Center can be purchased at burlaproom.eventbrite.com.