Finally Fridays at the Harvester with STeady Rotation
11.03.2023 - The entire Historic Downtown Smithville, Tennessee, was bustling on Friday, November 3, 2023, as the shops and restaurants were busy serving up complimentary samples of various soups and “busier than normal” with visitors, hanger-outers, and shoppers.
Just a few steps from the Shoppes of West Walnut, the Harvester Event Center is already decked out in pre-holiday greenery, which really sets a holiday mood for parties, weddings, and other private events as well as creating a nice holiday ambiance for our in-house music performances, now featuring “Finally Fridays” live music evenings during November.
The kick-off musical offerings for November were Jimmy Wayne Garrett - it’s just Jimmy Wayne and his guitar and voice, but he knows how to blend them perfectly to create a very listenable experience. Jimmy Wayne (hard to call him just Jimmy or just Wayne) glides effortlessly from a REAL blues feel to a ballad he wrote that would work at any piano bar I’ve ever gotten sloshed at…and, one of the best renditions of Seminole Wind ever–listen up John A!
Here’s my personal observation – Jimmy Wayne Garrett has improved his musical performance skills significantly over the two years he’s played at various Harvester and Burlap Room events. Very impressive Jimmy Wayne! Like Bert said to you Friday – ”We’re neighbors now”!
Steady Rotation. Say that name slowly three times – what comes to mind? Nothing? Right!! The more I considered that band name, the more clever it became. This group of dedicated players/ vocalists from Middle Tennessee have a name that asks nothing of you, doesn’t tell you to act or feel a certain way, isn’t boastful or too clever by half–it’s just Steady…Rotation.
They leave it up to their audience to fill in the meaning of who this band is and what they do, and their extended set at the on the Harvester Flatwoods Stage showed everyone in attendance that they’re all about good rock n’ roll music, whether that good music is a copy of an REM song, or an extended jam on a familiar cover that takes the song to a new level.
My interpretation is what Steady Rotation “means” is tasteful, versatile musicianship all round, good-grooving, fun rock n’ roll, presented in a very honest unassuming manner by a group of “good” guys. And, a little-known fact, I heard that a couple of the Steady Rotation pickers are teachers of our fine youth in a Middle Tennessee school system not far from here…Can you imagine having a rock n’ roll band member for a teacher?? I WISH!! Carry on!
Steady Rotation is a prime example of what Bert Driver has said ever since he started promoting live performances years ago, and will tell you the same thing today…”It’s all about the MUSIC”!
Thanks to the incredible Harvester Security and Service Staff and Tio’s Taco Truck, doing their authentic, on-the-road excellent Mexican cuisine, and Phil Stafford, Sound Engineer!
The November 2023 Finally Friday Series continues in the coming weeks with JL Fulks and Matt Dillon on Friday, 11/10, and Kaleah Wooten on Friday, 11/17, at the Harvester. And mark your calendar for the last show of the year Saturday, 12/2, with The Tiger Beats (a killer blues band direct from Nashville) with opener Anthony Nyugen (formerly of the Smoky Nights). The Harvester will open at 2pm as Downtown Smithville becomes a Norman Rockwell scene with the Smithville Christmas Parade commencing at 4pm, and the parade ends directly in front of The Harvester! So stick around and enjoy live music as The Tiger Beats give a real treat. Stay up-to-date with all the events in the Bert Driver Network (Nursery, Burlap Room, and the Harvester) by signing up for our ‘The Local Vibe’ Newsletter - released every other Tuesday morning straight to your inbox!
And remember that you too can rent The Harvester year round…weddings, retirement parties, corporate retreats, quinceanera, company Christmas parties, most anything you can dream up: contact us for more information.
