Finally Fridays with Harry Clark and Maddie Denton
02.24.2023 - The voices of those who have gone before us rose up last night in Historic Downtown Smithville. Energy only a bluegrass band can bring permeated the air and took us back in time to the era when The Harvester was first opened in 1948 as a tractor dealership. No doubt that someone working in the shop during that era had a radio listening to the Grand Ole Opry and that sound was emulated again on the Flatwoods Stage. Nostalgia and the mandate from our forefathers to “carry on the tradition” certainly was fulfilled as seven pieces tore down the stage to the Orange Blossom Special.
The Center Hill Ramblers, composed of Smithvillian’s Axel Rico and Brad Hennesssey were joined by mandolin player and singer Brian McGowan of Signal Mountain while a couple of special guests rounded out the band. A last minute change and boy o boy, were we all lucky to have two members of the Grammy nominated band The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys make them into a five piece band as Laura Orshaw on fiddle and Josh Rinkle on bass made the trek to Smithville to be part of this incredible event. The Centerhill Ramblers were prepared to entertain as they moved through both old and new. Three-time Smithville Jamboree Banjo Champion Rico did a breakdown early in the set that stopped everyone in their tracks because the rounded plucking of a difficult instrument was matched by the sweet vocals of Hennessey and McGowan. Again as most Bluegrassers know, most every band can mix and match players with ease and that to me is the endearing fact about this type of music. Ms Orshaw and Josh Rinkle melted into the stage with their new bandmates and became this powerful yet elegant sound that took us to the tradition of old time music … with a new twist. The vocals were on point while our sound man Phillip Stafford worked hard to make this a night to remember and for those who were there can attest this was something special. Thanks again to Axel and all The Ramblers who came to our stage… you made an impression and made this writer even more proud of our hometown, Smithville, Tennessee.
Momentum…to be in motion and once the down beat starts in any bluegrass song, ballad or fast pace saw down, Bluegrass and those who perpetuate it are in motion. The second act of the evening was just that…they are in motion and both were recognized by the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) and that would be both the 2021 and 2022 Momentum Award Winners Maddie Denton and Harry Clark both members and stalwarts of modern bluegrass bands East Nash Grass. All of them are ringers and can play at a level that few humans ever achieve and we here in Smithville got to be a part of last night at The Harvester. So many accolades and awards and connections to this community as Maddie and her family have walked the streets and been on the Jamboree stage numerous times and she represents a brand of Middle Tennessee Bluegrass that the rest of the world wished they had. Always sincere and very much a spirit that draws us in and touches our soul. She and Harry Clark put on a display that moved us to a higher plane. You see, Bluegrass gets into your guts, into your fiber, and into your soul. It is an agrarian connection to the human spirit. Brought from across the ocean to the hills of Tennessee, the rich tradition and the Caney Fork River songs that again have been handed down generation after generation. WE are connected to the earth and all the many blessings of water, the land of falling water that connection to the land is the building blocks to the stories of the Upper Cumberland – heaven on Earth. Thank you Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry for spreading it around the world on WSM (we serve millions). Thank you Nashville, but if not for places like Smithville and the great creators of sound that lived in the hills and hollers, there would be no Maddie Denton. We are humbled and honored to carry the torch of traditional bluegrass as we ”carry on the tradition“ of real country music.
Harry Clark, from Sircy, Arkansas, has been a frequent visitor to Smithville over the years and we consider this whole entourage as a musical family so we are familiar with Harry and his style. He and East Nash Grass have played on every stage we have at The Burlap Room so you can say that I am familiar with Harry but good lawd, Harry put on a clinic last night. His songwriting skills are honed in as is his style of playing both guitar and mandolin (I even saw him pick up the bass for a number or two ), anyway, Harry and Maddie melted together in a unit that was haunting and beautiful for all of their technical skills – did y’all see the smoke coming off the instruments!! Wow, for all of their technical skills, the soul and spirit came through from an attentive audience…we were all blown away and speechless.
Did I mention the part when Maddie and Laura had both fiddles going at the same time as the seven piece all-star band came together for the closing number? We were in a room with sound so good that it may never be reproduced so count yourself lucky if you were there for those of you who did not attend…too bad.
For all of you folks that live “under the hill”, Harry Clark brought a tune out of his back pocket called Groundhog and this is why these 30-year-olds are making a statement because they love and respect tradition, but they are also pushing a new edge to the Bluegrass World and people are responding to it, there are teenagers lining up to hear people like Billy Strings, Sierra Ferrel, Maddie, and Harry, along with their East Nasty buddies and is it sweeping the nation and finding itself around the planet. The attitude, the style, the enthusiasm, and here is the operative word of bluegrass…energy. If it is 1923 or 2023, it reaches deep down inside and a whole new generation is responding to it – what an incredible time to be alive and be in Tennessee!
It also goes with the lifestyle here in this county. Land, water, music all go hand in hand and the world is starting to pay attention to Smithville - we at both The Burlap Room and The Harvester are vanguards of our musical heritage, which is good for all of us because we always knew it was here. Come visit us in The Upper Cumberland Playland!
Karen Anderson from Snapdragon Hemp Company (series sponsor at The Burlap Room ) traveled from Chattanooga and set up here display in The Yellow Dog Lounge. She brought with her many new fantastic hemp products including a new sparking canna water that will soon be for sale at both The Burlap Room and The Harvester. Karen is always a delight and wealth of information about all things cannabis. Thanks for coming to hang out with us. TTU Appalachian Center For Craft own Tabitha Thierjung with her world class glass blowing skills joined us as well and is is always a treat to have local art as part of our mission - the music and the art go hand in hand. Thanks to Hardwoods Smokehouse Express for bringin their delicious food to cater our events. Thanks to all who attended - thanks for the staff and bartenders, and to the sound crew for a job well done!
Be on lookout for comedy show and more bluegrass- Irish bluegrass with John Boulware - house band of Smithville Jamboree – bringing his stylings to the Flatwoods stage on St. Patrick’s Day!
Bert’s on Thursdays Comedy Night with Host Brad Sativa, Feature Morgan Gallo, and Headliner Aaron Weber on 3/2, and evening of Irish blue grass at Finally Fridays St. Patrick’s Day Celebration with the John Boulware Trio on 3/17, and two separate events to benefit the DCHS Band: DCHS Fighting Tiger Band Jazz Ensemble Benefit Concert on 3/23 and a 1920's Spring Formal with Beasley Court Big Band on 3/25. Be on the lookout Sunday, 2/26, for all the details about our 10th Annual Earth Day!
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!
