Middle of Somewhere Hemp Fest IV with Magnolia Boulevard and Sam Lewis
08.20.2022 – The Middle of Somewhere Hemp Fest IV was poised to be another record-setting event when an exceptionally strong thunder/lightning storm struck Bert Driver’s Burlap Room around 4pm, just as the gates for the event were opening. Unfortunately, a few vendors were forced to pull out of the lineup in anticipation of further foul weather (it was quite a storm), but thankfully, the remainder of the vendors, food trucks, and a good-size crowd, stayed on for one beautiful night.
Once again, despite just about every variable imaginable, the power of live music proved to be the calming and cohesive energy that saved the day (and night) - thanks to DJ Rob for getting it cranked back up quickly after the storms passed, and the personage of one Sam Lewis, a seasoned songwriter, and one of my personal favorites to ever take the stage at the Burlap Room.
Sam Lewis’s songwriting is vaguely reminiscent to my soul as a combination of James Taylor and John Prine, with a bit of Neil Young in the mix somewhere. His lyrics and melodies are accessible and reminded me somehow of Bob Dylan’s style of repeating a line such as “nothin’s ever gonna be the same” to convey a much deeper/sadder feeling than the actual words state. Clever, heartfelt, and very listenable…don’t get much better than Sam Lewis in my book!
Equally impressive in their own style, our Hemp Fest Headliner Magnolia Boulevard hit the stage with a high-energy, organized jam style that assured the Burlappers present that this was gonna be another one of those bands you’ve never heard of, and they make you feel like an old pal immediately with their “friendly, good-time, and sticky” feels that ranged from near orchestral passages, to full-blown psychedelic rock jams during the multiple high points of their performance. Thanks to the super extra efforts of Ranson Johnson and the sound crew, along with the security and bar staff of the Burlap Room, members of Magnolia Boulevard, Sam Lewis, and our stalwart Sponsors and Vendors…the entire production set-up was changed from the outdoor stage (which was soaked) to the very comfortable (and dry) indoor Solstice Stage. The rest of the evening’s weather was nothing short of delightful.
SPECIAL THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND EFFORTS OF OUR SPONSORS AND VENDORS DURING A VERY CHALLENGING HEMPFEST IV CELEBRATION!!
The Crouch family from McMinnville was here for the first time with kettle corn, pork rinds and funnel cakes, along with Grace’s Lumpia, and Tio’s Taco Truck - always crowd pleasers. The Grateful Welder from Rock Island (Jase Bouldin) cut and welded in real-time, onsite with an awesome collection of customized fire rings – watching him work was nothing short of mesmerizing! Tom Foolery, local street performer, entertained as he walked the grounds high on stilts, juggled fire, and took his unicycle to the Redbud Stage – those that made the trek to BDN were treated to a spectacle like none before…the storms swept away the clouds and it turned into a sultry summer evening in Smithville, TN. The full list of Sponsors and Vendors of Hemp Fest IV: Center Hill Realty & Chalets, Anderson Marine (thanks for bringing the beautiful Skeeter Bass Boat!), SnapDragon Hemp, Limestone Title & Escrow, Hurricane Marina (Suntex Corp), Cutting Edge Solutions/Volunteer Hemp, Crooked Creek Designs, Grateful Welder, GreenWay Music Fest, Maxwell Hemp Co, Quarter Spring Farm, Forge WY, One Stop Soul Shop, Amy-Tarot & Enlightenment, Tess-Henna Art, Tio’s Taco Truck, Grace’s Lumpia Food Truck, Shaved Ice and Pork Rinds. And a congrats to Michael Roland, winner of the random drawing for a Gala Apple Tree!
All in all, a VERY enjoyable evening and event – Think we oughta go for Hemp Fest V next year, and hope for better weather?! Think we oughta have Magnolia Boulevard back again?? YOU BETCHA!
The Harvester hosts Comedy Night this Thursday, August 25, with Headliner Caleb Elliott, Opener Marie Cecile Anderson, and Host Amber Autry, and on Saturday, August 27, Michelle Poe, (Hank Jr.’s bass player), Ken Taylor, and Russ Freeman . We’ll be back at the Burlap Room on Saturday, September 10, with the Music City Stones, and Saturday, October 8, for Dia de los Muertos. Stay up-to-date with all the events in the Bert Driver Network (Nursery, Burlap Room, and the newly-opened Harvester Event Center) by signing up for our Burlapper Newsletter. All tickets for all Burlap Room and Harvester Event Center can be purchased at burlaproom.eventbrite.com. Bert Driver Nursery will be participating in the GreenWay Music Fest as a Nursery. We support the development of the GreenWay, and you can, too, by stopping by our booth and register to purchase a tree to be planted on the Short Mountain Distillery GreenWay! See y’all soon!
