Jambo Eve with East Nash Grass, Josh Driver, & Ky Rodgers
06.29.2023 - If you believe Bert Driver’s statement during his welcoming comments to the Harvester Performance & Event Center that “The Jamboree is like Christmas here in Smithville!” then indeed “Jambo Eve” was the equivalent of a family get-together on Christmas Eve with some very special musical gifts.
Historic Downtown Smithville was definitely abuzz with preparations for this year’s Fiddlers’ Jamboree preparations, but enough folks couldn’t wait to get an early dose of head-bobbin’/toe-tappin’ that they pretty much filled up the main room and balcony at the Harvester by the time Josh Driver completed another of his always superb performances. As expected, Josh blended in his very clever original compositions with some really eclectic covers such as Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” (done in a definitely different Jerry Reed style), which especially showed off his ever-so- tasteful electric guitar accompanist, Ky Rogers.
Ky added solos, textures and “beds” that enhanced Josh’s style perfectly throughout his opening set.
Bert Driver and East Nash Grass history goes back a ways – apparently Bert recognized the band’s talent and potential early on, and had various iterations of East Nash Grass appear at the Burlap Room on several occasions in the past few years.
It’s serendipitous that East Nash Grass started hitting their upward trajectory stride recently, about the same time that the Burlap Room and now the Harvester Event Center started gaining recognition as viable music venues, and places to see/hear consistently high-quality entertainment performances.
How fitting for the 2023 Smithville Jamboree Blue Blaze Award Winner that we’ve loved since the first time we heard them appeared at “The Harv” on Christmas, I mean, “Jambo Eve”!
East Nash Grass’s collective resume rings with high profile award wins, nominations, and prominent gigs. Every member is an accomplished professional in their own right, and each would be a featured musician in any band. With James Kee on guitar, Cory Walker on banjo, Harry Clark on mandolin, Gaven Largent on dobro, Maddie Denton on fiddle, and Jeff Picker on bass, (Grace Davis handled the upright bass position more than adequately sitting in for Jeff at Jambo Eve)...East Nash Grass is a band of all-stars, without question.
I knew it was going to be an exciting show when Maddie D. ripped her first fiddle solo in the first song from East Nash Grass, and drew spontaneous applause from the full house of “discerning bluegrass fans” right off the bat – hey, this is a SERIOUS bluegrass audience around here, folks, especially during THIS week! They don’t do spontaneous applause during the song for “just anybody” -- but ENG ain’t just anybody!
Needless to say, East Nash Grass’s Jambo Eve musical gifts did not disappoint, and was way more fun and spiritually uplifting than a crummy old Xbox – every single one of these young folks are VERY accomplished on their chosen instruments, and they approach vocals with a full-throated exuberance that’s right on the money, pitch-wise (and heartfelt–very important in bluegrass).
We LOVE it when musical artists we believe in start to get the recognition and appreciation their exceptional talent and dedication deserve…perfect example? East Nash Grass…we are SO proud of you!
Also, congratulations and thank you to all you civic-minded individuals and groups who volunteered their time and energies to once again produce the 53rd Annual Fiddler’s Jamboree, one of the premiere bluegrass festivals anywhere, right here in Historic Downtown Smithville, Tennessee!
Up next…Jamboree Weekend at the Harvester continues Friday, June 30-Saturday, July 1, Alysha Nix and the Whatnotz along wth Lauren Gottshall (another young talent that was part of the Harvester’s 2023 TN Songwriters Qualifying Round) on Friday, July 28, and then we’ll head back to the Burlap Room on Saturday, 8/12, for our fifth annual Hemp Fest with LadyCouch. 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!
