Shorty's Series Taking Root

“I had a wonderful time playing with those guys,” Richie Jones, Shorty's Pizza concert series organizer, exclaimed. “It's always a treat when I get thrown material and arrangements that I don't really know...it keeps things interesting and, of course, very exciting,” Jones added.

The small Shorty's stage was bulging Wednesday night. Jones held his place behind the drums, playing alongside members of Smokey's Farmland Band: Trey Gibbs – vocals and mandolin – Ian Newberry on guitar and Rurik Newnan – vocals and fiddle. Add the bassist and banjo player that made impromptu appearances, and musicians filled the corner stage to its brim. Accordingly, their sound – which can be described as an energetic, balanced arrangement of bluegrass, jazz, funk and jam – filled the restaurant.

A brief history of the local group, Smokey's Farmland Band:

Smokey’s Farmland Band is based in Atlanta, but named after a 200-acre farm near the town of LaFayette in northwest Georgia. Smokey Caldwell's farm is the focal point of the cavers who explore the magnificent underground caverns of neighboring Pigeon Mountain and is a popular venue for music festivals. Smokey's Farmland band was formed in 2004 when friends who played music and camped out together on Smokey's land decided to collaborate and further their music. Ian, Justin and Jared played enough music up there that folks on the farm started calling them Smokey's Farmland Band.

In November of 2005 Trey Gibbs heard these guys picking on a porch in the Atlanta neighborhood of Cabbagetown during the Chomp and Stomp Chili Cook-off and Bluegrass Festival. Everyone started jamming and before long the festival crew invited them onto the stage for a 45 minute set. Rurik Nunan joined on fiddle at in 2007 right when the band repertoire began to broaden from traditional bluegrass music. During the winter of 2008 the band developed a focus on original music and began to incorporate their songs into their performances. By 2009 they had enough songs rehearsed to begin recording a CD with Namaste Studios. Their first album, 80 Mile Getaway, has 11 original songs and was completed in winter 2010.

Caldwell's property is also called Cherokee Farms, and having had the pleasure of attending festivals there, I can vouch for the beautiful hills and the inspiring way the acoustics bounce among them.

Speaking of Cherokee Farms, you can catch Smokey's Farmland Band, as well as Stewart and Winfield, Donna Hopkins Band, Deep Blue Sun and Lingo there during the weekend of Apr. 2, 2011. TDawg's Back Porch Hootenanny, this bluegrass extravaganza is called, and festival attendees are surely in for a treat. Admission is $40 dollars, cash only, and includes camping. An additional $10 dollars will be added to the ticket price for those heading up on Friday. Children 12-years-old and younger get in free, $5 dollars of your ticket price goes toward the upkeep of Smokey's place and music kicks off around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.

“[On Wednesday at Shorty's] will be Deep Blue Sun 'unplugged'. You should not miss this one,” Jones informs me. They're a tight group of musicians with a harmony-filled funky, bluegrass sound, and Jones will be on drums. “I was in this band for a few years when I first moved to Atlanta. I still fill in or them every once in a while,” he said.

Actually, Jones is set to play with Deep Blue Sun at the Cherokee Farms Hootenanny. Tuckerians, welcome spring by supporting several local bands and musicians as they fill the North Georgia mountains with music. For those less keen on camping or traveling to see a show, Shorty's offers a great alternative. The weekly concert series is free, starts early around 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and is absolutely family friendly.