By Michelle Price
Special to the UCBJ
SMITHVILLE – There are a few treasures hidden within the Upper Cumberland. Come explore one as Bert Driver’s Burlap Room, Upper Cumberland’s greenest, open air concert venue, ramps up its 2021 outdoor music season this month with three events.
The Great Center Hill Crawfish Boil is on April 10, the Second Burlap Willow Cigar Club Night on April 15 and Earth Day VIII: Celebrating the Music of the Grateful Dead is on April 24.
The Burlap Room is a family- and pet-friendly live music venue with shuttle service now available from selected area resorts and marinas by calling (615) 516-1803.
This Saturday, April 10, Driver is bringing New Orleans to Smithville as the Crawfish Boil features music by Soul Project NOLA and a collection of crawfish favorites including Butch’s Famous Boiled Crawfish, Trey’s Crawfish Étouffée and Judd’s Family Jambalaya, prepared by brothers Trey and Bres Burvant straight out of Cajun Country. Gates open at 4 p.m. with the meal served beginning at 5 p.m. and music to follow. Tickets are available here or at the door.
The next event in the Saturday concert series is Earth Day VIII, the Burlap Room’s annual Earth Day celebration. The event will celebrate the music of the Grateful Dead with special guests The Stolen Faces. The Grateful Dead was an iconic group of excellent musicians who continue to have one of the most loyal followings of any band in history. They were terrific improvisers who never played a tune the same way twice. Come along as The Stolen Faces capture the spirit of the Dead and bring back musical memories of the early Earth Day celebrations. Gates open at 4 p.m. and live music starts at 6 p.m. Food trucks will be available. Tickets are available here or at the door.
“Bert’s on Thursdays!” will return April 15 with the Second Burlap Willow Cigar Club Night featuring jazz music by Jordon Morack and friends. A fantastic evening of live music, food trucks, cigars and an exclusive brew of a local craft beer awaits. This event will take place in the ventilated greenhouse where there’s plenty of room to spread out, allowing a comfortable atmosphere whether you’re a cigar aficionado or not. A superb selection of fine cigars from Button Willow will be available for purchase, but attendees are welcome to bring their own favorites for sharing or swapping. The event is from 5-9 p.m. and is family and pet friendly. Tickets are available here or at the door.
The Burlap Room is located on the seven-acre grounds of Bert Driver Nursery in Smithville on the site of the former DeKalb Drive-In Movie Theater. It is an open-air facility that hosts multiple one-day festivals throughout the year. There are five stages throughout the nursery offering a range of experiences from small and intimate to a big festival feel.
In its fourth concert season, The Burlap Room features fire pits, food trucks, a huge sand box for kids, a fishing pond and 25 primitive camping spots.
The Burlap Room strives to be the greenest live music venue in the region from the available greenery in the nursery to a Tesla charging station and locally grown, locally processed CBD products from Hemp Brothers Dispensary.
Bert Driver’s Burlap Room has a mission to present high-quality, live music for the entire Upper Cumberland region in all forms: Blues, Americana, Vintage Country, Reggae, Bluegrass, Folk, and of course, Rock N’ Roll!