COOKEVILLE – An October tradition continues at the Cookeville Depot Museum – one that involves music and lunch.
Cookeville Leisure Services’ Brown Bag Lunch Concert series starts this Friday from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. with The Jolly String Quartet. Admission is free. Lunch from Blue Coast Burrito may be purchased on site beginning at 11 a.m.
“This annual series is designed to be enjoyed in the middle of the day on the WestSide in downtown Cookeville,” Chad McDonald, Cookeville Leisure Services Cultural Arts Superintendent, said. “It’s a great way to enjoy the fall weather and lunch outside at the Depot Museum.”
The Jolly String Quartet incorporates vocals, mandolin, guitar and piano to create a colorful repertoire that extends beyond classical to pop, jazz, folk, gospel and newgrass. A poignant adoption story binds these classically trained, Russian-born siblings both on and off the stage and compels them to share their music.
Also scheduled to perform are Friction Farm Duo on Oct. 8, Ava Paige on Oct. 15 and Ridin’ the Rails on Oct. 22.
Friction Farm Duo is a modern folk husband-and-wife team (Aidan Quinn and Christine Stay) of traveling troubadours. They combine storytelling, social commentary and humor to create songs of everyday life, local heroes and quirky observations.
Ava Paige, a 16-year-old country singer-songwriter, has been playing live shows in Nashville for years, including a standing gig at The George Jones since she was 13. She was named Best Singer/Songwriter in the 2019 Nashville Scene Readers Poll. She formed the Pick’n and Kick’n Cancer with Ava charity to help kids with cancer following her own battle with leukemia.
Ridin’ the Rails offers an entertaining look at the American Railroad through song and story. This three-piece, high-energy band, led by Darrell Varley, performs songs relating to trains in a folk, bluegrass and nostalgic rock style.
“Enjoying great music with a delicious lunch downtown at the Depot is a great way to kick off the fall season,” McDonald said. “It has become a tradition for many in the community.”
Brown Bag Lunch Concerts are presented by the City of Cookeville Department of Leisure Services and funded in part by the Cookeville Arts Council.
Limited seating on the east patio is provided. Attendees may also bring their own chairs.
The Cookeville Depot Museum is located at 116 W. Broad St. For more information, call 931-528-8570.
