Music comes back to the vines for 19th Blackberry Jam | Entertainment

As live music continues to return to life after a few years of shutdown, the Blackberry Jam is back as strong as ever. 

Celebrating the festival’s 19th year, Blackberry Jam founders Carol Warren and Dale Whitehead will once again welcome musicians to the front porch stage of their 100-year-old farmhouse off Franklin’s Blazer Road, Boyd Mill Farm, to continue raising money for the Hard Bargain Association of Franklin. 

This year’s Blackberry Jam will take place on Saturday, June 25, and will once again feature a roster of excellent acoustic and roots musicians. Events will run from 4:30-8:30 p.m. with gates opening at 4 p.m.

“We could not do this event all these years without the support of the Downtown Franklin and Franklin Noon Rotary Clubs, who have been our title sponsors,” said Steve Young, event coordinator for the Blackberry Jam. “We are thrilled to also add the Franklin Breakfast Rotary Club as title sponsor. The clubs not only support the event financially they also show up and participate with enthusiasm.”

The Main Stage sponsor is LP Building Solutions, and support from 30 other area businesses and organizations truly makes this a community event. 

The show will feature performers playing from the same farmhouse porch that they have since the festival’s inception. 

“We’re excited to still be able to bring live music to Jam lovers after all these years and raise money for such a wonderful organization,” Warren said. 

Headlining this year’s event is the legendary Pat McLaughlin.

The Jam will kick off with gospel artist and “America’s Got Talent” Season 9 alum Quintavious Johnson, followed by folk duo Carol and Dale and friends. 

Carol and Dale will be joined by some of the “Jam Fam,” the folks who work behind the scenes to put this show on each summer. 

Also taking the stage will be highly lauded guitarist Rebecca Frazier, the first woman on the cover of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine.

“I am a former music publicist in the country and bluegrass worlds and used to work with Rebecca Frazier,” longtime Blackberry Jam board member Shari Lacy said. “I was continually impressed with her talent as a player, singer and overall artist. She holds her own with the big dogs and can absolutely amaze with her guitar playing skills. More people should know who she is, because she’s quite remarkable.” 

The Blackberry Jam has always had a heart for community and remains as music focused as ever. It is a festival that serves its community well and contributes to helping preserve the historic African American neighborhood of Hard Bargain, as well as bringing incredible talent and musicianship to the forefront. 

“We care about Franklin remaining a diverse community. I believe that whenever a community loses its diversity, it loses its soul,” Young said. 

Advanced tickets are available now for $10 or can be purchased for $15 at the gate until venue capacity is reached, and 12 years and under are free. All proceeds go to Hard Bargain Association. 

For more information, visit www.theblackberryjam.com.