24 minute read
Sounds
Read more about local music at boropulse.com/category/music
END OF THE LINE
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MUSIC NOTES
HOP SPRINGS HOSTS JULY 4 FREEDOM FEST WITH END OF THE LINE, SMOKING FLOWERS, KIRSTEN ARIAN, KIRA LYNN AND MORE
HOP SPRINGS WILL CELEBRATE Independence Day with its fi rst-ever Freedom Festival, a benefi t concert and fi reworks show supporting the area fi rst responders and the frontline workers of Rutherford County.
The property opens at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, with live music set to begin at 3 p.m.
The Freedom Festival will include performances on two stages from End of the Line (an Allman Brothers Tribute band), The Smoking Flowers, Kirsten Arian, Kira Lynn, Andrew Millsaps, Madeline McDonald, My One and Only, Amanda Page Cornett & Almost Angels and Angela Sue Cheslock.
At sundown, MAD Fireworks will present a fi reworks show.
Hop Springs offers 84 acres of open space, providing plenty of social distancing. Only 2,000 people will be allowed on the property, which would give each individual a 45-by-45-foot square if they so choose.
Tickets to the Freedom Festival are $10; ages 14 and under are free. 100% of ticket proceeds will be donated to Rutherford County fi rst responders and frontline workers.
Find tickets on Eventbrite or for more information, visit freeedomfest.com.
Hop Springs is located at 6670 John Bragg Hwy., Murfreesboro.
For more information on the brewery and the property, visit hopspringstn.com.
THE SMOKING FLOWERS
KIRSTEN ARIAN
CONCERT CALENDAR
JULY 2020
WED, 7/1 HANK’S Shawn & Caralyn Shawn & Caralyn Hammonds
THURS, 7/2 HANDLEBARS Blues Jam HANK’S Jordan Carter Jordan Carter MAYDAY Open Mic Open Mic
FRI, 7/3 CARMEN’S Joe West Joe West COCONUT BAY COCONUT BAY Krazee D HANK’S Tawnya Reynolds, Tawnya Reynolds, Sam Roark Band Sam Roark Band MAYDAY Gabe David Gabe David SEASONS SEASONS Cooter River Band Cooter River Band VAN’S VAN’S The Real Deal The Real Deal
SAT, 7/4 HANK’S A Slice of American A Slice of American Pie, Rattlesnake & Eggs & Eggs HOP SPRINGS Freedom Festival SEASONS SEASONS Karaoke Dance Party
SUN, 7/5 HANK’S Crosstown Crosstown
TUES, 7/7 BURGER BAR Sarah Martin Sarah Martin HANK’S Lauren Christine RIDENOUR STUDIOS STUDIOS Open Jam Open Jam
WED, 7/8 HANK’S Kyle Mercer
THURS, 7/9 HANDLEBARS Thursday Night Thursday Night Blues Jam HANK’S Bailey Rose FRI, 7/10
CARMEN’S Joe West COCONUT BAY Mike Dizill HANK’S Sarah Martin, Jack Finley Band MAYDAY Tom Davison VAN’S Doug Lawler Band
SAT, 7/11 COCONUT BAY Stranger Than Fiction HANK’S Phil Valdez, Joe Hooper RIDENOUR Pivot SEASONS The Real Deal THE BORO Celebrating Logan, featuring Joey Fletcher
SUN, 7/12 HANK’S The O’Donnell’s
TUES, 7/14 BURGER BAR Sarah Martin HANK’S Jim Valdez
WED, 7/15 HANK’S HunterGirl
THURS, 7/16 HANDLEBARS Blues Jam HANK’S Spencer Maige MAYDAY Open Mic
FRI, 7/17 CANNONSBURGH VILLAGE Uptown Country CARMEN’S Joe West COCONUT BAY Escape Band HANK’S Sara Simmons, Lonnie Cook, Zach Neil MAYDAY November Blue VAN’S Vinyl Delux SAT, 7/18 COCONUT BAY DJ RDP DOWNTOWN WARTRACE The Blue Trees, Sweet Fever, Jenny Johnson HANK’S Macy Tabor, Colleen Lloy, Cooter River Band HOP SPRINGS Electric Frazier Trio
SUN, 7/19 HANK’S George Dunn TUES, 7/21 BURGER BAR Sarah Martin HANK’S Lauren Christine
WED, 7/22 HANK’S Phil Valdez
THURS, 7/23 HANDLEBARS Blues Jam HANK’S Lonnie Spiker
FRI, 7/24 CARMEN’S Joe West COCONUT BAY Zone Status HANK’S Blake Esse, Jack Finley Band MAYDAY Dolly Momma THE BORO Joey Fletcher Blues Jam VAN’S 180’s Band
SAT, 7/25 COCONUT BAY Karaoke with The Hitman Walker HANK’S Alan Crist, Derek Crider & Heather Heather HOP SPRINGS Mixtape SUN, 7/26 HANK’S Karree J Phillips
TUES, 7/28 BURGER BAR Sarah Martin HANK’S Delyn Christian WED, 7/29 HANK’S Emily Miller
THURS, 7/30 HANDLEBARS Blues Jam HANK’S Brent Miller
FRI, 7/31 CARMEN’S Joe West COCONUT BAY My July Band HANK’S Nolen Miller, Justin Dukes VAN’S Whiskey & Friends
IF YOU GO Cannonsburgh Village 312 S. Front St. 615-890-0355 Carmen’s Taqueria 206 W. Northfield 615-848-9003 Coconut Bay 210 Stones River Mall Blvd. 615-494-0504 Hank’s 2341 Memorial 615-410-7747 Handlebars 2601 E. Main St. 615-890-5661 Hop Springs 6670 John Bragg Hwy. 615-450-1907 Mayday Brewery 521 Old Salem Rd. 615-479-9722 Seasons of Murfreesboro 2227 Old Fort Pkwy. 615-895-5471 The Boro 1211 Greenland Dr. 615-895-4800 Van’s Bar & Grill 2404 Halls Hill Pk. 615-624-7767
Cabin Color’s latest release, Goodbye From This Side of the Universe, blends a little ’90s grunge, some synth-driven portions, a blast of Flaming Lips quirkiness and some thoughtful progressions, textures and changes in dynamics. The very interesting 11-track release moves from bouncy, booming dance to gentle piano to pop-punk, winding in and out of psychedelic and hard rock, and the production makes for a big and full sound. I applaud the band’s use of silence. Cabin Color’s peaks and valleys, sudden color changes and dynamic variations give the band some character.
“Escape” is wonderfully powerful at its climax. The brief song packs quite a journey into only three minutes. After a spacey intro (EBow, I believe . . . ?) and a piano-driven fi rst verse, the song builds; the band then pulls the rug out from under the listener and kicks into an awesome climactic crash, as if the escape involves cruising through space at warp speed or an exhilarating descent on a roller coaster.
The big harmonies on “Universe” sound really good. Another excellent color change occurs in “Up Here” when it drastically drops from its intense, fuzzy and wild rocking portion into a wide open and peaceful clearing: You make it better, without even trying.
“Over It” has another great rock vocal performance from Evan Price and a noteworthy, gradual buildup.
Sometimes the vocals alone in space don’t exactly work for me. While “Goodness Like You” is a pretty tune, this gentler, quieter style of singing may not be Price’s strength. Many of the more energetic passages sound exceptional, as do the more powerful points with harmonies blended in.
Still, with such a variety in mood from gentle piano to the funky, thumping, electronically altered bass of “Something About It,” Goodbye From This Side of the Universe makes an impressive album. I’d say the release qualifi es as “art rock,” but in a very catchy, tasty and powerful sort of way. — BRACKEN MAYO TREVA BLOMQUIST Snakes & Saints
Life is like a toll booth. Allow MTSU graduate Treva Blomquist to shed some light on that thought: Walking in the darkness can take its toll / Hard to be sure which way to go. Many paths to take and the choice is mine / Oh, show me the way in these troubled times / To carry the fl ame, keep it alive / Believe in the Light / Believe in the Light / Dark is only dark until it’s met by light, I’m holding on for a swift sunrise, pleads Blomquist on the ray of hope tune “The Light,” evoking imagery akin to Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken.”
The far-from-cloudy sounds (albeit different tones from more typical Blomquist) found on Snakes & Saints album won’t fi t in a nutshell, but the vocals from the songstress bloom brightly and slither sweetly into the listener’s ears.
The empowering lead-in song, “Strong,” is about having your heart show you who you are.
If there is any downside to Saints it’s that the ethereal synthesizer sounds have a tendency at times to overwhelm the vocal purity. While impressive on the production end, that tonal presence just might not be every listener’s cup of tea.
Snakes & Saints represents “the idea that we really don’t know, and can’t fully know, the intentions of others. We can only really decide what our intentions will be,” Blomquist tells the Pulse.
On “Sorry,” a sure Saints standout, Blomquist confesses with warmly beckoning, remorseful vocals and lovingly constructed refl ections.
The lovely closing track “Gift” unwraps the idea that perhaps what seems to be brokenness is actually confusion. The father gives a gift, representing life, to the child; the child decides to bring it back after it breaks, and she fi nds that she didn’t understand how to use it. It isn’t broken. The father, God, wants us to know we are safe in His hands—and the gift just needed the right hands. — MELISSA COKER
Sounds
BLUE TREES Read more about local music at boropulse.com/category/music
MUSIC NOTES
KEEPING MUSIC ALIVE THIS SUMMER WITH LIVE AND IN-PERSON CONCERTS
THE TOWN SQUARES of both the ’Boro and Wartrace, as well as Cannonsburgh Village will offer places for musicians and music fans to band together and keep live concert experiences alive.
The historic Wartrace Music Fest summer concert series got underway June 20. This series will continue the third Saturday of each month through September with shows scheduled to include The Blue Trees, Sweet Fever and Jenny Johnson on July 18, Kiss Kiss Bang on Aug. 15 and Goodbye June on Sept. 19.
Parking in downtown Wartrace is $10, but admission to the shows, from 6–10 p.m., is free. Visitors are strongly encouraged to peruse nearby businesses, food trucks will be onsite and official Music Fest merchandise will be available. Folding chairs and blankets are welcomed to fully enjoy the “rock ’n’ roll by the rails” experience. See artist videos and find out more at wartracechamber.org/musicfest.
Back in Murfreesboro, if those Friday night blues have become stuck in your shoes, there’s good news: fun times are afoot at Cannonsburgh Village.
Cannonsburgh’s Third Friday concert series is back. This series welcomed the Dewdrop Jamboree on June 19. July 17 will feature music from the Uptown Country Band, Aug. 21 is the 231 South Band and Sept. 18 sees the series come to a full-circle close with the Dewdrop Jamboree once again. Third Friday shows are free.
The Main Street Murfreesboro Friday Night Live concert series is also ready to soon put some spring in your summer step. In addition to the live music, you can dig in your heels for some (Murfreesboro Square) dancing. During concert intermissions, instructors from National Dance Club will be there to offer fun, free lessons on how to dance circles around the un-lessoned.
Main Street Murfreesboro will host the free Friday Night Live concerts with Entice on Aug. 7, Skyline Drive on Aug. 21 and Good Rockin’ Tonight on Sept. 11. All concerts will be on the Murfreesboro Public Square from 6:30–9:30 p.m.
According to Main Street Executive Director Sarah Callender, more streets will be closed this year to allow for social distancing. No food vendors are planned, so attendees are encouraged to visit local restaurants that will remain open, offering food and snacks. Find more at mainstreet murfreesboro.org/friday-night-live. — MELISSA COKER
ANITA COCHRAN, HEIDI NEWFIELD, JAMIE O’NEAL JOIN FORCES FOR JULY 10 LOVE ANCHORS FUND BENEFIT
COUNTRY SINGER Anita Cochran’s Love Anchors Fund is docking soon in Winchester at The Honeysuckle at Twin Creeks Marina and Resort for a sweet reason—to join the fight against breast cancer. Cochran has gathered fellow female forces-to-be-reckoned-with Jamie O’Neal (known for hits including “There Is No Arizona” and “I Think About Angels”) and country-turned-Americana artist Heidi Newfield (known for knowing her way around a harmonica, fronting the band Trick Pony and solo hits including “Johnny and June”) to share their love of music out on the water on Friday, July 10.
Well-known for her No. 1 duet “What If I Said” with Steve Wariner and “I Wanna Hear a Cheatin’ Song,” multi-award winning Cochran was diagnosed with triple positive invasive breast carcinoma in 2017. She wrote a song entitled “Fight Like a Girl” about her cancer battle and donates its proceeds to The Love Anchors Fund.
“I’m so excited about this show!” Cochran said about the July 10 project. “My first event for my breast cancer charity!”
The Love Anchors Fund is managed by The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and distributes money to a variety of breast cancer organizations for research and awareness as well as to breast cancer patients in need.
Both O’Neal and Newfield are working on new music; Newfield is slated
to release an album in late August and O’Neal just recorded the Shaye Smith co-write “The World Goes On.” Cochran also has new music. TV and radio personality Suzanne Alexander takes the helm as host to keep this girl-powered gathering between the beacons.
Tickets are $50 and seating is firstcome first-served. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the concert beginning at 7.
The Honeysuckle is located at 91 Slip-A Way, Winchester. Find tickets to the concert at theloveanchorsfund.simpletix.com. — MELISSA COKER
Living
Clockwise from top left: A large grid of trampolines at Sky Zone; special anti-slip jumping socks; conquering the 12-foot warped wall; a superfast slide; battling on the balance beam; ascending to the top of a carpeted, elevated platform; zip line
A NEW EXERCISE and entertainment experience has arrived in Murfreesboro with the July 2020 opening of Sky Zone Murfreesboro.
Bouncers can hit the many different trampolines and other attractions at Sky Zone for some flying, flipping fun.
Different trampolines are all over this facility, located in the former home of Big Lots on Broad Street. Those wanting to jump around can get airborne, practice their tricks and tumbling, and conduct a pretty good leg and cardio workout as they spring to the sky.
Jumpers can get some serious air at the Drop Zone and do a mid-air trick or pose before landing comfortably on a giant airbag.
A wall of diagonal trampolines borders a huge grid of square trampolines for some trampoline target practice (one must take care to make sure they guide themselves to the expected landing spot in order to avoid
JUMP!
Spring to the sky at Sky Zone, new Murfreesboro trampoline park
STORY BY BRACKEN MAYO | PHOTOS BY SARAH MAYO
any uncomfortable landings).
A basketball goal area allows those with only moderate vertical ability to reach for the rim. A super-springy white trampoline offers an opportunity to do a box jump on two different levels of a carpeted platform.
The wide variety of different zones and games within the attraction also includes the Wipe Out. On this activity, up to eight jumpers, one on each of the eight pie-sliceshaped trampolines, attempt to leap over the two giant rotating sweeper arms.
In addition to all of the trampolines, Sky Zone contains a variety of other features that can challenge participants’ physicality.
Warped walls, as made famous by the Ninja Warrior program, come in 8-, 10- and 12-foot-tall sizes at Sky Zone Murfreesboro.
A giant slide really builds up the slider’s speed, pointing them almost straight down as they ride on a piece of cloth to reduce friction, before sending them flying through the air to land safely on a large airbag.
A balance beam sits over a large pile of soft foam cubes. Two gladiators can grab the soft foam battle sticks and try and knock one another into the foam pit.
Silks hanging from the ceiling offer participants the chance to dangle, transition and fly as they attempt some intricate
acrobatic maneuvers.
A zip line, tug of war, dodgeball court and other areas also provide fun challenges at Sky Zone.
Sky Zone holds designated times for “little leapers” ages 7 and under, when the park opens only for youngsters without the fear of larger leapers landing on top of them.
And Saturday nights are glow nights, when the main lights go down and lasers and black lights take over for a high-flying dance club experience.
Sky Zone has over 300 locations around the globe, and even operates the first trampoline park at sea, onboard a Carnival cruise ship.
Sky Zone Murfreesboro is located at 1220 NW Broad St., Murfreesboro. For tickets, schedules, to fi ll out a waiver in advance of a visit or for more information, visit skyzone.com/murfreesboro.
Living DAY TRIP
Burgess Falls STORY AND PHOTOS BY BRACKEN MAYO
State park offers spectacular views of falling water
Far left: A group of kayakers paddled upstream to enjoy the pool at the base of the main falls at Burgess Falls State Park. Above: The cliffs surrounding the basin of the falls. Top right: A dam built in 1928
For those exploring some of the many beautiful Tennessee State Parks, the main falls area at Burgess Falls offers a spectacular sight as the 136-foot-tall waterfall on the Falling Water River plunges into the gorge below.
Striking, gigantic rocky cliff walls encircle the basin, where kayakers and swimmers enjoy the pool of water below as onlookers observe from on top of the ridge.
A trail leads from the Burgess Falls parking area to atop the falls, about a half-mile walk each way. From the top of the falls, visitors can peek over the edge of rocks as the water plummets far below.
At one time, a staircase descended from the top of the falls into the gorge area. However, state park authorities have removed this and put up a gate, so currently there is no upper-level access to the area below the falls. upper-level access to the area below the falls.
The people in the water put in their kayaks and boats farther downstream the Falling Water River—which empties into Center Hill Lake—and traveled upstream, against only a gentle current, to the base of Burgess Falls for a day of recreation in the sun. Even a larger pontoon boat has more than enough space to maneuver and anchor in the pool below the falls.
Burgess Falls, located in White County, approximately 10 miles south of downtown Cookeville, is really a series of four waterfalls, with the final 136-foot-feature being the most drastic drop. View all four areas on the half-mile hike.
This begins just steps away from the park’s parking lot, also near a playground and picnic pavilion, with a cascades area that sees the Falling Water River descend that sees the Falling Water River descend 20 feet over a very broad area, dropping one or two feet at a time over steps of rocks. These cascades make a fun place to wade in the river, as long as the water isn’t moving too rapidly during a visit.
Continuing down the River Trail, the hiker soon comes to the 30-foot upper falls. Remnants of a suspension bridge still remain. This bridge once held a flume (water pipe) that carried water from the dam near the park entrance to a powerhouse, situated downstream from the lower falls.
This dam, built in 1928, generated electricity for the area in times predating the Tennessee Valley Authority.
The hiking trail continues to the 80-foot middle falls, which make a lovely sight but are not as impressive as the crown jewel:
the larger, lower falls.
On the journey back, many hikers opt to take the Ridge Top Trail, a wide gravel road which follows a similar course to the River Trail but is a little farther up the hillside with higher, scenic views of Tennessee’s Falling Water River.
In addition to the park’s namesake falls, Burgess Falls State Park also contains a small butterfly garden near the park entrance and dam. The park hosts an annual Butterfly Celebration each summer (well, during the years that do not have a pandemic going on).
Burgess Falls State Park also manages the nearby Window Cliffs State Natural Area. Although the two areas sit just on opposite sides of the Falling Water River, no trails connect the two parks directly. A short drive from Burgess Falls to Window
Cliffs, however, gives explorers the option of an additional 5.4-mile roundtrip hike through a Tennessee forest.
Hikers have reported that this hike, while it offers some beautiful scenery of the prominent cliffs and ridges along the path of Cane Creek, is fairly difficult, with 18 creek crossings.
Find more on Burgess Falls and other Tennessee State Parks at tnstateparks.com.
If You Go
BURGESS FALLS STATE PARK 4000 Burgess Falls Dr. Sparta, Tennessee 931-432-5312 Open 8 a.m. until 30 minutes before sunset
Bring Your Own Chair Main Street and Church Street will be closed for the concerts to allow for social distancing Masks Recommended
Living
CELEBRATIONS ARE A TIME that their participants want to spend making cherished memories. A lot of planning goes into those events, because we want them to go off without a hitch so the magic can do its job and memories can abound. The hope of every wedding planner and bride, every sweet-16 birthday girl and her parents, every new mother and her supportive friends, and anyone else with a milestone to celebrate, is that the event they’re planning will go smoothly with no hiccups, so the focus can remain on the bride, the birthday girl, the new mother and the like.
However, no matter how carefully we plan, and no matter how much effort we put into the big day, there are no guarantees that obstacles won’t abound. Therefore, the importance of foreseeing those obstacles can drastically reduce the risk of things getting in the way of the big day.
A whole world of professionals, available at our fi ngertips, will help to stage, coordinate and execute big events, providing proper support, provision and experience to help accomplish a perfect party. In line with that vision is a Murfreesboro gentleman who offers 15 years of experience helping people celebrate the special moments of their lives. Neil Smith, better known as the Dandy DJ, provides family-friendly DJ services for a wide array of events in the community, working alongside his wife, who provides a fun and versatile photo booth service which adds an additional layer of fun while providing memorable keepsakes to memorialize the event.
Dandy DJ is the kind of guy who exudes tangible joy. It’s obvious that he’s excited about life and the role he plays in it. He enjoys his work, and it shows. In addition to the excitement he brings to the table, he also brings a lot of heart and soul. He carefully considers each client that approaches him about an event, making sure that his services will be a good fi t. If he fi nds that he is unable to provide the kind of ambiance that a client is looking for, he will refer them to other professionals that he trusts, hoping to ensure the very best match between client and professional.
Dandy makes no excuses for his fi rm, family-friendly policy. He wants to be clear that he is interested in providing a good time for everyone, but he also wants to provide a wholesome experience. He’s not opposed to drinking or dancing, but he
Getting Hitched Without a Hitch
Dandy DJ provides family-friendly wedding entertainment and helpful tips
BY ANGELA LOUPE
does screen lyrics of all requested songs carefully, wanting to provide the type of entertainment that can be enjoyed by all guests, regardless of age. He is a very fl exible and easily engaged professional who simultaneously allows his conscience to serve him and mitigate unnecessary risk.
Preparedness is defi nitely a high priority for Dandy. He has upgraded all of his sound equipment to enable three hours of continued sound in the event of a power failure. He is conscious of and informed about the
assorted obstacles that can come into play during an event, such as the electrical options available, the considerations for safety of the equipment itself, and the wires and cables that must be run. He is also sensitive to the client’s needs when it comes to their other obligations. Dandy makes it clear that he realizes the need for a speedy breakdown when the venue has a time limit or rentals must be returned. His fi rst and last thoughts, and all the ones in between, are centered around giving the client the best
experience they can possibly have.
Preparation time for the event is carefully spent custom-tailoring the experience to fi t clients’ wishes and needs, he says. Slide shows and images, lighting, music and photo opportunities are fi ne-tuned for weeks before an event, making sure that the magic of the moment carries the right tone for what the client has in mind, making those memories easy to capture and enjoyable for years to come.
In addition to his website, which offers videos and a more personal window into the kind of experience that you can expect, Dandy has also authored several books which lend weight to his credibility and display his level of expertise in a very organized way.
The Dandy DJ packs his books—Ditch Your DJ, and All Your Other Wedding Vendors Too!, The Barn Wedding Book: How to Hold Your Hootenanny Without a Hitch, Pick a Perfect Wedding DJ and The Wedding DJ Bible—which contain useful event planning and DJ tips designed to be helpful to the reader whether or not they purchase the author’s services.
The videos and the books only serve to reinforce the impression that the Dandy DJ presents in person—that is, that his character and his ethics are a perfect fi t for his profession. There’s no way this guy will aim to host anything less than the consummate celebration.
Dandy provides DJ and photo booth services for events such as weddings, corporate functions, church events and family events. For more information on the Dandy DJ and his books, visit dandydj.com.
