Bragg Jam lineup offers something for every music taste

Every year since we moved to Macon, it sneaks up on me, and I'm absolutely shocked that it's here already. Not unlike Christmas in the middle of a bleak winter, Bragg Jam waits for me in the miserably sweltering heat of summer.

I shouldn't be too surprised that it's mere days away, as I and my fellow board members have been toiling away tirelessly on this year's festivities for months now, but nevertheless it is jarring to my system each time.

This year, Bragg Jam has expanded to include a Friday night concert on July 28, featuring Stokeswood, Cedric Burnside Project and Macon’s own Hank Vegas. This concert is taking the place of the Patron Party and bringing more incredible live music experiences to the city of Macon.

While VIP tickets have already sold out for the Bragg Jam weekend, two-day passes, as well as Friday-only and Saturday-only tickets, are still available.

Saturday, July 29, will once again prove itself as one of the most packed days of the year in downtown Macon, when the Arts & Kids Fest kicks things off with free, family-friendly fun at Cherry Street Plaza at 10 a.m. Expect crafts, live music (featuring young musicians from the Otis Music Camp, where the other half of my Macon heart lies), inflatable fun rides and more until 2 p.m.

Then the Concert Crawl heats things up (as if we needed any help with the heat) across downtown with 18 stages and more than 80 acts kicking out the jams from bluegrass to punk, folk to funk, country to quirky, and everything in between. Garage rockers White Denim and Twin Peaks are set to co-headline, plus Sundance Head, winner of NBC’s “The Voice,” will be performing fresh from a tour with country star Blake Shelton.

Several exciting new venues have been added, mirroring the explosion of new restaurants that have sprouted up in downtown Macon. Piedmont Brewery and The Brick will both join the Concert Crawl as stages, and another new eatery, Ocmulgee Brewpub, has brewed a special Kolsch beer called "A Minute of Your Time," named after a Brax Bragg song (which was also covered by Hank Vegas, playing Friday night’s opening concert). Fifty cents from each beer sold goes to Bragg Jam, and it's only available for a limited time, so get it while you can.

As always, we want everyone to be safe, so take advantage of the free shuttles, and call a cab or an Uber to get home if need be. We want to see you all again next year!

For more information, check out www.braggjam.org.

This story was originally published July 18, 2017 at 4:36 PM with the headline "Bragg Jam lineup offers something for every music taste."