Brent Cobb dazzles Macon in inaugural country music festival. He has plans for more
Enchanted by Macon’s musical history, country singer-songwriter Brent Cobb hosted a music festival in various downtown locations Saturday and Sunday.
The inaugural South of Atlanta festival was packed with performances with Cobb’s slew of friends at The Big House Museum, Capitol Theatre, Capricorn Records and Grant’s Lounge. Cobb chose Macon’s charm as the host city for the festival as a way to highlight local and national artists.
Cobb even worked with Piedmont Brewery to produce Shade Tree Lager only for the weekend. A portion of the proceeds from the sale would go to the Georgia Music Foundation, which would emphasize musical education throughout the state.
The festival kicked off at The Big House Museum Saturday afternoon to take advantage of the outdoor area of the facility, where guests could lounge and listen to live performances. Even though Slaughter Creek, the band that Cobb’s father fronts, was slated to perform, he pulled out last minute. It led JB Strauss to put together musicians that have never played together, including Ben Chapman’s drummer and some local musicians from Macon, to kick off the festival.
“They opened at The Big House, opened the festival up and crushed it,” Cobb told The Telegraph. “It was so good.”
Ben Chapman opened the first night’s shows Saturday evening, which was followed by Silverada, with whom Cobb has been friends for a long time. Once Silverada’s set ended, an after party at Grant’s Lounge featured a set from JB Strauss.
Guests got the chance to tour Capricorn Records Sunday afternoon before Cobb would bring in Meg McCree, Wade Sapp, Neil Medley and Adam Hood for an intimate, acoustic session. He then headed to Fresh Produce Records for fans to get their albums signed by him.
Before Cobb opened the Capitol Theatre Sunday evening, The Band Loula hyped up the crowd. Once it was Cobb’s time to perform, he showcased three new songs from his upcoming rock album.
Then, to conclude the event, a “Jam Night” was hosted at Grant’s Lounge.
When asked if he plans to host future South of Atlanta festivals in Macon, he said that the goal would be “to do it every year,” he told The Telegraph.
Why did Cobb choose Macon?
He told The Telegraph how his work makes him visit Macon often, with some of his songs and albums being recorded and produced at Capricorn Records, which inspired his decision to host the festival in the city. Even though he upholds Macon’s musical history thanks to artists like Otis Redding, Little Richard and the Allman Brothers, the city is currently “just as rich as it has always been,” Cobb said.
Cobb credits Capricorn Records and Mercer University’s School of Music with being hospitable and welcoming to him every time he visits the studio.
Cobb, Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls and Gretsch hosted the “Georgia on my Mind” benefit concert and live-streamed their performance at the studio in Capricorn Records as a result of the COVID-19 social distancing rule. The proceeds from that event went to the Georgia Music Foundation.
“I just loved the studio so much,” Cobb said. “You can feel the spirit in here right when you walk in.”
Besides his most recent album, “Southern Star,” he’s helped out on Adam Hood’s “Bad Days Better” album and some songs from Blackberry Smoke, he told The Telegraph. To him, it’s easy to work alongside others who share their appreciation for Macon’s musical history.
“I just want to shine a light on Macon,” Cobb told The Telegraph. “It’s been so good to me and I just want to return.”
This story was originally published April 15, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
