Bragg Jam Returning to Macon

What started as an impromptu jam session of local musicians in honor of Macon, Georgia’s Brax and Tate Bragg was expanded into a city-wide music festival in 2003. Today, Bragg Jam has evolved into a full-scale arts festival and Macon’s premier music event, operating as a 501(c) 3 organization with a volunteer board of directors. This year’s festival marks Bragg Jam’s 10th anniversary.

The dates for this year's jam are as follows. July 18 is the Moonlight Miles; July 24 is the Patron Party and Music Auction; July 25 is the Geico Arts and Kids and the Concert Crawl.

A portion of Bragg Jam’s net proceeds will go to the care and maintenance of the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail, as well as the Cox Capitol Theatre and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame’s M.I.K.E. (Music in Kids’ Education) program.

Bragg Jam festivities get into the groove with the 13 WMAZ Moonlight Miles 5K Fun Run/Walk taking place as the sun starts to set this Saturday, July 18 at Tattnall Square Park. Join the Bragg Jam and College Hill Corridor crews at 7:30 p.m. for pre-race festivities and registration. A one mile “fun run” starts at 8:30 p.m. and the 5K is on the mark at 9:00 p.m. Movies and music will play in the park during the entire event.

There's a $250 prize to the fastest overall male and female 5K finishers. Awards will be given out to the top three finishers, both male and female, in their respective age groups: 4 & under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65+.

This is the second year for the Moonlight Miles, whose proceeds from the registration fees benefit Bragg Jam’s charities. Pre-register for $20 ($25 day of race) by visiting the Moonlight Miles’ page on www.braggjam.org.

What’s become an anticipated event within itself, the Patron Party and Music Auction on Friday, July 24 gives thanks to invited supporters starting at 7 p.m. and opens to the general public at 10 p.m.

This year’s annual Bragg Jam kick-off will feature live music by the Lee Boys, a Southern funk and gospel band performing in the Sacred Steel tradition.

Among the items in the silent and live auctions include music memorabilia, such as a signed REM guitar, concert tickets and signed posters. There will also be another original Steve Penley painting in the live auction with a Georgia music subject.

Tickets when the doors open to the general public are $10. The Patron Party and Music Auction takes place at the Armory Ballroom, 484 First Street, in downtown Macon.

The Geico Arts & Kids is fun for the entire family – or just the kid in you. The FREE event takes place at the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Enjoy live music, magicians, puppets, community performances, demonstrations and more under a large tent, with tables, chairs and misting fans. This is also the chance to meet and have pictures taken with Muddy Brown, also known as the Swamp Ape, “Bragg Jam’s New Best Friend.”

A sample of the full day of activities include: the Museum of Arts & Sciences Animal Show (11a), the Spaghetti-Eating Contest (noon), Pam Blanchard and the Sunny-Side Up Band (noon-2p), a magic show (2:15p), water balloon-toss contest (3p), traveling puppet show (3:30p) and live music by Gertrude’s Mojo from 4-5p.
In addition, there will be a strolling magician making animal balloons, a tie-dye t-shirt station, face painting, rock wall, inflatable obstacle course, live radio remote, art cars and sidewalk chalk art by the Georgia Children’s Museum.

Returning this year is the all-ages, all-artists Open Air Paint Out. Artists are invited to bring their canvases to the Trail, set up and paint throughout the day, with a $100 cash prize being awarded at the end of the juried competition.

In addition to art, food and beverage vendors, there will be a large tent on site with tables and misting fans. Ocmulgee Expeditions will be offering tube rentals for floating down the river during the event. Parking is available at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame with free trolley rides to the Trail.

The 2009 Bragg Jam Festival Concert Crawl schedule has been updated with new venues, time changes and official stage names. The Concert Crawl now starts an hour earlier at 5 p.m. and remains until 2 a.m., Sunday morning.

For the first time in the festival’s 10-year history, Bragg Jam Festival Inc will operate its own venue at the Yuengling Stage at 580 Cherry Street.

The festival’s signature Concert Crawl includes 40 bands at eight venues for $20. The Cox Capitol Theatre and 567 Café are all-ages and non-smoking venues. The Shamrock will also be all-ages until 10 p.m.

Also a Bragg Jam first, the Macon Symphony Orchestra will host a quartet performance in Third Street Park from 7:30 to 8 p.m. After the performance, the violinist will stroll downtown playing music throughout the night.

Admission is a $20 armband, available for purchase during the Concert Crawl at any of the eight venues. Free trolley rides will be available to and from each venue until 3 a.m. Bragg Jam has also partnered with Zingo Designated Driving Service (478.254.6555) for discounted ride homes with Bragg Jam armbands. The complete, updated schedule is included below and available for download on www.braggjam.org.

Bragg Jam Concert Crawl 2009 Schedule:

Yuengling Stage at 580 Cherry
5-5:45:  Citizen Insane
6-7:  The Moaners
7:15-8:15:  City Council & the Paper Street Band
8:45-9:45:  Roly Bots
10:15-11:45:  Afromotive
12-until: Nomenclature
 
11th Hour / Q106 Stage at the Hummingbird Stage & Taproom
5-5:30: Rabbi [Larry Schlesinger] & Friends
5:45-6:15: Abby Owens
6:30-7:15: Al K!ng & Floco Torres
7:45-8:45 Hank Vegas
9:15-10:45: Loose Change Reunion featuring Chris Hicks
11:15-12:15: Rusty Swinger Band
12:45-until: Money $hott
 
Ocmulgeee Heritage Trail Stage at 567 Cafe
6-6:45: Gaul Armstrong
7-7:45: Jowin
8-8:45: Trendlenberg
9-10: Oh Dorian
10:30-until: Red Swill
 
Bragg Swim School Stage at The Rookery
5-7: Friends of Brax
7:15-8:15: Coyote Bones
8:30-9:30: Corey Crowder
10-11:30: Tron Jackson
12-until: Mag Tard
 
13WMAZ stage at The Cox Capitol Theatre
6-7: Toolshed Ginger
7:30-8:30: VEX
9-10:30: T-Bird and the Breaks
11-until: Cracker
 
Spinen / iMedia Stage Rivalry’s on Northside
6-6:45: Stumbling Toads
7:15-8:15:  Rick Brantley
8:45-10: Red Fish Blue Fish
10:30-12: Deadstring Brothers
12:30-until: September Hase
 
Bright Ideas Group/Macon State College Stage at the Shamrock
6-6:45: Bonner Creek Bluegrass
7:15-8: Good Country People
8:30-9:30: Mississippi John Doude
10-11:30: Kevn Kinney
12-until: St. Francis

Ramada Plaza Stage at The Ramada Plaza’s Meritage
Deejay spinning dance music from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m.

Support Bragg Jam’s Mission and Support Macon Music

- Jessica Walden



 

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