The annual Summertown Bluegrass Reunion brought together local pickers and dancers of all ages in Summertown, Tennessee, over Labor Day weekend. Located just off Highway 64 in a forested Middle Tennessee field flanked by wooden fencing, pasture, and brightly colored bunting, the festival hosted a dance competition, shade tree band competition, and a main stage with open dancing for music lovers, as well as a snack shack slinging their famous white beans.
The Summertown Bluegrass Reunion snack shack, serving famous white beans and more.
Saturday afternoon, Grand Ole Opry dancer Sarah Harris and her band took the stage, performing Stanley Brothers tunes like “I Think I’ll Just Go Away” and Flatt and Scruggs’ “Head Over Heels.”
Saturday evening saw several hundred campers and ticket holders pour into the rural festival while event organizer and founder Terry Pierce wandered through the crowd to catch up with old friends and ensure everyone was having a great time. The fest has been a staple for more than two decades, and it’s always a hub for local musicians to gather.
An open dance at the Summertown Bluegrass Reunion’s main stage.
Dancers from Tennessee and Alabama joined in the buck dancing competition as well, with some so young they needed a little assistance from a parent. Other youngsters held their own, showing off kicks, heel clicks and other moves. Two seniors competed as well. Flatfoot legend and 2017 NEA National Heritage Fellow Thomas Maupin attended, although he didn’t perform. Afterwards, guests were encouraged to take a dinner break and listen to the shade tree bands as they competed under the property’s canopy.
The “Lil Doll” (age 10 and younger) dance competition.A band performs during the Shade Tree Band Competition.Another local bluegrass band performs in the Shade Tree Band competition.
During the evening’s main show, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, fiddle teacher Andy Spearman and his band, Wildcat Ridge, took the stage, and the crowd was treated to a performance by Tommy Jackson’s Rocky Top Revue, an award-winning square dancing team based in Franklin, Tennessee.
Fiddler Andy Spearman jams during the Summertown Bluegrass Reunion.Fiddler Andy Spearman and band, Wildcat Ridge, perform on the Summertown Bluegrass Reunion main stage.
While Summertown Bluegrass Reunion may not be the largest festival in the state, it’s full of homegrown music that fans have loved for generations, and they continue to turn out each year for the good tunes and fun times.
Just outside of Nashville, Tennessee, on the shores of Old Hickory Lake, is a stunning 13-acre estate whose crown jewel is The Estate at Cherokee Dock. Early this summer, the BGS team was fortunate enough to be invited to stay on the premises for our annual company retreat and work session, bringing together our staff in Los Angeles and Nashville for a relaxing, productive, and beautiful few days on site, which is most famous for being the former residence of country legend and BGS favorite, Reba McEntire. Our team spent three days, dividing up the themed bedrooms among us — all inspired by legends like Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, and of course, Reba.
As an events hub, the 13,000-square-foot Southern Colonial home’s most popular use now is hosting all-inclusive weddings. Yet the sprawling space — replete with stables, a guitar-shaped swimming pool, a well-equipped game room, gorgeous grounds and gardens, and oh-so-much more — also hosts corporate events, film and photo shoots, community concerts, mixers and networking parties, and just about any other function you can imagine. After two full days of BGS planning, creating, and brainstorming of course we made time for a 90s country karaoke sing off, a Skee-Ball tournament, some hot tub time, a small gathering of friends, and even some pickin’.
Although the surroundings are opulent, the comfortable vibe of the home lends itself surprisingly well to meetings, whether teams are seated around the large dining room table, or (in our case) simply gathered in a circle of couches and chairs in the sunny living room. Most of the time, we either gravitated to the inviting kitchen and its huge island, or carried our lunch plates out to the patio. There are enough areas of the home to still have privacy when the laptops are powered down and phones silenced for the day, too. Although BGS staffers are always on the go, the Estate at Cherokee Dock makes it easy to just stay put and enjoy some valuable time together.
For all of you fans of beautiful architecture, Middle Tennessee’s beauty, and our goddess, Reba, take a journey across The Estate at Cherokee Dock in photographs. And, make plans to visit for your own retreat, no matter the occasion.
The first look at the property. Nothing is quite so quintessentially southern as a long, winding lane lined with gigantic oak trees.
The first glimpse of the estate is quite literally breathtaking.
As you enter the home, a grand staircase and complementary chandelier.
The great room, cozy while spacious, with amazing views of the grounds and lake.
Down the path to the dock over your shoulder you'll notice the home's prominent tower.
How many summer nights would you spend relaxing in this exact spot?
The backyard's fire pit, hot tub, and guitar-shaped swimming pool.
The third floor of the tower also has stunning views, especially from the former gym -- that now serves as a bridal party preparation room.
An ode to the original mistress of the house, hidden in a closet.
An inviting parlor perfect for enjoying a cigar and some whiskey, perhaps? Yes.
Each of the home's guest rooms are named after an iconic country artist -- and decorated to match.
This room's theme is Garth Brooks (or Chris Gaines, depending on your taste).
As you descend the staircase, take a glance upward.
Country memorabilia is peppered throughout, a reminder that you're mere miles from the heart of Music City.
In the basement, a multimedia hideaway -- the perfect setting for a company karaoke contest, too. (Yes, "Does He Love You" and "Why Haven't I Heard From You" happened.)
A few Reba relics stand sentinel in a display case at the foot of the staircase. And no, though many guests ask, she did not forget these beauties in the move!
An unseasonably cool summer evening is the perfect occasion to light a fire to warm up a few toes.
And no gathering at the Estate at Cherokee Dock would be complete without music!
It simply could not be more picturesque.
A beautiful sunset, gazing across the lake at Gallatin, TN.
All photos by Laura E. Partain
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