Bragg Jam Music Festival is an annual concert event held in historic downtown Macon every Summer. It went down this year on July 25th drawing thousands to the streets of downtown Macon to listen to countless local, regional, and even national artists perform the world’s most popular art genre – music.
The men and woman who organize this event every year work tirelessly for months building up to what is the biggest day for downtown Macon every year. Their efforts are not only noticed, but completely appreciated by the community as a whole. The anticipation for this day can be seen in the weeks and even months leading up to the big day in the flyers and posters all over downtown, but also in the bar goers of downtown Macon when you start hearing more and more banter about the big day over a $1 PBR or High Life Draft at the Hummingbird’s Happy Hour from the Bragg Jam shirt wearing patrons and other locals.
This year, I again had the pleasure to make my way to the downtown area to enjoy the closed streets of downtown to wander from venue to venue (as well as bar to bar). Though anyone can go out to walk around and enjoy the day, the vendors, and the atmosphere, a $25 wristband buys admittance to the venues so festival-goers can walk into any of the venues and enjoy.
From local music shops such as William Dantzler’s own Fresh Produce Records on Martin Luther King Boulevard, to Roasted Coffee Shop and Hookah Bar on Second Street, Cherry Street’s famous Hummingbird Stage and Taproom, all the way to historic Cox Capitol Theatre – the venue choices offered just as great of variety that the performances that day did.
“Roasted was a little too loud, but their beer selection was great. That Macon Progress IPA was great, and I seriously had to unhinge my jaw at the Rookery to eat my Burger. Today’s been great.” - Out of town concert goers, who wished to remain anonymous.
The night culminated with Moon Taxi taking the stage in front of a packed Cox Capitol Theatre. However, this wasn’t to say that the day was not full of spectacular performances on every corner, hole in the wall shop, and even some back yard stages. With performances from Macon’s Flocco Torres, Dalmatian, Demun Jones, Mel Washington, African Americana, and so many more, getting away from talent and a good time was impossible. Personally, my night was made when I was caught a favorite of mine, Sumilan, at Roasted.
“Bragg Jam is a great experience for everyone to enjoy local music from the South right in our backyard… I love it” -Wyatt Moore, 3rd year Bio-Chem Major at Mercer University.
How could this day have gotten any better? Oh yeah, local public drinking ordinance is changed for the day and open containers can freely be taken from venue to venue, sold from carts on the street, and publicly consumed.
To sum this all up, if you weren’t in downtown Macon on July 25th, sorry ‘bout it. Better not miss it next year, or you’ll miss out on what everyone’s talking about yet again.
