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48 maconmagazine.com | June/July 2024 On Bragg on Coleman Hill 7.31.21 A concert Follow uS! H O W I T A L L B E G A N In the summer of 1999, the young and promising Macon musicians Brax and Tate Bragg were killed in a cross-country road trip car accident. Bragg Jam began with a single impromptu jam session at the Rookery, which turned into an annual remembrance. By 2003, it had become a non-pro t, and over the past 25 years, it has become a full-scale community arts festival and Macon's premier music event. "In many ways, I think Bragg Jam has always been about discovery" And Bragg Jam has had many "I saw them when" moments; Jason Isbell, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Zac Brown, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Shakey Graves, Katie Pruitt, Margot Price, Frankie Cosmos, Jesco White, Wreckless Eric, Sam Hunt, Tank and the Bangas, Faye Webster, Bailey Zimmerman … the list goes on and on. Over the years, locals like Shane Bridges, Scott Baston, Floco Torres, Nomenclature, Oh! Dorian, Xavii, Magnolia Moon, Bob Lennon, Marle Blue, and so many more played alongside these nationally recognized acts as a testament to the fi rm fact that Macon's music scene is so much more than a few decades in the mid-20th century. This year, Bragg Jam celebrates an important milestone - its 25th anniversary. The opportunities for discovery are plentiful, especially as Downtown Macon looks quite diff erent than it did when I fi rst experienced Bragg Jam in 2008 (this is a good thing). There are new places to pop into for a break from the heat and the noise. There's more bike parking. There are new hotels, shops, and venues, all ready for discovery. To commemorate such a special anniversary, Bragg Jam has tapped alt hip-hop act Digable Planets to headline the 2024 festival. Best known for their breakout hit "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)," the group is renowned for their live band performances. It's unverifi ed, but this may be their fi rst-ever performance in Macon. TORRES, the musical project of Macon's own Mackenzie Scott, will make her hometown debut (see page 40). Evan Honer, Peter One, Billy Allen + The Pollies are all playing venues they'll likely be too popular for during their next time in town. Sabir, Ash Tuesday, and The Open Seas are just a few of the beloved Maconites taking the stage this year. I'm honored to have played a part of the fi rst 25 years of Bragg Jam, and I look forward to seeing what the next quarter century holds. There's a lot of work to be done, but a strong foundation to build on, and they have an amazing, all-volunteer team leading that work. I say this every year, and I mean it - this is not the Bragg Jam to miss. If you're eager to start the festivities early (I am), I'm putting on a show at Grant's Lounge on Friday the 26th featuring Joelton Mayfi eld, 100 Watt Horse, and Michael Suhr. Admission is free, but you have to RSVP. Come out early, celebrate the adventure of discovery that awaits you, and stay hydrated. Note: The author was a member of the Bragg Jam Board of Directors from 2012-2016 and has assisted the festival with talent buying since 2022. On Bragg Bragg Bragg Bragg Bragg Bragg Bragg Bragg Bragg Bragg Bragg Bragg Bragg Bragg Bragg Bragg Bragg Bragg Bragg Bragg Bragg Bragg Bragg Bragg on Coleman Hill 7.31.21 A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert A concert w w w . b r a g g j a m . o r g w w w . b r a g g j a m . o r g The volunteers behind Bragg Jam have produced more than 1,000 unique live shows through their Concert Crawls, Second Sunday Concerts, and other productions.