On a picturesque evening just before dusk settled in, it was evident fall was in the air at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens for their ‘Bluegrass Under The Stars’ event, which was headlined by the great Sam Bush this past Friday September 6th.
After being directed by the kind folks in the fluorescent vests to find a suitable parking spot in the gravel, the walk full of twists and turns led you through trails of fallen crunching leaves as a temperate breeze swept through the surrounding woods.
The autumnal landscaping of the grounds was in full effect, with a number of eye-catching gourd and botanical arrangements along the way to the stage. The juxtaposition of indulging in a show in Nashville but at a beautiful expansive park curated by top tier landscape artists versus common city venues was literally a breath of fresh air. I’m all for the classic Nashville city venues big or small, divey or swanky, but it’s a rare treat to witness such an event basically in the woods.
Food trucks and pop up bars lined the perimeter atop the grassy knoll to satiate the eager crowd, and the scene was set for a night of great music to fill the air. Taking a seat a good 40 yards or so up the hill and front and center, the peripheral views were beautiful. The colorful and slowly darkening skies were filled with non-threatening clouds, and ponds, trails, and trees surrounded the listeners. It was a familiar scene of many a happy face sitting on sprawled out blankets and lounging in Adirondack chairs, with some nearby folks even having their own little snack table with a variety of charcuterie-like snacks. (I was envious)
Things kicked off with the Davidson County String Band, which featured Cristina Vane who took the lead on most songs, along with Brenna MacMillan, Libby Weitnauer, and Vicki Vaughn. The rootsy harmonies between the female-led quartet were angelic to say the least, as they breezed through a mix of old timey classics and originals from the artists. One notable cover was Vane’s rendition of Blind Blake’s “Police Dog Blues.” She also performed songs from her 2022 album, Make Myself Me Again.
The Davidson County String Band played out the sunlight and brought in the moonlight, getting the crowd eager for the legendary Sam Bush and his band. He came in hot with his signature New Grass sound, lighting up the Cheekwood skies around him with his electric energy. In his classic casual getup of a tee shirt and jeans, Bush did what he’s done for decades: hold the crowd in the palm of his hand. The bluegrass jam band vibe was strong, and his intermittent crowd banter was as on point as ever. “I think this is the closest show I’ve ever played to my house,” he quipped.
One notable number performed was “The Ballad of String Bean and Estelle,” a geographically-relevant murder ballad (naturally) written by Verlon Thompson, Guy Clark, and Bush. The song tells the true story of Bill Monroe’s banjo player, David “Stringbean” Akeman, who was murdered along with his wife Estelle after a night performing at The Grand Ole Opry in November 1973.
Several songs into the set and during playful band introductions, light rain began to fall, which bothered just about nobody. The way the rain looked through the beaming tunnel-like purple lights made it appear as if it was funneling into the stage, directly fueling the energy permeating off the stage, making for a semi-psychedelic experience that only added to the epic show.
Bush displayed his virtuosity and versatility from reggae-grass type jams to New Orleans-grass jams and everything in between. Old songs, new songs, cover songs, and the like had the sold-out crowd — as per usual — in the palm of his hand, rain or shine.
There are few places that marry such scenic natural beauty and top tier roots music as Cheekwood’s ‘Bluegrass Under The Stars’ series, and it was an experience they hopefully maintain for years to come.
Featured photo credit: Diana Rosales, Cheekwood Estate & Gardens.
