Academy Park Acoustic Fest

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Jessie Eppelheimer

Academy Park Acoustic Fest 2024; Us Two and Him, 6pm; Jay Rin, 7pm; Jim & Valerie Gabehart, 8pm; Mike Dunbar, 9pm

The Williamson County Performing Arts Center is excited to announce our first Acoustic Fest to be held on the Academy Park Courtyard just outside the theater in Franklin, TN. This year’s fest will feature a range of talent, from local up-and-coming performers to 50-year veterans in the music business.

6:00pm: us two and him

The evening kicks off at 6pm with us two and him, a local bluegrass trio consisting of brothers Jim and John Rickman ("us two") and Phil Comstock ("him"). These three close buddies have been telling stories and harmonizing together for five decades. They have appeared on the Grand Ole Opry stage, "The Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree,” "Nashville Gospel Show,” WSM's "Bill Cody in the Morning" radio show, and for many years they were semi-regulars on Nashville’s "The Ralph Emery Show."

7:00pm: Jay Rin

At 7pm, we welcome Jay Rin, soulful ‘Rockicana’ singer-songwriter originally from Whittier, CA and graduate of Belmont University 2017. She has been featured on Knoxville’s WDVX, Murfreesboro’s WMOT, and Los Angeles’ KLOS after the release of her debut 2023 album “Fool on the Fringe.” Jay Rin is a full time performing artist and also spends her time as the 'John Lennon' in the internationally touring all female Beatles tribute - Penny Lane.

8:00pm: Jim & Valerie Gabehart

Husband and wife team, Jim & Valerie Gabehart, who have also been musical partners for 29 years, will be our featured entertainers at 8pm. Recent transplants to Tennessee from the hills of West Virginia, Jim is a 5-time West Virginia State Champion banjo player, and Valerie is a dynamic bluegrass vocalist! They will be joined by their daughter, Amy Taylor on guitar, and Corey Hensley on bass.

9:00pm: Mike Dunbar

Closing out the evening at 9pm is songwriter and performing artist Mike Dunbar. A New England native, Mike’s music is equal parts Paul Simon and Tom Petty, blending lyrical depth with a rock-and-roll attitude. His work has been featured in the Boston Globe as well as on Nashville’s Lightning 100, Channel 4’s Today in Nashville, Boston’s The River, and New Hampshire Public Radio’s “All Things Considered.”