Promise Land Festival in Dickson County returns after COVID hiatus

The Promise Land Music & Arts Festival returns to an in-person event on Saturday, June 4 and is inviting attendees to celebrate the community’s history with a variety of music, crafts, food, and art in a rural setting in the Charlotte area.

The festival, which is in its 21s year, will be headlined by performer Sy Smith, internationally known singer, songwriter, and actress who is returning to her roots and will be sharing “her unique brand of joy” on the Promise Land festival stage, according to organizers.

Leading up to her performance is an eclectic mix of musicians including Brassville, The Danberrys, and AyyWille’. The festival stage host is Nashville area comedian and performer Jamye with the Y who is also a Promise Land descendant.

Musicians

Sy Smith is an Emmy-nominated songwriter who has released 5 studio albums and a concert DVD on her own label Psyko Records. She is a much sought-after session and touring vocalist and is currently touring with Grammy-nominated trumpeter Chris Botti. Sy is, in her own words, a granddaughter of Promise Land and feels the need to connect and ground herself to the roots she holds so dear.

Brassville is comprised mostly of brass players and completed with keys, bass, and drums. Their music combines funk with New Orleans flavor.

The Danberrys, an Americana duo, have a rich pastoral blues and folk sound that is a mixed offshoot of roots music. Dorothy and Ben are a married couple who both grew up in Dickson County.

AyyWille’ is a saxophonist known for his smooth-edged, athletic sound. He says he has been influenced by deep jazz-heads like Ronnie Laws and John Klemmer.

Jamye with the Y is the stage host for the festival. She is a well-known Nashville improvisational comedian and actress and is a master social worker who goes by Dr. Hardy by day.

Gathering place

Ken Williams, CFO with Zochem, said the company is excited to sponsor the event.

“We could not be more pleased to join Serina Gilbert and the festival planning committee in supporting such a wonderful cause for this year and, hopefully, many more to come,” said Williams.

Gilbert, chair of the Promise Land Board of Directors, said the festival will continue to be a gathering place for festival attendees from Middle Tennessee and beyond.

“This year we will feature musical performances, an art exhibit, crafts, food, a children’s pavilion, living history, and the annual Parade of Hats for Healthy Hearts,” said Gilbert. “New this year is exceptional reserved Value In Partnership (VIP) seating with bistro tables and chairs and special gift bags from $250 for two seats and $400 for four seats.” She continued, “VIP seating can be reserved by visiting our website at www.promiselandtn.com.”

The festival is produced by Promise Land Heritage Association, a nonprofit educational and charitable organization whose mission is the preservation, interpretation, and maintenance of the Promise Land Historic Site settled by veterans of the U.S. Colored Troops (USCT) and formerly enslaved people after the Civil War.

Festival hours on Saturday, June 4 are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pre-festival workshops and children’s mural art project are scheduled for Friday, June 3 and require registration by calling 615-707-2130.

For additional information about the festival and Promise Land, visit the website at www.promiselandtn.com.

The festival planning committee continues to monitor guidelines for COVID-19 protocols for in-person outdoor events. A commitment to safety guides all decisions regarding the Promise Land Music & Arts Festival.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Promise Land Festival in Dickson County returns after COVID hiatus