Longtime annual music festival Uncle Dave Macon Days returns after a two-year hiatus for a roots music celebration to be held October 7-8 at the Fountains in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Christian Hidalgo, producer of the documentary Uncle Dave Macon Days: A Tribute to Old Time Music & Dance, said, “Everyone associated with this world-class festival is very excited to see it come back to Murfreesboro after being off for a couple of years. Old-time music lovers from all over the world have made this one of the most exciting events in the Southeast.”
Uncle Dave Macon Days held its last event in 2019 – the COVID-19 pandemic forced organizers to suspend the annual affair. Since its beginning, Uncle Dave Macon Days was held the second weekend in July, but due to battles with rain and heat, the festival organizers voted to change the date to October. This October will mark the Middle Tennessee tradition’s 43rd year, and in honor of its return, organizers announced that the event is free to the public.
Uncle Dave Macon Days was named in honor of David Harrison Macon, professionally known as Uncle Dave Macon. Uncle Dave Macon gained his fame in the early 1920s as an old-time banjo player, singer, songwriter, and comedian who became the first star of the Grand Ole Opry.
According to the Uncle Dave Macon Days website, “The Uncle Dave Macon Days festival started with small beginnings which attracted only a few old-time music enthusiasts on the lawn of the Courthouse in 1978 … Uncle Dave Macon Days 2022 is expanding its musical genre experience. Sparked by the changes across America’s musical landscape, Uncle Dave Macon Days is dedicated to growing a family-friendly musical event at The Fountains.”
After more than 30 years of being hosted at Cannonsburgh Village, this year’s Uncle Dave Macon Days fest will take place on October 7-8 at the Fountains in Murfreesboro. The Fountains, one of the city’s leading event venues, is located at 1500 Medical Center Pkwy.
The festival will begin at 5 p.m., beginning with performances by Glade City Rounders, Jake Leg Stompers, and Uncle Shuffelo and His Haint Hollow Hootenanny. Saturday performances begin at 1:00 p.m., featuring The Will MacLean Band, Caleb Christopher Edwards, Jake Leg Stompers, and The Cleverlys.
For more information about this year’s Macon Days event, visit the Dave Macon Days website. Donations to the Uncle Dave Macon Days nonprofit can be made at donate (paypal.com).
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Kaitlyn Osteen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Send Kaitlyn tips at [email protected].
Photo “Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival” by Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival.
