TDawg Presents brings you the finest in music that heals the soul and brings life to your life. You KNOW that a TDawg show will always be a solid show!
The Frank Hamilton School is thrilled to present this incredibly dynamic trio of singer/songwriters/performers and we REALLY hope you can make it on out. Each musician is unique, and they blend together for a wonderful symmetry of sounds. Ralph Roddenbery, Donna Hopkins, and Big Daddy are going to bring it, and we hope you’re there to receive it! Below is a great video of Donna Hopkins and Ralph Roddenbery at Suwannee Roots Revival at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park last fall with a full band backing them – enjoy! A special thanks goes out to Richard Baumgarten for recording this set!
The next video is Big Daddy with his absolutely amazing band Acoustic Syndicate (one of my absolute favorites!) and it’s a five video playlist. Enjoy!
The Frank Hamilton School is excited to bring you a stellar group of concerts that are diverse musically and equally engaging. We are fortunate to be able to bring you such amazing regional talent representing different genres of Americana and roots music. As the year moves forward, you can expect more activity with workshops and performances at our home, Oakhurst Baptist Church, and within the community at festivals and a variety of local events. Please visit the Frank Hamilton School website for information about how you can be involved, from taking a classto volunteering to becoming a member.
Happy New Year everyone! I hope that whether you endured or enjoyed the holiday season, you are happy to be in a new year, and 2017 promises to bring some goodness to our collective soul when we most need it. THANK YOU to those of you who made it out to the inaugural Hamilton Hoopla for the Frank Hamilton School and the 6th Annual Atlanta Holiday Hootenanny for Atlanta Habitat! So many wonderful moments scattered through both performances with lasting memories to carry you into the new year!
Sat Jan 7 ~ Frank Hamilton School Presents Dusty Roads + CJ Jones & The Spirit Bonesat the Red Light Café in a very explosive start to the new year! Bringing two different approaches to the Americana sound, this night will be sure to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside 😉 Please see below a video of Dusty Roads from a recent performance, and Advance Tickets ($10 ADV/$12 Door) are available now!Showtime 9 PM, doors 8 PM.
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Sat Jan 14 ~ Frank Hamilton School Presents Barry Waldrep & Kelli Johnsonat the Red Light Café. Advance Tickets $15/$18 Door, Showtime 9 PM/Doors 8 PM. Barry Waldrep is one of the finest guitarists and instrumentalists around and we are grateful to have him perform as part of the Concert Series! Combined with Barry’s prowess as a master multi-instrumentalist is Kelli Johnson’s ability as a songwriter who commands authority in her writing. Smart and charming, she captivates her audience with raw honesty and talent. Deeply rooted in Bluegrass, Country, and Americana music, Kelli has an innate ability to produce fresh music that defies genre boundaries. Check out the beautiful music below as captured on Music City Roots in November. Y’all this is going to be a special evening.
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Winter Term classes begin Tuesday & Wednesday, January 10-11, at Oakhurst Baptist Church in Decatur! Treat yourself right and check out what is going on, as the Frank Hamilton School has added a second evening of offerings for each Wednesday evening during the term as well. For more information click on the picture above or click here! C
COME PLAY WITH US!
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Just Announced! SAT Feb 4 ~ In-the-Round with Ralph Roddenbery, Donna Hopkins & Steve “Big Daddy” McMurry!
Next week at the Red Light Cafe, the Frank Hamilton School is proud to bring two stellar concerts to you featuring some of the finest, most soulful songwriters and musicians you’ll come across. Expect the real deal blues – raw, genuine passion combined with amazing guitar play and a special guest or two is just the right formula!
On August 30, Australian blues guitar virtuoso and gifted songwriter Geoff Achison will be joined on stage by pedal steel guru Bill Fleming (pictured here at TDawg’s Back Porch Hootenanny in April 2015) for an incredible evening of interplay with perhaps a sit-in. This will be Geoff’s final performance in the Atlanta area until next spring, so come see for yourself why he is one our adopted “hometown” gems.
The beginning of September starts up with a concert featuring two of the most gifted southern songwriters in Donna Hopkins and Daniel Hutchens. Donna digs deep into her Alabama/Georgia roots for an incredibly soulful performance. While being the frontman for critically acclaimed Athens, GA-based Bloodkin, Hutchens also has penned many songs for Widespread Panic over the years and has co-written with the likes of Jerry Joseph. His latest release (Feb 2016) titled “The Beautiful Vicious Cycle of Life” was produced by Widepsread Panic bassist Dave Schools and features all originals. It is his first solo-release in 10 years. This show truly combines two amazing musicians in a wonderfully intimate environment. Nights like this don’t happen too often!
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Sunday, September 4 ~ The Frank Hamilton School will perform a special set on the Community Bandstand Stage at the Decatur Book Festival from Noon-12:45 PM. The Book Festival is a Labor Day tradition here in Decatur and is one of the largest of its kind in the nation. Spread the word, come on out, and bring your instrument, too!
The Frank Hamilton School has been invited to perform at the Center for Civil and Human Rights as part of their World Music Day event on Saturday, August 20! We will be performing at 11:30 AM for approximately 40 minutes. Being that Frank is copyrighted on the civil rights anthem “We Shall Overcome,” this is most appropriate I believe. Frank will discuss his part in the movement, linking the rise of folk music in the 50’s and 60s to tensions surrounding civil rights in that period and also perform some civil rights songs in additional to some traditional. Joining him on mandolin will be Trey Gibbs from Smokeys Farmland Band! Please come on out and support this amazing event and the Center for Civil and Human Rights!
Sunday, September 4 ~ The Frank Hamilton School will perform a special set on the Community Bandstand Stage at the Decatur Book Festival from Noon-12:45 PM. The Book Festival is a Labor Day tradition here in Decatur and is one of the largest of its kind in the nation. Spread the word, come on out, and bring your instrument, too!
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The Frank Hamilton School Concert Series continues with two evenings showcasing the blues and soulful Southern songwriting at the Red Light Cafe. You don’t want to miss either one!
I attended the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association meeting yesterday evening and really enjoyed both introducing myself and delivering the message that is the commitment of Frank Hamilton School to some individuals who truly care about community. Attendees were encouraged to come by and check out the School on a Tuesday evening and experience a lesson and the bonding Second Half. I encourage y’all to do the same! 7 PM group lessons, 8 PM Second Half at Oakhurst Baptist Church. Visit the Frank Hamilton School website for complete information about classes, volunteering, and news!
The Frank Hamilton School will be participating in the following events from mid-August through Labor Day Weekend, beginning with this weekend. Stay tuned for more We are thrilled that everyone has been so receptive and welcoming towards us, and we’re only just beginning to plant our roots!
Friday, August 12 ~ Frank Hamilton & Friends performing as part of the Pre-Fest Jam at Mojo Pizza N’ Pub, 657 East Lake Dr., from 5-7 PM. There’s a nice little stage in there, the food and beverages are outstanding, and it’s an extremely family friendly environment, so come on out and enjoy some music from Frank and a few of his fellow teachers in addition to some delicious food and drink!
Sunday, September 4 ~ The Frank Hamilton School will perform a special set on the Community Bandstand Stage at the Decatur Book Festivalfrom Noon-12:45 PM. The Book Festival is a Labor Day tradition here in Decatur and is one of the largest of its kind in the nation. Spread the word, come on out, and bring your instrument, too!
The Frank Hamilton School Concert Series continues with two evenings showcasing the blues and soulful Southern songwriting at the Red Light Cafe. You don’t want to miss either one!
Acclaimed songwriter Martha Scanlan (from Reeltime Travelers), Sun May 14 in a backyard concert setting! Complete information Click Here!
Beautiful weather is forecast for this weekend in Atlanta with highs in the 70’s and low 80’s, so don’t be bashful about getting on out and enjoying community, exercise, or whatever floats your boat! If the masses at Shaky Knees Festival in Centennial Park aren’t your thing, there are some fun options in which The Frank Hamilton School are participating, and they’re FUN!
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Saturday May 14
Kirkwood Spring Fling FREE – We will be located at the entrance to the festival on Kirkwood Dr., come visit us! 20 minute performances featuring Frank Hamilton will happen at Noon, 1 PM & 2 PM. There will be one more performance at 3:30 PM featuring contributions from the music community. Please visit the website for complete information including directions, live music offerings, food vendors, etc. It’s a wonderful local event! Come on out y’all!
Tucker Day FREE – Frank will head from the Kirkwood Spring Fling straight on over to Tucker Day, happening just east of Decatur on Main St. between Lawrenceville Highway and Lavista Rd. (dead-ends into Tucker High School). Frank will be performing in the Food Court Tent at the 1st Ave./Main St. intersection from 3:30 PM-4:15 PM. Another wonderful local festival!
~ Gate opens 5 PM, Showtime 6 PM. BYOB, bring a chair, bring a grillable if you like, some apps will be available but feel free to contribute! Bring your instrument for some after show jamming!
On behalf of The Frank Hamilton School, TDawg Presents is excited to bring you the acclaimed and gifted songrwrtier Martha Scanlan, formerly from the Reeltime Travelers, for a Sunday backyard gathering. This concert is a benefit for the Frank Hamilton School, so come on out and support a wonderful cause while witnessing magic on the stage with Martha’s presence. Martha hasn’t been around these parts very much in recent years so this will be a special performance!
Well we had quite a HUGE time this past weekend – friends gathered that span the entire era of HarvestFest (and before!) and the Back Porch Hootenanny movement, creating for me an emotional and joyous occasion that everyone from loyal Hootenannigans to the musicians, staff, volunteers, and Smokey & Debbie simply couldn’t get enough of! I know that I shed many a tear over the course of the weekend, as it did mark the end of an era that involved a great investment of heart & soul, not just by me but by everyone who has been along for the journey. The Hootenanny instills a family energy that will sustain and serve as a springboard for the next chapter at Cherokee Farms involving the Frank Hamilton School. I ask that you please continue to follow and support FHS, as it will serve as a catalyst for continuing to bring great music to the community through concerts and public events music education.
Ralph Roddenbery Band
I know I say it every time but the music was REALLY off the charts, knocking the bar way off already high expectations! Every set was extremely special, and they all featured sit ins by fellow musicans, which made for very spontaneous moments of musical ecstasy. There were so many highlights it’s hard to single out even a couple of them – Blackberry Possum kicked it off right on Friday night under the stars and the largest Friday night attendance yet. From the first notes on Saturday with Smokey’s Farmland Band and through the entire day’s performances from the MOMS All-Stars, The Rickety Crickets, The Ain’t Sisters, Ralph Roddenbery Band,
Donna Hopkins & Friends
Brian Ashley Jones, Caroline Aiken, Donna Hopkins, Rev. Jeff Mosier and finally Strung Like A Horse to close it out, the energy one felt throughout Cherokee Farms was unlike anything I’ve experienced before. THANK YOU from the bottom and top of my heart for the music, friendship & LOVESTORM that transpired.
I was particularly caught off guard by a little ceremony that occurred prior to introducing Strung Like A Horse and featured the dedicated Hootenanny staff, volunteers & people who have been a part since 1998. If you have a few minutes, I recommend you watch the video below courtesy of my friend Jessi 😉 :
Two big THANK YOU’s right now – the first to Beth & Randy Judy, life friends and creators of Suwannee SpringFest and MagnoliaFest down at The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL. Without their inspiration in the mid/late 90’s with the inaugural Sunshine Daydream Weekend (became MagnoliaFest), I don’t know if I would have ever meandered down the crazy path that is the music business and festival industry. Their vision is my vision, as music farmers growing fresh sounds for the ear with amazingly talented musicians. I love y’all to the moon and back, as do many many others!
The second THANK YOU goes to Roy, Rebecca & Dave, who are the masterminds behind High Sierra Music Festival in Quincy, CA and DelFest in Cumberland, MD. They joined forces with TDawg Presents in 2001, and we were able to continue the magic that was Blue Ridge HarvestFest, taking the festival from a popular regional festival to one of national stature. Unfortunately the hurricanes from 2001-2005 won the battle, but the magic produced despite the setbacks was unrivaled, and it was a fantastic experience to host Bob Weir & Ratdog and John Prine, among many, many others. I love what High Sierra has continued to do through the years and hope our paths will cross once again!
On that note, I hope you can make it out Thursday night for the third installment of the Frank Hamilton School Concert Series featuring Dangermuffin at the Red Light Cafe! Showtime is 10PM, and trust me when I tell you that these fine fellas from Folly Beach, SC will simply blow your mind with their of level of talent and amazing instrumentation.
The forecast for Friday and Saturday is a beautiful one! We can’t wait for the music to start up on Friday night! We hope you can come on Friday, as we have Wildman Steve’s band, Blackberry Possum, kicking off the weekend high energy jamgrass and some special guests throughout. These fellas are highly skilled and will blow your mind. They’ll do two long sets so get ready! Bring your hammocks, too, as we’ll have some edge domes set up for your enjoyment, not to mention the jungle gym effect 😉 This is really going to be a fun weekend with friends and family, and the music is going to be off the chains!
The primary goal of a TDawg’s Back Porch Hootenanny has never been about bringing in the headliner that draws the big crowd – it’s about the extremely high quality of musicians and those in attendance joining forces for a incredible experience that leaves you happily decompressed from the rigors of your daily lives. You always leave with a new band in your head and memories of unique combinations of the participating musicians.
Below is the schedule for the weekend.
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SCHEDULE
SHED STAGE, FRI APRIL 1
8:30PM – 11:30PM > Blackberry Possum
SHED STAGE, SAT APRIL 2
Noon – 1:20PM > Smokey’s Farmland Band
2:10PM – 3:40PM > The Rickety Crickets
4:35PM – 6:05PM > Ralph Roddenbery Band
7:00PM – 8:30PM > Caroline Aiken
9:25PM – 10:55PM > Rev. Jeff Mosier & Friends
11:25PM – 1:00AM > Strung Like A Horse
MOMS/GRATEFUL FRED STAGE, SAT APRIL 2
1:25PM – 2:10PM > MOMS Jam
3:45PM – 4:30PM > The Ain’t Sisters
6:10PM – 6:55PM > Brian Ashley Jones
8:35PM – 9:20PM > Donna Hopkins & Friends
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Below is the video (filmed at Cherokee Farms no less!) for Gypsy Jane by Strung Like A Horse. Enjoy!
We’re just over a week out from the final Back Porch Hootenanny, and it is going to be an amazing time had by all, from the musicians to staff & volunteers to the patrons who have supported the Hootenannies all these years and HarvestFest before that! We all WANT to be there. The music will be continuous, first from the stage and carrying over to the late night acoustic jams! We will celebrate all that has been, that has brought an amazing group of individuals together to form an extra special potpourri of family and friends for so many years already and for the unforeseeable future. The message of bringing together community through music via TDawg Presents events doesn’t end; there is simply a change of venue in the Frank Hamilton School that will continue the trend of outstanding performances and on a more regular basis! Meanwhile, HOOOOOOOOOOTENANNY y’all!!!
The Frank Hamilton School is excited to bring you a stellar group of concerts that are diverse musically and equally engaging. We are fortunate to be able to bring you such amazing regional talent representing different genres of Americana and roots music. As the year moves forward, you can expect more activity with workshops and performances at our home, 
Happy New Year everyone! I hope that whether you endured or enjoyed the holiday season, you are happy to be in a new year, and 2017 promises to bring some goodness to our collective soul when we most need it. THANK YOU to those of you who made it out to the inaugural Hamilton Hoopla for the Frank Hamilton School and the 6th Annual Atlanta Holiday Hootenanny for Atlanta Habitat! So many wonderful moments scattered through both performances with lasting memories to carry you into the new year!
the Red Light Café in a very explosive start to the new year! Bringing two different approaches to the Americana sound, this night will be sure to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside 😉 Please see below a video of Dusty Roads from a recent performance, and 
8/30 – Geoff Achison w/ Bill Fleming, 
Sunday, September 4 ~ The Frank Hamilton School will perform a special set on the Community Bandstand Stage at the 
Friday, August 12 ~ Frank Hamilton & Friends performing as part of the Pre-Fest Jam at 
TDawg Presents 