Rain dampened last year’s Heritage Day in Bluff City.
"It absolutely poured," said Wanda Phillips, Heritage Day event planner.
So Phillips hopes for a dry day and fun times during this year’s 15th Annual Heritage Day. Scheduled for Sept. 25 along Main Street, small town, picturesque Bluff City will buzz with arts and crafts and food and you bet music.
"I’ll tell you what," Phillips said, "by noon the street will be packed."
By then, music fans will have heard James Meadows and the Country Mile Drifters. The Abingdon, Va.-based country singer will sing at 10 in the morning, which is fine by him as he navigates his climb in the country music world.
"I can promise you that you will get professional music from us," Meadows said. "We fight hard to be a great country band."
A graduate of East Tennessee State University, Meadows was in the school’s bluegrass program during 2004 and 2005.
"That got my start on stage," he said. "Then I did the karaoke thing for a while."
By July 2008, the native of Garden Creek, Va., was working on his own album in Nashville.
"It was kind of a shocker going from doing cover songs on myspace to doing an album in three days in Nashville," Meadows said. "I did 10 songs, and I wrote two of them."
Available since 2008, fans can purchase Meadows’ album "The Story of My Life" via cdbaby.com and also at his shows.
"Most albums sell for $15. Mine is $12," Meadows said. "We mostly play in bars. So, that gives you $3 to buy a beer."
Or for those attending Heritage Day, that leaves money to buy homemade goods. Phillips said to expect an abundance of such items as jellies, jams and various other canned goods. Also look for hamburgers and hot dogs, cotton candy and funnel cakes.
"Oh, deep fried Oreos, now if you haven’t had one of those, you haven’t lived," Phillips said. "I think someone is going to do deep fried Twinkies and Snickers."
Meanwhile, Meadows will offer deep fried country. Now, he may throw in a Buck Owens song, but his country isn’t quite the country of yesteryear.
"We do a lot of Top 40 country stuff," Meadows said. "We do Southern rock, rocking Top 40 country, Americana and of course classic country. We cover ‘Chicken Fried’ [Zac Brown Band], George Strait’s ‘Give it Away,’ Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s ‘Fishin’ in the Dark,’ stuff by Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw."
Don’t misunderstand Meadows. While he covers hits of others, he also hopes to carve out a career of his own, singing his own songs in his own way.
His plan appears to be working. Bookings have steadily increased since his album was released in 2008. He also recently filmed a music video for the song "Candle in a Cupcake."
"I don’t care to be at the top, but I would like to be a part of it, be a part of the circle," Meadows said. "Slowly but surely, we’re getting there."
IF YOU GO
What: Bluff City’s 15th Annual Heritage Day
When: Sept. 25, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Main Street, Bluff City, Tenn.
Admission: Free
Info: (423) 538-7144
Web, audio and video: www.myspace.com/jdmeadows
TOM NETHERLAND is a freelance writer. He may be reached at features@bristolnews.com.
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