New outdoor concert series being planned

    Brasstown – Johnny Scroggs had plans to purchase an old church building and open a music hall. Then the coronavirus began to affect the community, and he decided it was a bad time to invest in the project.
    However, as he saw artists struggle through cancelations due to virus restrictions, he wanted to do something – he just needed an open field where people could socially distance.
    “And I said, like where you rehearse?” said Bert Zimmerman, a friend as well as a lighting and sound technician.
    Scroggs and his Dottie bandmates rehearse on a 15-acre property that was his great-grandfather’s farm on Dog Branch Road. He has named it The Dog Branch Grounds, and plans to to have a monthly concert series to showcase local artists.
    “I want to help these people out,” Scroggs said. “I’m passionate about the arts, and I want to promote them. If I can do it here, cool.”
    The first concert will be 5-11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, and 1-7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, with a farmers market from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. Performers include the Andrew Chastain Band, Raydons, Scott James Stambaugh, Troy Underwood and Judaculla Blue. Concerts will be free to the public, but he and Zimmerman will ask for donations to help the bands.
    He plans to start looking for sponsors for the concerts. Concerts will include space for vendors, and both Hoppy Trout Brewing Co. and Snowbird Mountains Brewery plan to be there. On Saturdays, there will also be a kids zone set up so there’s something for everyone.
    Hand sanitizer and masks will be available onsite. Identification will be checked and wrist bands will be used to determine who is old enough to drink alcohol.
    He’s guessing he could fit 200-400 people – depending on social distancing guidelines – in the cleared space leading to a stage, which Zimmerman took out of storage and placed on the property. He even envisions people being able to watch and listen to the concerts from their cars, if restrictions require that. However, Scroggs said the acoustics in the field are “awesome,” and Zimmerman’s lighting effects are impressive.
    Scroggs still has plenty of space to expand, and has dreams of adding to the property to make it a full venue for all types of gatherings. However, he first wants to see what works and what the community wants. Scroggs and Zimmerman are welcoming feedback from the community.
    The Dog Branch Grounds is at 191 Dog Branch Road. For details, call 380-4135 or visit Dog Branch Grounds on Facebook.