History

Jack and Lynne moved to Overton county in 1972. Young and ready to start a family away from the big cities they came from. At first Jack worked in a sawmill and then for a large animal veterinarian. It was while working for Doctor Easterly that he began to get his name “Doc’s Hippie” at first, which morphed naturally into “Hippie Jack”. In 1975, Jack left Doc’ and began to sell his black and white images of Plateau life in Overton County. Often more than 25 times a year they would travel, children and all, to art shows across the country. After so many years of travel the museums came calling. The Morris Museum of Art, The Tennessee State Museum, Knoxville Museum of Art, Hartwick Museum, and finally the Smithsonian. His silver gelatin process had become impossible to find, materials non existent. Success was a double edged sword, some financial security coupled with a creative void. Jack & Lynne weren’t done producing, but they needed a new direction after all those years on the road. It started around a campfire on the farm back in 2006. Friends playing music one evening during an open house. The general manager of the local PBS affiliate (WCTE) was there promoting a documentary that had been done on Jack and Lynne and their photography. Something was said about building a little stage, creating a local music broadcast. This is how things start, after dark, on a whim. Jack named it the Sundown Stage and they started producing a very funky 30-minute Americana Roots Music show, Jammin at Hippie Jack’s, for the smallest affiliate in the country. His oldest son Jason had moved back to the farm with his new wife, both fresh out of college and ready to pick up the family business. Beth with a business degree and Jason with a broadcast communications degree. After a short first season (8 shows) with attendance limited to camera folks and a few friends that dropped by to watch, they decided to create an audience. Live music shows needed a live audience. May 2007, Memorial Day weekend was the real start. For a small fee you could watch 3 days of music and even camp on the farm down by the river. Two stages would provide non-stop entertainment, and after the last show a giant bonfire would be lit to provide a communal “picking” area. The question was would anyone come? The gate was scheduled to open at 10AM Friday morning. There was no actual gate, more like a driveway. Actually it was a driveway, and by 8:30 in the morning they were lining up. It turned into a wonderful party, a fine mix of families and such. People who loved music, many who played themselves. It became instantly apparent that something beyond the control of the family was taking place. A bigger family was forming. It was a family of performers and a family of music lover’s brought together to peacefully enjoy a warm late spring weekend. People watched the many shows and then sat up through the night around the big communal bonfire and played until the sun rose over the mountains. Children played Frisbee and splashed in the creek. Meals were cooked and shared throughout the camping area. New friendships were formed, old ones renewed. Something magical was going on. Not to be diminished, the television series flourished as well. The music oriented crowd more than encouraged the performers. The fact that the watchers and listeners were so involved helped the musicians perform on an incredible level. Nothing helps bring the music more than a nice group of people hanging on every note and every word. It’s an uplifting experience to be part of the production…your hoots, holler’s and generous applause becomes part of history. Many delight in pointing out footage of themselves appearing on satellite and cable stations across the country. This show becomes more and more about the extended family as time passes. As the network coverage count approaches 140 public television stations, more and more people are coming from all parts of the country to witness this stylish event. It’s been a few years now, some changes have occurred. The crowd continues to grow. Those who came to the first festival are still coming. They have brought friends who have brought friends and so the word has spread. Radio stations announce summer’s start with stories about Jammin at Hippie Jack’s. Volunteers show up at the farm to help clean up the campsites and mow, to be part of something that seems to have grabbed the whole community. The horses are moved and the lights strung. Finally, the big tents arrive and the stages are ready. And so it goes. Jammin at Hippie Jack’s is the best music event ever to all of these folks. An incredible blend of old friends and new coming together for music. Not too big, not too small, it’s the best thing going. If you enjoy live music and like to be outside in one of the most beautiful places in the world check this out. Just be prepared to reserve festival weekends for the future. Once you come the first time … you will always return.