Jay Clark Concert 2025--Laurel Theater

above: Jay Clark from the 2024 concert 

 Jay Clark and the Tennessee Tree Beavers live at Laurel Theater

Friday April 25, 2025 at 8 pm

Upcoming Jay Clark Concerts 2025

    Kenny and I needed a date night.   I realized the Jay Clark concert was coming up at the Laurel Theater.  I mentioned it to him and he was all about it.  I booked tickets right away and we planned to attend.   I went through all the preparations to look nice. I got a manicure, pedicure, new blouse, new sandals, got my hair done, and shaved my legs.  If a woman shaves her legs for you, dude, you'd better be on your game, playah!   Kenny had to work that day a full day.  I had dinner ready and on the table at home. We wouldn't have time for dining out.   He made it home in time to eat, shower, dress and we left on time.    We made it there on time, but just barely.  Downtown Knoxville traffic was insane this evening.   It was as bad or worse than a UT Vols football game weekend.  

  We found zero parking spots left at the Laurel Theater.  We wandered around and finally found a spot to park.  It was a short distance down the street.   I didn't know if where we parked was okay or not, but we managed to make it to the theater just skidding in under the wire.    We had remembered to bring the cooler with beer for Kenny and a diet coke for me.  Once we got settled I began to think on an email I got from Jubilee Community Arts. I dug back through my trash bin and found the email in question. It mentioned on there an agreement hammered out between two local churches and the theater.  I showed it to Kenny. He got up and went out quickly and moved the jeep to one of those church parking lots right across from where we had parked.  No more worries about getting towed away.  

      Once he returned we relaxed in earnest and before long the show got started.  I recognized many familiar faces there from last year.   The Tree Beavers are the band with Jay.  It is Greg Horne, Cory Kimbro and Daniel Kimbro.   All excellent musicians in their own right alongside Jay.  It is a powerful, enjoyable combination.   The Laurel Theater is an intimate venue and very relaxed.  

Below: beautiful stained glass window in the Laurel Theater which used to be a church.

above and below:   Left to right Daniel Kimbro on bass, Cory Kimbro on mandolin, Jay Clark on acoustic guitar, Greg Horne on electric guitar

Below: waiting for the show to begin. 

Below: Jay chatting with a guest

Below is a short video clip of Jay singing "Sunday Afternoon."

 

Below is a video clip of Daniel Kimbro and brother Cory singing "Loyston" a song Daniel wrote about the flooding of Loyston by TVA under Norris Lake with the coming of the dam. 

 

 

    Last year at the concert I was facing the first of two knee replacements while we were all there.

I was in some discomfort still and nervous about the prospect of surgery.  I was very subdued at the event.   Sharon was along and talked to Jay that evening.  She later told me that Jay said "Dana hasn't talked to me.  She probably thinks I don't know who she is."  and truth be told.... that is spot on. I didn't think he knew who I was.  I felt bad about it in retrospect, but it was not an intentional snub.  This evening at the concert I made a point to speak to Jay. He is a lovely human being with humor, talent, and an all around warm disposition.   It was clear to me he was feeling better this year.  Last year he was suffering with back problems.   I remarked about it to him and he admitted he did feel considerably better.   I can relate as this year I have two new, healthy knees and no pain!   It makes me a lot more confident and social.  He was very sweet and asked for a hug saying "I like huggin on women!"  

I told him I'd be tickled to have a hug.   I hope I made up for my antisocial behavior from the previous year.  I surely don't want to seem unapproachable.  

      We had a great evening of some awesome music.  I mentioned it to friend John Quillen around the first of the week.  He shared with me that he and his buddy Richard had worked on his garage apartment all day on Friday.  He said they got cleaned up and got something to eat. Richard loves Jay Clark and mentioned that they should go to the concert.  They ended up NOT going, but it was because they were too tired after the all day construction project.   I told John he was either trying to avoid me or trying not to crash my date night.  I am not sure which.  The take away for me was this: Do NOT tell your friends your plans.  Not unless you want them weaponized against you.  😆

  I included a link at the top of this blog entry with a link showing the upcoming events for 2025.  

I want to attend at least one more.  I will not be saying which in case somebody decides to crash my party.   

 Below I leave you with a video of my favorite Jay Clark song "West Obey" about the West Obey River over behind Hippie Jack's at Shiloh.  

  Below:  the West Obey river in Spring taken in April 2025

Below:  West Obey by Jay Clark