After taking a break from music for a decade and finding his way back to performing, Cashiers local Jay Drummonds will take the stage at Highlands Town Square for the Highlands Chamber of Commerce’s Friday Night Live concert series.
Drummonds came to Cashiers in 2000 from Nashville after six years of performing and songwriting at a publishing house.
“I started writing music at a young age, probably when I was like 16-17 years old,” Drummonds said. “When I went to college in North Georgia, I played a lot. I got a reputation in Dahlonega, Ga., as a performer. I played a lot back then with Zac Brown and Sean Mullens. When I was a schoolteacher in Dahlonega, Zac was a student there and he actually opened up for me during my first album release party back in the 90s. Then I moved to Nashville and started writing. I wrote in a publishing company for four years. I wrote with a girl named Karen Rochel, who’s now on tour with Garth Brooks. I spent a lot of time with a lot of people in the music industry.”
When Drummonds moved to Cashiers, he said he took a 10-year break from music.
“I took a break, then I went to Atlanta to see a friend of mine and Zac [Brown] came to the show,” Drummonds said. “I got on stage and played with them, and they encouraged me to write again. Then, I released another album in 2013.”
Right now, playing around on the Plateau, Drummonds said there is a unique music scene full of talented young musicians.
“I’ve met a lot of good musicians here like Spalding McIntosh, Isaiah Breedlove and Doug Ramsey,” Drummonds said. “There’s just a lot of really good, younger musicians that are writing songs and playing around here. It’s got its own little music scene and it’s really developed in the last six years or so. I like the fact that I’m playing for friends around here. When I play, the people that come out are mostly locals.”
Live music is important to Drummonds because he said it is what can make the ambiance of a regular place standout.
“People come up the mountain exclusively for live music,” Drummonds said. “We are a tourist destination and people do come up here. I think sometimes we take for granted the people that come up here. When you go to a restaurant or bar up here, when there is live music, it always takes it to another level. I just got back from Key West last week, where people were playing music everywhere and it just adds life to the atmosphere. There’s a lot of restaurant owners and bar owners that subscribe to live music and even though it may not make them a lot of money, it actually adds to the atmosphere. Live music will always be an attraction for people coming up the mountain. I do this for fun and when you see the audiences that come and watch me, they come for the fun, as well.”
Drummonds takes the stage on Friday at Town Square at 6 p.m.
- By Christopher Lugo