Daytime Tunes Also Hot at Suwanee Music Barn

In spite of the heat Saturday -- or maybe because of it -- bluegrass fans started turning out in the afternoon for the annual daylong event at the Everett Music Barn in Suwanee.

Some, such as the Conrad family, came from Covington. Some such as Rena Everett McDaniel, came from Buford, but with a sense of duty.

And musicians turned out too, starting the pickin' in early afternoon and bringing in some from the audience. (See the attached video.)

The iconic site resumed its regular Saturday night gigs in April after coming under new ownership. The daytime event also is a part of the tradition, with items being raffled and an evening meal break included.

"We try to give people a good place to go," said Tommy Everett, sound man and nephew of original Everett Brothers Band members Randall and Roger Everett. Leroy Everett was Tommy's father.

Cindy Conrad again was visiting the Everett barn, which was built in the 1970s from material that came from a disassembled apartment building in Norcross. A nearby friend, Harold Roper, is among the musicians that have joined in the impromptu playing that is part of the tradition that dates to the 1960s and includes the main house on the property.

Richard "Sarge" Birch, a familiar face and voice at the barn, was back early Saturday. He's a regular announcer as well as a musician and led the first group of musicians on stage Saturday. Then he induced Lee and Joyce Hatcher of Duluth to join the stage to sing a familiar tune, "Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms." (Hatcher's company did the original wiring for the barn.)

Rena (pronounced "Re-NAY") McDaniel also was back in her familiar place, helping in the kitchen area. She grew up in the main Everett house, both parents having died before she turned 3.

She started helping around the barn as a child -- "when I was tall enough to reach" -- but got away from it during child-rearing years.

When the property went up for sale late in 2010 after the death of Roger Everett, things changed.

"I didn't realize what this place meant until we almost lost it," she said Saturday. "Once I realized it was closing, it changed my outlook on things." The property was purchased by three Gwinnett-based families who intend to keep the tradition alive.

She still travels to watch her son play football for Shorter College in Rome, but still makes the music barn a part of her routine.

"I realized (when the property went up for sale) that if it hadn't been for dad (Leroy Everett), I wouldn't be here. I look at the music as the greatest living memory I could have of my dad."