We recently connected with Dustin Brown and have shared our conversation below.

Dustin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

In A Jam Down By The River, the festival that is started as kind of a joke if you will. The first year was just a few friends and artists. After that I started to see the value it was bringing to people’s life’s and my own so I decided to continue to improve upon thr idea and invest my own money. It was just a little investment monetarily speaking the second and third year. Last year being the fourth annual event I decided to put it all on black and really go for it. I fired up a few no interest promo period credit cards along with working nonstop at the day job to finance the festival. We brought in bigger stages, lights, professional sound, drinks, and meals for the regional artists. We also brought in Headliners for all three nights starting with The Dropetines followed by the almighty himself John Fulbright and to cap it all off Grady Spencer & The Work. That and some last minute advertising on socials and radio to boot. I knew it would be a risk and I did loose, but I think in the long rung it will pay off. Cause though we weren’t able to break even on sales, 2023 was a great year full of smiles and love to go around. It also established us as the real deal. It caused a buzz around what we’re doing and I think that will go a long way leaning into November 2024. I don’t buy scratch offs or go to the casinos… so I figured what the heck. At least this gamble win or lose will still bring value to my community.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

The festival is a place for the underdogs and unheard. There are too many amazing songwriters in this country that never see the light of day, let alone play a festival. I was fed up with complaining myself and listening to other gripe about the corporate music industry. So I did something about it! We don’t care about your followers count, attractiveness or Money. We prioritize real people with something beautiful to share. Sure we bring in some national touring acts that we love and know will help grow the festival, but you can always count on discovering amazing talent that you have never heard of before. It’s a place that is also accessible. With larger festivals only becoming more and more expensive there is a barrier to entry and a sickening money grab element involved. Not us! We keep our prices within reason, we don’t charge for all the extras and it’s BYOB if you don’t want to purchase drinks on-site. There’s not many festivals offering camping, showers, real bathrooms and amazing music for less than a couple hundred bucks for 3 days. I spent my adult life attending festivals and I now want to create a space where others can also do that and not have to feel scammed in the process.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Show up. Get off the phone and out of your house. I’m just as guilty as the next, but we all have to start practicing more reality and less augmented reality. If you like a band or artist then look up their tour schedule and catch a show. Better yet you can find the local trusted spot for great live acts and just go. Even if you don’t know the artist playing… you will discover something new and meet new people in the process. As artists we love creating/sharing digitally and consuming in that way ourselves though without the live shows and a crowd that actually cares, it will die in that space. We make percentages of a penny per stream. Just because an artists music is online doesn’t mean they are making it. Most full-time artist make their money from live shows and merch. Besides that, it’s just an experience to go to a local live show. 15mins from your house, you’ll spend less than fifty bucks and probably meet that artists afterwards buying a t-shirt. Or you can pay hundreds or thousands to see a major pop artist from a literal football field away and stand in hours long lines to get in and out and never even come close to meeting them. Not crapping on major label stadium artists.. just know that there’s the local too that could potentially bring much value to your life.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Creation. I’ve always had a vivid imagination as a kid setting up elaborate scenes with my action figures. I also rarely followed the legos instructions instead doing it my own way and making my own designs. In my writing I also love to fabricate characters and universes for them to reside in along with some personal songs as well of course. In A Jam Down By The River is no different. I see what I want it to be in my head and I won’t stop until I’ve achieved that vision. Then I’ll probably find a new project haha I think that’s the purpose of life in a way, to create. For me anyway it gives purpose and keeps me busy. I enjoy taking on big obstacles and figuring them out on my own. Or as in this case “our” own. I have a great group of people around me that are just as clueless. We all share the ability to create and dream though. Just go for it, make things, do things and live your life as full as you can.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.inajamdownbytheriver.com
• Instagram: @inajamdownbytheriver
• Facebook: In A Jam Down By The River

Image Credits
Jackie – Neon Jack Rabbit @neonjackrabbit