At Reynolds Lake Oconee, there's a rhythm that pulses across the community every day. A cadence to everyday life that separates Reynolds from almost every other private community in the country. In the gentle breezes, you’ll hear the sounds of living here - the laughter of children splashing in the lake; the melodies of memories of live music; the crack of a tee shot; the distant hum of a boat; or the pulling of a cork at one of our numerous Member events and parties. It’s something that can only be felt and experienced, a benefit that goes beyond the award-winning amenities found across the 12,000-acre campus.
Also contained in the rhythm of life at Reynolds are actual melodies played by an accomplished lineup of singers, songwriters, bands, and artists that annually visit Reynolds. The music here is much more than a side note or complimentary addition to an event or outing – it’s an integral part of the one-of-a-kind lifestyle.
“Music is a logical fit to our lifestyle,” says Tim Hong, Reynolds COO. “Our vision at Reynolds is to offer services and amenities that create the ideal lifestyle. Just like sports, music brings people together and creates community. It’s a natural part of what we’re here to do.”
Around campus, you can find live music almost every night of the week throughout the year. There’s the uber-popular Sandy Creek Sessions, a weekend of acoustic performances from a lineup of Nashville singers, songwriters, and storytellers. Rhythm & Brews, a yearly festival that’s brought acts such as Gin Blossoms, Drivin N Cryin, Collective Soul, and Scott Stapp (lead singer of the band Creed) to Lake Oconee, is a yearly highlight for Reynolds Members and the greater Lake Country. And there are over 100 artists that are on regular rotation throughout the restaurants, clubhouses, pools, and Member events across campus, delighting Members and guests alike with their talent and providing the perfect backdrop to a wonderful meal or a relaxing day at the pool.
"The wave of live music that continues to build at Reynolds is so unique because of the many different ways in which you can enjoy it," says Reynolds General Manager Jason Plazola. "Depending on where you are at a given moment, one literally can experience live entertainment lakeside, barside, poolside, loungeside, barnside, dockside, fireside, or tableside, and I can’t imagine anywhere else on Earth where that is possible."
Shindigue Inc., a company co-founded by Reynolds Lake Oconee Properties Sales Executive Jeremy Johnson, books all the live music at Reynolds’ restaurants and events. Johnson, an accomplished musician himself, says the local musical talent is impressive.
“It’s incredible the caliber and quantity of talent we’ve been able to find and fit into the entertainment calendar here at Reynolds,” he says. “All of these talented artists either hail from the Lake Country or live within 100 miles of Lake Oconee. We now have such a wide pallet of styles and instrumentations, that we can curate individual artists to the ‘vibe’ of whatever event or venue we are booking them for. On any night of the week, we may have a jazz pianist at The Creek Club, a folk guitar/violin duo at Richland Pointe, and a solo singer/guitarist playing ‘sing along’ hits from every decade at The National Tavern.”
Having such a wide variety of artists available helps keep every event or happy hour relevant and interesting for Reynolds Members, as they’re constantly surprised and delighted when they discover a new local favorite.
The plethora of local talent speaks to the rich musical history of the greater Lake Country. Three-time Grammy Award winner Zac Brown lived and operated a restaurant (appropriately named ‘Zac’s Place’) on Lake Oconee for several years. The indie rock mecca of Athens is also only a short drive away, with famous bands such as R.E.M and the B-52’s getting their start there.
One longtime Member favorite is Eric Dodd. A Lake Oconee native whose hit single 'The Reason' has garnered more than three million streams across various platforms, Dodd helped conceptualize the premise of the Sandy Creek Sessions and was one of its inaugural performers. From a single-night event with Eric and a couple of his songwriter friends, the event took off from there. With popular attendance, the event grew from a single night to a full weekend.
Dodd says the Sessions is something he always looks forward to. “I typically perform 100 shows per year around the southeast and Midwest, and the Sessions always stand out for me. The Reynolds team has done an exceptional at capturing the "Nashville Bluebird Cafe" (an iconic Nashville venue) vibe while making the Sessions unique to the beautiful Sandy Creek Barn.”
Since it originated in 2017, the Sessions have featured an impressive collection of talent. Artists such as Adam Wakefield, runner-up on Season 10 of The Voice, Meghan Patrick, CCMA Awards Female Artist of the Year, and Earl Bud Lee, co-songwriter of the iconic Garth Brooks hit song "Friends in Low Places", have graced the stage for Reynolds Members.
This connection to the iconic music scene of Nashville was further cemented when Reynolds hosted the first CMT Summer Camp concert special in August 2022. The concert, which starred Multi-Platinum country super group Little Big Town and was attended live by 2,000+ Reynolds Members, was broadcast to a worldwide audience on Country Music Television (CMT) as part of their “Summer Camp” series.
For CMT, Reynolds was an ideal choice to host the made-for-television concert. “Reynolds Lake Oconee was the perfect location for our very first CMT Summer Camp concert special,” says Margaret Comeaux, Senior Vice President of Production, Music & Events, CMT. “It’s a place that truly embodies some of our favorite things about summer: incredible live music with friends at a gorgeous lakeside setting.”
What’s next for Reynolds and its burgeoning ascension on the music scene? Hong is already talking to CMT about the next event. And according to Comeaux, “The greatest successes are born of incredible partnerships, and the Reynolds team has been an amazing partner to CMT since our very first conversations over two years ago.” You can also mark your calendars for the next Sandy Creek Sessions, held January 27th-29th and starring another accomplished lineup of artistsaccomplished lineup of artists, and the annual Rhythm & Brews Festival in October.
