Blackberry And The Bandit

Blackberry Farm is known for its high-end resort amenities coupled with a low-profile environment that keeps its celebrity clientele comfortable – so much so, in fact, that it was not publicly known that the resort held concerts until it a recent article let the cat out of the bag.

It’s the kind of place where Luke Bryan will take a break from his stadium tour to play next to the fireplace, or Little Big Town will play against a wall in the dining hall. Bandit, known primarily as one of the industry’s premier lighting companies, took on the unique role of event producer last summer, providing lights, sound, staging and backline, with performances held anywhere from the dining hall to next to a pond to inside the barn on the 4,200-acre estate.

Blackberry may have a laid-back lifestyle, which has been an attraction for people like Kelly Clarkson, who was married there, but a Bandit representative noted that performers feel more comfortable knowing that Bandit is producing their shows rather than “Joe from down the street.”

The resort is so well-known that Sports Illustrated used it as backdrop for its latest swimsuit edition. Now that the world knows about the resort’s low-key events, Blackberry and Bandit have announced that a “rustic” event center will break ground May 6, with its debut expected next year.

Booking of all shows is handled by Sarah Elder Chabot, and Bandit’s Allison Burchett is production manager for the estate. Other performances have included Joan Baez, Kacey Musgraves, Emmylou Harris, Keb Mo and Jennifer Nettles.