Bragg Jam has always honored late Macon musicians. Decades later, their niece joins the show

On the upstairs floor of Russel Walker’s old law office in Perry, a room filled with the warm sound of old folk music, as the Buckleys rehearsed for their 25th consecutive performance at Bragg Jam.

The room had low ceilings and dim lighting. Multi-colored Christmas lights were strung from the ceiling, posters littered the walls, and the room was filled with instruments. Nothing matched, not the rugs that covered the wood floors, or the furniture, but together it made the punk basement of any ‘80s kid’s dreams.

In Bragg Jam ’s 25th year, the Buckleys made it two and a half decades of performances at last weekend’s music event.

The event started as a way to honor Brax and Taylor “Tate” Bragg, two young musicians from Macon who died in a car crash in 1999. Brax Bragg had booked a venue at The Rookery for him and his friends before he and his brother left for California in the summer of 1999, but they never made it back.

“I was all excited man. Like we’re gonna have a band, we already got a gig at the Rookery too,” said guitarist Tim Potts, “I was practicing while he was gone.”

Brax’s friends decided to perform anyway, in the Braggs’ honor. Almost every year since, The Buckleys have performed in what has grown to become a Macon music festival. This year was a particularly special one, because a Bragg family member joined the band on stage.

The Buc kleys rehearsal, performance

The gathering felt more like a family reunion than a band rehearsal, as members of the group traveled across the country to get there.

Old friends patted each other on the back and gave hugs and high-fives. Bart Stephens flew in from Lake Tahoe, California, and Mal Jones traveled from Charleston, South Carolina.

Each of the songs they rehearsed was a song Brax Bragg had written in his journals.

“He had stacks of journals that could go from here to the floor and back twice,” said guitarist Kirby Griffin.

Brax Bragg wouldn’t let the group see or read the journals when he was alive, but Walker said he told the group to get his journals if he was gone.

“Now we know why,” said Walker, who worked with Griffin to compile all of Brax Bragg’s journals into a book called “Bullet Proof Bible” after he died.

A Bragg family member joins the Buckleys

Taylor Evans was one of the last members to arrive at the rehearsal, wearing baggy blue jeans and black and white Nike sneakers. Evans is Brax and Tate Bragg’s niece, she’s 18, and she never met her uncles.

Mal Jones stepped back from his place singing when she arrived, allowing her to take her place by the mic.

“This is a big deal! It’s the first time we’ve ever had a Bragg sing with The Buckleys,” said Jones.

Evans’ first song was Brax’s “Sentimental Gentleman Unite” from page 214 of “Bullet Proof Bible.”

Jones recorded her proudly from the couch as she sang.

The next day, Tim Potts introduced her to the crowd as a successor to Brax Bragg.

“This is Brax’s niece. She never even met her Uncle Brax. He was a songwriter and singer from Macon, Georgia, and she’s a songwriter and singer from Macon, Georgia. The torch has been passed,” said Potts.

Evans sang three songs in the middle of the band’s performance to the cheers of her family and the crowd.

Her first song was a cover of “Fade Into You” by Mazzy Star, and the next two songs, “Sentimental Gentlemen Unite” and “A Minute of Your Time, ” were written by her late Uncle.

The Bragg family watched from the left side of the stage in Grants Lounge. They leaned against the wooden bar and sat in barstools.

“She’s really good,” was one of the phrases said in conversation between family members.

The band smiled as she sang, dancing and moving as they played.

After three songs, Evans stepped down to stand with her family, while the rest of the band continued to perform in honor of their late friends, and for the Bragg Family.

They performed “For the Jester” second to last, at the request of Brax Bragg’s mother, Julie Bragg.