Abingdon's Tent Jams to Continue with Jason D. Williams, 8/29

Friday, August 29 at 8pm, Abingdon's Tent Jams will continue its highly acclaimed music series with the high-voltage piano playing of Jason D. Williams.

Jason D. Williams has spent a lifetime behind the piano connecting with country and rock 'n' roll greats while creating a persona that is 100 percent original. A wild man onstage, Williams accredits influences like Jerry Lee Lewis and Memphis Slim for helping to develop his sound and stage presence. "I've always welcomed the comparisons; my influences were some of the greatest entertainers ever to be seen." He performs more than 160 shows a year.

Smokin' Pig Productions' owner Doug Beatty says Williams' live show will blow audiences away. "This cat plays the piano and entertains like no one else. He's high energy! His music is played while sitting, while standing, with his foot, and I've even seen him open the back of the piano and play the strings with drum sticks," said Beatty.

Williams performed all of the hand shots for the movie "Great Balls of Fire" and has made numerous television appearances and various performances on MTV, VH1 and CMT.

Each Tent Jams event also features a local eatery. Nothing goes better with the vintage sounds of boogie-woogie and a rock-n-roll piano than food in the style of a drive-in diner, so the August 29th show features the delicious food from Glade Spring's Political Dogs.

Tent Jams continue to add to Abingdon's new-found reputation as the music hub for Southwest Virginia. Each of these unique events will pair a different music style with one of the region's many outstanding eateries.

The Tent's intimate space makes it "the place" to see live music in the region. With only 350 seats, the audience is only a few feet away from their favorite artists, plus it combines the fun of an outdoor concert with an all-weather venue.

Tent Jams are co-presented by Smokin' Pig Productions and are sponsored by EcoLogical Energy Systems and media sponsors WETS and WNCW.

Doors open at 7pm, event begins at 8pm. Tickets are $16 in advance and $18 at the door. Call 276.628-3991 or visit TentJams.com for tickets and more information.