Written by Whitley Kilcrease

Spectators from around the area gathered just off of U.S. Highway 167 near Enterprise for a rainy weekend filled muddy fun and musical guests.

Two local artists provided entertainment Saturday night at Bama Bogg held at BamaJam Farms in Enterprise.

Johnny Barron and the Waterfall Band and The John Pittman Band, along with Evan Barber and the Dead Gamblers, were the opening acts for the Grammy award-winning Commodores. Both bands focused on a wide range of crowd favorites from artists such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bob Marley and Michael Jackson.

John Pittman, a Troy University alum from New Brockton, said one thing he enjoys about outdoor venues such as BamaJam Farms is making the people happy.

“Hopefully, people will come out and forget about their problems for a little while and just enjoy the music,” the singer/songwriter said. “That’s a reward in itself.”

Johnny Barron, a musician from Troy for more than 20 years, said he has a love of music and entertaining people.

“We just love seeing people have a good time,” Barron said.

“We are entertainers first,” Pittman said. “I think we only played about three originals and the rest were covers we thought would please the crowd.”

The John Pittman Band serenaded the crowd with an eclectic mix of popular tunes from a wide variety of genres. Hits included the Steve Miller Band’s classic “The Joker” and Steeldrivers’s “Midnight Train to Memphis.”

Pittman said the band draws inspiration from an assortment of musicians such as the Grateful Dead, Phish, Johnny Cash, Bob Marley and Jerry Lee Lewis. The band started out playing local venues around Troy including the Double Branch and the Front Porch.

“We love all types and all styles, from funk and bluegrass to rock and roll,” Pittman said.

Barron also pleased the crowd with a mix of favorites including the Jackson Five’s “I’ll Be There,” Old Crow Medicine Show’s “Wagon Wheel,” and “Drift Away,” made popular by Dobie Gray.

Barron said he has a love and joy for music and will continue to play “until I’m dead.”

“Wherever they want music, that’s where we want to be.”

Organizers hope to make the Bama Bogg an annual event.