A husband and wife duo who’ve entertained audiences at several Ellijay events and venues will soon travel back across the mountain from Chatsworth when Trailer Hippies, the acoustic pairing of Tommy and Sylvia Davis, touch down at the George Link Jr. Gilmer Arts Playhouse Saturday, Jan. 11.
“We played the Dancing Goats Folkfest a couple of years in a row and we were at St. Petrick’s Day a few years ago. We’ve also played at several of the (area) wineries and vineyards like Chateau Meichtry and Fainting Goat, as well as the 1907 Restaurant and on the Ellijay boardwalk,” said Sylvia. “We love Ellijay and really do appreciate the people there very much.”
Tommy and Sylvia, who’ve been performing as Trailer Hippies the last two-and-a-half years, were both songwriters and solo musicians well before they married in 2017.
The two first met at a recurring open mic night in Chattanooga, then reconnected at a 2016 open mic that Sylvia hosted in Ocoee, Tenn. They would soon begin cultivating the “groovy magic” now exuded as an acoustic duo that plays a mix of classic folk, rock and country music, as well as a wealth of original material in the folk/Americana vein.
“We both sing and play guitar and I play mandolin.
We do a lot of John Prine (songs). We play some Johnny Cash, like ‘Ring of Fire’ and ‘Folsom Prison Blues.’ I cover some of Gillian Welch and Patsy Cline,” Sylvia said.
“I’ve been writing songs since I was 16 and Tommy, who’s a little older than me, started out writing when he was about the same age. We co-wrote our first song together, which is called ‘Sugarcane Wine.’”
Sylvia noted that the group’s memorable band name is simply a truthful description of the two easygoing musicians.
“We live in a trailer out in the woods. We were kicking names around and nothing seemed to resonate with Tommy,” she said. “We were driving down the road one day and it just popped into my head. I knew as soon as I let it out that would be it. I (did) and he said, ‘Yep, that’s it.’”
The Davises cook up a satisfying blend of two-part harmonies and hot picking on their first album together, 2019’s Trailer Hippies for Life, a collection of 13 original songs.
“Tommy has recorded his own original things and I have, as well. We’re working on material for another CD together,” Sylvia said.
As told in their song “Rollin’ Down the Highway,” the two regularly pack up their instruments and hit the road to play acoustic venues like winery tasting rooms and craft breweries, a circuit where they’ve gained a loyal following without having to travel too far from home. This will be their first gig at the downtown Ellijay playhouse.
“It’s a beautiful venue and listening room. We’re really looking forward to being there,” Sylvia said.
“We play a lot in North Carolina and north Georgia, mostly within a two-hour radius. The vineyards and breweries have opened up a lot of opportunities for people to play music, particularly acoustic music. We’ve also played in (places like) Michigan and West Virginia, as well as some in Chattanooga. We like the rural areas quite a bit over (bigger) cities.”
Playhouse manager Katie Daniels said Trailer Hippies will kick off the venue’s 2020 concert schedule, which will continue Feb. 15 with a performance by the R&B and funk music ensemble Kharisma Jazzmatic Funk.
“You are sure to be touched by their contagious down-to-earth vibe,” said Daniels of Tommy and Sylvia.
“Listen to the magic of their soulful vocals and you will understand why everyone is falling in love with this authentic, harmonious blend of talent who pour love and compassion into every lyric.”