For the Love of Clean Water

from Nfocus November 2022

by FW Publishing

Be Our Guest

Leslie Bass, George Garrett Dorie Bolze, Heather Creel

Keb’ Mo’ Stephen and Michelle Frohsin Edward Landstreet, Laura Landstreet

The Harpeth Conservancy celebrates a record-breaking River Swing

An astonishing number of supporters —- more than 1,000 of them — flocked to Christian Currey’s River Circle Farm for the 19th Annual River Swing, which benefits the Harpeth Conservancy. He has chaired and generously hosted the event for six years, and attendance increases each time. But this was a record-breaking night for the nonprofit that works to restore and protect clean water and healthy ecosystems for rivers in Tennessee.

Plenty of activities were in store for guests while they sipped on a Watermelon Splash, the featured cocktail, and snacked on passed appetizers from Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant. The expansive silent auction offered 162 packages, including two tickets for all three days of Widespread Panic at Red Rocks in 2023, a chain saw that went for $25,000, and an autographed guitar from Mötley Crüe donated by its lead singer and attendee Vince Neil. An upgraded whiskey bar poured tempting tastes, and Atomic Cigars offered hand-rolled cigars. For a break, the popular Brownlee Lounge was back offering loads of seating and pastoral views.

Eventually guests sat down to enjoy Puckett’s buffet dinner at tables decorated with rocks from the Harpeth and floating candles, fitting touches from Garden Delights Fine Florists and AmosEvents. A highlight of the announcements was the naming of River Swing Way, a service road that Christian installed to the site, which helps the event and the environment. Five-time Grammy Award w inner Keb’ Mo’ took the stage to the delight of all. Guests also heard music from Trevor Clark Trio and The Bluff. Stragglers were treated to an impromptu after-party by The Sweet Lilies, and rumor has it that they had such fun, it will be back next year.

Not only did River Swing set attendance records, it also set a new high for funds raised. President and CEO Dorie Bolze was thrilled to announce that the total amount raised was more than $375,000, exceeding the prior year’s total by $100,000.

BY HOLLY HOFFMAN PHOTOGRAPHS BY MATT MASTERS