Robert Chipman
It’s that time of year, Mutants! Yes, we are coming out of the winter doldrums, the shin is shining brightly, the birds are chirping loudly, and Joe Bob is back in more ways than one! Fresh from his Heartbreak Trailerpark in February and the upcoming Season Four premiere of The Last Drive-In, Joe Bob Briggs news is in full swing! As last year’s event was a smash with fans, Joe Bob and Darcy are back with the second edition of Joe Bob’s Jamboree! Not content with the same old-same old, Joe Bob and Darcy have drive-in events planned, plus additional goodies new to this year’s Jamboree.
This year’s three-day event will run July 8th-10th, 2022, in Memphis, Tennessee, and split its time with daytime events at the Hilton Memphis and nighttime events at the Malco Summer Drive-In. Yes, you heard that right: this year’s Jamboree is expanding with a convention, festival, and live events all weekend long! Make sure to keep the link found here for Joe Bob’s Jamboree handy. Why Memphis? I’ll let the man himself explain:
“I love Tennessee and I love Memphis,” said Briggs, the festival founder. “It’s the city of great music, great festivals, great barbecue and the most hospitable people in the world. It’s also centrally located, which is important for us since we had so many people drive vast distances last year to get to eastern Pennsylvania.”
How does this year’s event compare to last year’s? Just because this Jamboree is larger—doesn’t mean Joe Bob and crew forgot their roots. Joe Bob and The Last Drive-In team will be performing two nights of “Joe Bob’s Drive-In Live.” Honestly, that is worth every penny right there, but wait, there’s more!
As previously mentioned, this year’s Jamboree will also feature a fan convention with celebrity guests from the genre world! “Great,” you may say, “Will Joe Bob continue the film festival from last year?” I’m glad you asked!
The World Drive-In Festival will be part of the Jamboree, with submissions open through May 11th, 2022. If you are a regional filmmaker looking for an outlet, Joe Bob has always championed home-grown works outside of the financing systems of Los Angeles, New York, and London. If you got a film in the can or working on one, Joe Bob’s Jamboree might be your “jam.” The Jamboree will close on Sunday with a screening of the ten winning filmmakers’ movies. Click here for additional details.
You might be overwhelmed with what to expect at the Jamboree. Don’t worry; I got you! Opening night, Friday, July 8th; a one-night-only event will feature a cast reunion for a movie honored on its anniversary. Programmed by Darcy the Mail Girl and hosted by Joe Bob, and featuring a meet-and-greet with the cast and crew honored, this will be one heck of a way to kick off the Jamboree! What’s the film? That has yet to be announced—you know if Joe Bob and Darcy are behind it, it’s a movie worth seeing. Additional details on this event will be available in late April.
While details are still being finalized, Saturday night will speak to the Mutant Fam with Joe Bob, Darcy, the crew of The Last Drive-In and more will take front-and-center with a live edition of their Shudder show. As you can see, the weekend is filled with something for everyone!
So, come one, come all to Joe Bob’s Jamboree! As a fan of Joe Bob Briggs, what more could you want? Joe Bob and Darcy love the Mutant Fam and are showing love the only way they know how: the drive-in way. A film festival, convention, a cast reunion, and “Joe Bob’s Drive-In Live,” if that’s not love, I don’t know what is.
