MIDDLEBURG – John Jarrell has a day job at MDH Rockland that pays his bills, and that allows him to mollify his deep-rooted passion to play bass for Duval County Line without any worries.

Jarrell is content punching the time clock at the Keystone Heights Airport, but being back on stage fulfills his other needs – like being creative and happy again.

“I like playing any time,” Jarrell said during a break last Saturday at the Middleburg Spring Festival. “I’ve played the bass for 40-plus years. I really haven’t done it much for a year, so it feels good to do it again. I like playing on weekends and not worrying about paying my bills.”

Duval County Line will share the spotlight with 38 Special and The Curt Towne Band on Friday night, April 2, at the Clay County Agriculture Fair. While some of the members have played on big stages, the fair is an opportunity for the band to solidify its place in the region.

Guitar player Paul Wane put the band back together a little more than three years ago. The fair will be an important step in its evolution, he said.

“It’s hard to explain the music business,” Wane said. “I’ve been trying to get back into music for three and-a-half years. I want to see if it will stick this time. Most of the time I’ve treated it like a hobby. I never got really serious about it.

“Now I want to see where it goes.”

Wane knows success. He’s opened for Leon Russell, Molly Hatchet and America. Now he wants to see if he can climb back on top again.

Jarrell has played at the Grand Ole Opry, but that was back in 2008. Like Wane, he’s eager to relive some of those magical moments.

“This has all been pretty cool,” he said. “It’s been a long time.”

While the band’s name suggests otherwise, none of the four members live in Duval County. Wane lives in Hawthorne; guitarist Joel Moody is from Green Cove Springs; drummer Jacob Smart is from Middleburg; and, Jarrell is from Keystone Heights.

The band originally was scheduled to open for 38 Special a year ago at the fair, but the gig was shut down three weeks before opening day by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the state slowly emerged from mandatory shutdowns, the DCL has rebuilt its schedule and playlist.

DCL will hit the stage at the Cattleman’s Arena at 7 p.m. They plan to offer their usual array of musical genres, from Southern Rock to country, blues and soul.

Admission to the unreserved grandstand seats is included with general admission tickets. A few center reserved and wing reserved seats are available, while premium reserved seats are sold out.

For tickets to Duval County Line or any of the eight days of concerts, visit claycountyfair.org.