I had the opportunity to attend several fun events during CMA Music Festival this year, but the highlight of the week for me was getting to attend the Big Machine & VEVO DSCVR Nashville event at Events on 3rd!
First, Events on 3rd, located in historic Printers Alley, is an absolutely gorgeous venue that from the outside looks like you would find it smack in the middle of the French Quarter in New Orleans. A beautiful 2-story mansion built in the late 1800s right in the heart of Printers Alley filled with period decorations, plush couches, exposed brickwork, polished wood, marble floors and chandeliers. I was told a famous musician once owned the property, and for the life of me, I can’t remember who. So, if anyone can enlighten me again, I’d be grateful! It is the epitome of elegance for any event you might want to plan there.
Stage area at Events on 3rd
For some reason, CMA Music Festival in Nashville also means the start of a very hot, humid week in Nashville. This year was no exception. To be honest, the thoughts of walking from the main festival area with my photography backpack on all the way up to Printers Alley for the event seemed daunting, to say the least. After a day of melting in the heat AND being up at 530am to cover an event that morning, I wasn’t sure I was quite up to making my way up to there for what seemed like such a long, uphill hike. However, I was excited to get to attend this event since it was the first time that I have been invited to attend a Big Machine event and featured some of my favorite, new artists.
After finding the venue and welcomed inside by the warm staff at the door, I was shown to the VIP area inside and through a door hidden behind a bookcase. I absolutely loved that! Felt like I was playing a game of Clue! Inside the VIP area was a nice spread of tasty finger foods and an open bar where I was very warmly greeted by Big Machine artist RaeLynn’s family who I had a met at an event earlier that day. Seriously some of the sweetest people that I have ever had the chance to meet who when seeing me called me over immediately and invited me to sit with them at their table in the reception area. We talked as if we’d known each other for years, and I ended up spending the entire event with them as we made our way into the performance area in the balcony after enjoying the reception. I have always enjoyed RaeLynn’s music and she seems so sweet. Now I know where she gets it, because her family in from Texas that week, couldn’t have been any sweeter and welcoming to me. Only makes me a bigger supporter of her music!
The Big Machine artists performing that day were Drake White, RaeLynn and A Thousand Horses. Each of them incredibly-talented in their own way. I love Drake White’s swampy, gritty sound, and his passion for the music that you can feel eminate from the stage. RaeLynn sings with such a throwback sound of female country greats from the past and blends it with a fresh, contemporary country sound mixed with youthful enthusiasm. Finally, A Thousand Horses combines a soulful, southern rock sound with a commanding stage presence. The 3 acts together that day provided a wonderful afternoon of music inside Events on 3rd and a nice escape from the heat.
You can see all 3 of their performances very soon on VEVO. A Thousand Horses’ video will premiere July 13th, Drake White’s on July 20th and RaeLynn’s on July 27th. Be looking for each of their performances from that day called VEVO DSCVR Nashville, because all 3 put on an incredible performance that you don’t want to miss!
Thanks to Big Machine & VEVO for having me out at this fabulous event. I loved and appreciated the VIP experience that you gave me very much!
Hey Patrice – thank you so much for the kind words! I came into this building in 2011 and have been running Eo3 since then.
This building was initially renovated and occupied by “Mr Yakety Sax”, Boots Randolph (he put out 30+ solo albums and was also a founding member of the Nashville Sound along with Chet Atkins and Floyd Cramer; additionally, he played on several of Elvis’ and Roy Orbison’s albums over the years).
Before his wife passed away, she told us that he spent roughly $750k (in 1973) renovating the venue and was involved in every step of the process. He performed here regularly until the mid-90s before he retired, and subsequently started a weekly show in Branson.
Thank you again for such nice words – we have a total of 2 employees here, including myself, so those type of words gives us the motivation to keep going!
Hey Dawson!
Thanks so much for the reply! Good to hear from you and thanks for sharing some of the history. It’s an incredible venue. Hope to get out there again very soon.
Patrice