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BUSH @ The Ryman

By on February 27, 2023 in Music, Special Events, The Latest

BUSH performing at the Ryman. Photo credit: Shawn Carnes

The 90’s music revolution could not be documented without mentioning the massive success of the UK band Bush. Formed in1994, Bush found immediate success outside the UK with the release of their debut album, Sixteen Stone, which is certified six times multi-platinum by the RIAA.[3] They went on to become one of the most commercially successful rock bands of the 1990s, selling over ten million records in the United States and 20 million records worldwide, with numerous top ten singles on the Billboard rock charts[5] and one No. 1 album with Razorblade Suitcase in 1996.[6] The band broke up in 2002 but reformed in 2010, and have released five albums since then: The Sea of Memories (2011), Man on the Run (2014), Black and White Rainbows (2017), The Kingdom (2020), and The Art of Survival (2022)

The release of “The Art of Survival” was celebrated in Nashville at The Ryman Auditorium on Monday Feb. 20th with a rock show beyond expectations, playing for an energetically packed iconic venue.

We have not seen the last of Bush, recognizing their skillful musicianship, well crafted songwriting and an unmatched live performance, this band proves longevity and and the influence of the 90’s music movement carries over into today’s modern pop rock creative pool. The Ryman continues to diversify the live music culture in Nashville, showing there is a demand and supportive fanbase that encompasses all generations. The Bush performance proved that, giving hope to future artists and lovers of music, in a city that has made its mark for all genres. Rock and Roll is indeed alive and well in Music City!

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“Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration Of The Life & Music Of Loretta Lynn” Was A Beautiful Tribute

By on October 31, 2022 in Music, Special Events, The Latest

Photo Credit: Russ Harrington

Last night, CMT and Sandbox Productions, in partnership with Loretta Lynn’s family presented “Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration Of The Life & Music Of Loretta Lynn”.  It aired live on CMT to 2000 friends and family who gathered to celebrate her life at the Grand Ole Opry, while also allowing 500 people from the general public to attend in-person.  It was simulcast on SiriusXM’s Willie’s Roadhouse: Willie Nelson’s Classic Country (Channel 59). 

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 30: A memorial for Loretta Lynn is seen during the CMT Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Loretta Lynn at Grand Ole Opry on October 30, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for CMT)

Two additional CMT commercial-free encore airings on Wed, Nov 2nd at 8p/7c & Sun, Nov 6th at 11a/10c.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 30: (L-R) Margaret Comeaux, Patrizia DiMaria, Jason Owen, Ebie McFarland and SVP of music strategy for CMT’s Leslie Fram attend CMT Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Loretta Lynn at Grand Ole Opry on October 30, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Catherine Powell/Getty Images for CMT)

Fans started lining up outside at 3am, hoping to get a seat to see some of the country music industry’s biggest names pay tribute through song and telling their personal stories about the iconic Queen of Country Music.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 30: Margo Price performs onstage for CMT Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Loretta Lynn at Grand Ole Opry on October 30, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for CMT)

 

NBC’s “Today Show” co-host and close family friend Jenna Bush Hager hosted the star-studded event, which included emotional messages and moving performances from Alan Jackson, Barbara Mandrell, Brandi Carlile, Darius Rucker, Dolly Parton, Faith Hill, George Strait, The Highwomen’s Carlile, Amanda Shires + Natalie Hemby with Brittany Spencer, Hoda Kotb, Jack White, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Marty Stuart, Miranda Lambert, Sheryl Crow, Sissy Spacek, Tanya Tucker, Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw and Wynonna feat. Gaither Vocal Band +

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 30: Darius Rucker speaks onstage for CMT Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Loretta Lynn at Grand Ole Opry on October 30, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for CMT)

Larry Strickland.

On-stage guests who appeared to share heartfelt messages included Barbara Mandrell, Darius Rucker, Faith Hill, Hoda Kotb, Martina McBride, Sheryl Crow and Tim McGraw, plus special messages from Lynn’s closest friends and fans: Dolly Parton, Kacey Musgraves, Marty Stuart, Miranda Lambert, Reba, Sissy Spacek and Taylor Swift.

Opening the memorial, Wynonna feat. Gaither Vocal Band + Larry Strickland delivered a chills-inducing performance of the classic hymn, “How Great Thou Art” for the night’s first standing ovation. 

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 30: Tayla Lynn and Patsy Lynn Russell attend CMT Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Loretta Lynn at Grand Ole Opry on October 30, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Catherine Powell/Getty Images for CMT)

Host Jenna Bush Hager recalled the controversy surrounding one of Lynn’s biggest hits – a song that country radio originally refused to play, “The Pill,” sung by a spirited Margo Price.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 30: Lukas Nelson and Emmy Rose Russell perform onstage for CMT Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Loretta Lynn at Grand Ole Opry on October 30, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for CMT)

One of the highlighted performances was from Lukas Nelson, grandson of Willie Nelson, and Emmy Russell, Loretta’s granddaughter. They received a standing ovation for their rendition of “Lay Me Down”.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 30: Karen Fairchild seen backstage during CMT Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Loretta Lynn at Grand Ole Opry on October 30, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for CMT)

Jack White’s surprise appearance and powerful live performance of “Van Lear Rose,” the title track of his and Loretta’s Grammy-winning album, was a standout of the night.  Introduced by Margo Price, fans were also treated to a rarely seen performance from Third Man Records Vault Package #24 featuring White and Lynn performing “Whispering Sea,” a favorite of White’s and one of the first songs Loretta ever wrote. 

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 30: Jack White performs onstage for CMT Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Loretta Lynn at Grand Ole Opry on October 30, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for CMT)

The Highwomen’s Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires + Natalie Hemby and Brittney Spencer performed a show-stopping finale of Lynn’s most recognizable hit, “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” Earlier in the night, Carlile also performed “She’s Got You” solo.

Lynn’s daughter Patsy Russell and granddaughter Tayla Lynn gave a moving final thank you to the attendees.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 30: Crystal Gayle (L) seen during CMT Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Loretta Lynn at Grand Ole Opry on October 30, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for CMT)

Throughout the evening, more of Lynn’s closest friends and fans delivered heartfelt speeches and shared personal memories, including Sissy Spacek, who recalled being “thunderstruck” upon first meeting Loretta; Dolly Parton shared that “Loretta was the best friend anybody could ever have.” Taylor Swift praised Lynn for being an example for all songwriters, particularly females with her ‘truthful, fearless honesty’ in her writing. 

Loretta Lynn was a trailblazer for women in country music, conveying her unique honky tonk sound with clever songwriting.  Often quoted as being an artist ahead of her time, Loretta’s multi-award winning career has spanned over 7 decades, with more than 50 top 10 songs on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart — including 16 number ones.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 30: Keith Urban performs onstage for CMT Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Loretta Lynn at Grand Ole Opry on October 30, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for CMT)

Loretta Lynn passed away in her sleep on Oct. 4th.  She was 90 years old.

# # # #

Full performance list below:

 

In loving memory of the life and legacy of Loretta Lynn, The Loretta Lynn Foundation exists to establish, preserve, and promote public awareness of the historical and cultural contributions of Loretta Lynn and the cultural contributions of country music as a genre and to establish, preserve, and maintain an educational and recreational facility for the general public through which to give to and serve others. For more information and to make a donation, visit foundation.lorettalynn.comor text LORETTA to 53-555. 

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 30: (L-R) Amanda Shires, Brandi Carlile and Natalie Hemby of the Highwomen with Brittney Spencer (CL) perform onstage for CMT Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Loretta Lynn at Grand Ole Opry on October 30, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for CMT)

“COAL MINER’S DAUGHTER: A CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE & MUSIC OF LORETTA LYNN” is a co-production from CMT and Sandbox Productions; Margaret Comeaux (CMT), Jason Owen (Sandbox), Patrizia DiMaria (Ladypants Productions) and Ebie McFarland (Essential Broadcast Media) are Executive Producers.

For more information, visit CMT.com, follow @CMT on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok.

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The Spotify House/Hot Country Showcases Dominated CMA Fest 2022 At Ole Red

By on June 13, 2022 in Music, Special Events, The Latest

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JUNE 09: Dustin Lynch performs at Spotify House during CMA Fest at Ole Red on June 09, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Ed Rode/Getty Images for Spotify )

With the highly anticipated return of CMA Fest 2022, Spotify and its flagship Hot Country playlist made a presence unmatched, offering listeners music brought by a wide variety of artists within the genre.  The partnership with Ole Red could not have been more perfect, setting the tone with state of the art sound and staging, making the experience one of the strongest CMA Fest events to attend. Needless to say, Focus on the 615 was very impressed!

The weekend featured a daily lineup of diverse and emerging artists that also included some of country musics biggest stars, plus access to exclusive late-night jam sessions and surprise special performances for the attendees. 

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Luke Combs BMI Party Kicks Off CMA Fest 2022

By on June 10, 2022 in Music, Special Events, The Latest

After a 2 year halt, CMA Fest kicked things off with a high energy parking lot show on Music Row at the legendary BMI Nashville headquarters, celebrating the massively successful run of number one songs from Luke Combs.  

Combs wanted to kick off CMA Fest this year with a No. 1 party unlike any before — and all were invited. 

The perennial hitmaker celebrated his eight consecutive chart-topping country radio hits June 8 with a one-night concert from the BMI parking lot in Nashville’s Music Rowneighborhood. The show happened a day before A-list country entertainers take up a four-night residency in downtown Nashville with the return of CMA Fest.

Combs was joined onstage by openers Hailey Whittier’s , Drew Parker and fellow songwriters Randy Montana, James McNair, Dan Isbell, Thomas Archer, Wyatt Durrette, Ray Fulcher, Shane Minor, Tyler Reeve, Jonathan Singleton and Rob Williford. The collaborators performed Combs’ seven chart-toppers from the 2019 “What You See Is What You Get” album: “Beer Never Broke My Heart,” “Even Though I’m Leaving,” “Does to Me,” “Lovin’ on You,” “Better Together,” Forever After All” and “Cold as You,” as well as “Beautiful Crazy” from the deluxe version of his debut album, “This One’s For You Too.”

Proceeds from the BMI Parking Lot Party benefited the BMI Foundation, a nonprofit that supports the creation, performance and study of music through awards, scholarships, grants and commissions.

The event was a huge success, proving that country music supporters desire to connect with one another through live performances and engagement. The future looks bright, not only for CMA Fest, but for all live music events and festivals  rebuilding and reconnecting the listeners and artists, giving hope to an industry and culture that has suffered a huge loss after a long anticipated comeback. 

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New To Nashville: Lucky Bastard Saloon And Nashville Hot Chicken Shack

By on August 23, 2020 in Eat & Drink, Food & Drinks, Music, The Latest

Hot chicken at Nashville Hot Chicken Shack on rooftop of Lucky Bastard Saloon. Photo credit: Isaac Lord

It has been a tumultuous time this summer for businesses on Nashville’s Broadway strip, causing a questionable future for most of downtown’s restaurants and bars.

Located in the former Bailey’s Sports Grille building at 408 Broadway, Lucky Bastard Saloon continues to breathe some encouraging new life downtown with exceptional live music and food!

Upon arriving, we were impressed with the spaciousness and table distancing measures taken into account.  Nashville Hot Chicken Shack (located on the rooftop) was what we came to experience, but the energy of the live music was a refreshing reminder of what this city is all about.

Hot chicken is not meant to be fancy or complicated and that is exactly what the menu reflects.  We started with the Nashville Beer Queso and some fried pickle spears, with full intent of collaborating the two.  The pickles were packed with crisp, crunchy freshness and the queso was incredible, spiked with roasted green chiles, tomatoes, chipotle peppers and beer. Topped with habanero hot sauce and fresh cilantro, served with a side of tortilla chips.The ultimate test though, dipping the pickles in the queso….You have to try it!!

We decided to try the mildest and the hottest of the tenders.  With an array of sides to choose from, we ordered the black-eyed-pea salad, fries and the hot mac-n-cheese.  The chicken was not miserably hot, but definitely packs its own punch.  Both the mild and hot tenders were moist, delicious and breaded to perfection.

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With a diverse enough menu that includes building your own burger, catfish and one entree called the Nashville Hangover (a waffle topped with Nashville Hot Chicken tenders, and two fried eggs sunny side up. Served with a side of pecan honey butter and syrup) even if you are not a fan of hot chicken, there are still quite a few options to choose from.

The service was spot on and we enjoyed our first Friday night downtown in months! Thank you to the Lucky Bastard Saloon and Nashville Hot Chicken Shack for taking such great care of us!

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Sofar Sounds Teams With Xfinity And Multi-Platinum Selling Artist Dinah Jane For The “Future Of Awesome Tour” 

By on January 2, 2019 in Music, Special Events, The Latest

After kicking off “The Future of Awesome Tour” in NYC, Nashville was the second destination to host the monthly 12 city event series for December.  In conjunction with the rapidly growing London founded brand Sofar Sounds, it only seemed fitting for Nashville to be included, based on how Sofar Sounds originated: Providing a respectful and intimate setting for artists to showcase in front of attentive listeners.

Intentionally choosing smaller venues, the Center 615 Gallery was extremely well attended with a relatively diverse crowd of music lovers.  The casual “blankets on the floor, bring your small cooler” approach is what makes these events so inviting.  No pretense.  No elaborate production.  Just raw talent and music lovers united.

There definitely isn’t a shortage of compelling artists to choose from in Nashville and the selected line-up for this show made quite an impact.

Keeping things relevant, Kylie Frey opened the show with her ambient “smart country” style. Kylie was one of the recent finalists on the hit USA Network show, “Real Country”.  Her 3 piece acoustic live approach included pedal steel, bass and guitar.  With swirling vocal harmonies and clever melodic movement, Frey’s simple songwriting and powerful performance was impactful and moving. One of the songs that stood out from the former rodeo queen was “Rodeo Queen Without a Crown”.

You can check her out at www.kyliefrey.com

Next we were delighted to hear something a little different from the female duo, The Daily Fare.  Catching us off guard a bit with a rendition of “Son of a Preacher Man”, the dramatic presentation in a minor key definitely showcased their blend of contemporary blues and indie folk rock.  Their acoustic driven performance was extremely expressive, giving a truly heartfelt delivery.  Their songwriting definitely has purpose and meaning.  If Patty Griffin needs a solid opening act, The Daily Fare would be the perfect support.  For more info go to www.thedailyfaremusic.com.

Closing the show, The Vegabonds confidently took the stage with their blend of 70s southern rock (The Allman Brothers, The Eagles) and crossover pop country.  The amount of experience this group has is evident in their live performances, being together as a unit for 10 years and touring consecutively 200 dates out of the year.  Another vocally oriented group, the sound they create being a 3 piece is impressive.  This Alabama bred, Nashville-based group has new music releasing in January, so to dial in with them you can go to www.thevegabonds.com.

“Sofar is committed to showcasing emerging artists all over the world, and we are excited to partner with Xfinity to support that mission in an authentic way to bring even more awareness to our artist community,” said Ellis Reid, global partnerships director at Sofar Sounds. “We’re privileged to have Dinah Jane curating the performers from our vast network of musicians. She is an amazing talent with diverse musical sensibilities that truly adds another layer of credibility to this partnership.”

For those who aren’t able to attend in person, Comcast will launch a special destination on Xfinity X1, Comcast’s video service that allows users to search and navigate live TV, on demand movies and shows, web video, and apps like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, Pandora, NPR, Sling TV, and iHeartRadio, all on a single, voice-controlled platform.  Throughout the “Future of Awesome Tour,”  Xfinity X1 will allow customers to gain access over the Internet to behind-the-scenes content via YouTube from both Jane and her hand-picked Sofar artists.  They can also keep up with the latest on the tour by following @dinahjane97, @sofarsounds and @Xfinity on social media.

 

Music is an emerging category for Xfinity, bolstered by both a growing collection of X1 partners like Pandora, iHeart Radio, YouTube and NPR, and through curated Xfinity On Demand destinations to help customers discover and enjoy all the great content available to them.

 

“Music fans rely on technology more than ever to discover new artists, share music and connect with one another on social media,” said Matt Lederer, executive director of partnership marketing at Comcast.  “Our partnership with Sofar Sounds and Dinah Jane gives us a chance to support emerging artists and bring their music into living rooms across the country through the combination of the fast Internet and a one-of-a-kind Xfinity X1 experience. Together, we’re helping them unlock the latest music while supporting emerging artists on their journey to success.”

 

For Jane – who first gained notoriety as a contestant on “The X Factor” and as a member of the award-winning group Fifth Harmony — that journey of establishing herself as an artist is still fresh in her mind.  As someone who received mentorship and guidance from industry veterans on the show, she is eager to pay it forward.

 

“I’m excited to partner with Sofar Sounds and Comcast to introduce music fans across the U.S. to some of the newest voices of our generation on Xfinity’s ‘Future of Awesome Tour,’” said Jane, 21, who will be making appearances in select cities. “Having the opportunity to do so means a lot to me because I was in their shoes as a new artist just a few short years ago. With the support of Xfinity and Sofar Sounds, we’ll be able to showcase these artists’ raw vocal abilities, musicianship and passion for performing.”

 

In 2019, Xfinity’s “Future of Awesome Tour” will connect music fans to emerging talent in the following cities:

•Atlanta

•Berkeley (Calif.)

•Boston

•Burlington (Vt.)

•Chicago

•Denver

•Detroit

•Philadelphia

•Portland

•Washington, D.C.

For more information, please visit https://www.sofarsounds.com/lp/xfinity.

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The Annual 12 South Winter Warmer Back For Year Eight

By on December 4, 2018 in Music, Special Events
Although the effects of winter has not quite hit middle Tennessee, the yearly Winter Warmer Whiskey Tabernacle kicked off with a festive crowd Friday Nov. 30th at Sevier Park in Nashville. The tented event played host through the weekend to many local, regional and national distilleries, including craft breweries with an emphasis on winter seasonals, stouts, porters and sours.
Friday’s whisky-centric standouts included George Dickle’s Tabasco Whisky, and although we were a bit hesitant, surprisingly, there was no chaser or mix needed. We boldly tasted it as a shot and it was deliciously smooth with a spicy finish.
On the more traditional side, we were introduced to Williamson County’s own H. Clark Distillery. The Tennessee Black and Tan was a pure representation of balance. Tennessee Black & Tan is the union of British beer and Scotch Whiskey traditions. Each bottle starts as an oatmeal stout ale that is twice distilled in a copper pot still and barrel aged to create a whiskey with big flavors of toasted malt and creamy chocolate.
On the sweeter, more dessert-oriented flavors, we fell in love with the Tennessee Legend Salted Caramel Whiskey.  Dangerous! Needless to say, we were thankful for Urban Grub serving up tasty delectables to accompany the Davidson Reserve signature cocktails they were representing.
Saturday’s tastings included many amazing craft beers, but Focus on the 615 was drawn to the Tennessee Brew Works and George Dickel collaboration.  Last week on Nov. 30, the duo released Tennessee Brew Works Vintage TENN. NO. 12 Imperial Porter aged in George Dickel No. 12 whisky barrels, which will be available for purchase at the Tennessee Brew Works Taproom and Cascade Hollow Distillery in Tennessee.
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The 2018 SESAC Awards Kicked Off CMA Awards Week

By on November 23, 2018 in Music, Special Events

onstage during the 2018 SESAC Nashville Music Awards at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on November 11, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Songwriters were the focus, leading up to the CMA Awards, and SESAC celebrated with their roster of hit songwriters on the red carpet Sunday, November 11th as honorees gathered for for its annual awards show.

Focus on the 615 talked to a few of their favorites prior to the awards and performances held at the Country Music Hall of Fame.
One of the biggest songs in 2018 was “One Number Away”; co-written and produced by Sammy Mitchell, recorded by Luke Combs. This is Sammy’s first number one and he let us know how much of a whirlwind this year has been. “My life has changed….SESAC has been great about supporting me. These awards make it all a reality. It’s very cool to be honored for the first time”.

NASHVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 11: Hillary Scott of musical group Lady Antebellum attends the 2018 SESAC Nashville Music Awards at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on November 11, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for SESAC) *** Local Caption *** Hillary Scott

We also caught up with Josh Hoge, who was named SESAC Songwriter of the Year in 2016. Josh has penned hits for The Backstreet Boys, Chris Young, Kane brown and many others. This week his song “Hangin On” with Chris Young went went number one Sunday.
“We stayed up until midnight last night and they finally told us it was happening. We are getting an award tonight for our last number one with Chris, “Losin Sleep”, but with this current song that happened today, I am so happy. And I am blessed to have four songs on the Kane Brown record. We also just found out it was the most streamed album in one day, in country music history. Let me just say, it’s been a good weekend!” Hoge says.
Walking her first red carpet before the premiere of the USA Networks newest show “Real Country”, produced by Shania Twain, Jamie Floyd is one of the contestants on the show. “Well, I am still a waitress, but I have some huge news I can share soon….I am honored to walk the red carpet tonight and I am very excited about this television show. I respect Shania, Travis Tritt and Jake Owen so much. Jake is who found me to be on “Real Country”….We filmed it this summer, so I can’t believe it is finally being aired! It’s exciting!” Jamie says. Floyd was also featured in “The Last Songwriter”, a documentary film exposing the struggles songwriters go through. Jamie wrote ‘The Blade” for Ashley Monroe and was nominated for a Grammy in 2015. She has been very vocal and honest about how hard it is to survive as a songwriter and struggling artist in the music industry, being a huge advocate for the Music Modernization Act, which was signed into law on October 11th.
This years top honors went to Matt McGinn, winning Songwriter of the Year and Country Song of the Year for “Heaven”, recorded by Kane Brown.
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“The Walking Dead” Actress Emily Kinney Performs At 3rd and Lindsley

By on October 1, 2018 in Artists to Watch, Music, Special Events, The Latest

Kicking off the 40 city “Same Mistakes” tour, Emily Kinney made Nashville her fourth stop at the weekly Lightning 100 Sunday night live broadcast at 3rd & Lindsley, supporting her latest studio recording, “Oh Jonathan”.

Kinney is no stranger to the entertainment world, having notable success as an actress in film and television, she is best known for her role as Beth Greene in the popular series, “The Walking Dead”.  She will also be appearing in the upcoming Netflix series, “Messiah”.

Aside from acting, Kinney has always been passionate about her songwriting and music career. Her latest album, “Oh Jonathan”, is a well-received collection of songs that signifies a pure and honest sound.  Her simple melodies, combined with innocently sweet vocals and an electro-pop undertone, allows the listener to relate to her youthful, yet mature sound.  Kinney was listed by Paste as the “Best of What’s Next” and Esquire declared her as a “double-threat musician you need to know”.

Joining Kinney on tour is Paul McDonald as opening support.  McDonald is best known for his stint on season 10 of “American Idol”.  He has maintained an impressive presence independently since then, creating and recording music that has garnered positive criticism on local and national platforms.

McDonald’s 2018 release, “Modern Hearts”, was produced by Jordan Lehning (Caitlin Rose, Rodney Crowell, Andrew Combs), and features an impressive cast of studio musicians whose resumes include Cage The Elephant, James Bay, Shawn Mendes, Maren Morris, Nikki Lane, Kacey Musgraves, and Buddy Miller, among others. The album was tracked with ace musicians playing in real time with sympathetic band interplay at the vibey Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, NC (Band Of Horses, Avett Brothers).  Additional recording took place at Sound Emporium Studios (Jason Isbell, Alabama Shakes) in Nashville, TN

McDonald is also currently featured on the summer 2018 Lincoln Parish (Cage The Elephant) release,  “What I Need”.

For more information about the current tour,  visit www.emilykinneymusic.com or www.thepaulmcdonald.com

 

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GetTV’s “The Soul & Spirit of Christmas” Red Carpet & Performance Taping With CeCe Winans, BeBe Winans, Anthony Hamilton & The Hamiltones, Take 6, Koryn Hawthorne & Kyla Jade

By on September 26, 2018 in Music, Special Events

Christmas has never came so early, as FOCUS on the 615 celebrates with some of gospel music’s legends.  getTV, a digital multicast television network owned by the Sony Pictures Television Networks subsidiary of Sony Pictures Television, will premiere “The Soul & Spirit of Christmas” holiday music variety show on November 23rd.

CeCe Winans, a multi Grammy winning and the best selling female gospel artist of all time, is the host of the one hour Christmas special.  With featured performances from BeBe Winans, Anthony Hamilton & The Hamiltones, Take 6, Koryn Hawthorn and Kyla Jade, production takes an intimately live approach with the television show, including an incredible live band and enthusiastic participating audience. FOCUS on the 615 was honored to preview the taping, and although we cannot give too much information away before the show airs, we can say that each guest performance was absolutely flawless.

CeCe Winans

For scheduling and times of “The Soul & Spirit of Christmas”, go to www.get.tv

 

 

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