FOCUS on the 615
Nashville's premier entertainment blog including album, song and show reviews and exclusive artist interviews.
Photo credit: Provided by Webster & Associates.
Charlie Daniels invited a few of his closest friends to jam at War Memorial Auditorium with him during a live-recording session for his Fire on the Mountain album. 40 years later, country and southern rock musicians still gather at the Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam in Nashville to raise money for the Journey Home Project and The Predators Foundation. Continue Reading →
It’s hard to say who got more whistles and applause on the runway this past Sunday night (Aug. 30) at Agape Animal Rescue‘s seventh annual Glitter and Glam event. Both dogs and models strutted their stuff like pros for this original fashion show, which was held at Nashville’s Hutton Hotel.
This year’s theme was Old Hollywood, and participating celebrities included NFL Pro Bowl Player Brad Hopkins, WKRN‘s Dawn Davenport and Cherish Lombard, recording artists Brian Fuente and Jordan Pruitt, and many more. The Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders kicked off the night with an energetic dance to get the crowd pumped, and the rest is history.
CMT‘s Katie Cook served as the emcee for Glitter & Glam 2015. “I just love what Agape does for these animals. I love that they have over 50 foster families and that they make it so easy for them. That’s just such a blessing. The medical care, the food, any rehabilitation, any training that needs to be done, Agape provides that… I’m just all across-the-board impressed with the way they handle their organization, and I’m an animal lover.”
When asked if there were any canine prima donnas throwing fits backstage, Cook reveals, “I have worked with several human models over the years, and these dogs are by far the biggest divas! I’m kidding of course. They’re getting along really well.”
Reality star and country artist Brooke Hogan explains, “I’ve always been into anything that helps animals… A lot of people have this weird stigma about shelter pets. It’s like they’re going to be a used toy or something like that. These dogs are perfect.”
Ray from the nationally-syndicated Bobby Bones Show was partnered with a little dog named Chai and shares, “I carry the thing and it’s just giving me kisses. I’m just rockin’ it back and forth. The owner wants it back, and I’m like, ‘This dog’s attached to me already.'”
“We are celebrating tonight the fact that almost 1,000 dogs have been saved because of our program. That is a huge accomplishment,” notes Stephanie Willis of Agape. “There’s an unheard of – less than 1% return rate – because in so many shelters, the screening process just isn’t as thorough as it needs to be. But because of our awesome volunteers and the program we have in place, we make sure that those dogs have the perfect fit. So it’s right for the dog, right for the family.”
Willis dishes, “We have quite a few that we have just recently witnessed being adopted that are now on our runway. And it’s so cool to think of where they were just a few months ago versus now at this star-studded event. We’re celebrating them really.”
Don Murry Grubbs of Absolute Publicity jokes, “This is really weird because I’m a PR guy, and I need a publicist. A publicist should be escorting me right now, what is the deal?! You’re not legit unless you have a PR guy representing you.” On a serious note, “To be a part of this and raise awareness for the animals, dogs specifically, is great because I have a rescue dog.”
The dapper publicist admits that his canine partners and Glitter & Glam veterans – French Fry and Tator Tot – almost jerked him off the runway, “That’s ok. I can handle it. I like a little bit of excitement, and they definitely brought that because I almost went flying off with them.”
Local designers Glitz Nashville and Platinum Jewelers styled the human models, and doggie models wore pieces by Yvette Ruta in partnership with Winston Dog Boutique. Harlow: A Salon on Music Row provided hair and makeup.
The annual fundraising event also included both a silent and live auction, wine, cocktails, and food.
All proceeds from Glitter & Glam benefit Agape Animal Rescue, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to finding forever homes for abandoned and displaced dogs while educating the public to be more responsible pet owners.
We can’t wait for next year!
Photo credit: www.chuckarlund.com
Friday night, August 28th in Nashville, TN. was full of notable musicians playing major venues throughout the city, from the new Ascend Amphitheater hosting Old Crow Medicine Show, to Rob Thomas performing at The Ryman Auditorium. Our home for the evening, however, was the prestigious Schermerhorn Symphony Center as Keb’ Mo’ kicked off his 13-city fall tour. Continue Reading →
Looking for something fun to do this Friday (Aug. 21) and Saturday (Aug. 22) in Nashville? How about watching some real life cowboys ride the fiercest bulls in the biz?! These beasts weigh nearly 2,000 pounds! Join FOCUS on the 615 as we go behind-the-scenes of the 2-night PBR event at the Bridgestone Arena. Host Nicki D. hangs with Canadian bull rider Aaron Roy and gets a few tips on how to dominate “Mighty Bucky.” Find out if she has what it takes to be a bull rider! Buy tickets to the event HERE.
About The Jack Daniel’s Invitational: (from BridgestoneArena.com)
The Jack Daniel’s Music City Knockout is on the PBR’s elite 2015 Built Ford Tough Series featuring the top 35 bull riders in the world against the best bulls in the industry! During a night of heart-pounding, bone-crushing action, fans can look forward to seeing a star-studded line-up of athletes.
About The Built Ford Tough Series:
Every event begins with pyrotechnics, explosions, and flames. Then the excitement really begins when the Top 35 bull riders in the world compete against the fiercest bucking bulls on the planet, providing two hours of thrills and spills guaranteed to keep you on the edge-of-your-seat and your heart pounding. The nationally-televised Built Ford Tough Series visits some of the most famous arenas across the United States, including Madison Square Garden in New York and Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Each event has a winner, and riders accumulate points towards the ultimate goal, the Professional Bull Riders World Championship. The highest-paid bull riders in the world are not only competing for the coveted Championship Buckle, but also the $1 million bonus awarded to the winner.
Middle Tennessee’s Make-A-Wish® Foundation held its annual Wine and Wishes fundraising soirée inside Nashville’s aVenue. The dinner included a table of golden tinsel covered wine bottles which were all sold for $20 and were valued between $20-$200. The night featured an assortment of food, a live DJ, and an artist painting through out the night.
You’ve heard of poker runs for charities or as a general community event where participants run, cycle, or canoe their way along a certain route to complete their hand, and now powerboats are the newest craze for these fun community-driven runs. Powerboat clubs all over the country have been putting together these events to introduce fellow boat owners to each other, with poker runs frequently occurring in places such as Miami, Lake Lanier near Atlanta and Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, and Nashville has recently been touted as a hotbed for powerboat gatherings.
Clay Walker playing “6th Annual Chords of Hope.” Photo Credit: Alanna Massey
A curveball is flying toward you. You have two options — let it knock you down, or catch and return it to the world as something positive.
Clay Walker sent it soaring back into the world, leaving a trail of hope and inspiration.
He was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at age 26, only a few years after bursting into the mainstream country music scene. Instead of letting the news knock him down, Clay pursued his career and founded a non-profit organization called Band Against MS.
He also established an annual benefit in Nashville called “Chords of Hope.” This is the 6th year the event has raised money for MS education and research at Vanderbilt Medical Center.
“I think the loyalty and commitment has grown from the community, and therefore I could see us very easily doing another six years,” Clay said.
Clay took time to meet with friends and supporters before the night kicked off. Tim Dugger took the stage, followed by Clay. There were 400 people united by a great cause at the sold-out show.
“We love doing it at this quaint place, at 3rd and Lindsley, because it’s just more personal,” Clay said.
Clay Walker performing while streamer pop into the audience during “Live Laugh Love.”
Clay spread his own laughter and love by popping streamers into the audience during “Live Laugh Love.” Fans twirled and threw the paper ribbons into the air as Clay rocked the stage. It was truly inspiring to feel the joy and energy within the audience, especially for those also living with MS.
Clay is a spokesman for Stick With It, an organization that encourages MS patients to stick with a normal routine.
“It’s real important to me to always make sure that I take medication three times a week, exercise and eat somewhat healthy,” Clay said.
Touring provides an unpredictable environment and makes it difficult to maintain a normal routine. He might be on the bus one night and in a hotel the next, but when it comes to his health routine he’s sure to “stick with it.”
Clay Walker and Alanna Massey backstage at “Chords of Hope.”
Get live Tweets of the next event we cover!
Eric Church performing during night show at LP Stadium during festival.
One of my favorite weeks during the year in Nashville is CMA Music Festival. It’s 4 days filled with fun and music at the largest country music festival in the world held in the home of country music! Oh, and there’s ALWAYS the summer heat that seems to turn up a notch on that week, too. It’s always a given! Grab your sunblock and drink plenty of water, you’ll survive it! There’s too much to enjoy about the festival and great music to be had to let those high temps keep you away.
There was plenty to love at the recent Zodiac Vodka Launch Party held on the 3rd level of ACME Feed & Seed in downtown Nashville. Continue Reading →
On June Carter Cash’s birthday, family members from both the Carter and Cash family plus the mayor of Nashville, Karl Dean, gathered at the beautiful Johnny Cash Museum in downtown Nashville to celebrate the unveiling of the June Carter Cash Wildwood Flower Garden created in June’s memory. Continue Reading →
