FOCUS was recently invited to attend the Josh Abbott Band show at Exit/In. This is another band that is new to us at the site and we appreciated the invitation to see them perform.
Josh Abbott Band hails from the great state of Texas bringing with them that unmistakable Texas sound blended with contemporary country music. Great musicianship mixed with equally great stage presence, provided a night of great music that seemed to be enjoyed by all! It was a packed crowd in there. From the moment they took the stage, the crowd was completely captivated by them–singing along and dancing to the music.
Also, receive a free download of new song My Name is Eustace
Recently, FOCUS was invited to attend a show at Rocketown in Nashville by Christian rock band, Benjamin Dunn & The Animal Orchestra. We weren’t completely sure what to expect because this was the first time seeing this band live and a completely, new venue to us. Not new to Nashville, just US.
After 2 opening artists, Benjamin Dunn & The Animal Orchestra took the stage. From the moment they first took the stage until the very end, they captured the audience’s attention. People were crowded to the very front of the stage, completely enthralled, and dancing to every song. The songs were mostly uptempo and danceable with a Christian message.
No need to hide your children or fear that I have stooped to the level of adult films to support my “acting” career… I have this thing that passes for a mustache for a reason: it’s Movember! No, it’s not just an excuse for men to grow creepy facial hair; it truly does have a purpose.
During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in the US and around the world. With their Mo’s, these men raise vital awareness and funds for men’s health issues, specifically prostate and testicular cancer initiatives.
Once registered at www.movember.com, men start Movember 1st clean shaven. For the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Movember Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.
Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November. Through their actions and words they raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health.
At the end of the month, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas celebrate their gallantry and valor by either throwing their own Movember party or attending one of the infamous Gala Partés held around the world by Movember, for Movember.
If you know anyone who has been affected by prostate or testicular cancer, please donate. If you know anyone who has been affected by any type of cancer, please donate. If you are or know a MAN, please donate! Donate to promote men’s health across America! (Or at least donate Rogaine, so next year the ‘stache can be of Burt Reynolds quality). You can view my personal Movember page at MoBro.co/mattwilliamsonline.
More on Movember The funds raised in the US support prostate cancer and testicular cancer initiatives. The funds raised are directed to programs run directly by Movember and our men’s health partners, the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG Foundation. Together, the three channels work together to ensure that Movember funds are supporting a broad range of innovative, world-class programs in line with our strategic goals in the areas of awareness and education, survivorship and research.
“Live at Musicians Corner, Vol. 1” Features 16 Artists all Recorded Live at the Popular Centennial Park Event
Musicians Corner may be over, but the fun continues! Last Sunday the non-profit organization held an album release show for its first live album at 3rd & Lindsley. Several artists who appear on the album performed for the special benefit concert, which was broadcast live on Lightning 100.
The album, featuring 16 artists, was recorded live during various performances at Musicians Corner, and helps raise funds to present free music in Centennial Park.
Eleven Nashville artists appear on the album, including Brooke Waggoner, Matthew Perryman Jones, Drew & Ellie Holcomb, Amy Stroup, Damien Horne, Steve Moakler, The Vespers, Humming House, Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes, Madi Diaz, and Colorfeels. The album also features Louisville cellist Ben Sollee, Nathan Angelo, Micah Dalton, and American Idol Top 5 Finalist Matt Giraud.
The 46th Annual CMA Awards took over Nashville last night, producing all the excitement one would expect from “Country Music’s Biggest Night.” Where to start… Stellar performances, great collaborations, surprise winners and country music superstars galore defined a night few are soon to forget.
We take a sneak peek at the 46th Annual CMA Music Awards in Nashville, TN. Footage includes interviews with the artists prior to the night’s event and exclusive rehearsal footage!
The day before the 46th Annual CMA Music Awards, we had the wonderful opportunity to go behind the scenes at the brand new Martin Guitar Artist Welcome Lounge! We enjoyed the splendors of Martin chic and an exclusive look at backstage. We also had the opportunity to interview Steve Storm from C. F. Martin & Co. and speak with him about how this new tradition came about.
The lounge will be a comfortable, chic haven for all participating artists to relax, mingle with their peers, and best of all, play the beautiful Martin guitars available in the lounge during rehearsals, the red carpet and the night of the awards show. Read more about the Martin Guitar Artist Welcome Lounge here!
And don’t forget to tune into the 46th Annual CMA Awards live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN Thursday November 1 at 8/7c on ABC!
Grape stomping team “I Kissed A Grape And I Liked It”
The Grape Stomp has to be one of my favorite events to be part of this year. Seriously, who doesn’t like to attend an outdoor wine festival on a beautiful autumn day enjoying some great music for a good cause?
This fun event started with a fun grape stomping competition by teams that each dressed in costumes. My personal favorite was the grape stomping team of “I Kissed A Grape And I Liked It” — featuring, you guessed it, almost Russell Brand with 4 almost Katy Perry’s! The grape stomping winning team was the “Zin-ful Pleasures” who are a group of Recovery Room nurses from Williamson Medical Center.
Last Saturday, Nashville held its 6th annual Cumberland River Dragon Boat Festival at Riverfront Park. The event is to benefit the Cumberland River Compact, dedicated to keeping all 697 miles of the river clean and community friendly.
What does a dragon boat festival entail, you ask? A dragon boat race of course! This year there were 42 teams from all over the area participating in the day-long event. Businesses, schools, and organizations all formed teams vying for the coveted dragon boat trophy.
FOCUS was invited to attend the show by Green River Ordinance at Exit/In in Nashville on September 29th. Neither Matt nor I had ever had the opportunity to see them perform live and have only recently become familiar with their music. What did we think of the show? Simply put: these guys are the real deal! What a treat to see them perform live! Honestly, one of the best shows I’ve seen all year. Excellent musicianship, great stage presence, and radio-friendly alternative rock songs with lyrics filled with depth and meaning. Not only that, these are just good, humble artists from Texas who have just recently made the move to Nashville. Continue Reading →
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