Archive | Special Events RSS feed for this section

Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival March 27th – March 31st

By on March 22, 2012 in Special Events, The Latest

Tin Pan SouthJust a reminder that a great musical event is happening all week in Nashville that you don’t want to miss if you are a music fan! It’s the 20th annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival happening March 27th-31st at various venues around town.

All genres included and all original songs performed by the songwriter who wrote it.  Not only do you get to hear some great music live in an intimate setting, but you’ll hear some stories that will make you laugh or just touch you.  At any rate, it’s a good time to be had.

Check out the site for more details and full listing of shows, times, prices, and who’s playing at: www.tinpansouth.com!

Some notable shows that I hope you’ll consider attending are:

WEDNESDAY:  THE FARM, Danny Myrick, Heidi Newfield, and Bridgette Tatum starting at 6pm @ The Rutledge

FRIDAY:  Jesse Lee, Johnny Bulford, Chris Roberts, and more TBA  starting at 6pm @ Belcourt Taps and Tapas

ALSO, ON FRIDAY:  Jennifer Zuffinetti, Julie Roberts, Danielle Peck, and Carolyn Dawn Johnson starting at 6pm @ The Bluebird Cafe

Friday’s going to be a little bit tough because of those 2 great shows going on at the same time!

Tin Pan South

Jesse Lee

I caught up with singer/songwriter, Jesse Lee, and this is what she had to say about Tin Pan South and why she supports NSAI’s songwriters festival: “I’ve been involved with NSAI since I was 15 years old.  NSAI realizes that “it all begins with a song,” and they go above and beyond to protect the songwriters. Tin Pan South draws people from all over the country.  It’s a unique experience which allows us songwriters to perform at our own shows, as well as see our peers perform.  I love watching a songwriter sing something I’ve heard before, and then hear the inspiration, and the story behind the song.”

Get out and enjoy this great event happening all week along with some beautiful spring weather.  This event helps support great music and Nashville!

 

Comments { 0 }

Another Reflection On CRS 2012

By on March 17, 2012 in Special Events
CRS

Faith Hill performing during CRS 2012

I selected this post to be featured on Best Music Blogs. Please visit the site and vote for my blog!

Well, I finally have a quiet moment to reflect on CRS 2012.  Matt’s already shared his perspective and I thought I would take a few minutes to share mine.

WOW.  That’s the best adjective that I can think of to describe this amazing 4-day long country music event known as CRS (Country Radio Seminar).  Matt and I were fortunate enough to be allowed to cover all of the events of CRS as media for the very first time this year for Focus on the 615.

This was simply an amazing experience for anyone who loves music as much as I do! THIS is quite simply why I do what I do so I can be there, hearing firsthand, connecting, and then sharing with you this love for music.  My love for music has gotten me through some of the worst times in my life and some of the best times.  Especially country music with it’s incredible lyrics and songs filled with emotion.  I feel so fortunate to be able to attend an incredible event such as CRS.  I’m one of the lucky ones allowed to hear some of the most amazing music that is out there today up close and to be able to come in contact with many of the people who are making this great music.  It was almost too much packed into 4 days to be able to absorb and much sleep was lost that week in order to take it all in, but I’d do it all again in a heartbeat and hope we are given the opportunity to attend this extraordinary musical event next year.

CRS

Hunter Hayes performing during New Faces show at CRS 2012

High points of the week were being able to attend the Country Radio Hall of Fame ceremony and dinner, Sony Music afterparty, and Black River Entertainment afterparty where long time friends Due West performed along with new friends, Sarah Darling and Glen Templeton.  Then, there was the Lady Antebellum concert with Darius Rucker and Thompson Square opening followed by Warner Music’s Attack of the 80s afterparty where favorites like Jana Kramer, THE FARM, Jason Jones, Frankie Ballard, Gloriana, The Dirt Drifters, and Big & Rich performed one original song then one 80s song.  That was one of my very favorite moments during CRS and a great way to end the night with all of the amazing people at Warner Music! Then, an incredible lunch brought to us again by Warner Music where I was front row being entertained by a full scale concert by none other than Faith Hill, who if anyone has doubts, has STILL got it and I eagerly anticipate the release of her new album! What an incredible performance and I’m fairly certain that will be the best lunch that I ever experience during my lifetime.  Lofty words, but THAT will be hard to top! There were elegant cocktail parties and a fun meet & greet mixer with large spreads of food and just about everyone who is anyone in country music in attendance just to talk to and take pictures with.  Then, the last night, another nice cocktail party where The Lost Trailers started off the evening with a short performance that ended with a gospel choir on stage singing this incredibly touching song “Underdog” that left me in tears.  It was quite difficult for me to keep my camera in focus and take the pictures I was trying to get as I tried to see through my tears because I was so moved by their performance.  Not only that, but they share a very touching story.  It was all very moving! Check them out if you haven’t heard of them! Lastly, there was the New Faces show concluding the event that featured full band performances on the same incredible stage that had been set-up earlier that day for Faith Hill.  Performers included: Eli Young Band, Hunter Hayes, Sunny Sweeney, and David Nail who each gave incredible, crowd-stirring performance that were appreciated by all in attendance at this elegant dinner.  Thompson Square was set to perform, but due to the loss of a loved one the evening prior, had to cancel unfortunately and completely understandable.  At least, we got to see them a couple of days before with Lady Antebellum.

We even thoroughly enjoyed all of the hours spent in the media room every day as we had the opportunity to sit down with many favorite artists to talk about their music like Gloriana, THE FARM, Jana Kramer, Frankie Ballard, Amber Hayes, Due West, Marlee Scott, Glen Templeton, Billy Dean and many more…we had so many great interviews in those jam-packed 4 days! Please look for those interviews throughout the site as there were so many, we are continuously uploading more video interviews and not nearly done!

I created Focus on the 615 this past August because I want to help promote great music and the artists who make it that I believe in. All of which is coming straight out of Nashville, TN! Being allowed to attend such a special event as CRS only solidifies for me my reasons why I created this music blog and why I want to continue to support the music & artists for many years to come.  If I want there to continue to be great music made, I feel like I have to do my part a little bit, too, and help promote.  As great as the internet is in reaching masses, it’s had such a devastating impact on the music community as a whole because of illegal downloading and sharing.  Countless labels have had to close their doors already, record deals have been lost due to labels simply not having the funds like they used to in order to fully develop and promote talented artists…in short, illegal music downloading has had a far reaching impact on the music industry.  So please, if you love music as much as we do on Focus on the 615, pay for your music downloads from places like iTunes or buy the physical cds from the stores.  Great music isn’t created for free and we can’t continue to get great music unless we support it.  A few dollars for a cd or $1.25 per song on iTunes is a very, very small amount to pay for something that will bring enjoyment for many years to come!

Thanks to the staff at Aristo PR for putting together such a spectacular event!

I would like to leave you with this great video from new Curb recording artist, Rachel Holder! When I saw this video aired just prior to the New Faces show, I absolutely loved it and it continues to stick out in my mind! Enjoy!

Comments { 0 }

Alzheimer’s Awareness, Hiding From The Rain

By on March 15, 2012 in Special Events

Please take a moment to check out this site dedicated to raising Alzheimer’s awareness and see the new video Rick Roman created with the help of several friends called “Hiding From The Rain”.

Since I lost my dad to this disease nearly 6 years ago, it’s a cause that’s very near to my heart.  So, please take just a couple of minutes to visit the site.

http://hidingfromtherain.com/

Comments { 0 }

Tin Pan South Media Kick-Off Party, Buy Your Tickets Today!

By on March 8, 2012 in Special Events

Matt and I got to enjoy a special Tin Pan South media kick-off party on Tuesday, March 6th at The Rutledge in Nashville.  We enjoyed a fun afternoon filled with a preview of great music from several hit songwriters, free food from Maggiano’s Little Italy, and open bar.  It was a special event that we were very happy to be invited to be part of! Even Nashville Mayor Karl Dean joined the festivities on what was a beautiful spring day here in Music City!

Mayor Karl Dean at Tin Pan South Kick-off Party

Be sure to get your tickets for the 20th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival happening March 27th-31st.  Tickets on sale now! For more information, go to the site here for tickets and schedules.  You don’t want to miss out on what’s a truly special event in Nashville!

Comments { 0 }

Focus on the 615 at CRS 2012

By on February 27, 2012 in Special Events, Uncategorized

And that’s a wrap. Averaging four hours of sleep per night, around noon on Friday we finished up our last of 23 interviews for CRS week. Aside from all of these (stay tuned to watch them all here), the week consisted of exclusive performances, incredible after parties and an overload of fun.

CRS again is the Country Radio Seminar, a weeklong event at the Nashville Convention Center “created to provide a platform and structure for education and growth for the Country Music format, serving as the conduit connecting the interests of Country Radio with the Country Music Industry” (crs.org). Our job was to cover it as part of the media… therefore we hung out in the media room and interviewed artists instead of going to the educational seminars. Not a bad gig.

Tuesday

Day 1 was Tuesday, a day that proved just a warm up for the week ahead. We started at Warner Music where we caught up with The Dirt Drifters, HER & Kings County and Ty Stone. HKC are some of the most energetic people we had the good fortune of meeting.

“Y’all kicked our hangover to the curb like a Bloody Mary.”
– HER & Kings County

You’re welcome guys.

Then it was up to the Bridge Bar (a cool lounge area located on the walkway over Commerce Street) to meet up with The Roys, DJ Miller and Mark Cooke. Six interviews ain’t bad for a days work, and then we were invited to attend the Country Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony, followed by the Sony-hosted after party featuring Brent Anderson, Wade Bowen and Jerrod Niemann. They all brought the house down, especially Niemann’s finale, a cover of the classic Pride and Joy.

Wednesday

Now we come to the day where we almost had TOO MUCH fun. No kidding, it was almost hard to process it all.  The day started early with an interview with The Farm, a great group of people, then Gloriana, who I’ve had my eye on since their first single Wild At Heart three years ago. Then finally, I got to meet Jana Kramer who is in fact the sweetest person in the entire world.Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan

Then came lunch at The Ryman, one of the best musical venues in the country, for a performance by nearly the entire Universal Music Group roster. I won’t mention them all, but it started off with none other than King George Strait. Let me tell you, there is not a lot that can trump watching Troubadour live in The Ryman Auditorium as the sun shines through the stained glass windows. But if there was one thing that could, it was the way they closed the show: with Lionel Richie. And he immediately brought out one of his biggest fans to perform with him: Luke Bryan. They played Easy (Like Sunday Morning) one of my favorite songs of all time, and after a well-deserved standing ovation, we were back to the media room. So yeah, that was lunch.

After this, we caught up with Marlee Scott, Frankie Ballard and Jason Mitchell. Soon thereafter we found ourselves at a meet-and-greet with most of the aforementioned artists in attendance, along with Josh Turner, Scotty McCreary, Lauren Alaina, Luke Bryan, Craig Morgan, and others. No interviews with those folks unfortunately, but all very nice people.

But we weren’t done yet: after that was the sold out Lady Antebellum concert at Municipal Auditorium. Thompson Square opened the show in incredible fashion before Darius Rucker took the stage, singing a couple Hootie & the Blowfish classics as well as a Nashville favorite Family Tradition. Then it was Lady A’s turn, and they put on one impressive show. They played all the hits, and even featured surprise cameos from Luke Bryan (performing Do I, co-written by Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood) and Sara Evans (who performed Stronger, co-written by Hillary Scott). After the show we were exhausted… oh, but not done yet.Faith Hill

The after party was a Warner Music gathering with an 80’s theme. Artists played one of their own songs followed by an 80’s classic. On the roster were (among others) HER & Kings County, Ty Stone, Jana Kramer, THE FARM, Jason Jones, The Dirt Drifters, Frankie Ballard, Hunter Hayes, and Big & Rich who performed a rousing rendition of Madonna’s Like A Virgin.

Cue exhaustion.

Thursday

After Wednesday, Thursday became a blur of sleep deprivation masked with too much caffeine. Of the interviews I remember, we had Glen Templeton, Due West, Amber Hayes, Jessie James, Deborah Allen, Adam Gregory, Maggie Sajak and Bucky Covington (forgive me if I forgot anyone). By the time Bucky finished out the day our batteries were drained figuratively AND literally (Bucky’s interview ran slightly short due to the death of the camera battery).

Lunch featured an acoustic set by Alan Jackson, and shortly thereafter we had a few hours where I was able to go home and nap before the Black River Entertainment showcase featuring Glen Templeton, Sarah Darling and Due West.

Friday

An easy day today! Only two interviews with icon Billy Dean and the lovely The McClymonts, and then on to lunch with Faith Hill! She debuted two new songs during her performance, and sounded as good as ever.

After a little break, we were back for the New Faces of Country Music show. The pre-show and happy hour featured a performance by The Lost Trailers, before we adjourned into the performance hall to see Hunter Hayes, Eli Young Band, Sunny Sweeney and David Nail. Thompson Square was also set to perform, but had to cancel due to an unfortunate death in Shawna’s family. The performances were amazing, and the after party was equally as amazing with everyone cutting loose after a long week.Hunter Hayes

We have pictures of all this excitement on our Facebook page, and will be sure to post these interviews online as soon as possible, so be sure to check back often! We would also like to thank each artist for their time, their management for their patience, and everyone who was involved with CRS for their hard work and dedication to an extraordinary week. Thank you!

 

 

Below is a recap of our CRS interviews:

The Dirt Drifters

HER & Kings County

Ty Stone

The Roys

DJ Miller

Mark Cooke

The Farm

Gloriana

Jana Kramer

Marlee Scott

Frankie Ballard

Jason Mitchell

Glen Templeton

Due West

Amber Hayes

Jessie James

Deborah Allen

Adam Gregory

Maggie Sajak

Bucky Covington

Billy Dean

The McClymonts

CRS 2012

 

Comments { 0 }

Music In Motion – 1st Annual Benefit Concert For MS

By on February 26, 2012 in Special Events, The Latest

Comments { 0 }

Adele Cleans Up, Whitney is Remembered, and Numerous Performances Rock The GRAMMYs

By on February 13, 2012 in Special Events

Lady GaGa, Miranda Lambert, and Blake Shelton at the GRAMMYsIf you watched last night’s GRAMMY Awards, two things are clear: (in case you didn’t hear) Whitney Houston is no longer with us, and Adele cleaned house. And also, there were some (and by some, I mean 382) performances in there. Oh and this image to the left? Nothing but freaking hilarious.

If you happened to catch me on Twitter (@mattwilliams27) throughout the telecast, you’d know that much of the night was worthy of a good ribbing. Most notably was Chris Brown’s useless, God-awful performance, Taylor Swift ironically coming up flat on a note during the line in her performance of Mean: “…grumbling on about how I can’t sing,” a couple collaborations that sort of fell short, and a MIA Kanye West, despite his leading in the nominations.

On the other hand, certain elements will not soon be forgotten. I don’t typically comment on fashion, but if anyone saw Rihanna on the red carpet, they were probably picking their jaw up off the ground. And although I was sick of Whitney Houston references by the time LL Cool J took the stage, the simple, understated, and beautifully powerful tribute to her by Jennifer Hudson brought the house down.

Watch Jennifer Hudson’s Whitney Houston Tribute | “I Will Always Love You”

Rihanna looking fabulous on the GRAMMY red carpet

As did the highly anticipated return of Adele, who gave her first performance after undergoing vocal chord surgery. She absolutely nailed it, and received a well-deserved standing ovation. Oh yeah, and she went six-for-six on awards, including the big three: Song and Record of the Year for Rolling in the Deep, and album of the year for “21.” Bon Iver took home Best New Artist, which surprised many people, mainly because… no one knew who they (or he?) were.

The night also featured a fun, but touching tribute to Glen Campbell, featuring the Rhinestone Cowboy himself as well as The Band Perry and Blake Shelton. Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson performed their hit Don’t You Wanna Stay, and although Aldean’s mic cut out at the very end, they sounded fantastic.

The big story in the country realm last night was The Civil Wars, who took home Best Country Duo/Group Performance for Barton Hollow and Best Folk Album. They also performed a segment of Barton Hollow while introducing Taylor Swift. Taylor, by the way, took home two honors, including Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song for Mean. Lady Antebellum came up with a (in my opinion) highly-contested win for Best Country Album for “Own The Night” over Swift’s “Speak Now,” Aldean’s “My Kinda Party,” “Chief” by Eric Church (who I wanted to see take it), “Red River Blue” by Blake Shelton, and “Here For A Good Time” by George Strait.

So all-in-all… meh. Whitney will be missed, but the timing of her death overshadowed the entire show. Adele was well deserving of her awards and her standing ovations. And I think we proved that the most talented individuals don’t need dancers, pyrotechnics, auto tune, theatrics or lip-syncing (although Katy Perry’s performance was enjoyable, and an obvious “in your face” to Russell Brand). Real talent needs a microphone and a stage, and sometimes a guitar. And for that, Nashville, we thank you.

Comments { 0 }

Nashville to Make Big Impression at 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards

By on February 12, 2012 in In The Press, Special Events

The 54th Annual GRAMMY AwardsMusic’s biggest night is upon us, and Focus on the 615 wants to keep you in the loop with your favorite GRAMMY hopefuls! Kanye West, Adele and Bruno Mars may be among the most nominated, but our hometown country stars make up a notable portion of the prestigious list as well.

First-time nominees Jason Aldean and Blake Shelton each landed three nods, as did past GRAMMY-winner Taylor Swift, each competing for Best Country Album. Newcomers Thompson Square have two nominations for their hit Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not, and The Civil Wars also have two for best Country Duo/Group Performance and Best Folk Album. Receiving a huge honor, The Band Perry continues their incredible year with a nomination for Best New Artist.

Other notable nominations include Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter’s collaboration on You And Tequila, garnishing two nods, and the Zac Brown Band finding their way into the Visual Media category with Where The River Goes from the Footloose soundtrack. Click here to see a complete list of the GRAMMY nominations.

Nashville is well-represented in performances as well, with Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Glen Campbell, The Band Perry, Shelton, The Civil Wars and Swift all gracing the GRAMMY stage. Jason will perform his smash Don’t You Wanna Stay with Kelly Clarkson, Carrie will team up with legendary crooner Tony Bennett, and Campbell, TBP, and Blake will all be taking the stage together.  Click here to see a complete list of the GRAMMY performances.

Who are your favorites to win? What performances are you most looking forward to? Let us know!

Focus will be tweeting live throughout the performance, so be sure to follow us at @FOCUSonthe615! You can also follow contributor Matt Williams at @mattwilliams27!

Comments { 0 }

Outlaw Country: A Waylon Jennings Tribute at the SiriusXM Theater

By on December 14, 2011 in In The Press, Special Events
Waylon Jennings

Photo credit: Laralyn Drew

It has been almost 10 years since Waylon Jennings left us, but his music is still as influential as ever. On Tuesday, December 6, SiriusXM presented a special taping honoring Waylon Jennings and promoting the new album ‘Waylon: The Music Inside Vol. II’. The event at the SiriusXM Theater in the Bridgestone Arena featured several acts including Josh Thompson, Jamey Johnson, Waylon’s widow Jessi Colter, and son Shooter Jennings. Also in the house – and rowdy as ever – was Waylon’s old friend Hank Williams Jr. For the taping, each took turns playing Waylon favorites, sharing cherished memories of the late outlaw, and recapturing the magic of the tribute albums.

“At first, I didn’t want anyone to sing these songs but [Waylon],” said Colter about the tribute albums. “But these people love these songs… I couldn’t be prouder.”

The show had the element of a songwriter’s round, only with intermittent anecdotes about the country legend. For the softer, heart-felt numbers some artists on stage closed their eyes and sang along, embracing the powerful lyrics imparted by Jennings. On the faster, hell-raisin’ tunes, the entire studio audience began to clap and sing along, with Johnson frequently providing impromptu lead guitar licks.

Also present at the event were radio personality Carl P. Mayfield and legendary producer and songwriter Cowboy Jack Clement who both shared funny stories of Jennings. Mayfield recounted when Waylon stole his watch, wrapped it, and gave it back to him as a gift while on the air; and Clement reminisced about the time Waylon utilized dynamite to retaliate against a particularly difficult venue.

Josh Thompson and Jamey Johnson were two of the younger acts that had not known the music icon personally, yet have been strongly influenced by his music. Johnson references the man more than once, including in his song “Between Jennings and Jones”, while Thompson penned his own underground hit “Blame It On Waylon”.

Waylon Jennings

Photo credit: Laralyn Drew

“[This] was very inspiring and nerve-racking,” said Thompson about being included with the others on Vol. II. “They played with the man… I wanted to make some changes [to the song], and I wasn’t sure what they would think, but they really embraced it.”

One such artist who “played with the man” was Bocephus himself. A longtime friend of Jennings, Williams Jr. had nothing but funny and fond memories to share, frequently comparing Jennings to his own father, Hank Williams Sr.

“It was daddy and him,” said Williams when asked about where Jennings ranks among the all-time greats. “That man was the hoss right there.”

Between the country music veterans, the new wave of outlaws, and the simple admirers, it was an event filled with great music and fond memories. Certainly, it was an outpouring of love for the late Jennings, but it was also a tribute to the music that has changed lives and transcended generations. If Vol. II is as powerful as Vol. I, country music fans young and old are in for a superbly put together treat.

Comments { 0 }

Music City Unsigned: Family Christmas 2 Album Release Show and Christmas Party

By on December 14, 2011 in Special Events

Music City UnsignedMusic City Unsigned – the promotion team behind some of Nashville’s best emerging artists – released its second Christmas compilation album entitled Music City Unsigned Family Christmas 2 on Sunday, December 4, and they had a Christmas party to celebrate it! As part of Nashville Sunday Night, Lightning 100’s weekly live broadcast from 3rd and Lindsley, eight unsigned artists were on hand to bring in the holiday season with great live music.

The first half of the night had a writer’s round setup with Marie Hines, Robert Kelly, Emily DeLoach and Jeffrey James all on stage singing two or three acoustic songs each. Hines and Kelly each sang about Christmas memories where they come from with the songs Home and I’m Coming Home respectively. DeLoach gave a soft and sweet performance of If I Can’t Have You, and James serenaded the house with Ain’t No Christmas Blues. All of these songs are of course originals, and can be found on the album.

After a break (and the consumption of several free Christmas cookies), it was time for the full band portion of the show. Gracing the stage this half were Andrew Ripp, The Co, Humming House and The Vespers. Ripp sang his version of the classic Jingle Bells, while The Co slowed it down for a beautiful rendition of Silent Night. The band also performed Keep It Together, a huge crowd pleaser at BMI’s “Jingle Ball” last week.

Rising stars Humming House performed their original Winter Dress, which kicks off the Christmas album. They ended with their new single Cold Chicago, an upbeat, folky number the band has just released a video for. Check it out here! Closing out the night were two brothers and two sisters making up the quartet The Vespers. With a great acoustic bluegrass sound, the band performed “the only Christmas song we know:” Once In A Royal David’s City.

Although two acts – Carolina Story and Jessica Breanne & The Electric Hearts – could not attend the event, their versions of classic Christmas covers can also be found on the album: A more up-tempo acoustic version of Away In A Manger by Carolina Story, and O Holy Night by Jessica Breanne And The Electric Hearts. The album is on sale now at www.musiccityunsigned.com

Although seeing these artists live is a real treat, the CD is equally as enjoyable. If you are tired of the same old Christmas songs and the same old versions, this album is a great way to break free. Not only does it showcase amazing talent, but the proceeds also benefit singers and songwriters who represent Nashville’s best emerging artists. Music City Unsigned is a community of such artists. The organization exists because it has a passion for supporting, promoting and helping artists in any way possible. And so should you!

Music City Unsigned Family Christmas

Comments { 0 }
Verified by MonsterInsights