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Ashley Monroe joined by Miranda Lambert on stage.
As soon as I stepped into the room, I noticed it was filled with a who’s who of the music industry, everyone from booking agents, publishers, media to many artists out to hear Ashley Monroe perform her new material. Everyone anxiously awaited Monroe to take the stage.
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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.”
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InDo Nashville, the coworking, creative hub for professionals in the entertainment industry is now open and accepting members. The three floor, 11,000 sq. ft., building is located at 632 Fogg St., between 7th Ave S. and Ewing Ave., near the City Winery and Third Man Records in SoBro. Features of InDo Nashville include: large open coworking spaces, songwriting rooms, conference rooms, phone booths, a hanging pod-chair room, a concierge, and a 1500 sq. ft. event space that is perfect for industry parties, product launches, networking events, and acoustic showcases.
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 →
The 2015 CMA Music Festival generated a record $46.8 million in direct visitor spending, an increase of $7.5 million over last year according to numbers released by the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. (NCVC) today. Continue Reading →
Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI)®, a global leader in music rights management, will host Sync THIS!, a two-day event connecting six top music supervisors from the worlds of film, television and advertising with the best of Music City August 11-12, 2015. This invitation-only event will provide a unique setting for emerging BMI artists and tastemakers from the Nashville music community to foster relationships with music supervisors at the top of their respective fields. This two-day forum will feature exclusive performances, a thought-provoking panel and private dinners at two of Nashville’s new chef-owned restaurants. Everything from the shop-local gift bags to the chef-curated custom dinner menu and cocktails, unique showcase spots and rocking performances provide attendees with a truly unique “New Nashville” experience, bringing them from “east” to “west.”
The last time I rose with the sun was for a deep-sea fishing trip when I lived in Florida. Now, three weeks into my new Nashville life, I was up at 5:30 a.m. twice in one week to live the dream of covering CMA Fest. With a media pass around my neck, I ventured into the chaos of downtown Nashville and surrounded myself with artists, fans and four days of country music.
What: Music Industry Day at Summer NAMM
Where: Nashville’s Music City Center – 201 5th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37203
When: Saturday July 11, 2015, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Cost: $10 advance price; $20 at the door – buy online and save! www.namm.org/musicindustryday
