Nashville Scene 3-24-22

MARCH 24–30, 2022 I VOLUME 41 I NUMBER 8 I NASHVILLESCENE.COM I FREE

WALK A MILE: EXPLORING THE EVERCHANGING NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND TOM JOY PARK PAGE 7

CITY LIMITS: MEET THIS YEAR’S METRO SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES PAGE 8

Worth Singing About Maren Morris steps back from the hustle on her third LP Humble Quest

BY BRITTNEY McKENNA

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NASHVILLE SCENE | MARCH 24 – MARCH 30, 2022 | nashvillescene.com

CONTENTS

MARCH 24, 2022

7

26

Walk a Mile: Joywood ................................7

Soy Cuba

CITY LIMITS

ART

In the 26th installment of his column, J.R. Lind ambles east to the ever-changing neighborhood surrounding Tom Joy Park

A survey of Cuban creativity at the Frist Art Museum spotlights individual expressions against tyranny

BY J.R. LIND

BY JOE NOLAN

Meet This Year’s MNPS Board Candidates ......................................8

Hidden Figures

Metro Nashville Public Schools board approaches its first partisan elections in districts 2, 4, 6 and 8

BY KELSEY BEYELER

Pith in the Wind .........................................8 This week on the Scene’s news and politics blog

Works by Zilia Sánchez are a highlight of the Frist’s contemporary Cuban art show

27

BOOKS

10

Worth Singing About

29

Keeda Haynes exposes a fractured criminal justice system in Bending the Arc

BY JOY RAMIREZ AND CHAPTER 16

Maren Morris steps back from the hustle on her third LP Humble Quest

BY BRITTNEY McKENNA

Adia Victoria Celebrates the Present in ‘Ain’t Killed Me Yet’ On the Hunt for More of William Edmondson’s Headstones

BY LAURA HUTSON HUNTER

Turning Hard Lessons Into Action

COVER STORY

THIS WEEK ON THE WEB:

Birmingham Brewery to Bring Taproom to McGavock House Local Web Series Nashville Dads Club Releases Season 2 Trailer ON THE COVER:

Maren Morris Photo by Harper Smith

MUSIC

Another Look ........................................... 29

15

The Scene’s music writers recommend recent releases from Negro Justice, Tim Gartland, Lauryn Peacock and more

CRITICS’ PICKS Police Deranged, Animal Collective, Latin Night at Music City Food Truck Park, Mount Westmore, Liz Cooper, Orpheus Reimagined, Seth Pomeroy Goodbye Party, Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, KennyHoopla and more

Expert Mode ............................................ 30

23

The Scene’s live-review column checks out Wet Leg at The Basement East

Yasmin Williams’ soulful instrumentals breathe new life into solo acoustic music

BY CHARLIE ZAILLIAN

The Spin ................................................... 31

BY STEPHEN TRAGESER

FOOD AND DRINK Pastry Case

Lucy Pazos and Ryliegh Vieira of Yellow & Lavender Vegan Eats are happy to share their magic — but they won’t reveal their secrets

32 FILM

Picture This The 94th annual Academy Awards are this weekend, and we have thoughts

BY MEGAN SELING

24

BY D. PATRICK RODGERS

VODKA YONIC Taking the Cure

How a relationship detox helped me face the unbearable lightness of being alone

BY ELIZABETH ULRICH

25

33

NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD

34

MARKETPLACE

PERFORMING ARTS Screen Test

Gob Squad’s Kitchen goes back in time to re-create Warhol’s Factory

BY AMY STUMPFL

Call for take-out!

Authentic Mexican Cuisine & Bakery...Side by Side!

James Gibson: A Life in Sculpture A Retrospective Exhibition

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March 14-April 2, 2022 Exhibit Reception with the Gibson family, Saturday, March 19, 2 p.m., Todd Art Gallery, Todd Hall, Room 224A

Artist James Gibson Portrait

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Negotiation of a Left Turn, 1971, Welded Steel

Hey Bird! 1978, Welded Corten Steel on Aluminum

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Editor-in-Chief D. Patrick Rodgers Senior Editor Dana Kopp Franklin Associate Editor Alejandro Ramirez Arts Editor Laura Hutson Hunter Culture Editor Erica Ciccarone Music and Listings Editor Stephen Trageser Contributing Editor Jack Silverman Staff Writers Kelsey Beyeler, Stephen Elliott, Nancy Floyd, J.R. Lind, Kathryn Rickmeyer, William Williams Contributing Writers Sadaf Ahsan, Radley Balko, Ashley Brantley, Maria Browning, Steve Cavendish, Chris Chamberlain, Lance Conzett, Steve Erickson, Randy Fox, Adam Gold, Seth Graves, Kim Green, Steven Hale, Steve Haruch, Edd Hurt, Jennifer Justus, Christine Kreyling, Katy Lindenmuth, Craig D. Lindsey, Brittney McKenna, Marissa R. Moss, Noel Murray, Joe Nolan, Betsy Phillips, John Pitcher, Margaret Renkl, Daryl Sanders, Megan Seling, Jason Shawhan, Michael Sicinski, Nadine Smith, Ashley Spurgeon, Amy Stumpfl, Kay West, Abby White, Andrea Williams, Ron Wynn, Charlie Zaillian Editorial Intern Ashley Barrientos Art Director Elizabeth Jones Photographers Eric England, Matt Masters, Daniel Meigs Graphic Designers Mary Louise Meadors, Tracey Starck Production Coordinator Christie Passarello Events and Marketing Director Olivia Britton Marketing and Promotions Manager Robin Fomusa Publisher Mike Smith Senior Advertising Solutions Managers Maggie Bond, Sue Falls, Michael Jezewski, Carla Mathis, Heather Cantrell Mullins, Jennifer Trsinar, Keith Wright Advertising Solutions Managers Richard Jacques, Deborah Laufer, William Shutes, Niki Tyree Sales Operations Manager Chelon Hill Hasty Advertising Solutions Associates Jada Goggins, Audry Houle, Alissa Wetzel Special Projects Coordinator Susan Torregrossa President Frank Daniels III Chief Financial Officer Todd Patton Corporate Production Director Elizabeth Jones Vice President of Marketing Mike Smith IT Director John Schaeffer Circulation and Distribution Director Gary Minnis

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CITY LIMITS

JOYWOOD

In the 26th installment of his column, J.R. Lind ambles east to the ever-changing neighborhood surrounding Tom Joy Park

Walk a

BY J.R. LIND | PHOTOS BY MATT MASTERS

with J.R. Lind

Overby Road

Sultana Avenue

Mile

Duke Street

Jones Aven

ue

Lischey A

venue

East Trinity Lane

Edwin Street

THE ROUTE: From Tom Joy Park, north on Jones, then left on Trinity and right on Overby.

Follow Overby through the curve as it becomes Duke, then left on Sultana and left on Trinity. Turn right on Lischey while watching for precipitous drops from the sidewalk, and then left on Edwin to the start.

ABANDONED SCOOTERS: 0 CRANES: 1 ABANDONED PONTIAC MINIVANS: 1 Once a month, reporter and resident historian J.R. Lind will pick an area in the city to examine while accompanied by a photographer. With his column Walk a Mile, he’ll walk a one-mile stretch of that area, exploring the neighborhood’s history and character, its developments, its current homes and businesses, and what makes it a unique part of Nashville. If you have a suggestion for a future Walk a Mile, email editor@nashvillescene.com.

I

t’s a bright March morning at Tom Joy Park, drawing a smattering of perambulators to its perimeter, despite the temperature being a little on the fresh side. It’s not nearly as cold as the snowy Saturday prior, but not nearly as warm as the Friday before that either.

Nevertheless, it’s a pleasant day for a walk for folks trying to force the spring. The early-blooming trees — redbuds mostly, but one expeditious dogwood too — are doing their part.

Tom Joy Park features a pleasant pavilion and a small playground and massive, open and flat space. Sure, it lacks the amenities and historic attractions (and trees for that matter) of Nashville’s E ticket parks, but it certainly does the trick of being a basic neighborhood park.

The neighborhood here is officially the Tom Joy Neighborhood and has been since 2006, per some signage at Jones Avenue and Edwin Street. But according to Metro

Planning and property records, it still has its original name — Joywood, which frankly is adorable. The neighborhood association, the park and the elementary school all bear the name of Tom Joy, who founded the still-extant Joy’s Flowers, now on Gallatin Avenue, in 1877.

In 1882, the Joy family bought 91 acres here for an estate and for greenhouses for the family business. Tom Joy died in 1935, and his heirs gave the land for a school late that year. The gift, as these types of gifts often are, was saddled with covenants. For one, the school had to be named for Tom Joy. And it had to be used for a school in perpetuity — not unusual, but a little bit of a pain in the ass, as the school board has learned a handful of times over the years when trying to abandon property donated decades earlier.

But the Joys’ preconditions had an insidious requirement as well — that the school “be used solely for white children … nor will any part of said property ever be used for education of any persons other than white children.”

Racial covenants were ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1948 and then outlawed legislatively by the Fair Housing Act in 1968, so of course that portion of the agreement is a dead letter. In any event, the former Tom Joy Elementary is now a Head Start program, and today, students of color make up 83 percent of the student population at the current Tom Joy Elementary, which is farther north on Jones Avenue.

There’s a mix of new, renovated and origi-

nal homes on the streets marking the park’s perimeter, but they all seem to have one thing in common: Their yards are chockablock with clover — appropriate enough, given that we’re taking our walk on March 17. But this clover isn’t quite showing its shamrocks yet, just the purple orbs of their early bloom.

Commuter traffic speeds down Trinity Lane past the orange-painted cinder blocks of TNT Appliances, toward the ever-present standstill where Interstate 24 takes in Interstate 65. The sidewalks along Trinity are relatively new and wide, but the addition of a bike lane has pushed them into what were the margins of the yards of the older homes along the thoroughfare, so a line of utility poles makes a slalom course for the sidewalk user.

St. Teresa Holiness Science Church (or “St. Theresa Holiness Science Organization,” according to property records) sits on a sprawling campus at Trinity and Overby Road. It is the oldest remaining congrega-

tion of the denomination that was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in the 1970s. This branch took over the property from Bethel Church of the Nazarene, now on Broadmoor two miles to the northeast as the crow flies.

Like the neighborhood surrounding the park, the homes on Overby are a mishmash of eras. There’s even a modular home serving as a recording studio. After passing Prince Avenue, Overby curves sharply west and becomes Duke Street — yes, there’s a Queen Avenue nearby as well, but no Marquis or Count or Earl or Elector. There are well-maintained little clapboard houses here — original stock — brightly repainted in neutral colors. And then there are the looming new-builds in weird dark colors. A newly constructed house at 333 Duke is “coming soon,” per a sign in the yard. (Yes, there’s a website.)

Across the street is another recently completed house; the construction workers’ port-a-potty is still in the yard, much to the delight of the neighbors, surely. Next to it is a field of stakes marking new lot lines. Twelve

nashvillescene.com | MARCH 24 – MARCH 30, 2022 | NASHVILLE SCENE

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CITY LIMITS lots — six facing Duke, six facing Prince — where there were once six. It’s obvious what’s coming, given what’s already present in this neighborhood and similar ones around town. Meanwhile, there is for some reason (possibly hoops?) a milk crate nailed eight feet up on a utility pole.

Duke makes a long and steady climb uphill past some ancient but still budding oaks toward its intersection with Sultana. A small crowd huddled in light jackets is drinking coffee on the porch at Crema as other caffeinators bustle in and out. The coffee shop at 226 Duke is a neighborhood gathering place.

But how many of its patrons know that for a period in the late 1990s, the property was owned by the United States government, seized in a forfeiture related to the operation of an illegal gambling operation?

Parking is at a premium around here.

Maybe not at 9 a.m., but at some time. Orange traffic cones are standard in the verges of property, home owners protecting their precious street parking from outsiders. “NO TRESPASSING” signs dot rock walls and

MEET THIS YEAR’S MNPS BOARD CANDIDATES Metro Nashville Public Schools board approaches its first partisan elections in districts 2, 4, 6 and 8

BY KELSEY BEYELER

S

chool board elections are approaching, and this year’s race looks a lot different than those of years past. Due to a state law passed during a 2021 special legislative session, this year’s elections will be partisan, which is uncommon in local elections and especially in school board races. Though the Metro Nashville Public Schools board urged political parties not to engage in partisan elections (the law makes it optional), both Democrats and Republicans announced their plans to hold primaries in December.

Primary elections for the school board will take place May 3, with early voting beginning April 13. With school board seats in districts 2, 4, 6 and 8 up for election, a total of 14 candidates are running — three independents, four Republicans and seven Democrats.

Those running independently won’t have to win a primary election, but they won’t have the recognition associated with a political affiliation. Here’s an introduction to this year’s candidates.

DISTRICT 2

Incumbent board member Rachael Anne Elrod hopes to keep her seat in District 2 — the most crowded field of the four races. She’s vice chair, has served on the board since 2018 and is endorsed by the Metropolitan Nashville Education Association Political Action Committee for Education. Elrod has experience as a teacher, supports pre-K expansion and is the only Democrat running in her district.

Edward Arnold, who is running as an independent, ran for this seat in the past two elections. He’s retired, having formerly worked as an information resource specialist for the state, and is currently a doctoral student at Tennessee State University. He wants to change the way Metro schools are funded with Teacher Incentive for Public Schools — an idea he created that would provide incentivized pay for teachers who work with English learners and in low-performing schools.

8

chain-link fences as Sultana rises to meet Trinity. There appears to be no one unwelcome parking at the moment, though there is a suspiciously clean pair of socks lying in the muddy shoulder of the road.

East Nashville Beer Works, the brewery operated by former Metro Councilmember Anthony Davis, is empty at this hour. (It has plenty of on-site parking, by the way.) The joint has become something of an informal headquarters for the younger, more progressive Nashville Democrats than, say, the older crowd that gathers at John A’s near Opry Mills or that frequents the union halls of West Nashville. There is indeed a campaign sign for Sara Beth Myers, who is challenging incumbent Glenn Funk for the Democratic nomination for Davidson County district attorney.

Next door, a strip mall. Between it and the Community Market (where live bait is available for some reason) is what has to be the most aesthetically pleasing abandoned pay phone in all of Metrodom. There are little nooks for the phone at car level on each side of the structure, which is well constructed of

narrow bricks painted bright-white. The body of the pay phones are present on both sides.

On the market side, the cord is even still attached. Neither side actually has a receiver.

Some utility is ongoing at Trinity and Lischey Avenue. NDOT workers are adding a solar panel to a pedestrian crossing sign.

In an adjacent lot, trench work and pumping and concrete mixing is underway. There’s a lot of building — or more precisely, site prep for future building — on this block. On the east side of the street, a sign warns that the sidewalk ends, and does it ever. After the abrupt conclusion of the concrete, the ground falls away several feet into a narrow ditch.

It’s quiet at the Head Start at the original Tom Joy School. No laughing children dashing about in the way that only 4-year-olds can.

It’s just an anchorage for school buses with MNPS closed for spring break.

Hammering is underway at the centuryold home across Edwin Street. Dogs are being walked. People are strolling.

Morning is cometh to Joywood.

EMAIL EDITOR@NASHVILLESCENE.COM

Janeen Kingma, Todd Pembroke and Mark Woodward are all running as Republicans. Kingma does not appear to have an online presence and did not respond to the Scene’s interview request. Pembroke is an insurance agent who lives in the Davidson County portion of Brentwood and is an active member of the U.S. Army National Guard. Though he doesn’t have any kids in school, one of his three young daughters will start kindergarten in the fall. Pembroke wants to go back to “the traditional forms of curriculum and [leave] anything divisive and confrontational or controversial out of the equation.”

This, he says, includes teaching about race and gender — matters often misidentified as critical race theory. He also says he’d like to see more discipline and accountability in schools. Woodward teaches drama and music at a Montessori school in the Davidson County portion of Brentwood, and serves on the executive committee of the Davidson County Republican Party. He says he wants to “help us to rethink our approach to early childhood education, which needs attention desperately.” His children are homeschooled.

DISTRICT 6

DISTRICT 4

District 4 candidates include incumbent Democrat John Little, Democratic challenger Berthena NabaaMcKinney and Republican Kelli Phillips.

Little ran for and won the District 4 seat after thenrepresentative Anna Shepherd died in 2020. He works for education nonprofit Nashville PROPEL and has faced residency challenges, which were ultimately dismissed by the Davidson County Election Commission.

Little supports charters.

Nabaa-McKinney was appointed by the Metro Council to temporarily represent District 4 after Shepherd’s death, though she ultimately lost the seat to Little. Nabaa-McKinney owns an education consulting firm and has worked as a teacher and principal; she also serves as the Parent Advisory Council’s secretary.

Her priorities include centering school staff and parent voices when making board decisions and figuring out how to sustain and improve school resources. NabaaMcKinney has an MNEA-PACE endorsement.

According to a Facebook video, Phillips’ priorities revolve around banning critical race theory and enhancing transparency in the school budget. Phillips has also campaigned on removing the district’s mask mandate — the current board has already voted to remove the mandate, but it’s an issue that could pop back up amid future COVID-19 variants or surges.

Phillips has addressed the board at several meetings via public comment.

Independent incumbent Fran Bush is running for reelection in District 6. In 2021, the teachers’ union filed an ethics complaint against Bush for fighting with teachers about reopening schools. She has been vocal about COVID-19 matters and wanted the MNPS mask mandate removed sooner than it was. Bush also supports charters, parent involvement and raises for MNPS staff.

Bush’s two opponents are running as Democrats.

Natalie Martin has been a teacher and assistant principal in MNPS and currently teaches at Stratford STEM Magnet School. (She’ll have to leave that role if she wins, as MNPS employees cannot serve as board members.) Martin wants to see better pay for support staff and involve more of MNPS’ non-English-speaking families at board meetings. She also wants to combat youth violence.

Candidate Cheryl Mayes is running again after serving as chair of the board. She lost her 2014 reelection bid as well as a race for a Metro Council seat in 2019. Mayes works for Rep. Jim Cooper and could not be reached by the Scene to discuss her goals for the school board. Mayes has an MNEA-PACE endorsement.

DISTRICT 8

District 8 incumbent Gini Pupo-Walker will not run for reelection. Instead, she is endorsing Democrat Erin O’Hara Block, who recently left her job as executive director of the Tennessee Education Research Alliance at Vanderbilt University. She wants to implement goals and strategies for district improvement and create an “integrated system” that connects the school system with city leaders to address and support mental health.

Chris Moth is also running as a Democrat in District 8. A press release states that Moth opposes censorship and school privatization, wants to decrease standardized testing, and thinks school days should start later. Moth notes that he has endorsements from state Sen. Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville) and state Reps. Bob Freeman (D-Nashville), Mike Stewart (D-Nashville) and Bo Mitchell (D-Nashville), as well as from MNEA-PACE. Moth unsuccessfully ran for the state House of Representatives in 2014 and 2016.

Amy Pate is running independently. She works in sales for a construction company and was a member of the Let Parents Choose group that urged MNPS to reopen when the district closed schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pate says she supports parent involvement and transparency.

EMAIL EDITOR@NASHVILLESCENE.COM

THIS WEEK ON OUR NEWS AND POLITICS BLOG: Nashville-based nonprofit Justice and Mercy International has 40 employees in Moldova, one of the countries that neighbor Ukraine where refugees have been fleeing after Russia’s invasion began a month ago.

JMI’s employees have been working to mobilize resources to help the influx of migrants, bringing blankets, warm clothing, food and toiletries to school sports halls and refugee camps along Moldova’s northern and eastern borders, where the new arrivals are being processed.

“Our employees are working with hundreds of volunteers and multiple organizations at the border to arrange travel and find shelter for these refugees,” JMI executive director Mary Katharine Hunt told Pith. Last week, JMI deployed two of its Nashville-based employees to assist their Moldovan staff. … Workers at a Starbucks in Murfreesboro are among the latest joining a nationwide labor organizing push at the coffee chain. Employees at the Fortress Boulevard location filed paperwork with the National Labor Relations Board seeking a union election under the umbrella of Workers United. If successful, the store would be the first unionized Starbucks in Middle Tennessee. More than 100 Starbucks locations have initiated unionizing efforts since late last year, including prominent efforts in Memphis and Knoxville. … Metro councilmembers, local advocacy groups and McFerrin Park residents are joining forces to secure a community benefits agreement with Cypress Real Estate Advisors, the Texas-based developer behind a $300 million proposed redevelopment of the RiverChase Apartments at the intersection of Dickerson Pike and Meridian Street in East Nashville. The CBA would include requirements for affordable housing, well-paying jobs, worker protections and a path for some current residents to return to the housing complex. Stand Up Nashville, which previously secured a CBA in 2018 related to the new Nashville SC stadium, is helping lead negotiations with CREA. … The Metro Council held its first-ever pre-budget public comment period. “Since we don’t actually have a proposed budget on which to comment, this was more of an open-mic night,” Pith’s official council observer @startleseasily, uh, observed. Speakers pushed for an increased focus on affordable housing and funding for education. “I’m not sure how much any of this will change the council’s approach to the budget this year,” she writes. “Many of the organizations that spoke on Tuesday are among those that came out against license plate readers, and well, we all know how that turned out. But it would be super cool if the council decided not to give them the middle finger this time, right?” … Vanderbilt topped Belmont in the first round of the men’s NIT at Memorial Gym and our own Steve Cavendish wonders why this just doesn’t happen every year. (It’s complicated.) … Pith’s Betsy Phillips is on the hunt for more headstones designed by famed outsider artist William Edmondson.

NASHVILLESCENE.COM/PITHINTHEWIND EMAIL: PITH@NASHVILLESCENE.COM TWEET: @PITHINTHEWIND

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Worth Singing About Maren Morris steps back from the hustle on her third LP Humble Quest

BY BRITTNEY McKENNA

M

aren Morris tends to outdo herself. In 2016, she was booked for an early afternoon slot on Bonnaroo’s Who Stage, a small setup typically reserved for emerging acts.

By the time the festival rolled around, Morris had a No. 1 country album with Hero and a rising single in “My Church,” speeding right past that “emerging” descriptor before it had time to stick. Her performance also felt far larger than that small stage. Her dynamic, powerful voice and hit-packed set list suggested those of a more seasoned artist and signaled a truly exciting new presence in country music.

Since then, Morris has become a fixture in both country and pop music, touring the globe and churning out hits like the Grammy-nominated “The Bones” and a massive, multiplatinum crossover collaboration with Zedd and Grey called “The Middle.” She won a Grammy for “My Church” and has enough ACM and CMA Awards to fill a trophy case. And in 2019, months after the release of her second album Girl, she co-founded country supergroup The Highwomen alongside Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby and Amanda Shires, to cheers of joy from the country community and beyond.

On Friday, Morris returns with her third studio album, Humble Quest, her most assured release yet.

Sonically, Humble Quest skews less pop than Hero or Girl, pulling back on production in favor of letting Morris’ lyrics and voice shine. Thematically, the album grapples with both her quick ascent to stardom and her changing personal life, including her marriage to fellow artist Ryan Hurd and the birth of the pair’s first child in 2020. Speaking from her home in Nashville after performing at both the ACM Awards and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Morris says she was driving around town when the words “humble quest” popped into her head.

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“It was just something that came, honestly, from the sky,” Morris tells the Scene. “And I think a similar thing happened when I wrote ‘My Church.’ That whole concept fell out of the clouds.”

Appropriately enough, she introduces Humble Quest with the reflective and infectious lead single “Circles Around This Town,” which connects her early days in Nashville writing songs and barely scraping by to her present-day stardom. Accordingly, the tune has a few fun Easter eggs, like lyrics that reference earlier hits “My Church” and “80s Mercedes,” as she sings: “Couple hundred songs and the ones that finally worked / Was the one about a car and the one about a church.”

Morris performed the song at the ACM Awards, officially kicking off the Humble Quest era with a song that is, well, full-circle. And her Houston Rodeo set marked her return to live performance in earnest after the disruptions COVID-19 caused the music industry, with a similar dose of happenstance thrown in for good measure.

“It was such a release,” Morris says of the rodeo show. “Not just for the band and myself, but for the crowd. Because if I’m correct, I think I was the last show at the Houston Rodeo in 2020, before they had to cancel because of the pandemic. … Every time I get to see my band, especially in the last few years, it feels like pieces of myself are coming back.”

Both the pandemic and new motherhood shaped Humble Quest, but it’s also Morris’ first album without contributions from close friend and celebrated producer Michael Busbee (known professionally as busbee), who died from glioblastoma in September 2019.

To helm the record in busbee’s absence, Morris tapped Grammy-winning producer and Girl collaborator Greg Kurstin. Some will remember him from ’90s rock band Geggy Tah, but he’s probably better known for his work with artists like Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters and, perhaps most famously, Adele.

“He should be a bigger asshole than he is, for what he’s done,” Morris says of Kurstin, laughing. “But I

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“It’s probably a very, very loud minority of people that come after me for anything I do,” she says. “I think it’s kind of humorous at this point, because you just have no control over it.

Like, any word or action or face that you make is scrutinized. But I always know where my heart is, and where my intentions lie. And I stand up — or I sit down — for what I believe in.”

THE PANDEMIC was a turning point for Morris, who had worked — whether touring, writing or recording — practically nonstop since Hero’s release in 2016. With the live music industry shut down and a new baby at home, Morris was forced into stillness for the first time since her early days hustling in Nashville.

It was a welcome if unplanned reprieve for Morris, who describes her time touring in support of Girl as “anxiety-ridden.”

“You feel like you have to say yes to every opportunity, especially in the beginning of your career, because you just don’t know if it’s ever gonna come around again,” she says. “There’s that very perpetual hustle period. That came to a screeching halt when COVID hit for me, even though I was established with my second record. It was that kind of in-between time of not being the new kid on the block anymore, but still having only released two albums.”

You can feel that newfound sense of spaciousness on Humble Quest, almost as though it were an instrument itself. Morris is as relaxed and sure of herself as she’s ever been, and the music reaps those benefits. The funny, John Prine-esque “I Can’t Love You Anymore” is Morris at her most playful. “Nervous” is all ’90s alt-rock swagger, like a Shirley Manson song performed by Sheryl Crow. “Background Music,” which boasts some of the album’s best lyrics, recognizes the fleeting nature of fame in favor of the endurance of deep, intimate love — with killer melodies to boot.

The showpiece of the album is its title track,

PHOTO: HARPER SMITH

love that about him. He’s so down-toearth, and he’s just a music nerd. He’s a jazz nerd.”

“She’s so natural,” Kurstin says of Morris, calling from his home in Los Angeles. “There’s this confidence there too, where she’s not worrying about what she’s doing. There’s something so cool about that, that confidence that she knows she can do it. She doesn’t have to prove it in the room or anything. She just owns it.”

Working with a new producer often yields experimentation, and Morris’ collaboration with Kurstin led to her most stripped-down album yet. Where Hero had shades of soul and R&B and Girl explored arena-ready pop, Humble Quest is earthy, rootsy and certainly Morris’ most traditionally “country”-sounding record thus far. Its closest relative in Morris’ catalog is The Highwomen, though Humble Quest is a decidedly more intimate, introspective affair.

“They’re not overly dressed-up with production or beats,” Morris says of the songs on Humble Quest. “They’re organic and they feel really natural. And I feel like that can only come from someone who is taking the shroud off and just being themselves — being humbled, but also not giving two shits how people perceive you.”

While Morris’ ACM Awards performance rightfully earned praise, most chatter following the ceremony centered on something she did off the stage. She stayed seated and refrained from applauding when Morgan Wallen — who was infamously caught using the Nword on video in early 2021, sparking outrage far and wide for both the incident itself and his half-hearted efforts at making amends — won Album of the Year for Dangerous: The Double Album. The next day, she tweeted a photo of herself on the ACM red carpet, shading her eyes from the sun, with the caption, “Me searching for a fuck to give.”

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a vulnerable exploration of Morris’ attempts to keep her feet on the ground while her star continues to rise. In a clear-eyed meditation on reconciling artistry with celebrity, she sings, “The line between fulfilled and full of myself / I’m trying to find it and might need some help.”

While Morris had a vision for Humble Quest at the project’s outset, she credits Kurstin with helping find the right soundscape to bring it to life. It was Kurstin’s first time producing a full-length country project, and his own curiosity lends spontaneity and spirit to the songs’ arrangements.

“Before I even knew who Greg Kurstin was, I was such a huge fan of those first two Lily Allen records,” she says. “And it’s just so funny that he did that too, as most people just know him as ‘the Adele guy’ or ‘the Foo Fighters or Paul McCartney dude.’ But I remember being obsessed with those Lily Allen albums. And his own band, The Bird and the Bee, is incredible.”

The admiration goes both ways. One of Morris’ greatest vocal strengths is her command of dynamics, something Kurstin singles out in conversation. Though she can belt with the best of them, she knows instinctively when to pull back and use restraint, a technique that only underscores the moments when she really lets it rip. That quality is especially evident across Humble Quest, like on the standout “Hummingbird.”

Morris uses the lower register of her voice during the song’s verses, letting it swell to a reedy crescendo at each chorus.

“It’s just really cool, how subtle she knows how to be,” Kurstin says. “She gives those moments at the right time. She never overdoes it. It’s always the perfect amount of soft and the perfect amount of belting. She’s just so natural.”

Kurstin too offered Morris a reprieve from the hustle-and-grind culture of Nashville, which can at times focus more on chart positions than challenging one’s creativity.

While it would be tempting to try to replicate the success of an earlier hit, Morris is more concerned with growing her artistry and making music that feels true to who she is and what she’s experiencing in her own life.

“Sometimes I’ll get into rooms of people for the first time and, knowing who I am, they’ll be like, ‘What do you need?’ ” she says. “ ‘What do you need for this next record? Do you need something country?

Do you need something more pop? Let’s do ‘The Bones.’ Let’s do a ‘Bones’ vibe.’ And I’ll be like, ‘Um, no, I already did that.’ … But [Kurstin] isn’t coming in with these giant pressures or expectations that I think a lot of, like, songwriters or track guys can put upon an artist. He doesn’t need to impress me. He’s Greg Kurstin. We’re just there to get the best song.”

“I never really like to go in with too much of an agenda set,” Kurstin says. “I like to be open-minded to whatever could possibly happen in the moment. But there was something about Maren’s demos, something very organic about it. I didn’t really stray too far away from what I was hearing. I just wanted to make it sound the best that I could.”

While some of Humble Quest was recorded at Sheryl Crow’s Nashville studio, Morris and Kurstin had pivotal writing and recording sessions at his own small studio in Hawaii. As Morris explains it, the pair would spend their mornings writing together, work through the day and then gather their fami-

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lies for nightly dinners.

“We would get dinner with his wife and kids and my husband and my son,” she says.

“I really, really got to know him in an even deeper way than on my previous record, with ‘Girl’ and ‘The Bones.’ We became friends on this project, as well, because we could really spend time with each other. And I just can’t say enough glowing things about him and his wife, Rachel. She’s a badass.”

Morris’ family life also had a profound impact on Humble Quest. She and Hurd welcomed their first child, Hayes Andrew Hurd, in March 2020. Coming in quick succession after that month’s outbreak of tornadoes in Middle Tennessee and the onset of COVID-19, new motherhood offered Morris a broader perspective — one that had her reevaluating her priorities as both an artist and a person.

“A lot of the world was having to reckon with [questions] like, ‘Are you happy with your job? Are you happy with your partner?’ ” she says. “Having touring taken away allowed me to look under the hood, for the first time, and really take stock of what was draining me and what was actually fulfilling me and filling my cup.”

“I think it’s easy to say that anyone who met Maren knew she would be successful in some form or fashion,” Hemby tells the Scene. “Her voice was too good, her writing was second nature, and her demeanor was that of an old soul, like she’s been doing this for years. What no one realized was that she had been doing this for years, since she was a young girl. It all just happened in perfect timing, and watching her career take off the way it did was like watching your favorite movie. I’m really proud and happy for her.”

In April, Morris will hit the road in support of Humble Quest, kicking off her tour at the Stagecoach festival and continuing through the end of 2022. She’ll cap the tour in town on Dec. 2 at Bridgestone Arena.

That show will be something of an outlier, as most stops will be at outdoor venues, a decision Morris and her team made both as an attempt at COVID safety and to suit the laidback, open feel of the new music.

“We put a lot of thought into what the vibe was going to be when people walk into the venue,” she explains. “So we’re doing Red Rocks and the Hollywood Bowl for the first time as headliners. There’s a select few

HUMBLE QUEST OUT MARCH 25 VIA SONY; PLAYING BRIDGESTONE ARENA FRIDAY, DEC. 2

Hurd has seen his own star rise in recent years too, with his 2021 album Pelago notching his first top-five single, the Morris duet “Chasing After You.” The two have long worked together — they initially got to know one another in writing sessions before either hit it big — but Humble Quest seems their most involved collaboration yet, as Hurd cowrote four of the album’s 11 tracks. It feels like he’s the subject of many of them too.

“During the pandemic, everyone’s relationship was tested,” Morris says. “And there are songs on this record that reflect that. ‘I Can’t Love You Anymore’ is definitely a funky love song about us wanting to rip each other’s hair out. But also, no one in this world is gonna put up with my shit the way that he does. That’s real romance to me. It’s not, you know, Champagne and a nice dinner night out. It’s, ‘Oh my God, you’re gonna put up with me after this stuff? That’s better than a ring.’ ”

MORRIS MAY still feel surprise at her own success, but her friends and collaborators have long known she was meant for big things. Morris’ Highwomen bandmate Hemby is a frequent and longtime collaborator on Morris’ solo records, and co-wrote three songs on Humble Quest. She sees Morris’ rise to country stardom as inevitable.

dates that we are doing indoors, but for the most part, we’re doing amphitheaters.”

Her decision was also influenced by that pandemic period of stillness, during which Morris realized just how much the Girl tour took out of her. She credits a Wall Street Journal interview with pop star Lorde for offering new perspective too — as well as permission to slow down and tour the way she wants to, regardless of her ability to sell out large arenas.

“I just remember having this panic attack last summer, when we were routing everything,” she says. “We had Madison Square Garden held and American Airlines Center held in Dallas. And I remember having this moment of anxiety, like, ‘I don’t think I am ready for those venues,’ just having not toured for two years. … [Lorde] said something like, ‘It’s weird to be showering in a venue that’s named after a fast-food chain, or in basketball locker room showers.’ Obviously, I’m on a different trajectory than she is, but I loved that she was so confident to say that she wanted to do slightly smaller venues, because her fans would appreciate it more.”

While Morris says it likely won’t make the live set — “It’s too emotional,” she says — one of Humble Quest’s most powerful moments is its closing track, the spare ballad

“What Would This World Do?” She wrote the song with Hurd and Jon Green for busbee weeks after he learned of his diagnosis. The track is a tender, poignant snapshot of the sorrow and disbelief wrought by anticipatory grief. Morris encapsulates so well the disorienting finality of losing a loved one, as she sings: “They’d still run the evening news, and the brides will walk the aisle in June / And there’s strangers that won’t have a clue / What would this world do without you?”

“The day we wrote that, busbee was still alive,” she says. “So we were writing that from a place of hoping that he would hold on. And that’s why it’s titled the way it is, because he was still with us. And it was like, ‘Maybe if we put this energy out into the world, he’ll pull through.’… I remember the day we wrote it, just bawling through the entire thing. But it was the clearest lyrics that I’ve ever [written]. I was trying to write them as quickly as I could, because they were just spilling out. And that’s like when I feel God is there — and I don’t even know if I believe, but that is when I’m like, ‘What is going on?’ It’s spooky, the way that these songs sometimes just fall out.”

The trio recorded a work tape of the song with just piano and Morris’ voice, not unlike the simple, quiet version of the song that appears on the album. When it came time to record with Kurstin, Morris was emotional during takes, which you can hear in what’s undoubtedly one of the rawest vocal performances of her career. While she and busbee often pushed the sonic limits of country when they worked together, it felt right to her to honor his memory without any bells or whistles.

“Busbee was one of those first guys in Nashville that was blending L.A. sounds with Nashville sounds,” she says. “I do truly think the last decade of country music has been so shaped by him. Not just my music, but Keith Urban and Lady A and all the people that he collaborated with over the last 10 years. That is why country sounds this way now, in part because of him.”

Morris too has reshaped the sound of country music since she released the 2015 self-titled EP that would soon grow into Hero.

Through her solo work and time with The Highwomen, she’s brought greater visibility to women country artists in an industry that still heavily favors men. And as the industry has been questioned about — and so far failed to reckon with — drastic racial inequity in recent years, she’s found ways to uplift artists of color using her platform. Among the artists supporting on her upcoming tour are Brittney Spencer and Joy Oladokun.

While she hasn’t lost the scrappy ambition that first put her on the map, Morris has found a hard-earned confidence that allows her to take things one step at a time. She’s growing more comfortable with doing things her own way and will continue to move at her own pace, learning to savor the moment instead of plotting out the next one. She’s still driving those circles around town — and she’ll likely still outdo herself from time to time — but now she knows when to pump the brakes.

“I hope to, someday, still headline Madison Square Garden,” she says. “I did not feel ready to headline those rooms. So we were like, ‘Why don’t we just do two nights at Radio City instead?’ And that’s fucking awesome. There’s nothing wrong with living in that space for a second and celebrating it.”

EMAIL EDITOR@NASHVILLESCENE.COM

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BE THE DOLLAR. BE THE RIDE.

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coming soon MENDELSSOHN'S VIOLIN CONCERTO & DEBUSSY’S LA MER April 8 to 10

TCHAIKOVSKY, RAVEL & SIBELIUS

with the nashville symphony Nathan Aspinall, conductor

May 6 to 7

April 1 to 3

A Gospel Mother’s Day

YOLANDA ADAMS May 8

GUERRERO CONDUCTS

MESSIAH

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE™ IN CONCERT

TOWER OF POWER

May 12 to 15

BALLET EXTRAVAGANZA

AN EASTER ORATORIO WITH THE NASHVILLE SYMPHONY

with the Nashville Ballet May 19 to 22 Presented without the Nashville Symphony.

SERIES PARTNER

April 14 to 16

A Celebration of the Roaring ‘20s

PROHIBITION

April 22

May 25

LESLIE ODOM, JR. May 26 to 28

THE MUSIC OF JOHN WILLIAMS

May 29*

90TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION WITH THE NASHVILLE SYMPHONY

NASHVILLE SYMPHONY Enrico Lopez-Yañez, conductor

WI T H T HE

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CHAKA KHAN

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April 28 to 30

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*Presented without the Nashville Symphony.

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POLICE DERANGED: STEWART COPELAND WITH THE NASHVILLE SYMPHONY

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LOUIS YORK luxuriate in its essence. 7 p.m. Thursday and 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Schermerhorn, 1 Symphony Place EDD HURT [ADOBE SLABS FOR MY GIRLS]

ANIMAL COLLECTIVE

Back in the summer of 2019, the four core members of formative Aughts freak-folk outfit Animal Collective Basically, this three-night run pairing Police decamped to an isolated locale in order drummer Stewart Copeland with singers, to work on fresh material. So where did a guitarist and the Nashville Symphony is the band — who first came together a way to experience the music of The in Baltimore around the turn of Police without Sting. If I may, I’d the 21st century, and whose like to talk a little about my DUE TO CONCERNS members are now scattered theory of Universal Sting, which ABOUT COVID-19 across the globe — rent a says that all pop fans revere TRANSMISSION, PLEASE house for a month? In nearby a person — male, female, CHECK WITH VENUES Leipers Fork, Tenn., of all nonbinary — who sings well, ABOUT POTENTIAL CANCELLATIONS BEFORE places. According to Relix: looks good and projects the MAKING PLANS. requisite middlebrow aura.

“In Leipers Fork, they played Yours might be Shawn Colvin music all day, cooked dinner or Peter Gabriel, mine might be in the evenings and sunk back Caetano Veloso and Joni Mitchell, and into their old groove — their teenage it’s likely many would just go ahead and humor returned, a shared language of best choose Sting. That said, this should be fun, friends or siblings. By the end of the month, since The Police made a lot of great music, they’d hashed out nearly 20 songs, and it from my favorite, “De Do Do Do, De Da Da was time to book some studio sessions and Da,” to “Every Breath You Take” and “When lay them down live.” The pandemic put the the World Is Running Down, You Make recording process on hold, but ultimately, the Best of What’s Still Around.” Copeland the quartet was able to track Time Skiffs, copped reggae rhythms and turned them which was released last month. The album into mainstream rock effects, while Andy — Animal Collective’s 11th LP and first Summers perfected a slightly off-kilter style since 2016’s Painting With — features that was more minimalist than the norm nine experimental-pop tracks that recall in mainstream rock. Sting was the band’s the cohesive warmth of 2007’s acclaimed intellectual, or whatever you call it, and I Strawberry Jam. If recent set lists are any don’t have a problem with that: The world indication, attendees at Thursday’s show needs middlebrow icons who look good and can expect to hear the new songs threaded write pithy songs about their anxieties. All throughout a lineup of tunes from all great pop music is worth hearing when it’s over A.C.’s glorious two-decades-strong reinterpreted by an orchestra — you can catalog of weird, intoxicating pop music.

Brooklyn experimentalist L’Rain will appear in support, and according to the band, $1 from each ticket sold will go toward “organizations advancing justice, equity and dignity, including Serve Your City D.C. and National Harm Reduction Coalition.” 8 p.m. at Marathon Music Works, 1402 Clinton St. D. PATRICK RODGERS [DRUGS OF CHOICE]

HATE DRUGS

Across a catalog dating back eight years, Bakersfield, Calif., combo Hate Drugs bucks perceptions of its inland hometown as a place where artistic types — Korn, most famously — seek shelter from bullying, amass creative ammunition, then get the hell out. With its sun-kissed sonic amalgam of surf-rock agility, yacht-rock cool, shoegaze dreaminess and bummer-grunge realness, the band has clearly never used its landlocked environs as an excuse to let itself languish. Also on the bill: Harbour from Cincinnati, DBMK from Tampa and Personal Trainer (aka Kayla Mickelsen) from right here in town. 8 p.m. at The East Room, 2412 Gallatin Pike CHARLIE ZAILLIAN [SPEAKING FOR THE TREES]

SAKURA ORIHON: DIARY OF A CHERRY BLOSSOM JOURNEY

It’s been nearly three years since Nashville’s Cherry Blossom Gate — that pre-pandemic uproar in reaction to thenMayor David Briley and the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp’s removal of 21 mature cherry blossom trees from Riverfront Park to make way for a 450-footlong stage for the NFL Draft. It makes sense that Nashvillians would be up in arms about the removal of these trees. Americans

fell in love with them in 1912, when Japan gave us about 3,000 to plant in our nation’s capital. It was not only a horticultural gift, but also one of friendship, of sharing a cultural tradition with the U.S. While the illfated group of Nashville’s cherry blossom trees had exponentially shorter lives, the lifespan of most trees planted is only around 80 years. Ron Henderson, a landscape architect and professor at Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, has been working with Japanese master gardener Fujimoto Kurato to learn the ancient practice of restoring and maintaining these trees in order to extend the lives of the oldest ones in Washington. Henderson’s relationship with the trees runs deep. He traveled through Japan observing the blossoming of the sakura and documented his experience in Japanese folding sketchbooks, called orihon.

His exhibition Sakura Orihon: Diary of a Cherry Blossom Journey will be on view at the Nashville Public Library downtown in the lobby through April 10. At the opening of the exhibition, Henderson will give a public lecture about the “cultural, culinary, public and social aspects” of cherry blossom trees.

The event is sponsored by the Nashville Tree Foundation and the Japan Foundation New York, and it’s a great way to welcome spring. 6 p.m. at Nashville Public Library, 615 Church St. ERICA CICCARONE

FRIDAY / 3.25 FOOD & DRINK

[ENGLISH BEATS]

3rd and Lindsley

MUSIC

CRAIG D. LINDSEY

SUNDAY, MARCH 27

ART

If you wanna take a deep dive into how much of a horror show it was for the LGBTQ community in the 20th century, take a gander at this 2020 documentary from filmmakers Patrick Sammon and Bennett Singer. Cured takes us back to a time when being gay was primarily seen as both a sin and a mental illness. With the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders listing homosexuality as a straight-up sickness right up until 1973, the psychiatric crowd made same-sex relationships out to be the stuff of twisted perverts. (Those deemed too sick were often institutionalized and forced to have mind-altering procedures like electroshock treatment and lobotomies.) Sammon and Singer talk to several activists and psychiatrists who spent most of their careers fighting not just to get homosexuality delisted from that damn manual, but also to keep queer men and women from being persecuted, discriminated against and/or institutionalized. Tara McKay, assistant professor of medicine, health and society at Vanderbilt, will introduce the film. 7:30 p.m. at Sarratt Cinema, 2301 Vanderbilt Place

MUSIC

L O U I S YO R K W / THE SHINDELLAS

[RINKY-DINK SHRINKS]

MUSIC

FILM

THURSDAY / 3.24

​​[BUEN PROVECHO]

LATIN NIGHT AT MUSIC CITY FOOD TRUCK PARK

If you’re looking to enjoy an array of quality Latin American food outdoors

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CRITICS’ PICKS this Friday — along with music, drinks and maybe dancing if you don’t stuff yourself comatose — head to The Marketplace’s Music City Food Truck Park for Latin Night. The event will offer a live DJ, picnic tables, an outdoor dance floor and up to five food trucks. Vendors announced so far include empanada purveyor Chivana and Cali-cuisine specialists Califarmia.

If you miss it this month, keep an eye out for the event every fourth Friday. 6-10 p.m. at The Marketplace, 400 Davidson St.

to Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, and he’s been recognized with eight Grammys in voted categories, a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award and the Medal of Arts from the National Endowment for the Arts, among many other awards. Jim Farrell’s 2019 IFC documentary The Torch spotlights the relationship between Guy and guitar phenom Quinn Sullivan, whom he’s mentored since childhood; the film made its theatrical debut March 18. The 85-year-old great is far from done yet, and he returns to the Ryman on Saturday night along with Canadian blues-rocker Colin James. 7:30 p.m. at the Ryman, 116 Rep. John Lewis Way

ALEJANDRO RAMIREZ

[THE DOGGFATHER]

FIZZURE FEST VOL. 1 W/TTOTALS, TOTAL WIFE, MOUTH READER & MORE

[LIVE THROUGH THIS]

KARKAZA

“You know Carcosa?” If you watched

DANCE

PHOTO: SABRINA RUSH

FIZZURE FEST VOL. 1 FEAT. TTOTALS

[YOU BET YOUR SASS]

LIZ COOPER W/MOLLY MARTIN

Before COVID, psychedelic folkrock singer and guitarist Liz Cooper was building a lot of momentum here in Nashville. Cooper and her backing band the Stampede’s 2018 release Window Flowers was a very strong debut LP, full of crowd-pleasers like “Mountain Man” that the trio had been workshopping live at venues all around the city and on the road.

Much has changed in the three-and-a-half years since, including Cooper’s approach to making music. In the run-up to her latest record, Hot Sass — released via Sleepyhead Records/Thirty Tigers in September — Cooper moved away from Nashville and parted ways with the Stampede in an official capacity. She tracked the new record with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals guitarist Benny Yurco at Little Jamaica Recordings in Burlington, Vt., and the finished product is something connected to Window Flowers but nevertheless new. Title track “Hot Sass”

is a fuzzed-out explosion of punkish angst, while “Je T’Aime” is a melodically rich dose of psychedelic pop that owes a little bit of its musical DNA to “Taxman.” (Which is to say, it rocks.) Cooper returns to Nashville this week to play The Basement East, with opening support from Nashville’s own poprocking Molly Martin — give Martin’s What You Need EP a listen while you’re at it. 8 p.m. at The Basement East, 917 Woodland St. D. PATRICK RODGERS MUSIC

True Detective’s epochal first season back in 2014, it’s a line etched upon your memory. Oh, wait — “Karkaza”? That would be a hard-rocking coed power trio from Montgomery, Ala., via Los Angeles — and not the other way around, which I love. I also appreciate the well-honed melody-tobrutality ratio of Karkaza’s latest LP, 2020’s Time Has Come. Sonically, the likes of Karp, Tool and Discharge all come to mind at various points on the 10-song record, but its inner avatar is undeniably Nirvana’s similarly sludgy, sneering ’89 debut Bleach.

Start with “2020” — a track that sounds as grim as its calendar year namesake — and go from there. Local songsmith Rayla Ray and Urbana, Ill., rockers Kangaroo Court support. 9 p.m. at Springwater, 115 27th Ave. N. CHARLIE ZAILLIAN

[BLUES ROYALTY]

BUDDY GUY

Buddy Guy belongs on any Mt. Rushmore of modern blues royalty.

He’s now a revered elder whose brilliance as a soloist and bandleader has been established and solidified through decades of stirring and memorable performances.

Throughout his career, he’s taken on the challenge of preserving and extending the blues tradition laid down by such giants as Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters. In the 1960s and ’70s, Guy’s flamboyant approach wasn’t viewed with the respect it deserved at Chess Records, but he honed his skills and pioneered creative guitar approaches while backing other greats on the label. The sound and style he developed eventually became universally beloved and admired. In the early ’90s, he finally began to achieve some of the recognition he was due: He was a sensation at Eric Clapton’s 24 Nights all-star blues festival in London in 1990 and ’91, after which he recorded his crossover smash hit Damn Right, I’ve Got the Blues. He remains one of the most loved performers in the blues and a tireless keeper of the flame, running clubs like Buddy Guy’s Legends while continuing to tour and record. He’s been an inspiration to the past three decades of rising blues stars from Joe Bonamassa

[ECHOES OF ORPHEUS]

ORPHEUS REIMAGINED

Centennial Park Conservancy and Friends of Metro Dance will present Orpheus Reimagined on Sunday, featuring Duncan Dance South and Portara Ensemble.

Part of the popular ECHO chamber music series, this program (which was originally scheduled for March 2020) will include “new and reconstructed dance and music works” created specially for the Parthenon’s unique space and acoustics. The project reminds us that along with its “Athens of the South” moniker, Nashville has a number of notable cultural ties to ancient Greece.

DDS is a regional company dedicated to preserving the works of Isadora Duncan, an early pioneer of modern dance who drew inspiration from Greek mythology and “famously danced at the original Parthenon in Greece.” And Portara Ensemble, which will provide live musical accompaniment, takes its name from the giant stone doorway that once served as the entrance to the temple of Apollo, off the island of Naxos.

Tickets at conservancyonline.com. 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. at The Parthenon at Centennial Park, 2500 West End Ave. AMY STUMPFL MUSIC

MUSIC

[FIZZURE CATS]

Spearheaded by the screenprinting and show-booking Fizzure Collective with help from the Flooded Sun Liquid Light Show crew, the inaugural Fizzure Fest is a one-night onslaught of psych and adjacent acts that promises to keep heads buzzing and ears ringing. Scene faves Total Wife are a must-see — recommended for fans of Tame Impala and King Gizzard if you’re young, Silver Apples and Stereolab if you’re older. Also don’t miss out on local psychrock pillars Ttotals, showcasing material from a long-gestating new record due later this year, and Red Feather, who bring a feedback-heavy, skate-video-worthy edge to their long-form stoner jams. In from out of town are Indianapolis oddballs Moon Goons and bluesy Richmond, Va., foursome Mister Earthbound. The Swell Fellas, Mango Furs and Mouth Reader fill out the bill. 6 p.m. at The 5 Spot, 1006 Forrest Ave. CHARLIE ZAILLIAN MUSIC

SUNDAY / 3.27

MOUNT WESTMORE FEAT. SNOOP DOGG, ICE CUBE, TOO $HORT & E-40

It’s safe to say Snoop Dogg is an American icon now. He permeates the culture in a way that is both nearly ubiquitous and almost unnoticeable. Seeing Snoop hawking Coronas isn’t weird, nor was it off-putting watching him analyze dressage during the Tokyo Olympics. It wasn’t terribly bizarre to see him C-walking in a sweater during the Super Bowl halftime show. (That certainly didn’t cause the existential panic fomented by Dr. Dre rapping that he’s “been in this game for 30 years making rap tunes.”) These are things we expect from our cultural monoliths. In fact, it was comforting to see a relatively unchanged Mr. Dogg doing the thing that made us fall in love with him in the first place: spitting lyrics in that most Snoopish of ways. Snoop’s latest musical venture, Mount Westmore, hits the Bridgestone March 26, and as the name implies, it’s a supergroup of West Coast hip-hop. His Dogginess brings along Ice Cube (who is hopefully more Boyz in the Hood than Are We There Yet?), Too $hort (who is hopefully not going to show any of his movies, given that the show is all ages) and E-40. Tickets are $59 to $119. Bring your green hat. 8 p.m. at Bridgestone Arena, 501 Broadway J.R. LIND

16

RON WYNN

MUSIC

MUSIC

SATURDAY / 3.26

[THEY’RE NICE WEIRDOS]

LOUIS YORK W/THE SHINDELLAS

In the late Aughts and early 2010s, Chuck Harmony and Claude Kelly achieved some notable success as songwriters and producers in the realm of R&B and R&B-inspired pop, working on material for Rihanna, Bruno Mars, Miley Cyrus and other stars. Often, if you’re doing well with that kind of gig, you stick with it, but Harmony and Kelly decided instead to enter the spotlight themselves.

They adopted the name Louis York (after their respective hometowns of East St. Louis and New York) for their music, which features Kelly’s smooth and soulful vocals and Harmony playing everything that isn’t nailed down. Around 2015, Louis York set up their artist collective and label called Weirdo Workshop outside Nashville in Franklin. Their most recent album, 2019’s American Griots, has R&B at its foundation but celebrates Black excellence across a wide range; poet Caroline Randall Williams contributes readings of a couple pieces, and featured guest singers include countertenor Patrick Dailey and country singer Jimmie Allen. Phenomenal girl-group-inspired trio The Shindellas, a project launched

NASHVILLE SCENE | MARCH 24 – MARCH 30, 2022 | nashvillescene.com

criticspicks_3-24-22.indd 16

3/21/22 2:28 PM

TIN PAN SOUTH 1

© 2022 Southwest Airlines Co.

We say yes to * Guitars Fly Free.

At Southwest Airlines®, we’re always in tune with your travel needs– whether you’re in a band or among the fans behind them.

We’re proud to be a part of your journey.

Congratulations on celebrating 30 years of the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival. *Subject to weight and size limitations. Musical instruments transported as checked baggage count toward the limit of two free bags. One small musical instrument (including guitars) may be transported as a carryon item. Any carryon musical instruments will count toward the carryon baggage limit of one piece of carryon baggage and one smaller personal item.

@

2 TIN PAN SOUTH

WELCOME The Nashville Songwriters Association International is extremely happy to welcome you to our 30th annual Tin Pan South, the world’s largest Songwriter Festival. We’re excited to be back to live performances this year, where you’ll hear America’s best songwriters performing their past and future hits and telling the stories behind their creations. Every show is a unique experience you won’t forget. And thank you for supporting NSAI’s advocacy effort, because “It All Begins With A Song.”

Steve Bogard

President – Nashville Songwriters Association International

ABOUT THE COVER: CHARLIE HARTRICH

THANK YOU!

TICKET INFORMATION

Fast Access Pass holders will take their places in the Fast Access Line at each venue on a first-come, first-served basis. With the exception of early shows at The Bluebird Cafe and every show at 3rd and Lindsley, admission will begin 30 minutes prior to show time.

Admission will begin 1 hour prior to the early show start time at The Bluebird Cafe and all 3rd and Lindsley Shows. Please be sure to confirm the COVID Policy in place for each venue during Tin Pan Week.

“Holding a seat” for someone who has not yet been admitted to the venue does not guarantee their admission and is not allowed. Fire code capacities are determined based onthe number of people admitted through the door, not seat availability.

Passes and single-show tickets are not refundable or transferrable for any reason.

Notes: Please arrive early. Lineups are subject to change. Some venues may require reservations or a per-person food/beverage minimum. Reservations are strongly suggested for shows at The Bluebird Cafe.

If you purchased a Tin Pan South Fast Access Pass in advance, you may pick it up at NSAI (1710 Roy Acuff Place) MARCH 22-25: 10 AM-4 PM | MARCH 28-APRIL 1 8 AM-5 PM. Please Note: Although pass holders receive preferential admission to club shows, admission/seating is not guaranteed. Venues are subject to capacity limitations based on Metro Nashville Fire Codes. Venues already filled to capacity or those requiring reservations may refuse admission. Fast Access Passes are designed to satisfy a show’s cover charge only. Pass holders are responsible for any required food/beverage minimum at the venue(s). Passes and tickets are not for resale, and NSAI reserves the right to not honor scalped tickets.

“ ” If you did NOT purchase a Fast Access Pass, no worries! You can still attend Tin Pan South shows each night by paying cash at the door (as long as there is space available in the venue). Festival attendees planning to purchase at the door are to take their place in the CASH LINE at each venue. That line will be admitted into the venue as space permits after Fast Access Pass holders are admitted. At-the-door admission cost varies based on each show. BRING CASH! Credit cards are not accepted.

Notes: Please arrive early. Lineups are subject to change. Some venues may require reservations or a per-person food/beverage minimum. Reservations are strongly suggested for shows at The Bluebird Cafe. Walk up seating may be available in the event of no-shows or cancellations. Please be sure to confirm the COVID Policy in place for each venue during Tin Pan Week.

“When designing this poster I wanted to focus on the songwriting aspect more so than music or Nashville.

I was inspired by the idea that songwriters across America are all a part of this festival, and that is what music is all about. Bringing people together and encouraging empathy.” Hartich adds, “Music and the city are a part of one another here so I also wanted to mix the two together and that drove most of the subject choices. But, lastly my main inspiration for my work was music itself. As a musician, music can be such a crazy, other-worldly thing and I tried to convey how expressive it can be in the poster although nothing beats the real thing!”

FESTIVAL PRODUCED BY The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) consists of a body of creative minds, including songwriters from all genres of music, professional and aspiring, who are committed to protecting the rights and future of the profession of songwriting, and to educate and celebrate the songwriter and to act as a unifying force within the music community and community at large.

@TINPANSOUTH | #TINPANSOUTH | TINPANSOUTH.COM

@TINPANSOUTH | #TINPANSOUTH | TINPANSOUTH.COM TIN PAN SOUTH 3

B O B BY BA R E KEB’ MO’ D I E R KS B E N T L E Y

INDUCTION CEREMONY Free event Tuesday, April 5 at 2:00pm Music City Walk of Fame Park V I S I T M U S I C C I T Y. C O M / W A L KO F FA M E

4 TIN PAN SOUTH

CONNIE SMITH

TICKET INFORMATION

Still in the groove since 1984 www.GraffitiIndoorAd.com

www.nashicon.com w w w.na shicon.com ww ww as @955NASHICON @955NAS A HICON AS

Fast Access Pass holders will take their places in the Fast Access Line at each venue on a first-come, first-served basis. With the exception of early shows at The Bluebird Cafe and every show at 3rd and Lindsley, admission will begin 30 minutes prior to show time.

Admission will begin 1 hour prior to the early show start time at The Bluebird Cafe and all 3rd and Lindsley Shows. Please be sure to confirm the COVID Policy in place for each venue during Tin Pan Week.

“Holding a seat” for someone who has not yet been admitted to the venue does not guarantee their admission and is not allowed. Fire code capacities are determined based on the number of people admitted through the door, not seat availability.

Passes and single-show tickets are not refundable or transferrable for any reason.

Notes: Please arrive early. Lineups are subject to change. Some venues may require reservations or a per-person food/beverage minimum. Reservations are strongly suggested for shows at The Bluebird Cafe.

If you purchased a Tin Pan South Fast Access Pass in advance, you may pick it up at NSAI (1710 Roy Acuff Place) MARCH 22-25: 10 AM-4 PM | MARCH 28-APRIL 1 8 AM-5 PM. Please Note: Although pass holders receive preferential admission to club shows, admission/seating is not guaranteed. Venues are subject to capacity limitations based on Metro Nashville Fire Codes. Venues already filled to capacity or those requiring reservations may refuse admission. Fast Access Passes are designed to satisfy a show’s cover charge only. Pass holders are responsible for any required food/beverage minimum at the venue(s). Passes and tickets are not for resale, and NSAI reserves the right to not honor scalped tickets.

“ Create, Connect and Share at CreateTN.com

I Film_Here in Tennessee

”

If you did NOT purchase a Fast Access Pass, no worries! You can still attend Tin Pan South shows each night by paying cash at the door (as long as there is space available in the venue). Festival attendees planning to purchase at the door are to take their place in the CASH LINE at each venue. That line will be admitted into the venue as space permits after Fast Access Pass holders are admitted. At-the-door admission cost varies based on each show. BRING CASH! Credit cards are not accepted.

Notes: Please arrive early. Lineups are subject to change. Some venues may require reservations or a per-person food/beverage minimum. Reservations are strongly suggested for shows at The Bluebird Cafe. Walk up seating may be available in the event of no-shows or cancellations. Please be sure to confirm the COVID Policy in place for each venue during Tin Pan Week.

Create_Here

TIN PAN SOUTH 5

PRESENTS AT

CARLY PEARCE

CHRIS TOMPKINS

JOSH KEAR

MATT STELL

3RD & LINDSLEY

818 THIRD AVE S, NASHVILLE

TUESDAY, MARCH 29 | 6PM

6 TIN PAN SOUTH

WHERE THE

WORLD’S MUSICIANS GET THEIR SHEET MUSIC

THANK YOU

Tin Pan South would like to thank the following businesses and people for contributing to this year’s festival:

95.5 NASH ICON & 103.3 Country Krista Hayes Rich Pharris Aloompa Sarah Comardelle Corey Grissom JD May

Watch our Song Spotlight series on YouTube

Nashville's

NeHitwMusic!

ALOOMPA Let us help you provide your attendees the absolute best live event experience possible.

ASCAP Haley Buske Mike Sistad

Maggiano’s Little Italy Michael Larson Kelsey Williams

Nashville Scene Maggie Bond Chelon Hasty Mary Louise Meadors News Channel 5 Lyn Plantinga

SESAC Shannan Hatch Lydia Schultz

Regions Bank Lee Blank Melanie Blank Jada Griffith Lisa Harless Yolanda Hollingsworth Katie Newell McNulty LeAnn Mock Brian O’Meara Brad Peterson

American Federation of Musicians Local 257 Dave Pomeroy

Songs For Sound John Hardaway (posthumously) Jaime Vernon

Belmont University Service Corps Gloria Anderson Georgia Price Eliza Baranowski Kayleigh Ragland Maddie Campbell Anabel Rossi Shannon Caron Lilly Marie Smith Victoria Edgar Ben Stafford Billy Farrell Matthew Wilson Jacob Mosier

Watkins College of Art & Design at Belmont University Cal Liggett Dan Brawner Jaylee Douglas Zoe Simpson Zackary Ford Shelby Wilson Claire Gurley Carelissa Young Charlie Hartrich Zantao Zhu

BMI Clay Bradley Mason Hunter Leslie Roberts Josh Tomlinson

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Maggie Banker Kayleigh Shoemaker Abi Tapia Tori Tarvin Taylor Wurth Eakin Partners Paige Hardison Kimberly Molteni JACK–FM, Mix 92.9FM and HOT 106.7 Marissa Mattozzi Lightning 100 Stephanie Lesher Tich McWilliams

Special Thanks Kari Barnhart Ty Bentli Chris Blair Anastacia Bowers Justin Branam Ron Brice Alysse Brunner Lance Carpenter Cheri Cranford Lindsay Glover Ward Guenther Carson Jolly Shelly LaBash Luke Lander Tracy McAndrew Jenny McClain

Al Moss Jim Myers Melissa Perez Gelt Catherine Rivera Alyssa Roberts Jenn Schott Jaime Scorby Mike Simon Bobby Smith Mary Lauren Teague Joshua Ulbrich Beth Wamsley Erika Wollam Nichols Amber Wilborn Shelby Yoder

Last but not least... A big shout out to all the amazing songwriters involved in this year’s festival. We appreciate your invaluable contribution and your support of NSAI’s misson, “to educate, elevate, and celebrate the songwriter.”

TIN PAN SOUTH 7

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try.” Callista Clark knows who she is and what she wants and as the only artist on Billboard’s 2021 “21 Under 21” list, the “That’s ‘Cause I Am” singer has a promising career ahead of her. Known for his catchy tunes as an artist such as “Friday Night,” Eric Paslay is also the songwriter behind Country radio hits including Jake Owen’s “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” and Eli Young Band’s “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.” After making it to the Top 5 on season 17 of American Idol, Laci Kaye Booth moved to Nashville to chase down her country music dreams and has had a buzz around her self-titled album that was released in 2021. Rounding out the group is Lauren Weintraub, who moved from Boston to Nashville in 2017 to attend Belmont University and a year later was the first-place winner of The Recording Academy’s Grammy U songwriting contest, later winning the “Top Shelf” designation as part of NPR’s Tiny Desk contest series for her song “If You Were Gonna Leave Anyway.”

9:00pm | $20 The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) Presents Kara DioGuardi, Ben Glover, Kay Hanley, special guests Callista Clark, Tuesday 6pm, City Winery

TUESDAY MARCH 29

Analog at Hutton Hotel 6:00pm | $15 Three Out Of Four Ain’t Bad Greg Bates, Charlie Berry, Adam Craig, Jeff Middleton

Receiving a CMA Song of the Year nomination for his song “Drowns The Whiskey” performed by Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert, which spent multiple weeks as No. 1 on country radio, Jeff Middleton has also had cuts with Lee Brice, Morgan Wallen, Jordan Davis, and Trace Adkins.

Born and raised in Nashville, Greg Bates has had his songs recorded by the likes of Chase Rice, Muscadine Bloodline, Josh Abbott Band, and William Michael Morgan. Known for his song “Just a Phase,” Adam Craig has also seen success from other artists cutting his songs including Jason Aldean, Parmalee, and Love and Theft. Following his run as trio Mockingbird Sun’s lead singer, Charlie Berry is pursuing a new path as a solo artist and songwriter releasing songs including “Whiskey Take It Easy” and “Everything But Love” in 2021.

9:00pm | $20 Marv Green, Emily Weisband, Jimmy Yeary, special guest

From catchy upbeat songs like Rascal Flatts’ “Why Wait” and Jake Owen’s “Anywhere With You” to heartfelt ballads like Lee Brice’s “I Drive Your Truck,” Jimmy Yeary will showcase his range of songwriting expertise alongside Marv Green, Emily Weisband, and a special guest.

Green has had hits recorded by “The King of Country Music,” Mr. George Strait (“True”) and Country queens Reba McEntire (“Consider Me Gone”) and Carrie Underwood (“Wasted”). With cuts in both the Country and Pop genres, Weisband has made a name for herself with songs like “Boy With Luv” (BTS with Halsey), “Consequences” (Camila Cabello), “Cool Anymore” (Jordan Davis and Julia Michaels), “Sinning With You” (Sam Hunt), and many, many more.

the bluebird cafe 6:00pm | $20 Billy Dean, Liz Hengber, Conner Sweet, Matt Wynn

Get ready for a lineup of some of Given Entertainment’s best. Hailing from Flint Hill, MO, population 600, Matt Wynn’s love of creative writing in school and music in church growing up set him on the path to Nashville, where he’s immersed himself in songwriting and performing, opening for artists such as Maren Morris, Sam Hunt, and Brothers Osborne. Conner Sweet is a Tennessee native who is busy playing shows around Nashville and putting out new music, including his single “Some Bar Somewhere.” Liz Hengber has won multiple ASCAP awards and penned songs for legends Reba McEntire, Ronnie Dunn, Vince Gill, Trace Adkins, Deana Carter, Conway Twitty, Andy Griggs, Trisha Yearwood, Lee Greenwood, and many more. Winning Best Male Vocalist on TV show Star Search launched Billy Dean’s career in the ‘80s, and throughout his 25+ year career the Grammy-nominated artist has released 11 albums and won CMA and ACM awards.

9:00pm | $20

Songs of the Daughters Nicolle Galyon, Madison Kozak, Lauren Watkins, Hailey Whitters

This lineup is all about the girl power. Songwriting queen Nicolle Galyon, whose extensive resume includes countless hits recorded by Dan + Shay (“Tequila”), Kelsea Ballerini (“homecoming queen?”), Miranda Lambert (“Automatic”) and more, will be accompanied by Songs & Daughters trailblazers Hailey Whitters, Madison Kozak and Lauren Watkins. No stranger to Nashville, as described in her song “Ten Year Town,” Whitters’ breakthrough album The Dream features her song “Happy People,” which was also cut

by Little Big Town. Up-and-coming artist and songwriter Kozak has opened shows for Willie Nelson and performed at CMA Fest and will be sure to tug at listeners’ heartstrings with her poignant song “First Last Name.” Nashville native Watkins has played honky tonks, the legendary Bluebird Cafe, and now will play her first year at Tin Pan South.

the lounge at city winery Stage sponsored by Aloompa 6:00pm | $20 Laci Kaye Booth, Callista Clark, Eric Paslay, Daniel Ross, Lauren Weintraub

Big Machine brings the big time with this stacked lineup. North Carolina native Daniel Ross got his start in music playing in and producing bands before eventually moving to Nashville after college and scoring some big songwriting credits including “Learn From It” (recorded by Conner Smith), “Love That” (recorded

by Seaforth) and Morgan Wallen’s “Had Me By Halftime” and “Somethin’ Coun-

Kara DioGuardi wears many hats in the music industry as a Grammy-nominated songwriter, who has had cuts with top artists including Christina Aguilera, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson and P!nk. She is also CEO and co-founder of Arthouse Publishing/Records and music platform Briidge, has been an American Idol judge and has received 23 BMI awards for most performed songs, including BMI’s 2007 Songwriter of the Year award. This big-hitting lineup continues with fivetime ASCAP Christian Songwriter of the Year, Grammy and Dove award-winning songwriter Ben Glover who has had 400 songs recorded by artists across multiple genres with over 40 songs that he’s written and produced becoming No. 1 hits.

Kay Hanley may be best known for her role as lead singer of Alternative Rock band Letters to Cleo, but she’s done a variety of work writing, composing, and producing music for TV animation as well. All three serve as songwriter representatives on the Board/Committees of the newly-formed Mechanical Licensing Collective and will be joined on stage by another of their colleagues.

cross-eyed critters watering hole 6:00pm | $15 Hannah Ellis, Chris Gelbuda, Kelsey Hart, Houston Phillips

It’s an evening of Curb|Word Music Publishing powerhouses at Cross-Eyed Critters. Kelsey Hart is an artist in his own right, while also writing for artists including Jake Owen, Trace Adkins and Dylan Scott. Recording artist and songwriter Hannah Ellis, who has performed on CMT’s “Next Women of Country Tour,” has written and been featured as a vocalist on songs recorded by artists including Russell Dickerson, Carly Pearce, Cassadee Pope, for KING & COUNTRY and more. With a long list of songwriting credits to his name, Chris Gelbuda

TIN PAN SOUTH 9

PRESENTS

SHOWCASE THURSDAY, MARCH 31ST AT 9PM

THE LISTENING ROOM 618 4TH AVE S, NASHVILLE, TN 37210

FEATURING

JIMMIE ALLEN

Rob Hatch

Jesse Lee

Jon Nite

10 TIN PAN SOUTH

From playing on Luke Bryan’s tour to performing at CMA Fest and the Grand Ole Opry, Craig Campbell has played his songs like “Outskirts of Heaven” on many stages and will be performing at the Elliston Place Soda Shop during Tin Pan South. Releasing his debut album One Life Ain’t Enough in early 2022, Styles Haury has also spent a lot of time on the road opening for country artists including Darius Rucker, Dwight Yoakam, Jake Owen and Brett Eldredge. Spending several years of his career as one half of duo Walker Maguire, Jordan Walker opened for top artists including Brooks & Dunn and Luke Bryan. Now following a new path, as a songwriter he has had achievements including a multi-platinum, No. 1 single with Luke Combs’ “When It Rains It Pours.” With songs cut by the likes of Jason Aldean, Brantley Gilbert, Chase Rice, Tyler Farr, Thompson Square, Lonestar and many more, Jeremy Bussey is a winner of the MusicRow Song of the Year award for Ashley McBryde’s “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” in 2019.

Levi Hummon, Tuesday 6pm, Hard Rock Cafe

9:00pm | $10 ‘Best Of’ Tin Pan South Songwriting Seminar A passion for songwriting unites the participants from around the world at NSAI’s Tin Pan South Songwriting Seminar.

Gather for this special round, featuring the “Best Of” songs from the two-day educational event. Each participant was given the opportunity to submit a song for consideration for this show. The top 12 favorites were selected by attendees, and they will be shared with you live on Tuesday night!

Shane Minor, Tuesday 9pm, The Listening Room Cafe

hard rock cafe Stage sponsored by Musicnotes 6:00pm | $15 Shelby Darrall, Levi Hummon, Jake Mitchell, Natalie Stovall

has had cuts with artists such as Meghan Trainor, Dustin Lynch, Larry Fleet, Lady A, Adam Doleac, Tenille Townes and the cast of hit TV show Nashville. Houston Phillips has worked in the music industry doing everything from selling merch to managing tours, but after making the decision to explore a career as a full-time songwriter, he’s scored cuts with a variety of country artists including Jason Aldean, Trace Adkins, Aaron Lewis, Dillon Carmichael, Walker Montgomery, Trent Tomlinson and more.

9:00pm | $10 The Small Towners Lucas Hoge, Shelby Lee Lowe, Triston Marez, Andrew Wills

The multi-faceted Lucas Hoge is an artist, songwriter and even hosts his own show Hoge Wild on the Sportsman Channel.

Joining Hoge, Tennessee native Shelby Lee Lowe will bring his strong voice and traditional country sound to the stage.

Working as a ranch hand and riding bulls in Texas, Triston Marez has grown up living the country life that inspires his music and sound heard in his song “Where the Neon Lies” with legendary Ronnie Dunn. Songwriter and producer Andrew Wills has had cuts with all three artists in the lineup, as well as with artists such as Stephanie Quayle and Jerrod Niemann.

elliston place soda shop 6:00pm | $15 The Grindstone Cowboys Jeremy Bussey, Craig Campbell, Styles Haury, Jordan Walker

Come check out this rockin’ group of songwriters at the Hard Rock Cafe. Recognized as a nominee for Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year at the 2021 MusicRow Awards, Jake Mitchell has made a name for himself writing songs including “One Beer” (HARDY ft. Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson), “Born Here Live Here Die Here” (Luke Bryan), “Sparrow” (Ashley McBryde) and “Talk To God” (Chrissy Metz). Raised in California’s Napa Valley, Shelby Darrall started her career performing in winery tasting rooms before moving to Nashville to pursue music, releasing her single in 2022 “Love Me When I’m Leavin’.” Growing up in country music and following in his father Marcus Hummon’s songwriting footsteps, Levi Hummon is pursuing his own path as an artist and songwriter with songs like “Bottled Up” and his collaboration with Walker Hayes “Paying For It.” No stranger to the Grand Ole Opry stage, fiddle phenom and Tennessee native Natalie Stovall has been named one of CMT’s “Next Women of Country.”

9:00pm | $20 95.5 NASH ICON Presents Jamie Floyd, Ty Herndon, Jake Hoot, Rachel Thibodeau

Two-time Grammy-nominated independent songwriter and recording artist Jamie Floyd has written music for film, television and theater and has had her songs recorded by the likes of Ingrid Andress (“Anything But Love”), Kesha (“Resentment” feat. Sturgill Simpson, Brian Wilson, and Wrabel), and Madi Diaz (“New Person, Old Place”). Jake Hoot won the hearts of America as season 17 Champion of NBC’s The Voice and has seen great success with his duet with Kelly Clarkson, “I Would’ve Loved You.” Honored with one of NSAI’s “Ten Songs I Wish I’d Written” for “Good Directions” recorded by Billy Currington, songwriter Rachel Thibodeau has also had songs recorded by Luke Bryan (“Buzzkill”), Martina McBride (“I’ll Still Be Me”) and Parmalee (“Think You Oughta Know That”).

the listening room cafe 6:00pm | $15 Universal Hits Round 1 Bexar, Caylee Hammack, Josh Melton, Dan Smalley

Growing up as the son of a preacher in Northwest Ohio, Josh Melton moved to Nashville to pursue his dreams as a songwriter and artist releasing songs like “I Get That With You” and “Cutting Grass.” Not only has Dan Smalley opened for country greats including Willie Nelson, Tim McGraw, and Dwight Yoakam, he’s also written songs for other artists including Ashley McBryde and Dillon Carmichael.

After meeting at a writing session during CMA Fest, Chris Ryan and Logan Turner came together as duo Bexar and are currently signed to Warner Music Nashville.

Receiving ACM Award nominations for New Female Artist of the Year and Music Event of the Year and a CMA Award nomination for Musical Event of the Year, Caylee Hammack has been spotlighted on many “Artist To Watch” lists including The Bobby Bones Show, Rolling Stone, and HITS Magazine. This will certainly be a “show to watch!”

9:00pm | $20 103.3 Country Presents Universal Hits Round 2 Chase McGill, Shane Minor, Caitlyn Smith, Brad Tursi

With ACM and Grammy nominations and an award for NSAI Song of the Year in 2019 for his song “Break Up In The End” recorded by Cole Swindell, CMA Triple Play Award recipient Chase McGill has had a plethora of cuts from major artists including Little Big Town (“We Went To The Beach”), Florida Georgia Line (“I Love My Country”) and Kane Brown (“Lose It”).

Having great success in the 2000s by penning songs recorded by Diamond Rio (“Beautiful Mess”) and Andy Griggs (“She Thinks She Needs Me”), Shane Minor had another big year recently scoring a No. 1 with Luke Combs’ “Cold As You.” Full of brilliant passion and creativity, Caitlyn Smith is not only an artist with a one-of-a-kind voice, but a talented songwriter as well, writing songs for the likes of Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, and Kenny Rogers as well as her own music including duet with Old Dominion “I Can’t.”

Smith has also seen success in Pop music with artists such as Miley Cyrus (“High”)

TIN PAN SOUTH 11

stage sponsored by

Aloompa Analog at Hutton Hotel 1808 West End Avenue (615) 712-2279 analognashville.com

Three Out Of Four Ain’t Bad Greg Bates, Charlie Berry, Adam Craig, Jeff Middleton $15

the bluebird cafe 4104 Hillsboro Pike (615) 383-1461 bluebirdcafe.com

The Lounge at City Winery 609 Lafayette Street (615) 324-1017 citywinery.com/nashville

Billy Dean, Liz Hengber, Conner Sweet, Matt Wynn $20

Laci Kaye Booth, Callista Clark, Eric Paslay, Daniel Ross, Lauren Weintraub $20

Songs Of The Daughters

The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) Presents

30th Anniversary

Cross-eyed critters watering hole 101 20th Avenue N (615) 551-2700 graduatehotels.com

2105 Elliston Place (615) 324-1017 ellistonplacesodashop.com

The Grindstone Cowboys

Hannah Ellis, Chris Gelbuda, Kelsey Hart, Houston Phillips $15

Jeremy Bussey, Craig Campbell, Styles Haury, Jordan Walker $15

The Small Towners

Best of Tin Pan South Songwriting Seminar

Marv Green, Emily Weisband, Jimmy Yeary, special guest $20

Nicolle Galyon, Madison Kozak, Lauren Watkins, Hailey Whitters $20

Jimi Bell, Zack Dyer, KK Johnson, Summer Overstreet $15

Johnny Gates, Sam Grow, Madeline Merlo, Josh Mirenda $15

Brinley Addington, Gable Bradley, Joey Hyde $15

Josh Dorr, Scott Stepakoff, Tigirlilly $15

Danny Myrick, Kylie Sackley, Mason Thornley $15

Andy Albert, Tofer Brown, Sarah Buxton, Kendell Marvel $20

Marc Beeson, Emily Falvey, Caroline Watkins $15

Kara DioGuardi, Ben Glover, Kay Hanley, special guests $20

Elliston place soda shop

Lucas Hoge, Shelby Lee Lowe, Triston Marez, Andrew Wills $15

$10

Gable Bradley & Friends

Southern Rounds Dave Kennedy, Ellis Melillo, Mel Washington, Yesterday’s Wine $15

Twisted Christmas All Year ‘Round Marc-Alan Barnette, Randy Brooks, Ronnie Brooks, Scott Southworth $10

Phil Barton, Cameron Bedell, Seth Ennis, Liz Rose $20

Chris August, Kat Higgins, Lance Miller, James T. Slater $15

Lightning 100 Presents Songs from the Fringe

Seth Alley, Johnny Dailey, Chase Martin, Paul Sikes $15

Taylor McCall, Sean McConnell, Ashley Ray, Brittney Spencer $15

Paul Adelstein, Peter Cincotti, Mark Hudson, Victoria Shaw $20

Gabrielle Mooney, Alex Smith, CJ Solar $15

No Show

Jerry Fuentes, Megan Linville, Hailey Steele, Bridgette Tatum $15

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Presents

Bill Anderson, Jim “Moose” Brown, Buddy Cannon, Jeannie Seely $20

Sheltered at the Analog

Acoustic Radio - Wire & Wood- Stories & Songs

No Show

Northern Lights

Eric Dodd, Makayla Lynn, Jason Tucker $15

Trey Lewis, Patrick Murphy, Nate Smith, special guest $10

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!(damental Human Rights) Victoria Banks, Emma-Lee, Karen Kosowski, Camille Parker $15

Good Times Don’t Care Smith Ahnquist, Jordan Gray, Lynn Hutton, Jenna Paulette $15

Pryor Baird, Josiah Siska, MaRynn Taylor $10

Real Music for Real People Tony Evans Jr, Ryan Kinder, Kalie Shorr, Fred Wilhelm $15

Jaron Boyer, Wil Nance, Jason Sever, Brian White $20

A Benefit for SONGS FOR SOUND

Songs with Endurance

Emily Hackett, Hadley Kennary, Lydia Luce, Kashena Sampson $10

Cameron Jaymes, Alex Kline, Jenna LaMaster, Melissa Peirce, Jason Saenz $15

Jordan Harvey, Matt Roy, Sean Stemaly, Stephen Wilson Jr. $15

Joseph Patton, Jessica Roadcap, Brett Sheroky, Dan Wilson $15

Rx Songs & Friends Michael August, Steve Dorff, HAVEN, Zach Top, Landon Wall $15

Jason Duke, Jason Massey, Matt Rogers, Keesy Timmer $15

Kelly Archer, Mark Irwin, Jenn Schott $15

Autumn McEntire, Sarah Allison Turner, special guests $10

Emma Brooke, Clara Calaway, Marcus Hummon, special guests $15

Cecilia Castleman, Jeff Cohen, Lera Lynn, Jeff Trott $15

Melissa Fuller, Bre Kennedy, Jordyn Shellhart, Alana Springsteen $15

Austin Jenckes, Justin Klump, Quinn Loggins, Tori Tullier $15

$10

88 Keys & 18 Strings Carter Faith, Graham Scott Fleming, Harper Grae, special guest $10

Americana Music Association Graduate Hotel Graffiti Indoor Advertising Hutton Hotel Maggiano’s Little Italy Music Row Nashville Scene Visit music city

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Universal Hits Round 1 Universal Hits Round 1 Levi Hummon, Shelby Shelby Darrall,Darrall, Levi Hummon, Jake Mitchell, Jake Mitchell, NatalieNatalie Stovall Stovall $15 $15

Hammack, Bexar, Bexar, Caylee Caylee Hammack, Josh Melton, Dan Smalley Josh Melton, Dan Smalley $15 $15

95.5 NASH ICONICON Presents 95.5 NASH Presents

103.3 103.3 Country Presents Country Presents Universal Hits Round 2 Universal Hits Round 2

Jamie Ty Floyd, Ty Herndon, Jamie Floyd, Herndon, Jake Jake Hoot, Rachel Thibodeau Hoot, Rachel Thibodeau $20 $20

Chase McGill, Chase McGill, Shane Shane Minor,Minor, Brad Tursi CaitlynCaitlyn Smith, Smith, Brad Tursi $20 $20

MusicMusic from the Round Hill Hill from the Round Rocky Block, John Byron, Rocky Block, John Byron, Ashley Ashley Cooke, Cooke, Jordan Jordan Dozzi, Dozzi, GriffenGriffen PalmerPalmer $15 $15

Kevin Griffin, Zac Maloy, Kevin Griffin, Zac Maloy, Robbins, Adam Sanders Jimmy Jimmy Robbins, Adam Sanders $15 $15

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the Station the Station Inn Inn

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Brent Anderson, Brent Anderson, BarrettBarrett Baber, Baber, Claire Jeb Ernst, Jeb Gipson, Claire Ernst, Gipson, Jaden Michaels Jaden Michaels $15 $15

JoshCarly Kear,Pearce, Carly Pearce, Josh Kear, MattChris Stell, Tompkins Chris Tompkins Matt Stell, $20 $20

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Brian Bunn, Kyle Jacobs, Brian Bunn, Kyle Jacobs, Matt Matt Adam Wood Warren,Warren, Adam Wood $15 $15

818 3rd 818Avenue 3rd Avenue S S (615) 259-9891 (615) 259-9891 3rdandlindsley.com 3rdandlindsley.com

ASCAP Presents ASCAP Presents

BarryBarry Dean,Dean, Luke Laird, Lori Lori Luke Laird, McKenna and CN McKenna andFriends CN Friends $20

$20

In theIn Round the Round Marla Cannon-Goodman, Marla Cannon-Goodman, RebeccaRebecca Lynn Howard, Josh Martin, Lynn Howard, Josh Martin, special special guest guest $15 $15

Cary Barlowe, Ben Chapman, Cary Barlowe, Ben Chapman, Chris Chris LaCorte, Lindsey, Meg McRee LaCorte, HillaryHillary Lindsey, Meg McRee $20 $20

Payin’Payin’ Dues Dues

BMI Presents BMI Presents

LaurenLauren Mascitti & Friends Mascitti & Friends

SongsSongs Meet Symphony Meet Symphony

Mark Narmore, Mark Narmore, RussellRussell Sutton,Sutton, Adam Wheeler, ScottWhite Sean White Adam Wheeler, Scott Sean $15 $15

Troy Cartwright, Billy Montana, Troy Cartwright, Billy Montana, Montana, Wynn Varble Randy Randy Montana, Wynn Varble $15 $15

Linda Davis, Mascitti, Linda Davis, LaurenLauren Mascitti, Lang Lang Scott, Bill Whyte Scott, Bill Whyte $15 $15

Lee Thomas Wendell Lee Thomas Miller,Miller, Wendell Mobley,Mobley, special special guest guest $20 $20

Countrywide Country Countrywide Country

All WeAllDoWeIs Do WinIs Win

OGs OGs

Angie K, Paulina Angie K, Paulina Jayne, Jayne, Montgomery, WalkerWalker Montgomery, special special guest guest $15 $15

Chris DeStefano, Emily Shackelton, Chris DeStefano, Emily Shackelton, Eric Van Houten Eric Van Houten $15 $15

Clint Daniels, Jamie Paulin, Clint Daniels, Jamie Paulin, Anthony Jon Stone Anthony Smith, Smith, Jon Stone $15 $15

Hot 106.7 Hot Presents 106.7 Presents

SESAC Presents SESAC Presents

Jessie Decker, James Decker, Dave Pittenger, Jessie James Dave Pittenger, Shane Shane StevensStevens $20 $20

Allen, Rob Hatch, JimmieJimmie Allen, Rob Hatch, Jesse Jesse Lee, Jon Nite Lee, Jon Nite $20 $20

Lyrics,Lyrics, Melodies, Harmonies Melodies, Harmonies & Hits& Hits

SongsSongs to GettoYou Found GetLost You&Lost & Found Alissa Griffith, John, Casey Alissa Griffith, Kurtis Kurtis John, Casey LeVasseur, Alissa Moreno LeVasseur, Alissa Moreno $10 $10

James Barker, Clawson, James Barker, RodneyRodney Clawson, Erin Kinsey, Erin Kinsey, Jordan Jordan Minton,Minton, special special guest guest $15 $15

Steve Bogard, Jesse Labelle, Steve Bogard, Jesse Labelle, Runaway AndrewAndrew Peebles,Peebles, Runaway June June $15 $15

Tom Gregory, David Hodges, Tom Gregory, David Hodges, Joe Kirkland, Sebastian Joe Kirkland, Sebastian Kole Kole $20 $20

Good Good Vibez Vibez Corey Crowder, Chris Loocke, Corey Crowder, Chris Loocke, RaeLynn, Redferrin RaeLynn, Redferrin $20 $20

Adrienne Keith Follese, Jay Adrienne Follese,Follese, Keith Follese, Jay Knowles, Anna McElroy Knowles, Anna McElroy $15 $15

Ben Burgess, Chapman, Ben Burgess, NathanNathan Chapman, NatalieNatalie Kevin Kadish, Hemby,Hemby, Kevin Kadish, Jeffrey Jeffrey Steele Steele $20 $20

Jutz, Miller, Milan Miller, ThommThomm Jutz, Milan Tim Tim Stafford, Stafford, special special guest guest $15 $15

Mix 92.9 MixPresents 92.9 Presents Madison HouseHouse Party Party Madison

Country & Bluegrass Hits Hits Country & Bluegrass

Kris Nick Allen,Fradiani, Nick Fradiani, Kris Allen, Trent Trent Harmon, Harmon, MaddieMaddie Poppe Poppe $20 $20

Timothy Irene Kelley, Timothy Baker, Baker, Irene Kelley, Steve Leslie, Steve Leslie, special special guest guest $15 $15

96.3 JACK FM Presents 96.3 JACK FM Presents Rockin’ Da Country!

Rockin’ Da Country!

Marti Frederiksen, AndrewAndrew Farriss,Farriss, Marti Frederiksen, JamesHicks, Dean Hicks, Buck Johnson James Dean Buck Johnson $15 $15

Wyatt McCubbin, Ashley Ashley Gorley,Gorley, Wyatt McCubbin, HunterHunter Phelps,Phelps, special special guest guest $20 $20

Bob DiPiero, JT Harding, Bob DiPiero, JT Harding, Kelley Kelley Lovelace, Tim Nichols Lovelace, Tim Nichols $20 $20

RoundRound & Round She Goes & Round She Goes

Lammonds, PhillipPhillip Lammonds, LaurenLauren Lucas, Lucas, David Tolliver, The Wildcards David Tolliver, The Wildcards $15 $15

Brad Clawson, Ben Johnson, Brad Clawson, Ben Johnson, Phillips, Taylor Taylor Phillips, special special guest guest $15 $15

Kim Ethridge, Daniel Daniel Kim Ethridge, TammyTammy Rogers,Rogers, Wheeler, Eli Wheeler BrennaBrenna Wheeler, Eli Wheeler $15 $15

Wyatt Easterling, Wyatt Easterling, Robby Robby Hecht, Hecht, Paul Paul Jefferson, Stephanie Lambring Jefferson, Stephanie Lambring $10 $10

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Congratulations Congratulations to the to winners the winners of the of 22nd the 22nd Annual Annual NSAINSAI Song Song Contest Contest presented presented

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by The Bluebird Bluebird CafeCafe and and CMT! CMT! WithWith her entry her entry “Tabs “Tabs On You,” On You,” Tarrah Tarrah Walston Walston of Nashville, of Nashville, TN took TN took home home the Grand the Grand Prize, Prize, earning earning $5,000 $5,000 cash,cash, a mentor a mentor session session withwith 20192019 ACMACM ‘Songwriter ‘Songwriter of the of Decade’ the Decade’ Rhett Rhett Akins, Akins, a one-year a one-year single-song single-song contract contract withwith Anthem Anthem Entertainment, Entertainment, a CMT a CMT prizeprize pack, pack, and and more! more!

James James Maltese Maltese of Princeton, of Princeton, NJ was NJ was deemed deemed the Lyric-Only the Lyric-Only category category winner winner withwith his entry his entry “Ferris “Ferris Wheels,” Wheels,” winning winning $2,000 $2,000 cash,cash, a mentor a mentor session session withwith mega-hit mega-hit songwriter songwriter Ali Tamposi, Ali Tamposi, an NSAI an NSAI prizeprize packpack including including a tripa to tripNashville, to Nashville, TN, and TN, and more! more!

StayStay tuned tuned for details for details on the on 23rd the 23rd annual annual NSAINSAI Song Song Contest, Contest, set to setlaunch to launch October October 1, 2022!

1, 2022!

Info:Info: www.nsaisongcontest.com www.nsaisongcontest.com @TINPANSOUTH @TINPANSOUTH | #TINPANSOUTH | #TINPANSOUTH | TINPANSOUTH.COM | TINPANSOUTH.COM

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Big Town) and “Humble and Kind” (Tim McGraw). Dean, Laird, and McKenna will be joined by the rest of Creative Nation’s roster, which will be sure to thrill.

Summer Overstreet, Wednesday 6pm, Analog at Hutton Hotel

WEDNESDAY MARCH 30

Analog at Hutton Hotel 6:00pm | $15 Jimi Bell, Zack Dyer, KK Johnson, Summer Overstreet

and Meghan Trainor and John Legend (“Like I’m Gonna Lose You”). You may know Brad Tursi as one fifth of the band Old Dominion, and while he’s written a plethora of songs for the group, he’s also had cuts with other artists including Keith Urban, Luke Bryan and Kenny Chesney, to name a few.

the station inn Stage sponsored by Tennessee Entertainment Commission 6:00pm | $15 Brent Anderson, Barrett Baber, Claire Ernst, Jeb Gipson, Jaden Michaels

This lineup features a variety of songwriters that is sure to have something for everyone. Competing as a finalist on season nine of NBC’s The Voice, Barrett Baber has since had his songs released by artists such as Cody Johnson’s “Nothin’ on You” and “God Bless the Boy (Cori’s Song).” As a Belmont University student in 2020, Claire Ernst started her songwriting career off strong when she was selected as one of three to help Grammy-winning artist H.E.R. write the song “Life’s Good.” Adding her own flair to the lineup, Jaden Michaels has found success having her songs recorded by glee’s Lea Michele and Naya Rivera, as well as artists JoJo and Carly Rae Jepsen, to name a few. Brent Anderson will entertain the audience with songs made famous by some country music mainstays including Brad Paisley and Dustin Lynch, in addition to his No. 1 “Lonely Tonight” written with Ryan Hurd and recorded by Blake Shelton and Ashley Monroe. Completing the round is Georgia native Jeb Gipson, who is no stranger to performing, as he’s been on tour with artists including Morgan Wallen, HARDY and Riley Green.

14 TIN PAN SOUTH

9:00pm | $15 Brian Bunn, Kyle Jacobs, Matt Warren, Adam Wood

Multi-talented, Grammy-nominated songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Brian Bunn was a musician for artists such as Thomas Rhett and David Crowder before following a new path as a full-time songwriter, having his songs recorded by artists Parmalee, Lee Brice, Dylan Scott, Kellie Pickler and more. This round includes Kyle Jacobs who has had numerous cuts with Lee Brice, a Top 10 AC single with American Idol alum Kimberly Locke’s “8th World Wonder” and Garth Brooks’ history-making single, “More Than A Memory,” which became the first song to debut on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart at No. 1. Nashville native and ASCAP award-winning songwriter Matt Warren is known for his multiple Gary Allan cuts including “Learning How To Bend” and “Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain).” Adam Wood sings, writes, produces and plays, working on music for a variety of artists and has had songwriting credits with artists including Trace Adkins, Lee Brice, Smithfield, Delta Rae and William Michael Morgan.

3rd & lindsley Stage sponsored by Visit Music City 6:00pm | $20 ASCAP Presents Josh Kear, Carly Pearce, Matt Stell, Chris Tompkins

This round is full of some of ASCAP’s finest! ACM and CMA Award winning artist and songwriter Carly Pearce is a Grand Ole Opry member whose career is skyrocketing with songs such as “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” “Never Wanted To Be That Girl,” “Next Girl” and “Every Little Thing.” With songs recorded by top artists including Lady A (“Need You Now”), Carrie Underwood (“Before He Cheats”

and “Blown Away”), Luke Bryan (“Most People Are Good”) and Dierks Bentley (“Woman, Amen”), four-time Grammy winner Josh Kear is one you don’t want to miss. Originally from Muscle Shoals, AL, Grammy-award-winning songwriter Chris Tompkins has penned hit after hit with cuts by artists including Carrie Underwood (“Before He Cheats,” “Blown Away”), Jason Aldean (“Burnin’ It Down”), Luke Bryan (“Drunk On You”) and Florida Georgia Line (“Dirt,” “Anything Goes”) to name a few. Completing this lineup is RIAA Platinum-certified artist Matt Stell, who is an NSAI ‘10 Songs I Wish I’d Written’ award winner for his debut single “I Prayed For You.” 9:00pm | $20 Barry Dean, Luke Laird, Lori McKenna and CN friends

Come hang with the Creative Nation crew! Best known for his No.1 hits including Little Big Town’s “Pontoon” and “Day Drinkin’,” Brothers Osborne’s “Slow Your Roll” and Jon Pardi’s “Heartache Medication,” Barry Dean has also seen success in the Pop world with the Ingrid Michaelson staple “Girls Chase Boys.” Luke Laird is a “jack of all trades” with great success as both a songwriter and producer. With 24 No. 1s, two Grammys, and Songwriter of the Year awards from both BMI and ACM, the highly acclaimed Laird has had cuts with a multitude of major artists including Eric Church (“Talladega”), Kenny Chesney (“American Kids”), Kacey Musgraves (“Space Cowboy”), Sam Hunt (“Hard To Forget”) and many, many more. With a career as both a solo artist and a songwriter, Lori McKenna is one of the most respected songwriters in the industry. Being the first woman in history to win a CMA Award for Song of the Year two years in a row and the first female to take home the ACM Songwriter of the Year award, she also won back-to-back Grammys for Best Country Song for “Girl Crush” (Little

Get ready for this Warner Chappell Music lineup. From Hawkinsville, GA, Jimi Bell has had his songs recorded by artists including Jon Pardi, Charlie Worsham and Brantley Gilbert. Songwriter Zack Dyer has had songs recorded by Tim McGraw, Matt Stell and RaeLynn and has played for children in hospitals across the U.S. with the brand Love Your Melon. Mississippi native artist and songwriter KK Johnson is one third of sibling trio Track45, who was named one of Amazon Music’s Artists to Watch in 2021. Coming from a musical family, Summer Overstreet has songwriting in her blood, releasing her own music while also writing songs for other artists including “Delight” and “Be A Bro” for Avenue Beat.

9:00pm | $15 Southern Rounds Dave Kennedy, Ellis Melillo, Mel Washington, Yesterday’s Wine (Wyatt Durrette and Levi Lowrey)

A true storyteller, Dave Kennedy co- hosts and performs on a bi-weekly virtual songwriters round called “Southern Rounds.”

Yesterday’s Wine is a duo made up of Wyatt Durrette and Levi Lowrey. Grammy-nominated songwriter Wyatt Durrette has received two CMA Triple Play Awards in addition to CMA and SESAC Song of the Year Awards for his massive hits with Luke Combs (“Beautiful Crazy” and “Even Though I’m Leaving”) and loads of No. 1 songs with Zac Brown Band including “Chicken Fried,” “Toes,” “Whatever It Is” and “Highway 20 Ride” among others.

Great-great-grandson of legendary fiddle player Gid Tanner, Levi Lowrey is signed to Zac Brown’s record label Southern Ground and has also been a part of Zac Brown Band’s success, writing “Colder Weather” and “The Wind” with Durrette. Combining her classical training with rock music, Ellis Melillo’s singles include “Sleeping with a Scorpion” and “No Good.” South Carolina native Mel Washington’s most recent singles “Long Way” and “Been To Myself” were released in 2021, and he and lineup-mate Durette came together in 2020 to release the moving song “Love Wins.”

the bluebird cafe 6:00pm | $15 Johnny Gates, Sam Grow, Madeline Merlo, Josh Mirenda

Get ready for this awesome lineup at The Bluebird Cafe. Before appearing as a contestant on season 12 of The Voice, singer-songwriter Johnny Gates was a member of the band Runaway Saints and

has since launched his own record label East Music Row and released his most recent album Reckless. With his first studio album Love and Whiskey making it to the No. 1 spot on the iTunes’ Country Albums chart, Average Joes Entertainment artist Sam Grow made his Grand Ole Opry debut last November. While it is exciting for any songwriter to have their first cut with an artist, Vancouver-native Madeline Merlo had the experience of a lifetime, when she won NBC’s Songland and had her song “Champagne Night” become a No. 1 with Lady A. Receiving the ASCAP Song of the Year for cowriting “Somewhere On A Beach” (Dierks Bentley), songwriter and artist Josh Mirenda has had songs “They Don’t Know” and “Girl Like You” recorded by Jason Aldean and as an artist has opened for Chris Young, Dylan Scott and Morgan Wallen.

9:00pm | $15 Danny Myrick, Kylie Sackley, Mason Thornley

Achieving his first No. 1 Gospel cut as a writer at the age of 17, Danny Myrick went on to find his place on the country charts writing Craig Morgan’s “International Harvester,” Tim McGraw’s “Truck Yeah,” Jason Aldean’s “She’s Country” and LOCASH’s “I Love This Life.” Myrick will be joined by Australian songwriter Kylie Sackley, who like Keith Urban, won Star Maker, Australia’s top country talent search TV show and has made her mark as a writer in Nashville with Walker Hayes’ hit “You Broke Up With Me” and Sam Hunt’s “Speakers.” They will be joined by relative new-comer and South Carolina native Mason Thornley.

the lounge at city winery Stage sponsored by Aloompa 6:00pm | $15 Gable Bradley & Friends Brinley Addington, Gable Bradley, Joey Hyde

genres with notable cuts including “Night Shift” (Jon Pardi), “Wine, Beer, Whiskey” (Little Big Town), “Strangers” (Maddie & Tae) and “Better With You” (Jason Mraz).

An artist and songwriter filled with creativity, passion and depth, Sarah Buxton has released her own music, as well as had all sorts of artists record her songs, from “Stupid Boy” (Keith Urban) to “Fix” (Chris Lane) to “Like the Water” (Patrick Droney).

Kendell Marvel has made a name for himself in Nashville as both an artist and songwriter having his songs cut by major artists including George Strait (“Twang”), Jake Owen (“Don’t Think I Can’t Love You”) and Chris Stapleton (“Either Way”) to name a few.

cross-eyed critters watering hole 6:00pm | $15 Josh Dorr, Scott Stepakoff, Tigirlilly

SMACKsongs is bringing you some of its best with this round of songwriters.

Josh Dorr is best known for his songs “I Owe You A Beer” and “Girl Talk” as well as songs he’s written for other artists including Jordan Davis (“Lose You” and “Selfish”), Levi Hummon (“American Dream Girl”) and Noah Schnacky feat. Jimmie Allen (“Don’t You Wanna Know”). Scoring cuts from top artists like Walker Hayes (“Dollar Store”), Kelsea Ballerini (“Looking At Stars”) and Kip Moore (“She’s Mine”), Scott Stepakoff has quite the lineup of songs in his catalog. Duo Tigirlily, made up of Krista and Kendra Slaubaugh, has opened for artists including Walker Hayes, LeAnn Rimes and Chris Janson and has seen big iTunes chart success with their song “Somebody Does.”

9:00pm | $15 Marc Beeson, Emily Falvey,

Caroline Watkins

Signed to multiple record deals and charting as an artist in the ‘90s, Marc Beeson has seen success as a songwriter with hits including Blake Shelton’s “She’s Got a Way with Words,” Billy Currington’s “We Are Tonight” and his No. 1 hit for Restless Heart “When She Cries,” which won ASCAP awards for Country and Pop Song of the Year. Along with her MacKenzie Porter cut “Seeing Other People” reaching No. 1 on the Canadian Country chart, rising songwriter Emily Falvey has had her songs recorded by artists Smithfield (“New Town”), Walker Hayes and Carly Pearce (“What If We Did”), Josh Kerr (“Same Team” and “Fall in Love”) and more. Joining Beeson and Falvey is Nashville native Caroline Watkins who has opened for the likes of Willie Nelson and Brett Eldredge, been named one of The Nashville Briefing’s “25 Songwriters You Need To Know” and was awarded the Miranda Lambert Women Creators Scholarship during her time at Belmont University.

elliston place soda shop 6:00pm | $15 Jordan Harvey, Matt Roy, Sean Stemaly, Stephen Wilson Jr.

Originally from Edinburgh, Scotland, Jordan Harvey performed as a contestant on BBC One’s singing competition Let It Shine, eventually moving to Nashville where he joined the group King Calaway before becoming a solo artist at BMG. Earning his first No. 1 with Chris Janson’s “Done,” Matt Roy has had cuts with Kane Brown, Chris Young, Colt Ford and Adam Doleac. Western Kentucky-born and Southern Indiana-raised, Sean Stemaly is a country boy who has spent much of his time on a tractor, channeling his ex-

perience into his music; he was named a “2021 Pandora Country Artist to Watch.”

Completing this lineup is songwriter Stephen Wilson Jr. who has seen recent radio success with Caitlyn Smith and Old Dominion’s “I Can’t,” has had songs recorded by Tim McGraw, Trace Adkins and MacKenzie Porter and will be opening as an artist on Brothers Osborne’s upcoming U.K. tour dates.

9:00pm | $15 A Benefit for SONGS FOR SOUND Eric Dodd, Makayla Lynn, Jason Tucker

MV2 songwriter Eric Dodd first started gaining attention in his music career from when he was selected as a CMT Discovery Artist and has continued to grow his career, from opening for artists like Sam Hunt and Old Dominion to writing everything from love songs to the theme song for the series Wild Outdoors on the Sportsman’s Channel. Said to be the perfect mix between mainstream and traditional, Makayla Lynn’s songs “Unbroken Homes” and “I’m Over You” showcase her musical style. Spending seven years as a keyboardist on the road with Jason Tucker made the leap of faith to pursue a career as a solo artist, most recently releasing his single “God of the Breakthrough.” This show is a benefit for SONGS FOR SOUND, an organization that seeks to bridge the gap between “I think I have hearing loss” and provide quality hearing healthcare while increasing inclusion and opportunities for those with hearing loss and deafness.

hard rock cafe Stage sponsored by Musicnotes 6:00pm | $15 Rocky Block, John Byron, Ashley Cooke, Jordan Dozzi, Griffen Palmer

Opening for artists from Marty Stuart to Gavin DeGraw, Brinley Addington’s sound was formed by his upbringing of church hymns and traditional country music, which is seen in his Tyler Farr cut “I Should Go to Church Sometime.” Hot Springs, Arkansas, native Gable Bradley signed to Big Yellow Dog Music in 2021 and is enthusiastically working to release debut music. As a songwriter, Joey Hyde has writing credits on Jake Owen’s hit “Made For You” and “Later On” by The Swon Brothers, but he’s also making waves as an artist and opened for Ryan Hurd on his Platonic Tour.

9:00pm | $20 Andy Albert, Tofer Brown, Sarah Buxton, Kendell Marvel

If you’ve ever turned on country radio in your car, then you’ve definitely heard the work of these incredible songwriters. Originally a member of the band Bonaventure with Dan Smyers of Dan + Shay, Andy Albert has since had cuts as a songwriter with major artists including Blake Shelton (“She’s Got a Way with Words”), Granger Smith (“If the Boot Fits”) and a No. 1 with Dustin Lynch for “Good Girl.” Joining Albert will be Tofer Brown, who has written songs in a variety of

Tigirlilly, Wednesday 6pm, Cross-Eyed Critters Watering Hole

TIN PAN SOUTH 15

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16 TIN PAN SOUTH

Than Ezra’s Kevin Griffin. You’ll obviously recoginze the band’s “Good,” but Griffin has also written songs for artists such as Barenaked Ladies, James Blunt, Daniel Powter and Taylor Swift.

9:00pm | $15 BMI Presents Troy Cartwright, Billy Montana, Randy Montana, Wynn Varble

As the saying goes, like father, like son.

Be sure to catch Billy Montana—known for penning No. 1 hits for Lee Brice, Garth Brooks, Sara Evans, and Jo Dee Messina— on stage with his son and fellow songwriter Randy Montana. Following in the family tradition, Randy has co-written Luke Combs’ No. 1 hits “Beer Never Broke My Heart” and “Better Together” and was nominated for a 2020 CMA Award for “I Hope You’re Happy Now” performed by Lee Brice and Carly Pearce. The Montanas will be joined by Troy Cartwright, whose song “Love Like We Used To” was chosen as a “YouTube Country Spotlight” on Sirius XM’s The Highway. Wynn Varble, who has received nominations for Song of the Year at the CMA Awards for “Have You Forgotten?” (Darryl Worley) and “Waitin’ On A Woman” (Brad Paisley), as well as an ACM Award nomination for Easton Corbin’s “A Little More Country Than That” will round out the group of BMI powerhouses with his memorable hits.

Jimmy Robbins, Wednesday 6pm, The Listening Room Cafe With a wide array of artists like Australian rocker Sam Fischer (“Everybody’s Got Somebody”), Ashley Cooke (“Under”) and Nelly (“Grits & Glamour” feat. Kane Brown and ”High Horse” feat. BRELAND and Blanco Brown) recording his songs, you never know what you’ll get to hear from Rocky Block at this round. Growing up just outside of Nashville, John Byron began his career writing rap songs, eventually making a foray into country, where he signed a publishing deal with Big Loud and has secured cuts with Chris Lane (“Summer Job Money”), Morgan Wallen (“865”) and Sean Stemaly (“Hello, You Up”). Winning Belmont University’s prestigious Country Showcase in 2019, rising artist Ashley Cooke has since released her song with Jimmie Allen “Good Goodbye” and has seen much love on Sirius XM’s The Highway for her single “Never Til Now.” Australian Jordan Dozzi came to Nashville to play soccer in college, but an injury changed his path to become a full-time songwriter signing with Big Loud Publishing, where he’s had cuts with Seaforth and Jordan Davis (“Good Beer”), Chris Lane (“Stop Coming Over”) and Nelly (“Heartland”).

In 2020 Canadian Griffen Palmer won NBC’s Songland, having his song “Second Guessing” recorded by Florida Georgia Line in addition to cuts with Keith Urban (“Polaroid” and “Superman”) and “Crying Over You” recorded by The Band Camino and Chelsea Cutler.

9:00pm | $15 Payin’ Dues Mark Narmore, Russell Sutton, Adam Wheeler, Scott Sean White

Best known for co-writing Craig Morgan’s big radio hit “That’s What I Love About Sunday,” Mark Narmore has also had 10+ songs cut by Josh Turner and solely written Shenandoah’s “The Moon Over Georgia.” In addition to Narmore, this

round features Russell Sutton, co-writer of Elvie Shane’s “My Boy” and “Love, Cold Beer, Cheap Smoke” along with Adam Wheeler who has had songs recorded by Clay Walker (“A Few Questions”), Scotty McCreery (“Clear As Day”) and Lawson Bates and Olivia Collingsworth (“One + One”). During this evening’s show, learn the stories of Texas native Scott Sean White’s life through personal songs from his debut album Call It Even.

the listening room cafe 6:00pm | $15 Music From The Round Hill Kevin Griffin, Zac Maloy, Jimmy Robbins, Adam Sanders

Get ready for an evening of top-notch songs at The Listening Room Cafe with Zac Maloy, Jimmy Robbins, Adam Sanders, and Kevin Griffin. As a member of the band The Nixon known best for their song “Sister,” Zac Maloy toured around the world with bands including Radiohead and KISS, and has written songs including Carrie Underwood’s touching No. 1 single “Temporary Home” and Skillet’s No. 1 “American Noise.” As a Grammy and CMA Award-nominated songwriter, Jimmy Robbins has quite the catalog of No. 1 hits under his belt including songs “It Goes Like This” (Thomas Rhett), “We Were Us” (Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert), “Half of My Hometown” (Kelsea Ballerini and Kenny Chesney), “The Bones” (Maren Morris) and so many more. With his first cut being a song on Luke Bryan’s album, Adam Sanders laid a good foundation for his career and his since had No. 1 hits with Dustin Lynch (“Hell Of A Night”) and Cole Swindell (“Ain’t Worth The Whiskey”) while also releasing his own album What If I’m Right.

Rounding out this superb lineup is Better

the station inn Stage sponsored by Tennessee Entertainment Commission 6:00pm | $15 In The Round Marla Cannon-Goodman, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Josh Martin, special guest

Marla Cannon-Goodman saw her song “The Fool” (LeeAnn Womack) reach No.1 on the country charts while she was working as a nurse. Since that time, she has seen success with her highly popular songs “Ten Rounds with Jose Cuervo’’ (Tracy Byrd) and “Cleaning This Gun (Come On In Boy)” (Rodney Atkins) as well as recordings by artists including Blake Shelton, Eric Church, Kenny Chesney, George Strait and more. Kentucky-native Rebecca Lynn Howard made the move to Nashville as a teenager to kick start her career as a songwriter and artist and has had cuts with Trisha Yearwood (“I Don’t Paint Myself Into Corners”) and Runaway June (“Lipstick”) as well as her own “Forgive.”

Known as one of the writers behind Cole Swindell’s hit “Ain’t Worth the Whiskey,’’ Josh Martin’s career as an artist has garnered attention including the music video for his single “Cold Again” being featured as a Rolling Stone Country “Pick of the Week.” This lineup also includes an appearance from a surprise special guest!

9:00pm | $15 Lauren Mascitti & Friends Linda Davis, Lauren Mascitti, Lang Scott, Bill Whyte

Powerhouse music couple Linda Davis and Lang Scott have won Grammy awards including Top Christian Song for “Thy Will” and Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Love Remains with their daughters Rylee and Hillary Scott (of Lady A). The highly-decorated Davis has

also received a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Collaboration, a Billboard Award, a CMA Award and was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. Joining them will be 2020 American Idol alum Lauren Mascitti whose independently-released album God Made a Woman rose to No. 4 on the iTunes Country Albums chart within one day of her last appearance on the show. Penning the song “Safe Haven” on Love Remains (Hillary Scott & The Scott Family), Bill Whyte has also had songs recorded by Ray Stevens and Joe Nichols and has performed with Jeff Dunham, Larry the Cable Guy, Crystal Gayle and more.

3rd & lindsley Stage sponsored by Visit Music City 6:00pm | $20 Cary Barlowe, Ben Chapman, Chris LaCorte, Hillary Lindsey, Meg McRee

This lineup of Hang Your Hat Music songwriters is sure to have the audience singing along. Cary Barlowe’s first cut was by none other than Taylor Swift (“Untouchable”), and he hasn’t slowed down since with songs like “American Honey” (Lady A), “Where It’s At” (Dustin Lynch), “Sun Daze” (Florida Georgia Line), “Famous Friends” (Chris Young and Kane Brown) and nine No. 1 songs with Contemporary Christian Music artist TobyMac. In addition to having songs recorded by artists Drake White and Warren Zeiders, Ben Chapman has also co-written all 13 tracks on his upcoming album. Beginning his career touring with Christian artist Chris August and country artist Dustin Lynch, Chris LaCorte scored his first radio single with Sam Hunt’s “Breaking Up Was Easy In the 90’s.” Hang Your Hat Music’s founder and songwriter-extraordinaire Hillary Lindsey has 24 No. 1 songs in her repertoire recorded by everyone from Taylor Swift to Avicii. To name just a few of Lindsey’s accolades, she’s earned three CMA Triple Play Awards, NSAI “Ten Songs I Wish I Had Written” honors, CMA and ACM Awards, ASCAP Awards, Grammys for “Jesus Take The Wheel” (Carrie Underwood), “Girl Crush” (Little Big Town) and “I’ll Never Love Again” (from A Star Is Born) and nominations for Golden Globe and Academy Awards. They will be joined by relative new-comer Sugar Hill, GA, native Meg McRee who began her musical journey playing violin at age five, later teaching herself guitar, eventually moving to Nashville to attend Vanderbilt University and becoming a songwriter.

9:00pm | $20 Songs Meet Symphony Lee Thomas Miller, Wendell Mobley, special guest

A man of many talents, award-winning producer and songwriter Lee Thomas Miller has written seven No. 1 songs, served as President of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) for 5 years, and spent 15 years lobbying in Washington, D.C., for songwriters’ rights in the U.S. His song credits include Brothers Osborne’s “It Ain’t My Fault,” Jamey Johnson’s “In Color,” Trace Adkins’ “You’re Gonna Miss This” and many more. Sharing the stage with Lee Thomas Miller and a special guest is

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highly skilled songwriter Wendell Mobley, who has racked up hit after hit with Kenny Chesney (“There Goes My Life” and “How Forever Feels”), Randy Houser (“How Country Feels”) and Rascal Flatts (“Fast Cars and Freedom” and “Take Me There”). You will recognize these hits, but hear them in a whole new way with accompaniment from members of the Music City Symphony creating a sonically stunning event.

THURSDAY MARCH 31

Analog at Hutton Hotel 6:00pm | $10 Twisted Christmas All Year ‘Round Marc-Alan Barnette, Randy Brooks, Ronnie Brooks, Scott Southworth

Calling his music “in your face Country Soul,” Birmingham born songwriter Marc-Alan Barnette has been writing songs since the ‘70s and will be playing a round with fellow songwriters Randy Brooks, Ronnie Brooks and Scott Southworth. With his claim to songwriting fame being the popular Christmas song “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” Randy Brooks has received multiple awards and performed around the world for U.S. troops with the USO and will be joined for this performance by his brother Ronnie Brooks who is best known for his role as the “WEIS” in the Budweiser com-

mercials. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, singer-songwriter Scott Southworth has seen chart success in Europe and has had over 80 independent cuts.

9:00pm | $15 Chris August, Kat Higgins, Lance Miller, James T. Slater

Contemporary Christian Music artist and songwriter Chris August has won multiple Dove Awards and is best known for his songs “Starry Night” and “The Maker.” Joining August will be accomplished songwriter Kat Higgins whose “Knowing You” became Kenny Chesney’s 34th No. 1 song recently. With a variety of songs that show his range as a songwriter, Lance Miller’s credits include Jerrod Niemann’s party anthem “Drink to That All Night” and Thomas Rhett’s “Beer With Jesus.” Penning songs for artists from Carrie Underwood (“Forever Changed”) to Keith Urban (“God Whispered Your Name”) to Enrique Iglesias (“Only A Woman”), James T. Slater will “wow” audiences and take them to “Mexicoma” with his talent and stories.

the bluebird cafe 6:00pm | $20 Phil Barton, Cameron Bedell, Seth Ennis, Liz Rose

This lineup of Liz Rose Music songwriters is one that you don’t want to miss! Double platinum Australian songwriter Phil Barton’s first No. 1 hit “A Woman Like You” (Lee Brice) was just the beginning of his career, going on to receive the Music Row Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year

Award and one of NSAI’s “Ten Songs I Wish I’d Written” honors, while also having success with artists in Australia and Canada. Wichita, Kansas, native Cameron Bedell has quite the array of artist cuts with songs recorded by Australian duo Seaforth (“Breakups”), Lauren Alaina (“Change My Mind”) and multiple songs with rising star Tiera. Creating a buzz with his debut single “Woke Up in Nashville,” Seth Ennis has toured with Little Big Town who joined him on his single “Call Your Mama” and has also had 10 cuts with The Band CAMINO. As one of the most talented and respected songwriters in Nashville, Liz Rose has an extensive collection of songs to her name, writing countless songs with the legendary Taylor Swift (“All Too Well,” “You Belong With Me”), having cuts with artists including Little Big Town (“Girl Crush”), Miranda Lambert (“It All Comes Out in the Wash”) and Carrie Underwood (“Cry Pretty”) among many others, and winning awards from many organizations in the music industry including CMA, ACM, SESAC and BMI while also releasing her own music as an artist.

9:00pm | $15 Northern Lights Taylor McCall, Sean McConnell, Ashley Ray, Brittney Spencer

Receiving a guitar at age 7 during a monumental time in his life, South Carolina native Taylor McCall taught himself to play and after some time out in Montana, made his way back home to pursue music full time, putting out his most recent album Black Powder Soul. Releasing his first album at age 15, Sean McConnell has

had a strong career as an artist, while also writing for others including Tim McGraw, Christina Aguilera, Brad Paisley, Meatloaf and more, earning his first No. 1 charting single with Brett Young’s “Mercy.” Ashley Ray has opened for artists including Miranda Lambert and Eric Church, written on Little Big Town’s thought-provoking song “The Daughters” and released her personal album Pauline in 2020. Making a significant impact on the country genre with her authentic lyrics and “stop-youin-your-tracks” voice, Brittney Spencer has been named an “Artist to Watch” on lists from Pandora, Spotify, and PEOPLE and played as a member of supergroup The Highwomen, as well as opened for Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit and Brett Eldredge on tour.

the lounge at city winery Stage sponsored by Aloompa 6:00pm | $10 Lightning 100 Presents Songs From The Fringe Emily Hackett, Hadley Kennary, Lydia Luce, Kashena Sampson

Let’s hear it for the ladies in this lineup!

Named one of CMT’s Next Women of Country Class of 2019, Emily Hackett has a knack for storytelling, which is clearly shown in her song with Will Anderson (of Parachute) “Take My Hand (The Wedding Song).” Graduating from Berklee College of Music, Hadley Kennary took home 2nd place in the Telluride Troubadour competition at the Telluride

Celebrating 40 Years of supporting songs and songwriters!

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“Come On In.” Teaching himself to play guitar from YouTube videos growing up, Louisiana native Alex Smith’s music is a blend of country lyrics combined with Pop production. Influenced by both country and Southern Rock, CJ Solar combines the two to make his signature sound in his own music, while also channeling his experiences and inspiration into the songs he writes for other artists including No. 1 hits for Jameson Rodgers (“Some Girls”) and Morgan Wallen featuring Florida Georgia Line (“Up Down”).

elliston place soda shop 6:00pm | $10 Trey Lewis, Patrick Murphy, Nate Smith, special guest

Going viral with his song “D*cked Down In Dallas,” Trey Lewis began using TikTok to share his original music, recently releasing new singles “Hate This Town” and “Single Again” this year. Describing himself as “Rascal Flatts and Dan + Shay meet The Script and Andy Grammar,” Patrick Murphy has opened for artists including Kip Moore and Chris Janson and released his single “Yours and Mine” in 2020. Sony Music Nashville artist Nate Smith is making waves in Nashville with his soulful, captivating voice and heartfelt songs “Raised” and “I Don’t Wanna Go To Heaven.” Lewis, Murphy, and Smith will be joined by a special guest.

9:00pm | $15 Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!(damental Human Rights) Victoria Banks, Emma-Lee, Karen Kosowski, Camille Parker

Brittney Spencer, Thursday 9pm, The Bluebird Cafe Bluegrass Festival and recently released her EP Crooked Roots. A multi-instrumentalist, Lydia Luce grew up playing violin and drew from very personal experiences to create her most recent album Dark River. With her recent album Time Machine as a follow up to her debut album Wild Heart, be sure to check out the unique stylings of artist Kashena Sampson in this lineup.

9:00pm | $20 Paul Adelstein, Peter Cincotti, Mark Hudson, Victoria Shaw

Most people know Paul Adelstein for his roles on TV shows Prison Break, Private Practice and Scandal, but the actor channels his passion for music through his role in the band Doris. Dubbed “one of the most promising singer-pianists of the next generation,” Peter Cincotti is a highly talented musician who has played some of the world’s top venues and collaborated with a wide variety of artists from Andrea Bocelli to David Guetta.

Beginning his career as a member of the Hudson Brothers, producer and songwriter Mark Hudson has gone on to work with everyone from Ozzy Osbourne to Hanson to Aerosmith. Winning CMA and ACM Awards as well as 20 ASCAP and SESAC Awards and two Emmy Awards, Victoria Shaw is a decorated songwriter and producer and has had cuts by artists including Faith Hill, Eric Church, Olivia Newton-John and more.

cross-eyed critters watering hole 6:00pm | $15 Songs With Endurance Seth Alley, Johnny Dailey, Chase Martin, Paul Sikes

Growing up roughly 100 miles from Nashville in Sparta, TN, Seth Alley incorporates the hip-hop beats that he grew up listening to with country lyrics that tell a story. Johnny Dailey fell in love with country music in his cousin’s truck growing up, and pursued his love of music recently releasing his debut EP Dillashaw.

Referring to herself as a “Country R&B” artist, Chase Martin has showcased her range of style in her singles “Forever +1” and “Levi Denim.” Best known for his cuts with Jimmie Allen (“Make Me Want To”) and Matt Stell (“Everywhere But On”), Nashville native Paul Sikes rounds out this exciting lineup.

9:00pm | $15 Gabrielle Mooney, Alex Smith, CJ Solar

Gabrielle Mooney grew up traveling with her family’s band alongside brother Shay Mooney (of Dan + Shay) and is now seeing her music dreams come to life as a co-writer on Walker Hayes’ catchy hit “90’s Country” and releasing her own music including singles “Suga Suga” and

This lineup is jam-packed with talented women! Named Female Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year by the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) in 2010, Victoria Banks has had cuts by over 100 artists including Mickey Guyton; Banks is a co-writer of her powerful songs ``What Are You Gonna Tell Her?” and “Hold On.” Also a writer on Guyton’s “What Are You Gonna Tell Her?” and “Bridges,” Ross Ellis’ “Home To Me” and Brett Kissel’s “She Drives Me Crazy” and “Anthem,” Toronto-born Emma-Lee has seen success as both a songwriter and an artist with songs from her body of work securing major TV and film placements. A woman of many talents, Karen Kosowski not only wrote on Guyton’s Grammy-nominated album Remember Her Name, she also did mix work and was a producer on the project as well as on Guyton’s EP Bridges. She’s had No. 1 songs in Australia with artists Tim Hicks and Melanie Dyer, as well as immense success in Canada. Growing up listening to classic country, Camille Parker draws from the music of her youth and her upbringing in Durham as she is working on her debut EP. The inaugural member of Rissi Palmer’s “Color Me Country” Class of 2021’s remarkable voice shines bright on debut single “The Flame.”

hard rock cafe Stage sponsored by Musicnotes 6:00pm | $15 Countrywide Country

Angie K, Paulina Jayne, Walker Montgomery, special guest

Angie K got her start on The Voice and her bilingual song “Real Talk” led to her discovery as a SiriusXM “Highway Find” as well as being selected for the Country Music Association’s artist development program, KixStart. With a style she calls “Urban Country,” which can be heard in her single “Drove By,” Paulina Jayne is sponsored by the Ford Motor Company Fund and serves as an ambassador for the organization Miss Amazing, a nonprofit with a mission to empower women with disabilities. Following in his father John Michael Montgomery’s footsteps, Walker Montgomery is forging his own path in country music with songs like “She Don’t Know” and “Simple Town.” A special guest will be joining this Countrywide Country lineup.

9:00pm | $20 Hot 106.7 Presents Jesse James Decker, Dave Pittenger, Shane Stevens

In addition to her success in fashion and as a TV personality, Jessie James Decker’s second studio album Southern Girl City Lights debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and she stepped into a new era of music releasing her latest EP The Woman I’ve Become in 2021, which features single “Should Have Known Better.” After studying classical composition and jazz in Philadelphia and spending time in New York pursuing his music career, producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Dave Pittenger made his way to Nashville where he’s had artist cuts including smash hit “abcdefu” with highly praised GAYLE. Known for his viral song “Fancy Like” with Walker Hayes, Shane Stevens scored his first No. 1 with Lady A’s “American Honey” and has had success in the Pop world with artists including Ariana Grande (“Step On Up”) and Meghan Trainor (“Woman Up”).

the listening room cafe 6:00pm | $15 All We Do Is Win Chris DeStefano, Emily Shackelton, Eric Van Houten

Known as one of Nashville’s top songwriters, Chris DeStefano has accumulated a mass amount of No. 1 songs throughout his extensive career including “Nothin’ Like You” (Dan + Shay), “Don’t Ya” (Brett Eldredge), “That’s My Kind of Night” (Luke Bryan) and “Losing Sleep” (Chris Young) just to name a few. Joining DeStefano is winner of the BMI John Lennon Songwriting Competition at Berklee College Emily Shackelton, who’s had a buzzworthy career in Nashville penning songs for powerhouse artists including Lauren Alaina, Runaway June, Cassadee Pope, the Civil Wars’ Joy Williams, Reba McEntire, Jennifer Nettles, Sara Evans and Carly Pearce, with whom she wrote No. 1 single “Every Little Thing.” Touring with artists like Kelsea Ballerini, Old Dominion and Kip Moore, Eric Van Houten’s country/rock sound can be heard on his most recent album Dreamers, which includes single “Kiss Her.”

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9:00pm | $20 SESAC Presents Jimmie Allen, Rob Hatch, Jesse Lee, Jon Nite

Making history as the first black artist to launch a career with two No. 1 hits in a row with “Best Shot” and “Make Me Want To” from his debut album Mercury Lane, Jimmie Allen’s career has skyrocketed as he’s been voted CMA New Artist of the Year and ACM New Male Artist of the Year and most recently served as a co-host on this year’s ACM Awards. The success he’s seen over the past few years is only the start; the sky’s the limit for Jimmie Allen.

Having huge radio success with his cuts by artists Lee Brice (“I Don’t Dance”), Randy Houser (“Goodnight Kiss”) and Justin Moore (“If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away”), among others, songwriter Rob Hatch will have the audience at The Listening Room Cafe singing along to all of his hits during this round. There’s no denying that Jesse Lee has a way with words. Scoring her first No. 1 hit with Kelsea Ballerini’s “Peter Pan” and second with Brett Young’s “Like I Loved You,” she also penned Keith Urban’s heart-wrenching “That Could Still Be Us.” Grammy-nominated songwriter extraordinaire Jon Nite is the legend behind your favorite hits including “Living” (Dierks Bentley), “I Hope” (Gabby Barrett), “Break Up in the End” (Cole Swindell), “Beachin’” (Jake Owen) and so many more. This lineup is packed with some of SESAC’s finest!

the station inn Stage sponsored by Tennessee Entertainment Commission 6:00pm | $15 OGs Clint Daniels, Jamie Paulin, Anthony Smith, Jon Stone

Known best for his songs like “Brokenheartsville” (Joe Nichols), “Some Of It” (Eric Church) and “Roll with Me” (Montgomery Gentry), the crowd better be ready to sing along with Clint Daniels and this round of great songwriters. Washington native Jamie Paulin has been playing guitar since he was a kid and has since built a successful songwriting career with cuts from Michael Ray (“Her World or Mine”), Chris Janson (“Done”) and Tim McGraw (“How I’ll Always Be”). Anthony Smith brings massive hits from artists like Chris Young (“Tomorrow”), Lonestar (“What About Now”) and Clay Walker (“Watch This”) among others. Jon Stone is a songwriter and producer with credits on Rascal Flatts’ “Me and My Gang” and Lee Brice’s “A Woman Like You.” Come hear the stories behind the songs of this exciting lineup.

9:00pm | $15 Lyrics, Melodies, Harmonies & Hits Steve Bogard, Jesse Labelle, Andrew Peebles, Runaway June

With 10 No. 1 songs including King George Strait’s “Carried Away” and “Carrying Your Love with Me” as well as Rascal Flatts’ smash hit “Prayin’ For Daylight,” Steve Bogard has taken home 22 awards from ASCAP, BMI and SESAC, secured two Grammy nominations and is the current President of the NSAI Board of Directors. Keeping true to a classic country

lyric paired with a contemporary country sound, Jesse LaBelle has opened up for the likes of Garth Brooks, Eric Church, Keith Urban and many more and he’ll also be the only independent artist to perform at the Stagecoach festival this year. Winning the grand prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Andrew Peebles is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and has had cuts with artists including his song “Bible Verses” with Blake Shelton. Completing this round with their well-crafted lyrics and spirited harmonies, Runaway June is best known for their songs “Buy My Own Drinks,” “T-Shirt” and “Lipstick,” which were all co-written by member Jennifer Wayne.

3rd & lindsley Stage sponsored by Visit Music City 6:00pm | $15 Brad Clawson, Ben Johnson, Taylor Phillips, special guest

Tape Room Music is taking over the stage at this 3rd & Lindsley round. Son of legendary songwriter Rodney Clawson, Texas native Brad Clawson fell in love with songwriting during graduate school and has pursued his passion ever since writing songs including “Up Down” for Morgan Wallen feat. Florida Georgia Line and “Happy Does” for Kenny Chesney. As a member of sibling trio Track45, Ben Johnson and his sisters are pursuing a musical career as a group, but he has also built his own significant career as a songwriter with his first big cut being with Charlie Puth (“Patient”), his first No. 1 with Lee Brice (“One of Them Girls”) and his first Grammy nomination for Weezer’s “All My Favorite Songs.” Starting off as a tour merchandising manager, Taylor Phillips has made his way as a prolific songwriter, co-writing songs from Luke Combs’ “Hurricane” to Kane Brown’s “Good as You” and “Homesick,” he’s also had songs cut by artists including Granger Smith, Tyler Farr, Craig Campbell and more.

9:00pm | $20 Ashley Gorley, Wyatt McCubbin, Hunter Phelps, special guest

Get ready for the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time), A.K.A. Ashley Gorley. With over 300 songs recorded by major artists including Kelsea Ballerini, Bon Jovi, Dan + Shay and pretty much everyone else you can think of, Gorley has 50 No. 1 singles, has received just about every songwriting award under the sun multiple times and has most likely written one of your favorite songs. Gorley will be joined by Wyatt McCubbin, a singer-songwriter from southwestern Ohio who has opened for artists including the great Merle Haggard and Charlie Daniels and had his songs recorded by artists including Tracy Lawrence. With his slew of hit songs like “Thinking ‘Bout You (Dustin Lynch feat.

MacKenzie Porter), “Give Heaven Some Hell” (HARDY) and “Cold Beer Calling My Name” (Jameson Rodgers feat. Luke Combs), Hunter Phelps will round out this lineup that will include a special guest.

FRIDAY APRIL 1

Ben Johnson, Thursday 6pm, 3rd & Lindsley

Analog at Hutton Hotel 6:00pm | $15 Jerry Fuentes, Megan Linville, Hailey Steele, Bridgette Tatum

Texas native Jerry Fuentes started his career playing in guitar competitions and even penning the official “Go Spurs Go” theme song for the San Antonio Spurs before making his way up to New York and becoming part of the band The Last Bandoleros, who have opened for Sting and played the Grand Ole Opry. As a Nashville native and granddaughter of a songwriter, Megan Linville has always been surrounded by music. She’s seen success with her music video for song “This Old Town” on CMT and has been recognized as one of CMT’s artist discoveries. All before she was 15 years old, Hailey Steele shared stages with Willie Nelson and Loretta Lynn and has since competed on The Voice and had cuts with RaeLynn (“Boyfriend”), Gwen Sebastian (“Small Town Soul”) and Kalie Shorr (“Fight Like A Girl”). Bridgette Tatum is best known for her widely successful cut “She’s Country” with Jason Aldean; Tatum

has also written numerous songs for Gretchen Wilson and other artists as well as releasing her own music.

9:00pm | $15 Sheltered At The Analog Cameron Jaymes, Alex Kline, Jenna LaMaster, Melissa Peirce, Jason Saenz

Cameron Jaymes has built his career writing and producing songs in a variety of genres with artists including Rachel Platten, Callista Clark and Matt Wertz and has had songs featured on hit TV shows like Gilmore Girls, 13 Reasons Why and Jane The Virgin. Playing seven instruments and writing and producing No. 1 songs, Alex Kline recently made history for being the first woman to solely produce a Mediabase No. 1 Country hit with Tenille Arts’ “Somebody Like That.” Former PRCA Rodeo Cowgirl Jenna LaMaster moved to Nashville to pursue her dreams of being an artist and songwriter with her love of ‘90s country continuing to inspire her writing. This lineup also features Melissa Peirce who has had songs recorded

by Tyler Farr (“A Guy Walks Into a Bar”) and David Nail (“Red Light”) to name a

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few. As if having a cut with Little Big Town (“Stay All Night”) wasn’t cool enough, Jason Saenz has had his song “Grandpa’s Farm,” which was co-written with Brent Cobb and Adam Hood, recorded by multiple artists including Drake White, Frankie Ballard and David Nail.

Jeannie Seely, Friday 6pm, The Bluebird Cafe

California native Alissa Griffith secured her first publishing deal by age 17 and eventually made the move to Nashville when she turned 21 to chase her music dreams, releasing songs like “What I’ve Been Missin’” and “Somebody Else’s Somebody.” As a member of the band The Last Goodnight, Kurtis John saw success on music charts worldwide with songs like “Stay Beautiful” and “Pictures Of You” with their music being used in many huge ad campaigns.

After a successful run with the band, John has since moved to Nashville to focus on songwriting and production. Singer, songwriter, and actress Alissa Moreno has had a successful career from having her song “Every Day” recorded by Rascal Flatts to having cuts with Vince Gill and John Oates; she’s had her music featured in a plethora of commercials, film, and TV shows. They’ll be joined by their A&R/Artist Manager at 3 Ring Circus and songwriter in her own right, Casey LeVasseur.

the bluebird cafe 6:00pm | $20 The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Presents Bill Anderson & Friends Bill Anderson, Jim “Moose” Brown, Buddy Cannon, Jeannie Seely

Be sure to catch the Country Music Hall of Fame’s legendary lineup of “Bill Anderson & Friends” at The Bluebird Cafe. “Whispering Bill” Anderson is one of country’s most influential artists, which has earned him a spot as a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame along with many other awards and recognitions throughout his long, successful career. Anderson will be joined by musician, songwriter and producer Jim “Moose” Brown, who is a member of Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet Band and has written popular songs including Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffet’s “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere.” Buddy Cannon has seen success penning songs including “She’s Not Cryin’ Anymore” for Billy Ray Cyrus and “Give It Away” for George Strait and has also worked as a producer for artists including Kenny Chesney, Joe Nichols and more. From being Porter Waggoner’s duet partner to becoming a pivotal member of the Grand Ole Opry and its legacy, Jeannie Seely has had a momentous career as an artist, songwriter and has even written a book.

9:00pm | $20 Acoustic Radio – Wire & Wood – Stories & Songs Jaron Boyer, Wil Nance, Jason Sever, Brian White

Come listen to the musical stylings of songwriter and producer Jaron Boyer who has credits on radio hits including “Hell Of A Night” (Dustin Lynch), “Flatliner” (Cole Swindell feat. Dierks Bentley), “Girl Like You” (Jason Aldean) and “Somewhere On A Beach” (Dierks Bentley). Wil Nance scored his first No. 1 with George Strait’s “Round About Way” and penned heartfelt song “She’s Everything” with Brad Paisley among others. Best known for Dustin Lynch’s “Seein’ Red” and Luke Bryan’s “Buzzkill,” songwriter Jason Sever joins this lineup alongside Brian White, who has 14 No. 1 songs, two Dove awards and received many accolades for his Rodney Atkins hit “Watching You.”

the lounge at city winery Stage sponsored by Aloompa

NO SHOWS

cross-eyed critters watering hole 6:00pm | $15 Good Times Don’t Care Smith Ahnquist, Jordan Gray, Lynn

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6:00pm | $10 Songs To Get You Lost & Found Alissa Griffith, Kurtis John, Casey LeVasseur, Alissa Moreno

Hutton, Jenna Paulette

Danville, Kentucky, native Smith Ahnquist has had cuts with artists including Justin Moore, Scotty McCreery and Dustin Lynch in addition to sentimental Brad Paisley hit “Last Time for Everything,” Florida Georgia Line’s “Wish You Were On It” and HARDY’s “A ROCK.” Hailing from Lamar, South Carolina, Jordan Gray is pursuing his dreams releasing his first EP West of the Pines in 2015 that included his successful track “Stay the Night” and he continues to put out new music including singles like “2 Wrongs” and “Pressure.” Lynn Hutton has had cuts with everyone from Scott McCreery (“Water Tower Town”) to Florida Georgia Line (“Here’s To The Good Times”) and Eric Church (“Cold One”). You’ll get the chance to hear some of Hutton’s best during this round. Rising artist Jenna Paulette has been creating a buzz around Nashville; with songs like “Country In The Girl” and “Pretty Ugly,” she’s bringing her signature style to this lineup.

9:00pm | $15 Real Music For Real People Tony Evans, Jr, Ryan Kinder, Kalie Shorr, Fred Wilhelm

This show is all about “real music for real people.” Gaining a huge following on TikTok singing covers of well-known country songs, Tony Evans, Jr.’s strong and smooth voice has garnered lots of attention as he’s been releasing original music including a self-titled EP. Independent artist Ryan Kinder gained popularity through his release of songs “Close” and “Still Believe In Crazy Love” and released his two-part EP Room to Dream last year.

Known for speaking her mind through authentic lyrics and a spirited sound, Kalie Shorr’s music has received high praise from The New York Times and Variety.

Best known for her songs “Fight Like a Girl” and “Amy,” Shorr has been named as one of the “CMT Next Women of Country” and is a frequent performer on

the Grand Ole Opry. With songs recorded by everyone from Little Big Town to Faith Hill, Fred Wilhelm’s credits include “Criminal” (Lindsay Ell) and “Back to Life” (Rascal Flatts).

elliston place soda shop 6:00pm | $10 Pryor Baird, Josiah Siska, MaRynn Taylor

Come hang with this Black River Entertainment lineup! As one half of duo Pryor & Lee, Pryor Baird has continued to see his career in music grow since his time on NBC’s The Voice. Releasing songs “Honky Tonk” and “To Get a Girl” in 2021, Josiah Siska’s low, smooth voice embraces a traditional country sound that stops listeners in their tracks. With her sentimental song “Dads and Daughters” and her latest single, the catchy, upbeat “Every Single Summer,” come catch Rockford, Michigan, native MaRynn Taylor.

9:00pm | $15 Joseph Patton, Jessica Roadcap, Brett Sheroky, Dan Wilson

“Be At Rest” songwriter Joseph Patton will be joined by Jessica Roadcap who made her debut with album Dance In A Hurricane. Also in this lineup is Brett Sheroky whose career is building momentum and gaining attention with songs like “4 Goodyears,” “Good Thing Going” and his most recent release “Everybody Wants.” Black River Publishing songwriter Dan Wilson got into music when he taught himself to play the drums at age five, eventually falling in love with songwriting after learning a few chords on a hand-me-down guitar from his dad, and the rest is history.

hard rock cafe Stage sponsored by Musicnotes

9:00pm | $10 Round & Round She Goes Wyatt Easterling, Robby Hecht, Paul Jefferson, Stephanie Lambring

Wyatt Easterling has experienced many facets of the music industry moving to Nashville as a folk singer, working on the business side in A&R and publishing, later becoming a songwriter and eventually following the path of a touring singer-songwriter releasing albums Where This River Goes, Goodbye, Hello and Divining Rod. Modern folk musician Robby Hecht with his most recent release “Not a Number” will take the stage along with Paul Jefferson who has had cuts with Keith Urban, Aaron Tippin and Buddy Jewell. Stephanie Lambring, whose song “Joy of Jesus” was named NPR’s 100 Best Songs of 2020, will round out this lineup.

the listening room cafe 6:00pm | $15 James Barker, Rodney Clawson, Erin Kinsey, Jordan Minton, special guest

James Barker is the frontman of Canadian group James Barker Band and has seen No. 1 success on the Canadian charts with the band’s songs “Chills” and “Over All Over Again.” As one of Nashville’s top songwriters, Rodney Clawson is behind some of Jason Aldean’s greatest hits (“Why,” “Take A Little Ride” and “Burnin’ It Down”), Kenny Chesney’s “American Kids,” George Strait’s “I Saw God Today” and countless others. Texas native Erin Kinsey has been the talk of Nashville with her first single “Drunk Too” going viral on TikTok; she’s seen streaming popularity with songs “Just Drive” and “Hate This Hometown.” BOOM Music songwriter Jordan Minton is racking up credits with cuts by Keith Urban (“Steal My Thunder” and “Same Heart”), Dan + Shay (“What Keeps You Up At Night”), Abby Anderson (“GOOD LORD”) and Jake Owen’s newest chart-climber “Best Thing Since Backroads” as his career keeps getting hotter.

9:00pm | $20 Good Vibez

Tractors Are Green” and “Talk Country To Me” all co-written with members of the Follese family, Anna McElroy is keeping it country with her music.

3rd & lindsley Stage sponsored by Visit Music City 6:00pm | $20 Bob DiPiero, J.T. Harding, Kelley Lovelace, Tim Nichols

RaeLynn, Friday 9pm, The Listening Room Cafe Corey Crowder, Chris Loocke, RaeLynn, Redferrin

As a multi-platinum songwriter with a long list of No. 1 hits, Corey Crowder is one of the most talked about writers in Nashville penning some of Chris Young’s top songs including “I’m Comin’ Over,” “Think of You” (feat. Cassadee Pope), and “Famous Friends” (with Kane Brown), along with Florida Georgia Line’s “Can’t Say I Ain’t Country” and “I Love My Country;” he’ll keep the hits coming all night long. Chris Loocke is known for his impressive guitar skills, along with his songwriting and producing talents, as he’s written songs including “Undivided” recorded by Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley’s “Say The Word.” Come listen to hit after hit from crowd favorite RaeLynn, who is best known for jams like “Queens Don’t,” “Lonely Call,” “Love Triangle” and “God Made Girls.” With a unique style all his own, Blake Redferrin is equal parts songwriter—writing “Lil Bit” (Nelly and Florida Georgia Line) and “Countryside” (Florida Georgia Line)—while also pursing the path of an artist as simply Redferrin.

the station inn Stage sponsored by Tennessee Entertainment Commission 6:00pm | $15 Daniel Kim Ethridge, Tammy Rogers, Brenna Wheeler, Eli Wheeler

Daniel Kim Ethridge put out his debut American EP Drunk, High, and Happy in

2019 and has continued to release new music on his own and as part of group side projects in a variety of genres including Alt-Rock (Sadie Hawkins Project), Indie Rock/Americana (Myers Ethridge) and Bluegrass (Troubadour Blue). Growing up playing the mandolin and fiddle in Texas, Tammy Rogers went on to become a founding member of the highly praised Bluegrass band the SteelDrivers and co-founded and released three solo albums on Dead Reckoning Records. Siblings Brenna and Eli Wheeler make up two thirds of Troubadour Blue with Ethridge in which they all write and perform together.

9:00pm | $15 Adrienne Follese, Keith Follese, Jay Knowles, Anna McElroy

Come see husband and wife songwriting extraordinaries Keith and Adrienne Follese play their hits along with Jay Knowles and Anna McElroy. Keith Follese has written some of country music’s most memorable hits including “Something Like That” (Tim McGraw) and “The Way You Love Me” (Faith Hill) and has also written songs with his wife Adrienne like Emerson Drive’s “A Good Man” and “Put A Label On It,” which was written with their sons Jamie and Ryan Follese of band Hot Chelle Rae and recorded

by Ryan. Known for being a song filled with clever lyrics, Jack Ingram’s “Love You” is just one of Jay Knowles’ cuts as he has penned songs for legends including Alan Jackson (“So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore”) and George Strait (“She’ll Leave You With A Smile”). With song titles like “Water My Roots,” “Real

Scoring his first No. 1 hit in 1983, Bob DiPiero has had over 1,000 songs recorded by other artists with 15 of them making it to the top spot on the chart. With a great collection of awards and accolades, DiPiero was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and Nashville’s Walk of Fame in 2007. Some of his most famous cuts include Brooks & Dunn’s “You Can’t Take the Honky Tonk Out Of The Girl” and Montgomery Gentry’s “Gone.” Best known for Uncle Kracker’s “Smile,” Blake Shelton’s “Sangria” and Kenny Chesney’s “Somewhere With You,” songwriter JT Harding has also released music under the name JTX including song “Love In America” and recently published a book titled Party Like a Rockstar: The Crazy, Coincidental, HardLuck, and Harmonious Life of a Songwriter.

Kelley Lovelace has co-written a myriad of songs recorded by Brad Paisley including “The World” and “He Didn’t Have To Be” and many more of Paisley’s hits; Lovelace has also had a hand in penning classics like Carrie Underwood’s “All-American Girl” and Terri Clark’s “Girls Lie Too,” to name a few. Said to be the only song to win every major song award presented in the Country genre, Tim Nichols’ “Live Like You Were Dying” (Tim McGraw) has seen monumental success. The highly-awarded songwriter has had a hand in penning songs that have helped launch the careers of a number of artists including Jo Dee Messina with “Heads Carolina, Tails California” and Dustin Lynch’s “Cowboys and Angels.”

9:00pm | $20 Tom Gregory, David Hodges, Joe Kirkland, Sebastian Kole

This round is filled with today’s pop hits and the incredibly talented songwriters behind them. The number of songs in David Hodges’ catalog is absolutely remarkable, penning songs with some of the hottest artists across genres including Kelly Clarkson (“Because of You”), Ed Sheeran (“Afterglow”), Kelsea Ballerini (“Miss Me More”), Christina Perri (“A Thousand Years”), Avril Lavigne (“Here’s to Never Growing Up”) and Carrie Underwood (“See You Again”). The Voice alum Joe Kirkland has had his career skyrocket recently as he’s written top songs including “IDGAF” (Dua Lipa) and “Beautiful Mistakes” (Maroon 5 feat. Megan Thee Stallion). With Alessia Cara’s “Wild Things” and “Scars To Your Beautiful” to his credit, Sebastian Kole has been seeing his career as an artist and songwriter heat up as he puts out music that he describes as “SOUP”: Southern Urban Pop. British-born Tom Gregory has received attention and streaming popularity for his songs “Never Let Me Down,” “Fingertips” and “What Love Is.”

SATURDAY APRIL 2

Analog at Hutton Hotel 6:00pm | $15 Michael August, Steve Dorff, HAVEN, Zach Top, Landon Wall

With a No. 1 in the Netherlands and his music on multiple TV shows, Michael August has also co-written Erin Kinsey’s “Just Drive” and a No. 1 at Canadian Country radio with Aaron Goodvin’s “Boy Like Me.” Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018, Steve Dorff has also received Grammy and Emmy nominations and has written on songs recorded by the likes of Barbra Streisand, Kenny Rogers, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Anne Murray, George Strait, Garth Brooks and more. Up-and-coming artist HAVEN started touring at age 15 and has since been on the road with artists including Thomas Rhett and Lady A; her songs include titles “Swimming In Your Feelings” and “Why You Gotta Be Like That.” Washington native Zach Top released his first single “In A World Gone Wrong” and had a No. 1 Bluegrass hit as an artist with “Like I Ain’t No Thing.” Best known for his song “Lost Boy” as a response to Kelsea Ballerini’s hit “Peter Pan,” come check out Landon Wall and the rest of this fresh line up.

9:00pm | $15 Emma Brooke, Clara Calaway, Marcus Hummon, special guest

This round will provide the opportunity to learn some new music while also hearing tried and true favorites. Influenced by everyone from Dolly Parton to Britney Spears, Emma Brooke writes music filled with country storytelling and a pop leaning sound. As part of a trio with her dad and brother known as The Henningsens, Clara Calaway has penned songs for The Band Perry including “All Your Life” and “You Lie.” Songwriting legend Marcus Hummon’s accolades include a Grammy, BMI Awards and multiple ACM and CMA award nominations with a long list of songwriting credits including “Cowboy Take Me Away” and “Ready To Run” (The Chicks), “Born To Fly” (Sara Evans), “Bless The Broken Road” (Rascal Flatts) and many, many more.

the bluebird cafe 6:00pm | $15 Jason Duke, Jason Massey, Matt Rogers, Keesy Timmer

With the talent to write everything from upbeat, fun songs like Kelsea Ballerini’s “Dibs” to Keith Urban’s heart wrenching “That Could Still Be Us,” listeners will enjoy this round with Tennessee native Jason Duke. Sharing the stage with Duke is Jason Massey who co-produced Kelsea Ballerini’s first and second albums and has had songwriting credits with artists including Chris Bandi (“Man Enough Now”) with Duke. Matt Rogers has written some of country music’s recent hits including “The Long Way” (Brett Eldredge), “Freedom Was A Highway” (Jimmie Allen featuring Brad Paisley) and “’Til You

TIN PAN SOUTH 23

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Can’t” (Cody Johnson). Like Duke and Massey in this lineup, Keesy Timmer has also scored himself a Kelsea Ballerini cut with one of her first singles “Yeah Boy.” Be sure to come to this incredible show at The Bluebird Cafe to hear the stories behind some of these hit songs.

9:00pm | $15 Cecilia Castleman, Jeff Cohen, Lera Lynn, Jeff Trott

Big Yellow Dog’s Cecilia Castleman is a self-taught musician and will take the stage with Lera Lynn who, living up to her album’s name, wrote, sang, produced and recorded her album On My Own on her own! Jeff Cohen has countless song credits including “Crazy for This Girl” (Evan and Jaron), “Postcard From Paris” (The Band Perry), “Holy Water” (Big & Rich) and his songs have appeared on TV shows such as Dawson’s Creek, Party of Five and One Tree Hill. Jeff Trott has written with lots of top artists, but is best known for his numerous songs written with the incredible Sheryl Crow including “If It Makes You Happy,” “Everyday Is A Winding Road,” “My Favorite Mistake” and “Soak Up The Sun.”

the lounge at city winery Stage sponsored by Aloompa 6:00pm | $15 Kelly Archer, Mark Irwin, Jenn Schott

nashvillescene.com 24 TIN PAN SOUTH

Winning the Rising Independent Songwriter of the Year Award at the AIMP Nashville Awards in 2017, Kelly Archer’s

list of songs include “After A Few” (Travis Denning), “Sleep Without You” (Brett Young) and “Somebody Else Will” (Justin Moore). Come listen as the hits keep coming from Mark Irwin who is featured in the documentary Bluebird and is a writer behind songs like Blake Shelton’s “Neon Light,” Tyler Farr’s “Redneck Crazy” and the Tim McGraw, Keith Urban and Taylor Swift collaboration “Highway Don’t Care.” Jenn Schott had a hand in penning one of Billboard’s 10 Best Country Songs of 2015 “Better Than You Left Me” (Mickey Guyton), as well as Tim McGraw songs “Two Lanes of Freedom” and his current single “7500 OBO.” Catch this show for an evening of big hits.

9:00pm | $15 Melissa Fuller, Bre Kennedy, Jordyn Shellhart, Alana Springsteen

Moving from Wyoming to Nashville to pursue a career in music, Melissa Fuller has had cuts with LANCO (“So Long I Do”) and Rachel Reinert (“Cool”). Fuller will perform alongside Bre Kennedy, who has toured with Sheryl Crow, while also having cuts with the likes of pop artists Echosmith and GAYLE. Jordyn Shellhart has seen success with major artists including having songs “Secondhand Smoke” recorded by Kelsea Ballerini and “Sugar Coat” recorded by Little Big Town. Alana Springsteen has been predicted to be Nashville’s next big thing, coming off tours with LANY and Mitchell Tenpenny; her album History of Breaking Up (Part One) features popular single “Zero Trucks.”

cross-eyed critters watering hole 6:00pm | $10 Autumn McEntire, Sarah Allison Turner, special guests

Niece of Country Queen Reba, Autumn McEntire’s catalog includes “Radioland” (Ashley McBryde), “The Hamptons” (Walker County), “Better I Drink” (Matt Stell) and more. Sarah Allison Turner has shared stages with artists LeeAnn Womack and Cody Johnson, had her song “Hope” featured on hit TV show Grey’s Anatomy and secured cuts with artists including Alan Jackson, Gretchen Wilson and Tyler Farr, for whom she wrote hit “I Should Go to Church Sometime.” McEntire and Turner will be joined onstage with special guests.

9:00pm | $10 88 Keys & 18 Strings Austin Jenckes, Justin Klump, Quinn Loggins, Tori Tullier

88 keys and 18 strings sums up what this round will be playing as they take the stage at Cross-Eyed Critters. With a voice that instantly grabs your attention and a gift for storytelling, Austin Jenckes’ songs “Ride Away,” “In My Head” and “Never Forget” showcase his undeniable talent.

Jenckes will share the stage with Americana-Pop artist Justin Klump and the strong voice and unique style of Quinn Loggins. Winning the ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Lyric Writing Award for her independently written song “Nicotine” in 2014, Tori Tullier has also had cuts with artists including Stephanie Quayle and Tenille Arts.

elliston place soda shop 6:00pm | $10 Rx Songs & Friends Prescription Songs & Friends features an eclectic lineup of exciting and creative talent including Anna Mae, Brigetta, Bryant Taylorr, Jonathan Jircitano, Kenny Sharp, Matt Koziol, Megan Redmond and Parson James. There’s so much talent packed into this show, it’s almost like getting 2 shows for the price of one!

9:00pm | $10 Carter Faith, Graham Scott Fleming, Harper Grae, special guest

Rising artist Carter Faith has caught the attention of the music industry with her single “Joyride” from her debut EP LET LOVE BE LOVE having great success on streaming platforms. Canadian Graham Scott Fleming has a widely diverse resume as he’s spent time performing on Broadway, acted in and wrote original music for a Lifetime Christmas movie and released singles last year including “Better Man” and “Déjà Vu.” Describing herself as “if Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, and Brandi Carlile had a child,” Harper Grae, who was selected for TV show The Glee Project, has channeled the challenges of her upbringing into powerful music with songs “I Think About You,” “Still Your Mother” and “Wanna Wear a Dress.” Faith, Fleming, and Grae will be joined by a special guest.

hard rock cafe Stage sponsored by Musicnotes 6:00pm | $15 Phillip Lammonds, Lauren Lucas, David Tolliver, The Wildcards

Phillip Lammonds began his music career as a founder of Bluegrass and Rock band The Blue Dogs before he began making trips to Nashville from South Carolina to pitch his songs. Now with songs cut by Hootie and the Blowfish, Craig Morgan, Josh Turner, Blake Shelton and more, his back catalog consists of almost 500 songs. Tony Award-nominee Lauren Lucas has been a songwriter and composer on both Broadway and other artists’ projects and has also toured with the band Farewell Angelina. One half of Country Rock duo Halfway to Hazard, David Tolliver has spent time securing cuts with the likes of Wynonna Judd (“Jesus And A Jukebox”) and Tim McGraw and has recently begun a new venture as a solo artist. Comprised of Ashley Gearing and Andrea Young, The Wildcards are bringing some fiddle and their harmonies to the Hard Rock Cafe in their songs “Pour The Wine” and “Light On.” 9:00pm | $15 96.3 JACK FM Presents Andrew Farriss, Marti Frederiksen, James Dean Hicks, Buck Johnson

Co-founder and member of multi-awardwinning band INXS, Australian Andrew Farriss has had a long and successful music career for over 40 years and is now charting the path of a solo artist releasing his self-titled album in 2021. Cutting his teeth in Alternative and Rock bands in the ‘80s, Marti Frederiksen scored his first major hit as a writer in a big way with his song “Jaded” being recorded by Aerosmith and has since had cuts with Buckcherry (“Sorry”), Carrie Underwood (“Undo It” and “Mama’s Song”) and Gavin Rossdale (“Love Remains The Same”).

Alongside Farriss and Frederiksen will be James Dean Hicks, who has had songs recorded by everyone from Johnny Cash to Miley Cyrus. Tying this round together is Buck Johnson, who currently plays in both Aerosmith and The Hollywood Vampires, used to be a member of country band Whiskey Falls, which he wrote for, and has even had a cut for Santana and Steven Tyler (“Just Feel Better”).

the listening room cafe 6:00pm | $20 Ben Burgess, Nathan Chapman, Natalie Hemby, Kevin Kadish, Jeffrey Steele

What do you get when you put some of the most talented songwriters in the music industry on one stage? The answer is this epic round! From three-time Platinum “Whiskey Glasses” (Morgan Wallen) to HARDY’s “SIGNED, SOBER YOU” and Lil Wayne’s “Dreams,” Ben Burgess has built up quite the catalog of multi-genre hits. Songwriter and producer Nathan Chapman is best known for his production work on five of the legendary Taylor Swift albums, but the three-time Grammy winner has also written songs recorded by

Tim Stafford, Saturday 6pm, The Station Inn Colbie Caillat, Mickey Guyton and more, earning his first No. 1 as a songwriter for Darius Rucker’s “Homegrown Honey.”

One of the most sought-after songwriters in the industry, Natalie Hemby has had songs recorded by Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert and Lady Gaga amongst others. With a plethora of awards and recognitions to her name, including two Grammy Awards for her musical contributions to film A Star Is Born, Hemby has released music both as a solo artist and as part of female supergroup The Highwomen. Songwriter Kevin Kadish has had cuts with artists including Jason Mraz (the clever “Wordplay” and “Geek in the Pink”) and Willie Nelson (“Be There For You” and “Don’t Fade Away”), but his most noteworthy claim to fame is his work with pop sensation Meghan Trainor on songs “All About That Bass,” “Dear Future Husband” and “Lips Are Movin’.” Completing this unbelievably talented lineup is highly-awarded songwriting superstar Jeffery Steele who has a slew of hits with Rascal Flatts (“My Wish,” “What Hurts The Most” and more), Tim McGraw and Faith Hill (“Meanwhile Back At Mama’s”) and Keith Urban and Eric Church (“Raise ‘Em Up”) to name a few.

9:00pm | $20 Mix 92.9 Presents Madison House Party Kris Allen, Nick Fradiani, Trent Harmon, Maddie Poppe

This show is stacked with a talented lineup of American Idol alumni. Come hear Kris Allen known for his infectious hit “Live Like We’re Dying” and “Beautiful Life” singer Nick Fradiani, as they share stories from their Idol days and how their lives have changed since then. Allen and Fradiani will be joined by Trent Harmon, who released the catchy single “There’s A Girl” and Maddie Poppe, whose song “Not Losing You” has been a fan favorite.

the station inn

6:00pm | $15 Thomm Jutz, Milan Miller, Tim Stafford, special guest

Moving from his home country of Germany to Nashville to chase down his music dreams, Thomm Jutz has produced the albums of Country Music Hall of Fame members Bill Anderson and Mac Wiseman, has had his songs recorded by John Prine, Nanci Griffith and The SteelDrivers and has had 250 film and TV placements throughout his career. Having 28 No. 1 Bluegrass songs, Milan Miller was named Songwriter of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association and will be playing this round alongside a special guest and Tim Stafford, who won a Grammy while he was with Alison Krauss and Union Station, before later becoming a founding member of popular Bluegrass band Blue Highway.

9:00pm | $15 Country & Bluegrass Hits Timothy Baker, Irene Kelley, Steve Leslie, special guest

Playing many instruments including mandolin, banjo, guitar and piano, Timothy Baker saw early success on YouTube, which propelled him to move from Kentucky to Nashville, where he has developed his own sound that blends traditional and modern country elements. With albums including Pennsylvania Coal and Benny’s TV Repair, the stylings and songs of Irene Kelley have resonated in the Bluegrass world. BMI award winner Steve Leslie has had his songs recorded by the likes of Kenny Rogers, Mark Chesnutt, George Strait, Darryl Worley and Rhonda Vincent, and he’ll be sharing the stories behind his songs as he takes the stage with this lineup and a special guest.

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LOCATION KEY 3rd & Lindsley 818 3rd ave south Analog at Hutton Hotel 1808 west end ave The Bluebird Cafe 4104 hillsboro pike Elliston Place Soda Shop 2105 elliston place Cross-Eyed Critters Watering Hole 101 20th ave north The Listening Room Cafe 618 4th ave south The Lounge at City Winery 609 Lafayette Street The Station Inn 402 12th ave south Hard Rock Cafe 100 broadway

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APRIL 5

THE MONKEES

CELEBRATED BY MICKY DOLENZ APRIL 9

THE WOOD BROTHERS

WITH SPECIAL GUEST SEAN HAYES APRIL 13

THE ZOMBIES DOWNTOWN

Saturday, March 26

Friday, April 1

SONGWRITER SESSION

TIN PAN SOUTH SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL

The Acoustic Guitar Project NOON – 12:45 pm · FORD THEATER Saturday, March 26 CONVERSATION AND PERFORMANCE

Exit/In

Fifty Years and Counting

Bill Anderson & Friends

Presented by the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum

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Sunday, March 27

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APRIL 16

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Jazz, Rock, Blues, Country, Fusion, Funk, Flamenco, etc. Technique, theory, songwriting. Programs available. 40 years exp. markbishmusic@gmail.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 31

SETH POMEROY GOODBYE PARTY

Before I even met Seth Pomeroy, I was a fan of his work. Couldn’t You Wait?, his 2013 documentary on the band Silkworm, captured the indie-rock cult faves’ idiosyncratic sound, story and sense of humor in the way only a true music and film lover could. Getting to know him over the years has made me an even bigger appreciator of Pomeroy, the person. The 39-year-old Nashville native is one of the funniest individuals you’ll ever meet, and also among the sincerest and hardestworking. Since Couldn’t You Wait?, comedy has eclipsed music and film as Pomeroy’s creative focus. His long-in-the-works doc about Music City legend comedian, musician and Scene advice columnist Chris Crofton — and his own 2015 original single “Dippin’ Cup,” a spot-on send-up of the country-music milieu he grew up in — tie all three disciplines together. After threatening it for years, Pomeroy and his partner, comedian Holly Perkins, are set to move to Los Angeles in the coming days, where they’ll join Crofton, Carter Glascock, Laura Peek and other Nashville funnypeople who’ve migrated west in recent years. The pair’s absence will no doubt be felt by our city’s alternative stand-up community, which both have played a key role in helping grow by throwing showcases of local, regional and even sometimes national talent in offbeat spaces across town. Stop by The East Room and give Pomeroy and Perkins your best before they make the journey west. 8 p.m. at The East Room, 2412 Gallatin Ave. CHARLIE ZAILLIAN

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with MARINA SCOTT at PARNASSUS The Silent Unseen 3900 Hillsboro Pike Suite 14 | Nashville, TN 37215 (615) 953-2243 Shop online at parnassusbooks.net

18

After making the pivot to a virtual event in 2020 and canceling a planned fall 2021 event altogether thanks in part to COVID-19’s Delta variant, the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival returns as an in-person event for 2022. The series of showcases also marks 30 years of the fest bringing a wide array of top country-centric songwriting talent to intimate venues. During Tin Pan South’s five-day run starting Tuesday, you’ll get to see legends like “Whisperin’ Bill” Anderson and new stars like Jimmie Allen and Carly Pearce. You’ll hear writers with mainstream success who’ve released their own beloved albums, like Lori McKenna — and some, like R&B and hip-hop standout Bryant Taylorr, who write primarily in genres that aren’t country. You’ll find rising aces too, like Brittney Spencer, Hailey Whitters, Tony Evans Jr., Ashley Ray, Kalie Shorr and Bre Kennedy. It’s worth noting that the lineup is more diverse this year than it’s been in the past, which is a welcome move. But there’s still a lot of room for improvement — from Aaron Vance to Mya Byrne and beyond, plenty of great writers of color and LGTBQ writers aren’t at the table here and could be. See the Tin Pan South insert in this issue. March 29 through April 2 at various venues STEPHEN TRAGESER [DIG INTO THE FOUNDING DOCUMENT]

WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME

The complicated history and farreaching impact of the United States Constitution may seem a rather unlikely topic for Broadway. But Heidi Schreck’s What the Constitution Means to Me — which arrives at TPAC’s Polk Theater on March 29 — steps well beyond the standard politics to put a personal and decidedly human face on the founding document. The 2019 Tonynominated Best Play and Pulitzer Prize finalist introduces us to a 15-year-old Heidi, who actually earned college tuition by winning constitutional debate competitions.

Over the course of the evening, she tackles everything from women’s rights to immigration, particularly as they relate to four generations of women in her own

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and nurtured by the Weirdo Workshop, appear on American Griots as well, and they released their sterling debut album Hits That Stick Like Grits in September.

The Shindellas will round out the bill when Louis York heads down to 3rd and Lindsley for Sunday’s show, which will be broadcast as part of Lightning 100’s Nashville Sunday Night. 8 p.m. at 3rd and Lindsley, 818 Third Ave. S. STEPHEN TRAGESER

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KENNYHOOPLA W/ERGO, BRIA

Last year, KennyHoopla released Survivor’s Guilt: The Mixtape, an albumlength collaboration with Travis Barker NASHVI LLE, TN THERE’S Sucks,” the first of Blink-182. “Hollywood NOT is a lot of fun, and NOT single from that record, BOOZE while it might not tell you anything you don’t IN HERE already know about the vacuity of modern culture, Hoopla’s music overall is pretty interesting. He’s a 24-year-old Black singer who grew up in Ohio and Wisconsin, and on his aforementioned newest release, he specializes in pop punk, as you might expect.

He’s also a little bit emo, as you can hear on his 2020 single “Estella.” Traditionalists and other detractors might tag his music — which borrows from punk, New Wave, rock and the aforementioned emo — as rootless pop. But I think KennyHoopla does a good job of expressing, you know, post-teenage discontent and the desire to have a guiltfree good time, even if it ultimately comes with its own burden of guilt. In other words, he may end up extending the reach of pop punk and emo. I like “Hollywood Sucks” about as much as I like “Celluloid Heroes,” The Kinks’ similarly shallow song about that storied section of Los Angeles. Who says pop has to have the final word on what it addresses? Nashville rocker Ergo, Bria, who draws from punk and grunge, opens the show. 8 p.m. at Mercy Lounge, 1 Cannery Row EDD HURT

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The music on The Mastersons’ 2020 fulllength No Time for Love Songs is unfailingly mild, but the album is far from insubstantial.

Chris Masterson and Eleanor Whitmore’s latest music comes out of the tradition of The Byrds, and you might hear echoes of the North Carolina-centric quasi-power-pop that The dB’s and Marti Jones specialized in way back in the 1980s. Still, No Time isn’t

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The impressive list of guests includes Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Kirk Franklin and Earth, Wind & Fire. The hosts and friends partner with the National Museum of African American Music and Visit Music City. It’s perfect for fans, enthusiasts, music lovers and those who think they may know their way around a record store.

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quite power pop — The Mastersons write good songs that don’t always hook in as pop music. That’s not a dis, because I don’t think they intend to bowl anyone over. The No Time track “Circle the Sun” works in the modal framework favored by The Byrds and The Beatles, and The Mastersons know how to build arrangements and create subtle tension. My favorite track on No Time is something titled “So Impossible,” which is an example of ace songwriting. Shooter Jennings’ production keeps everything nice and clear, and No Time is a great late-night record. Meanwhile, Eleanor Whitmore and her sister Bonnie Whitmore released a fine album as The Whitmore Sisters, Ghost Stories, in January, and they’ll open for The Mastersons at The Basement. If anything, it sticks closer to what you might call power pop than No Time does. Check out their rendition of Aaron Lee Tasjan’s “Big Heart Sick Mind,” which almost rocks out in that Big Star-meets-Gin Blossoms style that Anglophiles love. 7 p.m. at The Basement, 1604 Eighth Ave. S. EDD HURT

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family. But the playwright also asks us to examine our own relationship to the Constitution and, ultimately, what it means to be an American today. Of added interest, Cassie Beck (The Rose Tattoo,The Humans), who plays Heidi on the national tour, is a graduate of the University of Memphis.

Through April 3 at TPAC’s Polk Theater, 505 Deaderick St. AMY STUMPFL

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Lucy Pazos and Ryliegh Vieira of Yellow & Lavender Vegan Eats are happy to share their magic — but they won’t reveal their secrets

BY MEGAN SELING

T

aking that first bite of a freshly baked croissant is one of life’s most satisfying culinary pleasures.

The smell of yeast and caramelized butter. The buttery flakes that fall YELLOW & LAVENDER from the corners of VEGAN EATS your mouth and rain YELLOWANDLAVENDER.COM down like glitter pouring from the eyes of the cast of Euphoria as you crunch through the delicate crust.

The tender and airy interior that fills your mouth with rich droplets of butter as you begin to chew. It’s all absolute perfection.

Making croissants, however, is an entirely different experience. They are a pain in the ass. They require a days-long and laborious process that demands precision, and no one knows that more than Lucy Pazos and Ryliegh Vieira, co-founders of Nashville’s wholesale and pop-up bakery Yellow & Lavender Vegan Eats. The two haven’t been making croissants long, relatively speaking — they baked their first batch in October 2020 — but the learning curve was steep.

Traditionally, croissants require butter, and lots of it. Baker and cookbook author Claire Saffitz’s recipe for eight plump pastries calls for almost a full pound of the stuff — along with milk, eggs and cream, three more decidedly not-vegan ingredients.

Pazos and Vieira had to all but reinvent the classic pastry to fit their bakery’s plantbased mission.

“It was nerve-racking,” says Pazos about the couple’s first attempt at croissants. “We didn’t sleep for 72 hours. Nobody in Tennessee was making vegan croissants, so we had nowhere to look to but traditional croissants, which is what we used as reference.”

Pazos and Vieira are tight-lipped when I ask about the vegan substitutions in Yellow & Lavender’s treats — but whatever it is they’re doing works. Biting into a Yellow & Lavender croissant is every bit as satisfying as biting into a traditional croissant. The flavor and texture are slightly different than what you would get at, say, Dozen — home of Nashville’s best croissant, if you ask us — but all the elements are there. The shattering, buttery flakes and the tender, pillowy interior.

“Our butter is one of our biggest trade secrets,” says Vieira. “What I will say is that we do not use a $12 block of butter, nor do we use what the vegan community pushes us to use.”

“During our first year as a business, we were bombarded with questions similar to this at markets and even through email from curious yet weary non-vegans that would then turn up their noses at our pastries claiming them to be ‘fake food,’ ” says Pazos.

“Over time, we have realized that this type

of question is what holds vegan businesses back from being normalized, which is one of the main reasons why we launched our business in the first place.

“We want people who don’t want to harm animals or who are allergic to dairy to have the option of eating a pastry with their coffee or tea at a local shop,” Pazos continues.

“This exists in larger cities like New York City and Los Angeles, which were major inspirations to us when we brought them to Nashville. We are on a path to normalize many things in this city, and one is that there’s more than one way to make a pastry — you just have to do your research.”

Every week the couple — who met at Nashville’s 2019 Pride festival and got married in New York in September — bake nearly 900 croissants, cinnamon rolls, PopTart-like hand pies and doughnuts for local restaurants and coffee shops including The Wild Cow, Bongo East, Bongo Java, Fido, Headquarters Coffee & Tea, Matryoshka Coffee, The Loading Dock, five Barista Parlor locations and more.

Recent offerings have included rosemary tarte aux pommes, blueberry and lemon brioche rolls, and cacio e pepe danishes with vegan takes on butter, provolone, Parmesan cheese, and pepper. A few weeks ago they did a run of pastries inspired by the characters of Euphoria. The Fez was a folded croissant with Coca-Cola pickled onions and vegan cheddar, the Jules was a glazed doughnut covered in Fruity Pebbles, and the Maddy was an ube bubble tea croissant. There was a Nate-inspired brioche roll too, but fuck Nate.

The couple also hosts a monthly Doughpe Brunch, where they serve, among other things, croissant crunch cereal — bowls of crispy quarter-sized cinnamon-and-sugar croissants intended to be eaten by the spoonful with your choice of milk. The next event is April 16 at Otto’s. Over the winter, they launched another pop-up food business, The Little Weirdo, home of Nashville’s first vegan smash burgers.

But Pazos and Vieira don’t want to just make good food. They want to cultivate an inclusive community around food.

“When we started in October 2020, nobody could possibly believe or understand why we were making vegan croissants,” says Pazos.

“It wasn’t cool or hip, and we got a lot of pushback from people that didn’t understand how important it was to have something as small as a croissant for someone whose diet won’t let them digest milk or eggs.

Pazos continues: “Our bakery has always been 100 percent vegan with gluten-free pastries as well, and our mission is beyond bringing pastries that weren’t available in Nashville, but to also create a safe space for our LGBTQI+ community, and all the minorities we are so proud to represent and shine a light to. We are Nashville’s first and only vegan bakery that is women-, nonbinary-, queer-, immigrant- and Latina-owned and operated.”

And they bake a damn fine croissant. Just don’t ask what they use in place of dairybased butter — good magicians never reveal their secrets.

Subscribe to Scene contributor Megan Seling’s newsletter — where she writes about feelings, music and snacks — at snackanddestroy.com.

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y search for someone began in earnest when I was a child, before I could even properly comb my own hair. I once cringed at the thought of my 5-year-old self in search of a boyfriend. I now see her as resourceful.

She identified a need for affirmation and reassurance that she couldn’t otherwise fill.

Being alone was scary, so it makes sense that when she met a boy who also liked Ninja Turtles and wanted to hang out on the playground before and after school, she got hooked on the comfort of feeling chosen.

That’s how it began. I’ve been chasing that high ever since.

There has been true, meaningful love in the decades since, but mostly there was compromise. I made myself small and easy, and I rarely walked away when things were bad. I suspect this made me appealing to the toxic, abusive man who would become my husband. Once the love-bombing faded and he revealed his true self, I stayed for 12 more years. It took a pandemic and a months-long quarantine to make me think that being alone wasn’t the worst thing I could be. I started to daydream about what life might look like without him. I visualized myself driving with the windows down in a car he didn’t own.

Sitting on a porch with my dad’s old records to keep me company. Drinking coffee in a small, sunny kitchen. For the first time ever, I was alone in my fantasy life.

By the time I signed the divorce papers, I was detoxing. Between the symptoms of complex PTSD and the withdrawals that came with being truly alone for the first time in almost 40 years, I was a mess. I would wake up shaking every night in my cocoon, a duplex filled with vintage furniture and other trappings of my former life.

The Instagram version of my transition from abused wife to bachelorette starting anew garnered lots of likes. The reality was quite different.

As kids we’re taught there’s magic in transformation. We think of what happens to the caterpillar in a chrysalis as extraordinarily beautiful. One moment you are not what you’re supposed to be, and the next you are. But no one talks about the pain of that transition, the utter panic that must come as you burst into bits and become something new. Do you know what really happens to a caterpillar inside a cocoon? It consumes itself, disintegrates. It becomes soup. We romanticize this metamorphosis. Perhaps that’s because if we considered what it really entailed — and what it must feel like to

NO ONE TALKS ABOUT THE PAIN OF THAT TRANSITION, THE UTTER PANIC THAT MUST COME AS YOU BURST INTO BITS AND BECOME SOMETHING NEW. the caterpillar — we’d realize it sounds a lot like death.

I spent most of those first months not sleeping, so I started doing odd things like reading about caterpillars at 3 a.m. and asking the internet whether a butterfly could remember the pain of her transformation. Does she know she’ll live through it? When it’s over, does she remember the time she turned into soup? I wondered if there might be relief in dissolving into nothingness and surrendering to that change — like closing your eyes and sinking into a hot bath. In time, I relaxed into my own transition. I began to float through my days, letting the waves of grief and the mundanity of a quiet life carry me along. When the dogs stirred, I got out of bed.

When the mail arrived, I checked it. When the sun went down, I closed the curtains.

Most days it felt like I only existed in sounds. I walked through the backyard as the fall leaves, and then the first snowfall, crunched beneath my feet. I hummed in the garden as I cut daffodils with yolky centers. I put on records and let the music waft through my windows on the first day of summer. I began to feel as if I’d just woken up. I had experienced fleeting glimpses of that sensation before, like when I swam in the Indian Ocean or stood on a hill overlooking the French countryside as the breeze made my dress dance around my ankles.

But this was different. I felt it in my everyday life: when I walked the dogs on a July night, as the heat of the day rose from the asphalt like warm breath and the humidity held me like a pair of loving arms. With my hand out the window on my daily drives as my playlist mingled with the hum of lawn mowers. At dusk as I watched fireflies as they floated into the darkness, regardless of who was there to witness their glow.

In those moments it hit me. This was how I was meant to feel — safe, present, loved. This was the feeling I was looking for in relationships all along. While that little girl waiting to be chosen on the playground was still a part of me, she no longer needed to be rescued.

For the first time, I was there for her, and we could grieve and soften to all we had been through together. I was still very much me, but I had also become something entirely new simply by existing in my own sludge.

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NASHVILLE SCENE | MARCH 24 – MARCH 30, 2022 | nashvillescene.com

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PERFORMING ARTS

PHOTO: DAVID BALTZER

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Gob Squad’s Kitchen goes back in time to re-create Warhol’s Factory

BY AMY STUMPFL

P

rior to COVID, the acclaimed U.K./German art collective Gob Squad maintained a busy touring schedule, presenting its unconventional multimedia works on every continent but Antarctica. But for company member Sharon Smith, it’s the GOB SQUAD’S KITCHEN: journey she takes YOU’VE NEVER HAD IT SO GOOD PLAYS MARCH 24-27 with the audience at AT OZ ARTS. TICKETS AT each performance OZARTSNASHVILLE.ORG. that she has missed most over the past two years.

“I’m so happy to be back at it after all this time,” she says. “Kitchen is one of my favorite shows to perform, and we’re really looking forward to our time in Nashville.”

Smith is referring to Gob Squad’s Kitchen: You’ve Never Had It So Good, which runs at OZ Arts March 24 through 27. First performed in Berlin in 2007, the piece employs the group’s signature blend of live video and performance to explore the heyday of Andy Warhol’s Factory. As the show opens, we meet an enthusiastic group of performers who’ve decided to go back in time to re-create Warhol’s underground film Kitchen, acting it out on minimalist sets and presenting it as a live black-and-white film.

There’s just one problem — none of them have actually seen the original.

“I feel like Kitchen is something of a microcosm for how we work — that way of bringing together the real and created self, elevating and framing reality in a very cinematic way,” Smith says. “The audience is basically invited to step back with us into 1965. Four performers attempt — and the word attempt is very important here — to relive this iconic time in history with all the coolest movers and shakers. But there’s a sense of failure built into it because we can’t possibly know what it was really like.

So we become frustrated by our inability

to transcend into that time and place — we just don’t feel we’re being authentic enough.

But then we look at the audience and think: ‘Hmmm, they’re real. Maybe we can recruit some help.’ ” But rest assured, while audiences may be asked to step outside the traditional role of spectator, there’s no pressure to participate.

“We take very good care of our audiences,” says Smith. “We want them to enjoy themselves. So yes, we’re interactive, but we’re never going to grab someone by the collar and drag them into the show. It’s much more open and playful — just an invitation to go with us on this crazy journey.”

That journey actually begins from the moment you enter the theater. Smith says the audience tours the onstage studio space before taking their seats in front of a large movie screen, where the action being filmed behind the screen is projected live.

“I think that’s my favorite moment — letting the audience trail through the set, and getting to meet them,” she says. “We’re all in character, basically playing ourselves but in 1965. So we’re all done up in these fabulous Edie Sedgwick sort of outfits, and chatting with the audience, getting a sense of who they are.”

While one might assume that audiences (and audience reaction) would vary greatly from city to city, Smith says there’s something about a Gob Squad gathering that goes beyond cultural stereotypes. “Although there’s certainly a different feel as you move from Berlin to Paris or New York City or Calgary, there’s something about the theater that transcends all that. Once you’re out on the street or in the bar, that’s where you’ll see the differences. But I think the theater scene in general — and maybe Gob Squad specifically — unifies people and transcends any kind of obvious cultural identity. There’s a wonderful alchemy to it that’s quite interesting to observe as a performer.

“And when someone says: ‘Yes, I’ll come across that threshold — I’ll go onto the stage,’ you feel the whole audience shift,” Smith adds. “Until then, they’ve been watching a show. But now, it’s one of their own up there.

And at the end, when the audience applauds, you can feel that it’s as much for the audience members who stepped up as it is for the performers, which is really nice. It’s a wild ride, but so much fun.”

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ART

A survey of Cuban creativity at the Frist Art Museum spotlights individual expressions against tyranny

BY JOE NOLAN

HIDDEN FIGURES

Works by Zilia Sánchez are a highlight of the Frist’s contemporary Cuban art show

BY LAURA HUTSON HUNTER

A

mong the very best works in the Frist Art Museum’s extraordinary exhibit On the Horizon: Contemporary Cuban Art From the Pérez Art Museum Miami are two works from Zilia Sánchez, a Havana native who will turn 96 this summer.

Both of the works are untitled — one is from 1970 and the other from 1971. The 1971 piece is from Sánchez’s Erotic Topologies series, and is installed to be the first piece you see as you enter the room. Because of its monochromatic palette, the artwork at first seems

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“CAUGHT,” LUIS CRUZ AZACETA. COLLECTION PÉREZ ART MUSEUM MIAMI, GIFT OF JORGE M. PÉREZ.

T

he Frist’s On the Horizon exhibition of contemporary Cuban art opens with a painting that speaks to the nightmare of struggling to survive — or maybe even escape — an authoritarian state. The painting pictures a ON THE HORIZON: CONTEMPORARY CUBAN crew of desperate ART FROM THE PÉREZ ART people crowding into MUSEUM MIAMI a rickety boat and THROUGH MAY 1 AT THE slapping at the ocean FRIST ART MUSEUM with their wooden oars, attempting to slip the grip of Cuban communism. The painting by Kcho (born Alexis Leyva Machado) is untitled, and the passengers on the boat don’t have discernible facial features. The erasure of personal individuality is a cornerstone of communism’s ideology, and Kcho’s painting is an eerie evocation of what it’s like to live — and creatively resist — in a place where people no longer recognize one another as unique persons motivated by internal inspirations and desires, capable of freely acting on them in a liberated society. Kcho reminds us that, in a place where personal culture is erased for mass culture, everybody is nobody.

Kcho’s focus on the erasure of individual consciousness is emblematic of On the Horizon’s “Individual Landscapes” section, which features works that explore memory and emotion through symbolic examinations of nature, politics and religion. If we think about an “individual landscape” more literally, the “horizon” of the exhibition’s title may be thought of as personal hopes, dreams and ambitions. For all people, personal dreams and ambitions are alluring and motivating, but for citizens crushed beneath an authoritarian regime, their warm vibrancy may forever drift beyond any individual’s grasp on the other side of a deep dark ocean of dystopian control.

Cuban islanders, of course, are also imprisoned by the actual Atlantic. Painter Luis Cruz Azaceta depicts the shame of a fleeing refugee by portraying him with a demon’s face. The man’s boat has been surrounded, and a cage descends on him. “Caught” is a hellish evocation of the paranoia prompted by the restrictions of tyranny.

Yoan Capote’s “Island” reiterates the threats that face would-be refugees who might attempt to float the 90 miles from Cuba to Miami. “Island” is a massive, wall-spanning painting of the Atlantic Ocean. Capote created the light and dark highlights in the chopping waves by mounting thousands of large fish hooks to the surface of the work in various concentrations. The sharp hooks point directly at viewers, and the pink hues in the sky above Capote’s threatening waters are colored by the actual blood the artist and

his crew shed while creating this work.

This first section of the show includes the exhibition’s darkest and most mysterious work, and is the most compelling part of the display. Julio Larraz’s “Halloween” is my favorite piece in the show. The oil painting depicts a group of costumed kids accompanied by an adult woman as they embark on a Halloween candy quest. An un-costumed child looks on in the foreground, and the woman turns her stern gaze directly at the viewer. The kids are illuminated only by the lanterns they carry, and their dramatically lit costumes and masks are made more mysterious and monstrous by the deep shadows that surround them. The inclusion of kids always makes scary art extra creepy, and the formal gorgeousness of this work contrasts the implicit terror of its content. Like the untitled painting that opens the show, this work

like an optical illusion — the shadows are subtle and gradient, and its minimal color pattern mimics a flat Agnes Martin canvas. But as you walk around the work, you become aware that the canvas is three-dimensional, and that instead of being confined to the wall, it stretches to occupy the space you share in the gallery.

Its playful nature, along with the way it urges the viewer to observe the canvas from all sides, feels flirtatious — here’s where I notice you, here’s where I see the shape of your curve. Even the artwork’s placard is poetically suggestive: “A soft oval shape bulging out from the middle suggests both a woman’s erogenous zone and the topography of a volcano.”

The earlier work from Sánchez isn’t listed as part of the Erotic Topologies series, but it seems just as evocative of a body’s curves. This one is somehow even more organic, almost unnervingly so — I’m reminded of the scene in A Nightmare on Elm Street when Freddy Krueger pushes his face through a rubbery wall. It’s also reminiscent of a pair of cartoon speech bubbles fighting for an audience. There’s

an invisible struggle happening somewhere inside the stretched canvas, even as its graceful, ethereal composition conceals it. It’s a skin of paint that’s thickening in a can, and it’s the surface of water just before a body emerges.

Sánchez made the works by stretching her canvas over wooden armatures and painting them with a blend of water-based paints and varnish or powdered pigment. I would love to know what those forms actually are — at times the similarities to a vacuum-formed car dashboard made me consider whether the armatures could be something familiar, like a shovel’s handle or a wooden spoon.

A tension between what’s expected and what’s possible charges the entire exhibition, but Sánchez’s works are particularly forceful examples of that duality. She has said the origin of these sculptural works was an idea that came to her when her father died several years before — a sheet from her father’s bed had been hung out to dry, and she saw it flapping in the wind against a pipe or a tube, and was struck by

is another commentary on individualism: The unmasked boy stuffs his hands in his pockets and confidently stands aside from the group while the other children are led astray and made monstrous by the zombiemaking powers of mass consciousness.

This sprawling survey also does some heavy lifting when it comes to outlining the history of modern art in Cuba. The exhibition’s “Abstracting History” section explores the impact that modernist European styles like Neoplasticism, Constructivism and Suprematism made on Cuban art beginning in the 1950s. In direct opposition to the Cuban government’s position, many artists abandoned social and political messages associated with group and mass identities in favor of individual expressions that embraced the poetic and the abstract. Waldo Díaz-Balart’s “Neoplastic Trilogy” is a triptych of paintings of rectangles in rhythmic arrangements of primary colors. The work is an on-the-nose homage to Piet Mondrian and the idea that abstract painting can distill the complex contradictions of consciousness into fundamental transcendental truths made of colors, shapes, forms and lines. The “Abstracting History” section is an engaging display of vibrant midcentury works that creates a fascinating conversation about how we embed differing human values in various art styles, techniques and concepts.

The show’s final section, “Domestic Anxieties,” features contemporary works and includes another one of the show’s most memorable pieces: Lázaro Saavedra’s “Cuban Software” is a parody of diagram software that’s painted directly on the gallery wall with acrylic and ink. Instead of solving a computing problem, the colorful, geometric diagram outlines the choices and consequences facing contemporary Cubans who might “accept,” “resist” or “escape” the restriction of their lives under authoritarian communism. Saavedra’s work is often critical of Cuba’s government authorities, but he still managed to win the National Prize of Plastic Arts of Cuba in 2014.

We share the sky with our Cuban neighbors, but we look out at different horizons.

Art won’t let us walk in their shoes, but an exhibition like this one allows viewers to see the world through their eyes.

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UNTITLED, FROM THE SERIES EROTIC TOPOLOGY, ZILIA SÁNCHEZ. COLLECTION PÉREZ ART MUSEUM MIAMI, MUSEUM PURCHASE WITH FUNDS PROVIDED

BY JORGE M. PÉREZ. PHOTO: ORIOL TARRIDAS.

SOY CUBA

the haunting quality of the fabric. So Sánchez’s untitled canvases, which came from grief and are informed by eroticism, are also shrouds for a beloved father — a marker for his absence. The array of personal, physical associations that such deceptively simple works create is rare, and rewards special attention.

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BOOKS

TURNING HARD LESSONS INTO ACTION Keeda Haynes exposes a fractured criminal justice system in Bending the Arc

BY JOY RAMIREZ

“I

had never been inside a jail before in my life,” writes Keeda Haynes of her first real job, the one she dreamed about as a teenager growing up in Franklin.

“I had never even BENDING THE ARC: MY JOURNEY FROM PRISON seen movies or read TO POLITICS books about life

BY KEEDA HAYNES inside jails — so I PUBLISHER SEAL PRESS had no idea what to 267 PAGES, $28 expect.” But as she explains in her memoir Bending the Arc: My Journey From Prison to Politics, her eagerness to study and work with people who had committed crimes would take an unexpected and very personal turn — one that she never could have imagined.

While studying for a degree in criminal psychology at Tennessee State University, Haynes took a job as a corrections officer at a male facility in Nashville. There she noticed that most of the men were low-level nonviolent offenders: homeless people, low-income individuals who couldn’t make bond and undocumented people the police had rounded up. “In other words,” she writes, “[it] was filled to the brim with individuals — overwhelmingly Black and brown — who were criminalized and incarcerated because of their circumstances.”

Haynes recalls how, through her work in the jails, she came to understand the realities of the criminal justice system, and the seed was planted for the work she would devote her life to, both as a public defender and as an advocate for criminal justice reform. But she would also come to know what life on the other side of that line was like.

Haynes explains how during the summer after she turned 19 and just weeks before her first semester at TSU, she went out to celebrate her friend’s 21st birthday. That night she met a man from Memphis nicknamed “C.” This chance meeting would turn out to be a fateful one when Haynes and her sister agreed to sign for packages C sent them. He said they contained pagers for the cellphone business he had started with his cousins. But, Haynes writes, instead of cellphones, she would later find out the packages contained marijuana. Suddenly, she found herself caught up in a federal drug investigation that threatened to derail all of her school and career plans and land her behind bars.

Because she believed she was innocent, and because she never lost sight of her ultimate goal of attending law school, Haynes

refused a plea deal and opted to go to trial.

With the help of a very competent lawyer, at 22 years old and with her freedom on the line, she entered into what would become the battle of her life: “I don’t think there’s any amount of practice that prepares you to face down a system that is trying to take away your liberty.”

In the end, Haynes was acquitted of all of the charges except one, a big one: aiding and abetting a conspiracy involving more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, on the basis of deliberate ignorance. Although she claimed she didn’t know about the drugs, the prosecution argued that she should have known. This tactic, according to Haynes, gets at the heart of the case the government made against her, one that she believes was based on bigotry and assumptions about her character and not on the facts. Although she was a stellar student who worked hard and had no prior record or history of involvement with drugs, the prosecutors saw her — a young Black woman — as a seasoned criminal. Because of mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines and an overzealous judge, her punishment would be harsh: Haynes was sentenced to seven years in federal prison.

It was there that Haynes decided to turn her hard lessons into action, devoting her time in prison to studying for the LSAT, assisting other inmates with their legal battles and making sure that she would be able to get her law license to help others who ended up in the revolving doors of the criminal justice system.

Having personally experienced injustice, and after years of fighting for her clients and their families, Haynes decided in 2020 to run for Congress to help those same people on an even larger scale. Because nothing is ever easy, her campaign kickoff in March 2020 happened just days after a destructive tornado tore through her city, and shortly after that, the pandemic shut everything down.

Although becoming the first Black congresswoman to represent Tennessee was not in the cards, she did capture 40 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District. But to count Keeda Haynes out of the continued fight for justice would be a mistake: “Bending the arc takes effort,” she writes. “It takes action. It takes pressure. The work continues.”

To read an extended version of this review — and more local book coverage — please visit Chapter16.org, an online publication of Humanities Tennessee.

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MUSIC

ANOTHER LOOK

The Scene’s music writers recommend recent releases from Negro Justice, Tim Gartland, Lauryn Peacock and more

BY P.J. KINZER, DARYL SANDERS, STEPHEN TRAGESER, RON WYNN AND CHARLIE ZAILLIAN

F

estival season and summer tours are an alarmingly few weeks away, and Nashville musicians have been releasing excellent music by the shedload.

Our writers have eight more recent releases to FIND LINKS TO STREAM AND recommend, so BUY THESE RECORDS AT add ’em to your NASHVILLESCENE.COM/MUSIC streaming queue or get a physical copy from your favorite record store. Or put them on your wish list for #BandcampFriday, the promotion in which the platform waives its artist fees on the first Friday of the month — the next installment of which is April 1. It’s worth noting that a few weeks ago, Bandcamp announced it had been bought by Epic Games, which publishes online titles like Fortnite. There’s at least one more #BandcampFriday scheduled for May 6, but there’s been no word whether the promotion will continue after that.

NEGRO JUSTICE, CHOSEN FAMILY (SIX ONE TRIBE) Negro Justice introduces himself in a powerful way on Chosen Family. It’s his first full-length, which comes in the wake of EPs from 2018 and 2020, and it’s his first release as a member of the Six One Tribe collective. Over a diverse assortment of soul-kissed beats peppered with voicemail shout-outs from friends and collaborators, Justice opens up about his life story and how the deaths of both his parents and other pressures like gentrification have shaped his goals and his philosophy. Both the story and the production — which features tons of guests like Amber Woodhouse, Corduroy Clemens, Blvck Wizzle and Gee Slab — showcase the strength that comes from finding your people and standing by them.

STEPHEN TRAGESER KENNY MULLINS, HOLIDAY TIME: IN REMEMBRANCE OF LADY DAY (SELF-RELEASED) Singer-songwriter and guitarist Kenny Mullins has been performing both original and vintage country, folk and blues tunes since the early ’70s. At the same time, he’s penned topical pieces and worked with a host of philanthropic and political organizations on issues ranging from homelessness and veterans’ rights to racial and gender equality. A Nashville resident since the early ’90s, Mullins took on a very special and challenging project: a Billie Holiday tribute album. Mullins brings an evocative, poignant quality to his renditions, covering both familiar (“Strange Fruit,” “Fine and Mellow”) and lesser-known material (“Back in Your Own Backyard,” “I’m a Fool to Want You”). He’s accompanied by pianist Will Barrow, who is delightfully expressive in solo moments while expertly handling the primary task of ably buttressing Mullins’ vocals. Nicely mixed and recorded by Dane Bryant at his home studio, this is an ideal tribute to a distinctive and powerful icon.

Numbers she popularized are given a fresh, personal touch and sung with passion, conviction and individuality. RON WYNN

LAURYN PEACOCK, I KNOW A PLACE (SELFRELEASED) There’s a line at the end of “On This Ground,” a song near the middle of Lauryn Peacock’s I Know a Place, that sums up an important truth about her work: “The drama of existence is art.” Peacock has finetuned her ability to communicate complex experiences in ways that words alone can’t quite convey, and her literate lyricism draws you in as if by magic. Like Peacock’s other 2021 releases Theology and Quarantine Love EP, I Know a Place features skilled Nashville musicians like drummer Megan Coleman and bassist “Little Jack” Lawrence. The group conveys the sense of delight in exploration that runs like a golden thread through the narratives, whether they’re about joy or heartbreak.

STEPHEN TRAGESER TIM GARTLAND, TRUTH (TASTE GOOD MUSIC) On “The Thing About the Truth,” the almost-titular track of his excellent new album Truth, bluesman Tim Gartland reminds us that “Facts are facts, there’s no spinning that.”

Here’s a fact: If you’re a fan of the blues, you’re gonna want to spin Gartland’s new record — repeatedly. Produced by keyboardist Kevin McKendree at his studio The Rock House, Gartland’s fifth solo album features a dozen swinging cuts that range from barroom blues and roadhouse R&B to sophisticated blues-rock. At every stop on the journey, Gartland shows he is a clever and talented songwriter, a skilled harp player and a soulful vocalist. And that’s the truth. DARYL SANDERS

SIDD AND THE FINCHES, COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS (SELF-RELEASED) Paying tribute to the fictitious Mets pitching phenom at the center of baseball’s all-time greatest April Fool’s hoax — look up Sports Illustrated scribe George Plimpton’s 1985 piece “The Curious Case of Sidd Finch” — Sidd and the Finches is the pen name of 34-year-old Nathan Badley. Listening to Count Your Blessings’ baker’s dozen of breathlessly wordy, aggressively strummed exercises in fed-up folk-punk, I imagine Badley has a Mountain Goats record or four in his collection, and likely some They Might Be Giants too. Though the lack of instrumental variety will wear thin if you haven’t recalibrated your ears for lofi recordings, Count Your Blessings saves its best for last, rewarding those willing to stick it out with “John Wayne,” a forceful missive railing against blind patriotism, and the tender yet bittersweet “Lullaby,” which imagines a world so far removed from reality — “No signs of war / No death to speak of” — that it’s hard to interpret it as anything other than a meditation on the afterlife. CHARLIE ZAILLIAN

ADSR, ADSR (TRANCE//FURNACE) If you seek works of oscillator mayhem, local imprint Trance//Furnace has your back. The cover of ADSR’s 10-track self-titled album, available digitally and

on cassette, includes the text “ambient flavored” and an extraordinarily minimal graphic design. It’s an accurate if not complete appraisal of the music, described in the credits as sounds useful for inducing a trance or doing deeply focused listening.

The one-person synth project of E. Elias seems to be informed by the way rock bands use synthesizers to create an atmosphere.

“Surveillance” has a mechanical pulse reminiscent of “On the Run” from The Dark Side of the Moon, while the uneasy industrial soundscape of “Factory Life” has a feel like Einstürzende Neubauten. P.J. KINZER

THE ANGELS OF DEATH, WINTER 2022 DEMOS (SELF-RELEASED) In an email to the Scene, Angels of Death songsmith and home recordist Sam Petschulat cited Sparklehorse, Nico and Southern Baptist hymns as influences on his project’s debut release. Listening to these five sparse yet intense song skeletons, that all tracks.

These are demos, but don’t be deterred by the scratchy boombox-style recording.

The 32-year-old Petschulat — one-half of leftist grindcore power duo Long Con — is channeling the greats here. Case in point: the intricate, dark-to-light “Build an Altar,” on which Petschulat’s vocals evoke Jeff Mangum doing his best Thom Yorke. Also intriguing are the between-song intersti-

tials. Are they incidental sounds culled from original field recordings? Or maybe remnants of an old cassette Petschulat recorded over? Whatever the source, this is powerful stuff that translates fine as-is, but could truly soar with full-band arrangements.

CHARLIE ZAILLIAN SKIN TENSION, OMNI (XOM) Josh Byrd and Edward Longo, aka experimental music duo Skin Tension, had what they describe as a “creative explosion” between October 2020 and December 2021.

They recorded voraciously, combining field recordings, group improvisation with friends in their home studio, a live set recorded at Betty’s and more. The pair combed through some 200 hours of material for tracks that would lend themselves to a cohesive experience, and the resulting release is still massive. Omni is made up of 131 tracks arranged in 36 segments of about 45 minutes each — modeled on the sides of a 90-minute cassette — for 27 total hours of music. It’s a beast, but luckily the duo doesn’t expect you to consume it in one sitting. Close your eyes and pick a track, and Omni might reward you with a free-jazz expression, a black-metal howl into the void, a gorgeous keyboard meditation on nature or one of many, many other things. STEPHEN TRAGESER EMAIL MUSIC@NASHVILLESCENE.COM

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MUSIC

EXPERT MODE

Yasmin Williams’ soulful instrumentals breathe new life into solo acoustic music

BY CHARLIE ZAILLIAN

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uitarist and songwriter Yasmin Williams introduced herself last year with Urban Driftwood, a record whose title perfectly encapsulates its sound — earthy yet urgent.

Just 25, Williams is upending long-held stereotypes of instrumental acoustic-guitar music being the domain of John Fahey fanatics who don’t sing because either they can’t, have nothing to say, or both.

On the morning the Scene reaches Williams, she’s enjoying a brief respite following a fly-in gig in Houston. Up next is a tour that brings her to Knoxville’s First Baptist Church for the first in-person Big Ears Festival since 2019, and then to Third Man Records’ Blue Room here in Nashville on March 29 with local new-age pedal-steel guru Luke Schneider opening. Williams’ gig at the Marble City avant-garde music summit follows a late-2020 streaming show, presented by Big Ears and filmed at the Loghaven Artist Residency in the Smokies. There, Williams matched wits with veteran six-stringers Marisa Anderson and William Tyler.

“As a fan of both of their music, I was nervous,” Williams says. “I just hoped it’d go well.”

Williams did more than hold her own. It was my first time seeing her play, and I became a convert within minutes. All three acts will be present at this year’s Big Ears. Williams notes that she and Nashville native son Tyler also have designs on collaborating on a soundtrack in the near future.

Williams grew up in Washington, D.C., with her parents and four brothers. Hip-hop, gospel, jazz and R&B got a lot of play in the household, “and we were always singing,” she remembers. Go-go — the call-and-response-based, protohip-hop sound pioneered in the District at the turn of the ’80s by acts like Trouble Funk — was also a constant.

But there wasn’t a lot of rock ’n’ roll around until Williams started playing Guitar Hero in 2009. For the then-middleschooler, the game was a crash course on the ins and outs of guitar in particular and rock history in general.

“I played clarinet growing up, but playing Guitar Hero and hearing all that music, I got obsessed,” she says.

“When I beat it, my parents bought me my own electric.”

Getting her sea legs with “a lot of Nirvana, because it seemed simple enough,” Williams soon graduated to Jimi Hendrix. Eventually she gained the confidence and proficiency to want to play out, but she wasn’t interested in starting a band, and as she notes, “I didn’t really know anyone else who played anyway.” She picked up an acoustic and started learning fingerstyle techniques, beginning with The Beatles’ “Blackbird.”

Shredding her way through Guitar Hero might have planted the seed, but Williams’ original material prioritizes feelings over chops. Her music is busy yet relaxed — precise but never gratuitous. At its most epic, Urban Driftwood recalls the endless-crescendo-driven post-rock

of artists like M83 or Sigur Rós, minus the reliance on rare analog synthesizers or boutique delay pedals.

Becoming a player also gave Williams new appreciation for some of the music of her youth, like the go-go genre’s own guitar hero, the late Chuck Brown. For many, the D.C. sound is punk rock, synonymous with Fugazi and their locally focused, world-renowned Dischord label. But the District is a Black-majority city, and natives regardless of ethnicity will tell you go-go is its pulse. You can hear its influence on Urban Driftwood, which features cello, djembe and mbira accouterments. The dulcet melodies and mosaic-like arrangements are the focal point, but the toe-tapping rhythms make it go.

And where instrumental rockers’ song titles typically fall into one of two categories — inscrutable letter-andnumber combinations, or sentence-length inside jokes — Williams goes deeper. Where Side A of Urban Driftwood is pensive and pretty, its back half takes a stormier turn.

The liner notes reveal the backstories behind emotionally charged material like “Through the Woods,” which Williams penned during the nationwide civil unrest of 2020.

“To walk through the woods for me is to walk in self-reflection,” she writes. “As a country, we are stuck in the woods with no clear way out.”

While sequencing the album with producer Jeff Gruber, Williams “was going to the protests, and realized the order I’d come up with — the atmosphere, the mood — felt in line with the year 2020.” During quarantine, Williams also took a deep dive into the Afrofuturist sci-fi literature of N.K. Jemisin and Octavia Butler, influences she says listeners can expect to have a tangible effect on Driftwood’s follow-up.

Williams plans to play some of that new material during her swing through Tennessee. And these days, her nerves going into that livestream are a distant memory.

“The time off definitely made me appreciate getting back onstage and having people there to talk to. I don’t want my live show to just be me playing music at you for 90 minutes.

I want it to feel like a kickback — not a concert.”

EMAIL MUSIC@NASHVILLESCENE.COM

PHOTO: ZACH PIGG

PLAYING TUESDAY, MARCH 29, AT THIRD MAN RECORDS

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NASHVILLE SCENE | MARCH 24 – MARCH 30, 2022 | nashvillescene.com

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3/21/22 5:43 PM

MUSIC

THE SPIN

TAKING THE PISS OUT OF ROCK

BY STEPHEN TRAGESER

“W

e’re a long way from the Shire,”

Rhian Teasdale

said, in her best imitation of Sean Astin’s Samwise Gamgee, as she scanned the full-capacity crowd at The Basement East. The March 14 show marked the midpoint of the first U.S. tour for Wet Leg, the poppy, funky, post-punky rock band Teasdale and pal Hester Chambers started on the Isle of Wight in 2019.

In addition to a slate of showcases at SXSW, most dates on the band’s March run are sold out. That’s not bad for a group whose first record — a self-titled LP via Domino — won’t be out until April 8, when they’ll be back home in the U.K. The anticipation for the tour is built around a handful of singles, starting with last year’s Mean Girls-quoting viral hit “Chaise Longue.”

Based on Wet Leg’s visit to Nashville, there’s a good chance they’ll convert anyone who was merely curious into a fan.

Opening act Lowertown didn’t have to travel nearly as far as Wet Leg did physically, but they’re also on their first tour outside their home base of Atlanta.

Core members Olivia Osby and Avshalom Weinberg, who’ve been making music together for several years, had their last semester of high school upended by the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. They released their most recent EP The Gaping Mouth in the fall; it’s marked by a blend of indie-rock sounds whose looseness has little glimmers of Pavement in it and whose lyrical themes revolve around the uncomfortable tradeoffs that are part of becoming an adult. As a society, we’re still struggling to find some kind of normal that’s hopefully better than the one we had pre-pandemic. That helped Lowertown’s songs resonate with me in a different way than I expected, having slipped into my (gulp) late 30s.

The Basement East ran like clockwork.

Lowertown started right at 8 p.m., and Wet Leg’s crew was doing line checks shortly after 9. A flashlight was waved from backstage, a few bars of the “Concerning Hobbits” theme from The Lord of the Rings played over the P.A., and Wet Leg appeared to excited applause. Teasdale and Chambers, who both sang and played guitars, were joined by Joshua Mobaraki on guitar and synth, Ellis Durand on bass and Henry Holmes on drums. Though the group is technically a duo, the full quintet appears on the aforementioned Wet Leg, and they play like a band that’s been on the road together for years.

You can pick out lots of threads of influence in the sound they’ve concocted: the snarl of X-Ray Spex, the thrumming churn of Joy Division, the nervy New Wave energy of Suburban Lawns, the psychedelic groove modulation of, say, Stereolab. While Chambers focuses on guitar melodies and backup vocals, Teasdale takes the lead vocal on most of the songs. Sometimes she sings, but other times she employs a talksinging delivery that reminds me of Tina Weymouth in Tom Tom Club, as they both convey a lot of context by manipulating the rhythm. Still, Wet Leg has put considerable effort into weaving whatever influences they’ve picked up into their own wild tapestry (which also includes a cover of Ronan Keating’s 2000 dance-pop single “Life Is a Rollercoaster”).

In their lyrics, they pick apart awkward social situations and push back against people who try to make them feel small — either in real life or on the internet. “Oh No,” a song about the toxicity of the comments section and how it manifests in other in-person interactions, was one of the emotional peaks of the show. During a sort of jammy section in the middle, Chambers and Teasdale struggled to keep a straight face as they put on a choreographed routine that was a bit like the “Stonehenge” sequence from This Is Spinal Tap. The band members take what they do very seriously, but they aren’t self-serious.

They poke at the formulaic notion of what “a rock band” ought to be, all while being a great fucking rock band. And that’s exactly the kind of subversion rock ’n’ roll needs to survive and thrive.

EMAIL THESPIN@NASHVILLESCENE.COM

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WEDNESDAY 13 // MAR 29

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Upcoming shows Mar 24 mar 25 mar 26 mar 27 mar 29

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Mar 30 mar 31 apr 1 apr 2 apr 3 apr 4 apr 5 apr 6 apr 7 apr 8 apr 9 apr 10 apr 12 Apr 14 Apr 16 Apr 17

The Airborne Toxic Event w/ mondo cozmo ian noe sierra ferrell sold out! sierra ferrell dorothy w/ joyous wolf & classless act cannons w/ madi sipes & painted blue the districts w/ francis of delirium & vanillaroma latto w/ saucy santana, and kali & asianae tate mcrae w/ mimi webb sold out! tate mcrae w/ mimi webb sold out! obituary w/ gruesome & 200 stab wounds kishi bashi w/ tall tall trees Genesis Owusu w/ blake ruby fruit bats w/ johanna samuels lights w/ tillie southern underground pro wrestling

& circuit circuit

OLD LADY // MAR 28

Apr 19 Apr 20 apr 21 apr 22 apr 23 apr 24 apr 25 apr 26 apr 27 apr 28 apr 29 apr 30 may 1 may 2 may 3 may 4 may 5 may 6 may 7 may 8 may 9

pedro the lion w/ oceanator hurray for the riff raff w/ anjimile elvie shane w/ frank ray penny & sparrow w/ lera lynn sold out! government cheese the lil smokies w/ michigan rattlers feelrs, the weird sisters & the reveal son volt w/ s. g. goodman helado negro nilüfer yanya w/ tasha and ada lea los lobos w/ ian ferguson the chats w/ mean jeans & thick gang of youths sheer mag & angel Du$t w/ snooper clinton kane w/ lexi jayde sold out! built to spill w/ itchy kitty & prism bitch the menzingers w/ oso oso & sincere engineer teddy swims w/ fly by midnight sold out! taylor swift night the band of heathens w/ chicago farmer & the fieldnotes

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cabin boys w/ jordyn shellhart & elliott blaufuss stray fossa w/ joelton mayfield & jenny kravitz (7pm) step sisters w/ beset & crave on (9pm) the deltaz w/ cam pierce (7pm) arts fishing club & virginia man (9pm) sunshine scott, emily blue, & frank samuel old lady w/ ma'am taylor lowrance w/arielbui&makeyourselfathome the mastersons w/ the whitmore sisters (7pm) the ivins w/ the infamous her & coco hinnon (9pm) lowen (7pm) multi-ultra w/ blackpool mecca & pepper said (9pm) emily hackett w/ olivia barton (7pm)

apr 1

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troubadour blue glove w/ snõõper Tory grace, alisha pace, & the side chicks lawrence taylor madeleine kelson w/alaina stacey rob leines & the comancheros (7pm) nicholas jamerson & the morning jays (9pm) huntertones & jbm trio (7pm) 87 nights w/ sylmar & badculture (9pm) flarelight (7pm) boa boys w/ chrome pony (9pm)

& isolation tank ensemble (9pm)

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nashvillescene.com | MARCH 24 – MARCH 30, 2022 | NASHVILLE SCENE

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3/21/22 5:43 PM

FILM

THE POWER OF THE DOG

CODA

PICTURE THIS

The 94th annual Academy Awards are this weekend, and we have thoughts

BY D. PATRICK RODGERS

A

fter going hostless for three years, the Oscars return on March 27 with Regina Hall, Wanda Sykes and Amy Schumer serving as coemcees. As ever, critics like yours truly have lots to gripe about — first and foremost, the fact that eight of the 23 award categories typically announced during the show will not be televised live this year.

And that includes fundamentally important categories like Film Editing, Production Design and Sound.

What else? The snubs. Everyone who cares about movies has complaints about what didn’t get recognized when the Oscars roll around, but this year a handful of snubs feel particularly egregious. Wes Anderson’s characteristically immaculate The French Dispatch didn’t receive a single nomination, nor did Mike Mills’ breathtakingly tender C’mon C’mon. Ridley Scott’s epic and brilliantly acted The Last Duel (the better of his two 2021 films, by a pretty wide margin) was overlooked, as was Michael Sarnoski’s Pig, which saw one of Nicolas Cage’s best performances in years.

David Lowery’s dazzling The Green Knight and Valdimar Jóhannsson’s Lamb could have used some sort of acknowledgement as well.

But we’re here to talk about what is nominated. Currently, the Belcourt Theatre is in the midst of its Best Picture Marathon, during which all 10 of the nominees for the Academy’s top award are screening. You still have the chance to catch every one of them at the Belcourt before the ceremony on Sunday night, when the beloved local arthouse will host its elegant annual A Red Carpet Evening watch party and fundraiser. (You don’t still have a chance to scoop tickets to that, however — it sold out last week.) Naturally, all of these titles are available to stream or rent as well. Here are some thoughts.

BELFAST Hercule Poirot himself, Shakespeare obsessive Kenneth Branagh, does his best Alfonso Cuarón impression with his blackand-white ode to life amid the Irish Troubles, Belfast. Cuarón’s Roma landed Director, Foreign Language Film and Cinematography

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wins back in 2019, and while Belfast might not be quite as critically acclaimed as that film, Branagh is also up for Best Director and Best Cinematography, so perhaps he’ll bring home at least one trophy. As our own Cory Woodroof wrote in his review, “Branagh can’t be faulted for how sincere his film is; it’s necessary to dig deep and make a movie like this one as earnest as possible.” March 25 and 26 at the Belcourt; available for rent via Amazon Prime, Apple TV+ and more.

CODA Even if it doesn’t earn an award in any of its three categories — Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay — CODA has already made history as the first film featuring a predominantly deaf/ non-hearing lead cast to be nominated for the top prize. A remake of the 2014 French film La Famille Bélier, this one stars Emilia Jones as the titular CODA (child of deaf parents), with Troy Kotsur’s performance as her father earning the second Oscar nomination for a deaf actor in history. The first deaf actor to earn both a nomination and a win? Marlee Matlin for 1986’s Children of a Lesser God. She co-stars in CODA as the family’s matriarch. This one won the top prize at last weekend’s Producers Guild of America Awards — that award is often seen as an indicator for the Oscar frontrunner. March 25 and 26 at the Belcourt; streaming via Apple TV+.

DON’T LOOK UP Writer-director Adam McKay’s Netflixdistributed dark comedy is a divisive one.

A relatively clumsy Trump-slash-climatechange allegory with some pretty good comedic performances, Don’t Look Up, for my money, isn’t half the movie McKay’s 2015 Best Adapted Screenplay winner The Big Short is — though it probably has a better shot of winning Best Picture than McKay’s Vice did back in 2018. The Academy loves to pat itself on the back with wins for broadly topical efforts (we all remember Crash’s win in 2006), but it also has a history of tossing McKay films a single win in a lesser category, so it’s hard to see this one landing Best Picture. March 25 at the Belcourt; streaming via Netflix.

DRIVE MY CAR Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s bewilderingly beautiful Drive My Car was a close second behind The Power of the Dog in the Scene’s annual Jim Ridley Film Poll. It’s also the only foreign-language Best Picture nominee, and if it wins, it’ll be just the second non-English-language movie to do

so, after Parasite in 2020. As Parasite director Bong Joon-ho said in Korean during his Best Motion Picture — Foreign Language acceptance speech at that year’s Golden Globes, “Once you overcome the 1-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.” Hear, hear.

March 25 and 26 at the Belcourt; streaming via HBO Max.

DUNE Adapting Frank Herbert’s 1965 sciencefiction masterwork Dune is no easy task. Just ask Alejandro Jodorowsky and David Lynch.

But Denis Villeneuve not only managed to pull it off — he did it while both staying true to the source material and meticulously injecting it with his own deeply unique visual style. Outpaced only by The Power of the Dog, Dune is up for a whopping 10 awards, including Adapted Screenplay, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, and Production Design — though not Best Director or any of the acting trophies. I wouldn’t put my money on it to win Best Picture, but were that category solely judged by outstanding technical achievement, this one would be a lock. If you can see it on the big screen, do it.

March 24 and 26 at the Belcourt; streaming via HBO Max.

KING RICHARD The Academy loves a biopic, and Reinaldo Marcus Green’s film about Richard, Venus and Serena Williams is universally acclaimed. Even so, King Richard seems much more likely to pull in wins in a pair of other categories than it is for the big one — namely, Will Smith for Best Actor and “Be Alive” for Best Original Song. “Be Alive” was written and produced by Beyoncé and her fellow mononymous songwriter-performer Dixson.

But if there’s a single musician Hollywood loves more than Beyoncé, it’s Lin-Manuel Miranda, whose original Encanto composition “Dos Oruguitas” is nominated in the same category. March 26 at the Belcourt; available for rent via Amazon Prime, Apple TV+ and more.

LICORICE PIZZA Consistently spectacular writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson has a bit of an alwaysa-bridesmaid relationship with the Academy.

Licorice Pizza marks his third nomination for both Best Picture and Best Director (There Will Be Blood and Phantom Thread were up for both) and his fifth for either Adapted or Original Screenplay (Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Inherent Vice and Phantom Thread all had nods). But he’s never taken home a

trophy. This tender ode the San Fernando Valley of yesteryear is yet another beautiful, distinct, wonderfully acted entry in the PTA canon, but will it finally fetch the man a win?

I wouldn’t bet on it. March 25 at the Belcourt; available for rent via Amazon Prime, Apple TV+ and more.

NIGHTMARE ALLEY Guillermo del Toro’s cozy Old Hollywood morality tale offers one thing the 1947 version of Nightmare Alley doesn’t — GDT’s production design, which is just about the best in the game. Nightmare is indeed up for Production Design, as well as Cinematography and Costume Design, though it’s not a frontrunner in the big category. The inventive Mexican filmmaker won for Picture and Director for The Shape of Water back in 2018, however, and the Academy sure loves familiarity. Consider it a dark horse. March 26 at the Belcourt; streaming via Hulu and HBO Max.

THE POWER OF THE DOG Nominated for more Oscars than any other film this year (including nods in all of the “Big Five” categories), Jane Campion’s adaptation of novelist Thomas Savage’s 1967 Western is perhaps literally the safest bet to bring home the Best Picture Oscar — most Vegas oddsmakers have it as the likely win.

It also nabbed the Music City Film Critics Association’s Best Picture honors. It’s a beautifully crafted slow burn of a movie from the director of 1993’s The Piano, and with this Campion becomes the first woman in history to be nominated for Best Director twice. If she wins, she’ll be the third woman to do so — after Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker and Chloe Zhao for Nomadland. March 25 and 26 at the Belcourt; streaming via Netflix.

WEST SIDE STORY Remember earlier when I said if the only criterion for Best Picture were outstanding technical achievement, Dune would be a lock? Well, a strong argument could be made for the extravagant West Side Story in that regard as well. The latest astonishingly executed effort from the highest-grossing and most accomplished director in the world, Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of the 1957 stage musical is up for seven trophies. But before you think to yourself, “Spielberg is always a safe bet for Best Picture,” keep in mind that he’s won only once — for Schindler’s List — out of his 10 prior nominations. March 24 and 25 at the Belcourt; streaming via HBO Max and Disney+.

EMAIL ARTS@NASHVILLESCENE.COM

NASHVILLE SCENE | MARCH 24 – MARCH 30, 2022 | nashvillescene.com

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