Tin Pan South 2016: Night 1

Regions City President Jim Schmitz with Kelsea Ballerini prior to her sold-out round at The Listening Room Cafe late show.

Opening night of the 24th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival Presented by Regions Bank welcomed artists and music fans for several packed performances across Nashville.

Fans began lining up at 3:30 p.m. to see Kelsea Ballerini join her co-writers Josh Kerr, Scott Stepakoff and Forest Glen Whitehead at The Listening Room Café for a 9 p.m. round. Natalie Hemby also joined Kelsea on stage for a duet. Patrons packed a new Tin Pan South venue, The Country, to see Jessi Alexander, Maddie & Tae, Jonathan Singleton and Josh Thompson. The club was equally packed for the late show with Doobie Brothers’ Tom Johnston, John Cowan, Lara Johnston and Paul Overstreet, who added an even more humorous verse to his Blake Shelton hit “Some Beach.”

“Eye of the Tiger” Jim Peterik offered stories and song during the Whiskey Rhythm late show with Collin Raye, Keith Burns and Joie Scott. Jeffrey Steele and friends rocked Hard Rock, and The Bluebird Café was wall-to-wall packed for both the CMA Songwriters Series early show and the “Songs and Shenanigans” late show.

In two “you never know who might show up” moments, Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine was spotted in the crowd at the Commodore Grille “Notcha Mamma’s Country” show. Fresh off his ACM Awards Show performance, Chris Young took in the shows at new Tin Pan South venue Whiskey Rhythm. Young’s “Think Of You” duet partner Cassadee Pope also made a guest appearance at D0uglas Corner Cafe to sing “Wastin’ All These Tears.”

Country Music Hall of Famer Bobby Bare at the Bluebird Cafe CMA Songwriters Series early show.

Maddie & Tae’s Tae Dye and Maddie Marlow at The Country early show.

Hit producer and songwriter Buddy Cannon at The Bluebird Cafe CMA Songwriters Series early show.

Pictured (L-R): James Slater, Paul Overstreet, NSAI’s Bart Herbison, Regions Bank’s Brian O’Meara, Tom Johnston, Lara Johnston, John Cowan and Regions Bank’s Lisa Harless at The Country late show.

Did last night really happen?! ? I will never forget how it felt to sit in the circle alongside these precious people. @wrabel @k.floyd @alitamposi @songsofthesanderosa @cassadeepope @tinpansouth @loricpope #nashville #tinpansouth #songwriter #song @nsaiofficial

A photo posted by Jamie Floyd (@jamiefloyd) on Apr 6, 2016 at 8:51am PDT

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Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.

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