Tin Pan South Kicks Off With Craig Wiseman, Madeline Merlo, Ruston Kelly, More

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Craig Wiseman. Photo: Courtesy of NSAI

Tin Pan South 2025 hosted its first two nights on Tuesday (March 25) and Wednesday (March 26), bringing songwriters together for the staple NSAI event. 11 venues around Nashville are hosting songwriters rounds this years, with two shows taking place at each venue most nights.

The first round of shows took place on Tuesday. Rounds included Cooper Alan, Dalton Davis, Brad Tursi and Allison Veltz-Cruz at 3rd and Lindsley, Ronnie Bowman, Rob Hatch and Jerrod Niemann at AB Hillsboro, Mia Fieldes, Ben Glover and Matthew West at Analog Hutton Hotel, Jason Matthews, Leslie Satcher and Jamie Teachenor at The Bluebird and Bonnie Baker, Raquel Cole, Makena Hartlin, Emma Klein and Olivia Rudeen at the Commodore Grille.

Also hosting opening rounds to the festival was Cross-Eyed Critters Watering Hole with Jacob Hackworth, Jackson Nance and Heath Warren, The Hard Rock with Ruston Kelly, Madeline Merlo, Gabriella Rose and Emily Weisband, The Listening Room with Travis Denning, Noah Hicks, Matt Mulhare and Cole Taylor, City Winery with Chuck Cannon, James Dean Hicks and Will Robinson, Love & Exile with Chayce Beckham, Drew Kennedy and Logan Wall, and Station Inn with Will Nance, Mitch Ogelsby, Bruce Wallace and Brian White.

Madeline Merlo. Photo: Courtesy of NSAI

The second rounds of night one featured performances from Bob DiPiero, Tony Mullins, Jeffrey Steele and Craig Wiseman at 3rd and Lindsley presented by Y’all 106.7, Dustin Christiansen, Jaida Dreyer, Kylie Frey and Mando Saenz at AB Hillsboro, Daniel Ethridge, Rose Falcon, Josh Melton and Billy Montana at Analog Hutton Hotel, Aaron Barker, Jim Collins and Larry Gatlin at The Bluebird and Clara Park, Jenn Schott and Scott Stepakoff at Cross-Eyed Critters Watering Hole.

Also closing out night one was Drew Baldridge and Jordan Minton at Hard Rock, Sara Bares, Ross Copperman, Blake Pendergrass and verygently at The Listening Room, Ethan Hulse, David Leonard and Matt Maher at City Winery, Grant Averill, Darius Coleman, Luke Niccoli and Rudey at Love & Exile and Aaron Armstrong, Dillon Carmichael, Jake Mitchell and Michael Whitworth at Station Inn.

Night two didn’t slow down with the slew of hitmakers and rising songwriters, with first rounds including Dwan Hill, Jesse Labelle and Nick Schwarz at Commodore Grille, Walt Aldridge, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Jeff Trott and Dave Turnbull at The Listening Room, presented by ASCAP, Cameron Bedell, Nick Boyd and Nick Donley at AB Hillsboro, Andrew DeRoberts, Chris DeStefano, Joe Fox and Kendell Marvel at Analog Hutton Hotel, presented by SESAC, and Grady Block, Rocky Block, Hank Compton and Brock Phillips at the Hard Rock.

Ruston Kelly. Photo: Courtesy of NSAI

Also participating in the 6pm hour rounds last night (March 27) was Dave Cohen, Jay Knowles and Makayla Lynn at The Bluebird, Jonathan Hutcherson, Mia Mantia, Chase McDaniel and Steve Moakler at City Winery, Rhett Akins, Trannie Anderson, Jeff Hyde and Wyatt McCubbin at 3rd and Lindsley, presented by BMI, Jason Duke, Jason Massey and Keesy Timmer at Cross-Eyed Critters Watering Hole, Brennley Brown, Lance Carpenter and Richie McDonald at Station Inn, and Terri Jo Box, Justin Ebach, Dan Marshall and Amy Stroup at Love & Exile.

For the second round of shows on Wednesday, attendees saw rounds from Leah Blevins, Clint Daniels and Anslee Davidson at Cross-Eyed Critters Watering Hole, Kassi Ashton, Barry Dean, Luke Laird and Travis Wood at 3rd and Lindsley, Judah Akers, Abbey Cone, In Color and Brian Macdonald at Love & Exile, Olivia Faye, The Kentucky Gentlemen, Mary Kutter and Tyra Madison at AB Hillsboro, Joseph Patton, Andrew Peebles, Brett Sheroky, Colton Venner and Dan Wilson at Commodore Grille.

Closing out night two also was Sophie Gault, Gabe Lee and Zach Meadows at The Bluebird, Chaparelle, Trent Dabbs, Matt Koziol and Scoot Teasley at Hard Rock, presented by Lightning 100, Breland, David Fanning and Travis Heidelman at The Listening Room, Dan Alley, Reid Haughton and Kasey Tyndall at Station Inn, Liz Hengber, Tony Lucca, Frank Maroney and Steve Williams at City Winery, and Jerry Flowers, Michael Lotten and Trevor Rosen at Analog Hutton Hotel.

Tin Pan South continues tonight (March 27) with performances from Eric Paslay, Jonathan Sherwood, Dan Smalley, JT Harding, Ben Williams, Chrissy Metz, Scotty Hasting, Laci Kaye Booth, Jordan Harvey, Ashley Gorley, Rob Ragosta, Benjy Davis, Kelly Archer, Kayley Green, Lydia Vaughan and more.

Gabriella Rose. Photo: Courtesy of NSAI

Cooper Alan. Photo: Courtesy of NSAI

Travis Denning. Photo: Courtesy of NSAI

Sara Bares. Photo: Courtesy of NSAI

Brad Tursi. Photo: Courtesy of NSAI

Ronnie Bowman. Photo: Courtesy of NSAI

Photo: Courtesy of NSAI

Madison Hahnen
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