Tin Pan South 2025 Wraps After Hosting 12,000 Fans At Over 100 Shows

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ERNEST and Lukas Nelson at The Listening Room Cafe (Jack Daniel’s Stage). Photo: NSAI / LL

The 33rd annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival wrapped another stellar year after welcoming over 12,000 fans March 25-29.

The annual event hosted 105 shows, many sold-out, as songwriters took center stage to showcase their talents and support NSAI’s mission to advocate, educate, celebrate and elevate the profession of songwriting.

The event serves as “reunion” for songwriters, where last-minute lineup additions and surprise guest appearances are part of the tradition, adding to the excitement of the week. Surprise appearances included Lukas Nelson, Abby Anderson and Morgan Evans, along with several songwriters who had already performed in earlier rounds, joining their friends on stage to extend their time at the festival.

Melissa Etheridge, Ashley McBryde, and Shelly Fairchild at The Listening Room Cafe (Jack Daniel’s Stage). Photo: Tom Turk

The shows featured a wide variety of genres and songs spanning decades. Fans were transported back to the Top 40 rock of the ’90s as they joined Melissa Etheridge for her first-ever writers round, performing alongside Ashley McBryde and Shelly Fairchild at The Listening Room Cafe (Jack Daniel’s Stage). Meanwhile, at another performance at 3rd and Lindsley (Visit Music City Stage), fans were treated to a live rendition of the No. 1 hit “I’m Gonna Love You,” performed by co-writer Kelly Archer, in a round that also featured Lee Thomas Miller and Wendell Mobley.

Fans of Nashville got to relive their favorite TV drama through songs when Charles Esten led a round featuring writers from the hit show. Performers included Jaida Dreyer, Andrew Rollins, Trent Dabbs, Buddy Miller and Arum Rae.

Lee Thomas Miller (NSAI Board President), Kelly Archer and Wendell Mobley performing at 3rd and Lindsley (Visit Music City Stage). Photo: NSAI / Chance Phebus

Ticket holders who attended shows at AB Hillsboro Village (Nashville Scene Stage) throughout the week enjoyed singing along to hit pop songs like “Sorry Not Sorry” (Demi Lovato) and “Here” (Alessia Cara) with Pynk Beard, Oak Felder, Austin Nivarel and Dave Pittenger. The venue was also filled with country classics like “Carrying Your Love With Me” and “Carried Away” (George Strait), as well as “Every Mile a Memory” (Dierks Bentley), all co-written by Steve Bogard, who performed alongside KK Johnson, Ben Roberts and Sam Williams.

A new venue this year, Love & Exile in East Nashville hosted folk rock songwriter Judah Akers of Judah and the Lion, as well as outlaw country artist Struggle Jennings, American Idol alumni Chayce Beckham and HunterGirl and several hit country writers.

NSAI will host the 34th annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival on March 24-28, 2026.

Jaida Dreyer and Charles Esten at the Alive Hospice Benefit show at 3rd and Lindsley (Visit Music City Stage). Photo: NSAI / Chance Phebus

Pynk Beard, Dave Pittenger, Austin Nivarel, and Oak Felder at AB Hillsboro Village (Nashville Scene Stage). Photo: NSAI / LL

Struggle Jennings and The Heartwreckers at Love & Exile Bar. Photo: Jason Davis

Lorie Hollabaugh
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