Music Supervisors At Nashville Film Festival

Music supervisors join the Nashville Film Festival’s Music Committee at the 2018 festival. 

 

Thompson Square Previews New Album ‘Masterpiece’

BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
Chapter 592

Country Music Hall of Fame exhibit-opening parties are not generally noted for their rowdy behavior.

But Thursday evening’s (May 24) event was punctuated by plenty of yee-haws and war-whoops. This was because of the presence of huge contingent of party-hearty Texans. In fact, they outnumbered the rather more sedate and conventional Nashville attendees.

The ruckus started when museum CEO Kyle Young greeted them: “Welcome to all of you and a special, special greeting for all the folks who have come here from the great state of Texas!” That’s all they needed to hear for them to erupt in the first round of whoo-hoos.

“Tonight, we have a museum exhibit unlike any other. It’s called ‘Outlaws & Armadillos: Country’s Roaring ‘70s.’ This is an exhibit about one time and two places.”

Attendees Marshall Chapman and Michael Martin Murphey were apt representatives of the Music City and Austin music scenes of the era. The event’s music was provided by a similar mix – Shooter Jennings, Jessi Colter and Joe Ely.

“Nashville needed Texas artists,” Young commented. “Texas needed Nashville. And we need each other more than ever. Both are rooted in the love of art and music. This exhibit leads to understanding, and understanding leads to appreciation.

“Together, we have arrived at an exhibit that will delight and surprise at every turn.”

Although nearly overwhelmed by the vast Texas contingent, Music City attendees included Tony Brown, Ward Davis, Steve Popovich Jr., Shawn Camp, Americana Song of the Year nominee Waylon Payne, Garth Fundis, Melanie Howard, Heidi Ray, newly hired museum VP Brenda Colladay, Kay West, Denise Stiff, Kyle Lehning, Riders in the Sky’s Fred LaBour, Lance Cowan, Mary Matthews, Mike Milom, “outlaws” documentary filmmaker Eric Geadelmann (the co-curator), Tomi Lunsford, Patsy Bradley, Rob Santos, Tom Roland, the still ubiquitous Charlie Monk, Michael Bevington, David Preston, Abby White and Tim Wipperman.

The exhibit owes some of its color to a fine selection of Austin and Armadillo World Headquarters posters. The Exit/In scene in Nashville is also highlighted.

Among the “surprises” in the exhibit that Young referred to are Tom T. Hall’s whiskey still, Guy Clark’s Randall Knife, Ely’s circus uniform, Colter’s leather dress, film footage of Steve Young, Willie Nelson’s sneakers, Susanna Clark’s evocative paintings that became album-jacket illustrations, Kris Kristofferson’s army uniform, a Jack Clement guitar and a number of ultra-cool Waylon Jennings artifacts.

Attendees Shooter and Dave Cobb are co-producing the star-studded, sold-out CMA Theater concert that kicks off the “Outlaws & Armadillos” show on Friday (May 25). Its lineup includes Colter, Ely, Murphey, Bobby Bare, Billy Joe Shaver, Kimmie Rhodes, Delbert McClinton, Gary P. Nunn, Tanya Tucker, Jason Isbell, Jack Ingram, Ashley Monroe, Jamey Johnson and Colter Wall, many of whom attended Thursday’s festivities, as well.

 

Striking Matches, Charlie Worsham, and Lucie Silvas are all set to perform at the Second Annual Innovation in Music Awards on Sunday, June 3 at the Westin Hotel in Nashville. The evening’s festivities, which honor the industry’s brightest risk takers and creative thinkers, will begin with a cocktail reception, followed by a dinner and the awards ceremony. Some surprises are also in store for the night, including a can’t-miss performance by one of today’s biggest country acts.

Presenters at this year’s IMA gala will include iHeartMedia’s nationally syndicated radio host, Bobby Bones, President of Opry Entertainment Group, Steve Buchanan, and Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum.

The evening will also feature a keynote address from David Macias, inaugural Innovation in Music, Executive Award winner. Grammy Award-winning producer Macias co-founded Thirty Tigers in 2002 with Deb Markland, and in just over a decade, the company has gone from two employees working out of Macias’ guest bedroom to thirty employees, most of whom work of their Nashville office. Thirty Tigers also has offices in Los Angeles, New York, North Carolina and London.

“The IMA has a simple and steadfast mission of finding and exulting innovation wherever it’s happening in our industry; Charlie, Lucie, and Striking Matches shine with the cutting edge of innovative performance,” said IMA Executive Producer and co-founder, John Ettinger. “David Macias has become one of Nashville’s most compelling characters, with a sense of imagination for what can be accomplished outside the normal path. I cannot wait to hear his angles on innovation.”

Tickets to this year’s event at the Westin Hotel are available here.

ASCAP Gives Back At Room In The Inn

Inspired by Country Music Hall of Fame member and lifelong ASCAP songwriter Don Schlitz, who performs every week at Room In The Inn, ASCAP features songwriters to perform at the shelter once a month throughout 2018, while ASCAP staff volunteer to serve the guests.

In May, the series featured hit songwriter Mark Irwin (“Here in the Real World,” “Highway Don’t Care”), who will also lead the upcoming ASCAP Foundation Garth Brooks Country Songwriters Workshop at the ASCAP Nashville office May 29-31. ASCAP’s Kele Currier and Robert Filhart were on hand to serve the guests at Room In The Inn alongside staff and volunteers.

Room In The Inn’s mission is to provide programs that emphasize human development and recovery through education, self-help and work, centered in community and long term support for those who call the streets of Nashville home.

 

 

BMI Celebrates Rooftop On The Row