Inaugural No Ka ‘Oi Songwriters Festival Lights Up South Maui
Pictured (L-R, seated): Jeffrey Steele, Jessi Alexander, Randy Houser, Kassi Ashton and Brad Warren; (L-R, standing): Storme Warren, Dan Goodfellow, Lukas Nelson, Claudia Goodfellow, Derick Sebastian, Jerry Flowers, Preston Cooper and Jared Keim
The inaugural No Ka ‘Oi Songwriters Festival took place Nov. 7-9 in south Maui. The tropical event combined exclusive performances, business collaboration, and philanthropy, with proceeds benefiting LeLe Aloha and the Maui Family YMCA Music Program. Songwriters participating included Jeffrey Steele, Jessi Alexander, Randy Houser, Kassi Ashton, Brad Warren, Jared Keim and more.
Kristin Wilkinson Spotlighted in Country Music Hall Of Fame’s Nashville Cats Program
Kristin Wilkinson and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Writer-Editor Jon Freeman at the museum. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum recently featured classically trained violist Kristin Wilkinson in its in-depth interview series Nashville Cats, which showcases musicians and session singers who have played important roles in support of artists in the studio or on tour.
Wilkinson is one of Nashville’s most in-demand string arrangers and has hundreds of credits on country, rock and pop projects since the 1980s. As an arranger, Wilkinson has contributed to recordings with Kenny Chesney, Steve Earle, Trisha Yearwood and Willie Nelson. She has worked with artists such as Brandi Carlile, Regina Spektor and Chris Stapleton on live shows. The program was moderated by museum Writer-Editor Jon Freeman, and following the interview, Jake Kiszka, Bill Miller and Larry Paxton joined Wilkinson onstage for a brief performance.
Randy Rogers Band Delivers Deliver Donation For Scholarship Fund During KASE 100.7’s Friendsgiving
Pictured (L-R): Jason Mellard, Director of the Center for Texas Music History; Anne Hudson, KASE; Kelly Damphousse, President – Texas State University; Randy Rogers and Alek Halverson, KASE. Photo: Justin Rice
The Randy Rogers Band took the stage during KASE 100.7’s Friendsgiving at the Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos, Texas on Nov. 13 to present a check for The Kent Finlay Legacy Endowed Scholarship in Texas Music History and the Tommy Foote Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The star-studded event also included performances from Jon Pardi, William Beckmann, Tucker Wetmore, Priscilla Block and Austin Snell. The funds raised from Cheatham Street Warehouse’s 50th Anniversary Street Party (Oct. 20), brought in $37,500 for each fund for a total of $75,000 raised.
Bryana Cielo Joins National Independent Venue Association As Admin Manager
Bryana Cielo
Bryana Cielo recently joined the National Independent Venue Association as Administrative Manager. Cielo came to Nashville in 2021 as a Programming and Media Coordinator for Circle Network, the Grand Ole Opry’s TV network. Most recently, Cielo worked for CMT as Leslie Fram and Margaret Comeaux’s Executive Assistant, working across the talent and production teams.
In her new role reporting to NIVA Executive Director Stephen Parker and working from Nashville, Cielo will support NIVA’s administrative operations and project manage NIVA’s efforts to support independent venues all over the country and NIVA’s advocacy at the federal, state and local levels.
Megan Danielle Inks With Provident Entertainment
Megan Danielle Signs with Provident Entertainment, Managed by Hsquared Management and booking with Jeff Roberts Agency
Singer-songwriter Megan Danielle has signed with Provident Entertainment. The 2023 American Idol runner-up has released her first label debut single “When I Found You.” She has also been featured on songs with Ben Fuller (“If I Got Jesus”) and Sidewalk Prophets (“Looking Up”).
“We are thrilled to have Megan join the family of creators at Provident Entertainment,” says Provident Entertainment’s President Holly Zabka. “The moment I heard her on American Idol, I fell in love with her sweet spirit and the way her voice draws you into the emotion of a song.”
Visionary Media Group, The Pack Shack, Lipscomb & Convoy of Hope Team To Pack 200,000 Meals for Hurricane Victims
Representatives of Visionary Media Group, The Pack Shack, Convoy of Hope and Lipscomb University; including Candice McQueen, Lipscomb University President and Brent Roe-Hall, Dean of Student Life for Spiritual Formation
Over 400 volunteers gathered at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena to pack 200,000 meals sponsored by Visionary Media Group and set up by The Pack Shack. The meals, delivered overnight by Convoy of Hope, will serve people in areas impacted by recent hurricanes. The event started with country duo O.N.E The Duo ringing the opening gong to kick off the pack and ended with a loaded Convoy of Hope semi-truck driving to East Tennessee, North Carolina and Florida.
