Buzzed about singer-songwriter Morgan Wade, who grew up surrounded by bluegrass while possessing an affinity for pop and rock, has set her full-length debut Reckless for March 19.

“I feel like the last couple of years have been me trying to figure out where I fit in, who I fit in with, and what’s going on,” Wade says. “When I wrote these songs, I was going through a lot, just trying to figure out who I am.”

She worked alongside producer Sadler Vaden (longtime guitarist for Jason Isbell and an acclaimed solo artist) and engineer Paul Ebersold. They collaborated on the project over the course of two separate weeks in the studio, shaping songs Wade had written over the years and also developing brand new tracks, including “Wilder Days,” which she has released.

“It honestly just came together perfectly in the studio,” Wade says. “Sadler and I had the same visions for how ‘Wilder Days’ should sound. We even went for ice cream after—we were that pleased.”

Reckless Track List:
1. Wilder Days (Morgan Wade, Sadler Vaden)
2. Matches and Metaphors (Morgan Wade, Sadler Vaden)
3. Other Side (Morgan Wade)
4. Don’t Cry (Morgan Wade, Paul Ebersold)
5. Mend (Morgan Wade, Paul Ebersold)
6. Last Cigarette (Morgan Wade, Sadler Vaden, Paul Ebersold)
7. Take Me Away (Morgan Wade)
8. Reckless (Morgan Wade, Sadler Vaden)
9. Northern Air (Morgan Wade, Sadler Vaden)
10. Met You (Morgan Wade)

Skip Ewing (c) with The Kinkead Entertainment Agency’s Bob Kinkead (l) and Greg Scott (r). Photo: Keith Griner

Skip Ewing has signed with The Kinkead Entertainment Agency for booking.

The Music City Grand Prix announced today (Jan. 26) the formation of its inaugural advisory board. Musicians Kix Brooks and John Oates were named as members of the board.  CAA’s Rod Essig, Vector Management’s Ken Levitan, and Nashville Predators/Bridgestone Arena’s David Kells also represent the Nashville music business on the inaugural board.

The Music City Grand Prix Advisory Board aims to bring to life a best-in-class festival, featuring racing, food and music, this coming August. Ultimately, this volunteer board’s goal is to position The Music City Grand Prix as a mainstay in the Nashville sports and entertainment landscape, creating an annual event. The three-day festival is scheduled for August 6-8, 2021 in Nashville.

The inaugural Music City Grand Prix Advisory Board leaders:
– Kix Brooks, Hall of Fame Singer/Songwriter and Entertainer
– Heather Brown, PhD, Professor, MTSU School of Concrete and Construction Management
– Toby Compton, Deputy Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance, Chairperson of the Nashville Sports Council
– Chaz Corzine, Partner, The MWS Group
– Yuri Cunza, President & CEO, Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
– Rod Essig, Co-Head, CAA Nashville
– Jenneen Kaufman, SVP & CFO, Tennessee Titans/Nissan Stadium
– Monica Fawknotson, Executive Director, Nashville Sports Authority
– Shan Foster, VP External Affairs, YWCA, Executive Director of Amend Together
– Harrison Frist, President of Market Operations, NaviHealth
– Rose Grindstaff, President, G&M Consulting
– Don Hardin, President & CEO, Don Hardin Group Construction
– David Kells, EVP, Entertainment and Venues, Nashville Predators/Bridgestone Arena
– Ken Levitan, Co-President, Vector Management
– John Oates, Hall of Fame Singer/Songwriter, Racing Enthusiast

“We are grateful for the support of our advisory board and look forward to working with them to host an incredible event in August that showcases Music City as an international sporting and entertainment destination,” said Christian Parker, president of the Music City Grand Prix. “Every board member has an established track record of success. More importantly, they have also made an impact in our community, through outreach, engagement, and charitable endeavors, making Music City a better place to live, work, and play for all Nashvillians. We are proud to work closely with them on charitable initiatives, such as affordable housing, child wellness and STEM programs that will provide a positive, long-term impact on our community.”

Several live entertainment companies joined together in a letter to President Biden, formally offering their venues, staff, and expertise to the COVID-19 vaccination effort.

The companies included in the letter are: AEG, Bandit Lites, Broadway League, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), Live Nation, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), the National Independent Talent Organization (NITO), the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), Oak View Group (OVG), and We Make Events.

With thousands of empty venues throughout America, and furloughed staff, these companies feel that they are up to the task of acting as vaccination centers.

“While we have been effectively shuttered by the pandemic, we have vast resources that, if fully utilized, could provide invaluable mechanisms in our country’s vaccine distribution. In fact because we are shuttered, we are able to offer the full weight of our industry to support vaccine distribution beginning immediately,” the letter reads.

The letter, dated Jan. 26, 2021, is in full below:

Dear Mr. President,

Congratulations to you and Vice President Harris on an inauguration signifying the unity and hope necessary to move America forward. As you set about achieving the ambitious goal of vaccinating 100 million Americans in 100 days, we wish to offer the full support and resources of the live event industry. We share your vision of expedient, equitable, and widespread vaccine distribution. It is our duty, as businesses rooted in communities across the nation, to do our part to set America on a positive path during this time of crisis. We stand ready to work with Federal and State governments to save lives and get America back to work and school.

We represent businesses, workers and entertainers that make up the majority of the live event industry. While we have been effectively shuttered by the pandemic, we have vast resources that, if fully utilized, could provide invaluable mechanisms in our country’s vaccine distribution. In fact because we are shuttered, we are able to offer the full weight of our industry to support vaccine distribution beginning immediately.

We are here to help. In fact, many venues are already working on the State and Local level to implement vaccine programs. Our industry has thousands of venues throughout America that are under mandated closures and sitting empty. Event venues make ideal community vaccination sites: they are located in most urban, suburban and rural communities, often near transit lines and with easy access to parking. Our interiors are clear span with bright work lights and empty standard refrigeration systems. Due to the nature of our business, our buildings and workforce are accustomed to patron queuing and crowd management.

Live events is one of the best prepared, best equipped, most experienced industries in America to manage and control large crowds in a rapid, organized fashion. Moving people in, out, and around a public gathering space swiftly and safely is the foundation of our industry. Additionally, our familiarity using ticketing systems for advanced notification, timed entry and crowd management can greatly improve patient experience before and during vaccination as well as on-site management. There are several thousand companies in the live event industry which own the equipment and infrastructure required to build vaccination sites. An estimated 95% of live events industry businesses and workers have lost nearly 100% of their revenue, and are ready and willing to get to work immediately. These organizations can design, deliver, and manage the infrastructure as well as the people needed to staff them.

We have been closed for nearly one full year to protect public health. Please let us now go to work to protect public health. We share your goal to get America back to work, school and in gathering places of all kinds quickly and safely. We are ready to meet to discuss how we can help as soon as you and your staff are able.”