Blackberry Smoke Donate $15,000 at Atlanta Show

Blackberry Smoke performed a sold-out homecoming show at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Friday (Nov. 27), where they donated $15,000 to CURE Childhood Cancer and $15,000 to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

The money was raised through the sale of VIP Meet & Greet packages at their 2015 shows. This latest donation brings the total given by the band to childhood cancer non-profits and research to more than $130,000 over the past three years.

Blackberry Smoke’s desire to give was inspired by Lana Turner, the daughter of drummer Brit Turner, who was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma at the age of 3. Thanks to the care she received from the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, she made a complete recovery and is now a happy and healthy 8-year-old. This year’s donations will be used to fund pediatric cancer research that will impact children throughout the Southeast region and beyond.

“We are so moved and appreciative to receive these funds from such a fantastic rock band which understands the crisis of childhood cancer after traveling the journey with the Turner family,” said Kristin Connor, Executive Director of CURE Childhood Cancer. “It means so much that Blackberry Smoke shares our mission to eradicate pediatric cancer in our lifetime.”

 

Luke Bryan Shakes the Salvation Army Kettle

Luke Bryan took the stage at AT&T Stadium on Thanksgiving (Nov. 26) to kick off The Salvation Army’s 125th Red Kettle Campaign with a halftime performance on CBS during the Dallas Cowboys game against the Carolina Panthers.

The campaign officially began with the halftime performance and the inaugural Red Kettle donation from Jerry Jones, owner and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys, and his family. Since teaming up in 1997, the collaboration of The Salvation Army and the Dallas Cowboys has raised more than $2 billion for the Red Kettle campaign, which provides America’s most vulnerable with food, shelter and other support throughout the year.

 

Women Rock for the Cure Sets Fundraising Concert

Lucie Silvas, Nathan Barlowe, Heather Morgan and Caitlyn Smith will participate in a fundraiser for Women Rock for the Cure on Dec. 8 at 3rd & Lindsley. Billed as “A Pink Evening,” the show will begin at 7:30 p.m. Women Rocks for the Cure works to build awareness and provide outreach programs through the power of the entertainment industry. All proceeds benefit the organization’s outreach efforts, including the Young Survivors Retreat, which brings together young women diagnosed with breast cancer.

This week, five rising artists will get the opportunity to record original music in one of Nashville’s premier recording facilities, thanks to the previously announced Converse Rubber Tracks pop-up studio experience by Converse Inc.

For the first of three pop-up experiences in Nashville, the following five Nashville artists were selected: five piece “indie-surf” group Kristoff Waltz, hip-hop artist Mike Floss, three-piece rock group Hans Condor, singer-songwriter Emily Hackett, and sibling rock trio Music Band. Artists of all ages and genres were invited to apply.

The artists will record at top-shelf Nashville recording facility Grand Victor Sound Studio (formerly known as RCA Studio A) this week. Following the recordings, the artists will retain all rights to their music.

The program will return to Nashville with two additional, week-long pop-up studios in 2016.

“This week marks the first Converse Rubber Tracks pop-up experience in Nashville and we’re excited to work with local artists who truly represent the city’s talent,” said Jed Lewis, Converse Global Music Marketing Director. “We’ve seen huge success with the program worldwide, and we hope to be useful to the next generation of emerging artists here in ‘Music City.’”

Born out of the desire to give back to the global music community and encourage creativity, Converse Rubber Tracks seeks opportunities to provide resources to emerging artists around the world who may not have the means to afford studio time. Since the program’s start four years ago, Converse has brought the Converse Rubber Tracks experience to spirited music cities including San Francisco, Boston, Los Angeles, Austin, Toronto, Montreal, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Mexico City, Barcelona, and many more, giving over 1,600 emerging musicians valuable recording time at state-of-the-art studios with a team of experienced engineers, at no cost to the artists.

Jack White’s Third Man Records returns home to Detroit with a new second outpost based at 441 West Canfield Street in the city’s historic Cass Corridor. The building once housed the Willys-Overland Motor Company in the early 20th century. White launched Third Man Records in Detroit in 2001, and in 2009 opened its current Nashville location, which houses a record store, novelties lounge, label offices, distribution center, photo studio and more.

The Detroit space, which opened on Nov. 27, is home to Third Man Records’ second retail space, as well as Third Man Vinyl Record Pressing. The multi-use space also features Third Man Books Nook, a live music space (including music from the Third Man Records House Band, The Syncopators), and a listening booth that includes Third Man Records’ entire catalog.

Visitors can record their own 6″ record in the second of two Third Man Recording Booths (the first still resides in Third Man Records’ Nashville flagship location), and The Impossible Photo Booth, which allows visitors to shoot using “Impossible Duochrome Black & Yellow film,” made for Third Man Records by The Impossible Project.

There is also a Ride Mini Topsy, a motorized elephant scooter “to take smalls and talls alike for a spin around the store,” according to a statement.

“We are humbled to be in a position where we can return to the town that started it all, and absolutely thrilled for what the future holds for Third Man Records Cass Corridor. Thank you, Detroit.”