Maren Morris wrapped up her “Humble Quest Tour” by making her headlining debut at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Friday night (Dec. 2).

Britteny Spencer and Ruston Kelly served as support and kicked off the show, giving all of us audience members the first tasting of the immense talent we would continue to consume throughout the evening.

Spencer’s soothing vocals cleansed our palates musically with her performance, including a beautiful rendition of “one of [her] favorite songs” that “brought [her] to country music,” The Chicks’ “Cowboy Take Me Away,” which is featured on her recently released EP If I Ever Get There: A Day At Blackbird Studio. Kelly then took the stage, accompanied by his band, which included both his sister Abigail and his father Tim. Kelly’s band warmed up the arena with his alternative country sound through songs such as “Mockingbird,” a teaser for his yet-to-be-released record, and acoustic versions of Wheatus’ “Teenage Dirtbag” and Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well.”

The beginning notes of “The Furthest Thing” echoed through the iconic venue as Morris’ band walked parallel to the greenery sprouting horizontally across center stage. Bright sunset-colored lights beamed down the middle, shining on the left and right trees nestled within the greens as Morris made her entrance. She grabbed her brown guitar to perform her record-breaking single “Circles Around This Town,” pumping everyone up with the head-bopping tune. Her husband, singer-songwriter Ryan Hurd, then joined her for “I Can’t Love You Anymore.” The couple put their pure love on full display, jamming out and gazing into each others’ eyes while Morris jingled a tambourine.

“This is truly just astounding to me. I’ve been in this room many times and I’ve sat at a bar across the street from this room many times. I’ve performed in here, I’ve opened for people in here, I’ve won awards, I’ve lost awards [in Bridgestone]. Today was the first time I got to walk in here and know that it was my stage. I can’t tell you what that means to me and for you to be here,” shared Morris.

“This is the last show of the tour, so it felt appropriate to end it here at my doorstep. Next month, I will have lived in Nashville for 10 years, and I was just telling my family and team backstage that we really didn’t skip any milestones. I went from playing rounds at Belcourt Taps, to little bars, to The Basement East, The Ryman, Ascend [Amphitheater], and now, here. It’s been so rewarding to see you every step of the way.”

The crowd sang and swayed alongside the country-pop star during “80s Mercedes,” and continued to do so as she performed “I Wish I Was,” and strummed her gleaming white guitar for “Girl.” Morris gave all of us the mic, pointing it toward the audience for the first chorus-verse of her six-time Platinum hit “The Middle” with Zedd. She called Hurd back to the stage for the couple’s No. 1 duet “Chasing After You,” showcasing their genuine connection once again.

“Motherhood is humbling. The pandemic humbled us,” Morris stated. “This [arena] is a place of love. Everything about the last few years, few weeks, few months, whatever it may be, was humbling. Thank you guys for meeting me at the station each time. This song is about that,” she continued as she began to perform tour- and album-title track “Humble Quest.” She followed with another Humble Quest track, “Background Music,” proving her extensive vocal range as she chanted the lyrics.

She welcomed fellow Highwomen members Amanda Shires and Natalie Hemby, while acknowledging the absence of group member Brandi Carlile. Spencer returned to the stage alongside Sheryl Crow to join the group for their track “Redesigning Women,” their voices blending together to powerfully project the song and its message.

“After the pandemic, let’s all be grateful we can be in a crowded room together,” said Hemby as the group as eased into “Crowded Table.”

Morris threw it back with her Gold-certified single and one of her first No. 1 hits “I Could Use A Love Song,” the stands matching her volume as they sang along. Returning to recent work, she humorously introduced track “Tall Guys,” which fully exhibited not only her lovely vocal stylings but those of her background singers as well. She followed by rewinding again, but did it solo this time. With just her and her guitar, she serenaded the crowd with “Once,” a song she co-wrote and produced with the late Busbee.

Morris then came back to her latest project, reuniting with her band for “Detour,” referring to it as “one of [her] favorites on [Humble Quest].” Pausing in the middle of “Rich,” Morris introduced each of her skilled band members, including bass player Annie Clements who is nine-months pregnant.

The special guest appearances continued as Morris melted into a glittery harmony with Kristin Chenoweth during Wicked duet “For Good.” Following her performance of “Good Friends,” she united with Hozier for “The Bones.”

“It’s been so great watching [Morris] from the side—watching somebody this young, this talented, and this gracious tonight. I’m proud of her,” exclaimed Chenoweth.

“I know there’s a lot of aspiring songwriters in the crowd tonight. I’ve been to many shows here, and I just want to say that there’s so many talent people in this room, in this town, and in line ahead of you that it’s okay to just wait. The waiting makes the fruit so much sweeter,” advised Morris

Morris went out with a bang, giving an exhilarating performance of “My Church,” as well as an encore consisting of “What Would This World Do?” alongside Hurd.

“Thank you Nashville, thank you so so much. I’m going to go write more songs so we can do this again,” stated a teary-eyed Morris in closing.

The Country to Country Festival (C2C) has revealed the second wave of artists appearing in 2023, which includes the addition of Australian singer-songwriter Morgan Evans.

Tyler Braden, Caylee Hammack and Alana Springsteen will perform on the Introducing Nashville stage in an acoustic songwriters round, sharing the stories behind their songs.

Meanwhile, the C2C Spotlight Stage will host performances in between main stage sets, showcasing performances from Amanda Shires, Ashley Cooke, Corey Kent, Drake Milligan, Elvie Shane, Kameron Marlowe, MacKenzie Porter, Madeline Edwards and Sam Williams. Homegrown star Kezia Gill will make a special appearance on the Glasgow Spotlight Stage only.

The newly-announced artists will join Zac Brown Band,Thomas Rhett, Lady A, Midland, Jordan Davis, Old Crow Medicine Show, Lainey Wilson and Mitchell Tenpenny alongside prolific performers Lindsay Ell and Matt Stell. In London, Breland will open C2C and will co-host the festival across the weekend with Bob Harris OBE.

C2C 2023 will take place at The O2 London, 3Arena Dublin and The OVO Hydro, Glasgow from March 10-12.

BBR Music Group has elevated Scotty O’Brien to Vice President of Promotion, Marketing SXM Radio.

With previous experience as Dir./Southeast Regional Promotion, O’Brien will continue to serve as the Broken Bow Records southeast regional promotion representative in his new role while overseeing SXM airplay for all BBRMG imprints, producing syndicated content and developing overall promotion and marketing strategies for those platforms for artists across the label group.

O’Brien joined Broken Bow Records in 2011 following stops at Cumulus, iHeart, ABC Radio & more. Nominated multiple times for Regional of the Year by Country Aircheck and Country Radio Seminar, O’Brien has contributed to over 40 No. 1s during his time with BBRMG.

“Scotty’s unique approach and tireless work ethic make him ideal for this promotion,” shares SVP/Promotion BBR Music Group, Carson James. “He has been driving key relationships such as Sirius XM for years so this is due recognition of a role he has already been filling from his pure passion for our artists.”

SVP BBR Music Group, JoJamie Hahr adds, “Scotty is innovative and engaging. He knows how to identify strategic needs and find creative solutions. Through his curiosity and insatiable hunger to promote and further the career of our incredible artists, he has carved out a valuable role that elevates his skill set and sets him apart as a leader in the company.”

O’Brien can be reached at scotty@brokenbowrecords.com.

Eric Church and real estate and hospitality entrepreneur Ben Weprin have offered a first look at Church’s new bar, restaurant, and live music venue, Chief’s, set to open in downtown Nashville in 2023.

Situated at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Broadway in the former Cotton Eyed Joe building, Chief’s is designed to pay homage to various chapters in the entertainer’s life. The new establishment will feature a ticketed venue for live shows, plus additional live entertainment throughout the building, with more than 3,000 concert posters from throughout Church’s career papering the ground floor. It will also contain a studio for live broadcasting featuring Church’s Outsiders Radio SiriusXM channel, as well as broadcasts by various media partners.

Chief’s also taps into Church’s Carolina roots through a partnership with James Beard Award Winning Pitmaster Rodney Scott. His restaurant, Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ, will overlook downtown with its Hell of a Q rooftop offering.

“I’ve had a blast working with Ben on the design of Chief’s,” says Church. “Like everything we do with our music, the same care and consideration has gone into every detail of this place. It will be unrivaled downtown. I can’t wait to play here.”

“Chief’s is an example of impactful design storytelling at its finest,” says Weprin, CEO and Founder of AJ Capital Partners. “We are excited to bring an experience unparalleled in the world of music, food, and entertainment to the heart of Broadway with one of the most storied properties downtown has seen. Through Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ, two seated music venues and a meaningful design, Chief’s is a physical manifestation to Eric Church and his musical legacy.”

AIMP Nashville Celebrates 2022 Accomplishments At Annual Fall Party

The AIMP Nashville Chapter held its Fall Party on Nov. 29 at Never Never in Nashville.

Offering cocktails and camaraderie, the event gathered AIMP Nashville members to celebrate the year’s accomplishments. The Chapter also announced the results of its 2023-2024 Board of Directors election, which will be revealed publicly soon.

 

Morris Higham Management’s “Songs For A Cause” Returns For Bluebird Show

Morris Higham Management’s “Songs for a Cause” songwriter series returned on Nov. 30 for a sold-out show at the historic Bluebird Cafe. The evening featured performances from Matt Jenkins, Derek George, Will Bundy, and Johnny Dailey. Throughout the night, $2,500 was raised with proceeds benefitting Music Health Alliance.

“We are incredibly grateful to Morris Higham, City National Bank, and The Bluebird Cafe for creating this special evening of music to benefit Music Health Alliance,” shares Tatum Allsep, Founder and CEO of Music Health Alliance. “We are so happy this series is back and grateful for their support as we heal the music.”

The return of the series follows five prior events, which have collectively raised over $10,000 for various industry charities, including CMA Foundation, MusicCares, ACM Lifting Lives, The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Phran Galante Fund for Lung Cancer Research. The “Songs for a Cause” series will continue in 2023.

 

Sav Buist Nabs Grand Prize At 27th Annual USA Songwriting Competition

Nashville songwriter Sav Buist recently won the Overall Grand Prize and the first prize of the Folk category at the 27th Annual USA Songwriting Competition with her song “The Line.”

Buist, who serves as one third of the indie folk rock trio The Accidentals, is a singer-songwriter, recording engineer, and multi-instrumentalist hailing from Music City by way of Traverse City, Michigan. She was one of the 2021 Kerrville New Folk winners, as well as the 2022 Songwriter Serenade winner. Additionally, her song, “Wildfire,” co-written with Katie Larson and Kim Richey, was the No. 1 song of the year at Folk Radio in 2021.

“I am truly honored that ‘The Line’ won the USA Songwriting Grand Prize. Ironically, I wrote ‘The Line’ at a low point, when I was having a hard time finding the words. It’s a culmination of all the unwanted voices in my head,” Buist explains. “Winning this contest is validation that good things can come from hard things and that tomorrow can be better than today. So thankful that this song resonated with the judges of the USA Songwriter Competition this year. I hope it resonates similarly with anyone who needs a nudge to keep moving.”

The overall second prize went to Kevin Stroud and Marc Alan Barnette of Wichita Falls, Texas for their song “Dance in Heaven.” The overall third prize went to Matty Gottesman from Los Angeles for his song “Sleepless Summer.”

 

Scotty Cameron Earns 2023 Steve Ferguson CRS Scholarship

Scotty Cameron, PD/MD for KKMV-FM (Rupert, ID) and a MusicRow reporter, has been selected as the recipient of the 2023 Steve Ferguson CRS Scholarship. He will receive a paid registration to attend CRS in Nashville this coming March.

Cameron has been with Kat Kountry / 106.1 KKMV since 2004, beginning his career under the mentorship of Charlie Michaels. Working his way into a full-time position, he was ultimately tapped for the morning show, where he’s since served as the host of “Scotty in the Morning.”

“My favorite thing about what I do is the relationships I form with our listeners, clients, and those in the music industry,” Cameron explains. “Working through the pandemic and helping listeners find the information they needed during a tough time really brought home to me how important local radio is.”

Spearheaded by Nashville’s GrassRoots Promotion, the annual scholarship was established to honor the enduring legacy of longtime WTHO PD Steve Ferguson, who passed away in 2018. In announcing the selection of the 2023 recipient, the review committee noted that “Scotty Cameron’s connection to his local community and passion for country music were evident in his submission. He shares the values that the Steve Ferguson Award represents and we are excited to welcome him to Nashville in March.”