365 Days of Music in Music City

Coming soon on ABC: “Nashville”. It’s a new show starring Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere. One’s a country legend. One’s an upcoming crossover hit. And the plot falls into place. “She was the queen of the charts and living her dream. But when you’re on top, you have to fight to stay there.”  A lot of it was shot here in Nashville. If you live here, you may have noticed some shooting around town – on the bridge and at the Bluebird.

The show was written by Callie Khouri, who also wrote “Thelma & Louise” and produced by Lionsgate, ABC Studios and Nashville’s own Gaylord Entertainment. It’ll show on ABC this Fall. Stay tuned!

http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/nashville/blog/all/about-nashville

The Music City Troubadours are an elite group of Nashville’s Super Fans. They get special deals, gifts, presales, invitations and overall – extra special treatment. All because they love Music City and have taken the time to join. Notice the word “time,” not “money”. It’s totally free to join. And it really doesn’t take much “time.” Just fill out your basic info (so they can send you a Membership Card) and explain why you love Nashville so much. That’s pretty much it. And you’re in. In on discounts, offers and a new friendship with Martin G. Fender, Unofficial Ambassador of GuitarTown. So, if you like Nashville. If you love Music City. And you like to be a part of a club, or a community, or a movement – join up. It’s free, and easy, and good.

http://www.visitmusiccity.com/troubadours/

On the last Friday of each month, May-August, the Frist Center for the Visual Arts throws a party – Frist Fridays. There’s live music on the lawn out back, light snacks and drinks, and a doorway to the exhibits in the galleries.
Lineup:
May 25 – Rodney Crowell
June 29 – Sam Bush
July 27 – The Band of Heathens
August 31 – The Dynamites & Charles Walker

It’s a great night out to relieve the week and enjoy food, drink, music and art – all in one place. Admission is $10. Not a bad way to start the weekend.

http://fristcenter.org/calendar-exhibitions/detail/frist-fridays

On March 29, 1985, the first “In The Round” was held featuring Thom Schuyler, Fred Knobloch, Don Schlitz and Paul Overstreet.  Fred and Don had been out drinking, came up with the idea and said, “let’s put four chairs in the middle of the room, facing each other, turn around the lights, and see what happens,” (Kurland, 2002). Turns out this was a huge hit – most of the songwriter shows at Bluebird and around Nashville are “In The Round” today. And Schuyler, Knobloch and Schlitz  still play together “In the Round” with Jelly Roll Johnson at the Bluebird pretty frequently. You should definitely check it out if you haven’t yet.

Amazing jazz vocalist, Annie Sellick, is hosting The Singing Circle this Sunday, May 20 at Bongo Java After Hours Theatre. All voices are welcome. It’s a workshop of improvisational “singing games” to explore sound, scales, ear-training, creativity, range and harmony. Learn the notes from the lovely Annie Sellick. Workshops run 1-4:30pm and are $25. The Theatre is upstairs from Bongo Java at 2007 Belmont Boulevard.

http://www.nowplayingnashville.com/event/detail/441600589/The_Singing_Circle_w_Annie_Sellick

Grammy-award winner and Nashville resident Taylor Swift has pledged $4 million to fund a new education center at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The new space will feature three classrooms and a state-of-the-art children’s exhibit gallery. Swift’s gift is the largest in the museum’s 45-year history – the new, 7500-square-foot space will be called the Taylor Swift Education Center and is scheduled to open in early 2014.

She’s got it. She’s giving it back.

http://countrymusichalloffame.org/recent-press-releases/view/1910