Nashville Event: Adam Lambert

Believe me or don’t: I was persuaded/coerced, by my friend Lisa, into writing about the upcoming Adam Lambert show at the Ryman Auditorium. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not much of an American Idol fan, didn’t even know he didn’t win (seems like he’s gotten as much or more attention than any of the AI winners), but anyone with ears can tell that this guy’s got chops. I wanted to check out some of Lambert’s earlier work (so I’d know what I was talking about, at least a little), bee-lined it to ever-reliable youtube.com. For a young guy, he’s got himself quite a resume.

Seems he’s been singing and dancing since he was a wee lad (sans guyliner and lacquered nails), belting it everywhere from amateur theater productions and his high school graduation ceremony to nightclubs and a touring production of Wicked. Hey, Lisa—still got that extra ticket?

Later,

Dane

You really can’t imagine how challenging this is: Writing a short monthly post about what to do and see in a city like Nashville. In any given month there are more concerts, music festivals and even non-music events than just about anywhere in the country.

Suffice to say, there’s just too much to say. So, I’ll tell you what I’m most looking forward to. Tonight, at the Ryman Auditorium, one of my old favorites is teaming up with someone who will likely soon be added to that select list. You know Neil Young (one of the best live shows you could hope for), but you may not be familiar with Bert Jansch. He’s a Scottish folk singer/songwriter and really worth a listen. Hope to see you there.

Later,

Dane

There is so much going on in Nashville this month; it’s a little something  we like to call Awesome April. For the fifth straight year, the city promises at least one major event each weekend, with plenty more to choose from throughout the month. And the really cool thing is, it’s not just concerts. There are great films, exhibits, sporting events; you can even be in the audience of a big radio show.

Start things off by catching the tail end of the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, at venues all over the city. There’s no way for me to name everything you should see and do, but you’re crazy if you miss the Nashville Film Festival, the taping of The Prairie Home Companion, David Sedaris, Roy Clark, The Crawfish Boil, Bon Jovi, or the half marathon. Oh, and did I forget to mention Miss Aretha Franklin? Yeah, like I said, awesome.

Later,

Dane

Just in case you think that all I listen to is country music and honky tonk, I’m here to tell you that my tastes are far broader than that. That’s right; Dora and I are going to see one of the old masters at Andrew Jackson Hall (a great venue, BTW) on the fifth of November. I’ve been listening to Leonard Cohen for decades, can’t believe he’s coming our way.

I bought Songs of Love and Hate in my teens, after a girl broke up with me, and I knew Leonard knew how I felt. I defy you to listen to “Hallelujah,” one of his all-time bests (off of Various Positions), and not choke up a bit. And, Cohen isn’t just an amazing singer/songwriter—the guy writes poetry, novels, even spent a long time at a Buddhist monastery. Hey, he’s everybody’s man.

Dane

One of the only things that makes the end of summer in Nashville less painful is that fall brings October, and October means Oktoberfest – a great event anywhere, but Nashville does it right. The big one is in Germantown, of course, and is hosted by Church of the Assumption and Monroe Street United Methodist Church. It’s free and is one of Nashville’s best.

There’s live music on three stages, including Die Musik Meisters, Music City Swing, Steff Mahan Band, and Ted Guillaum, polka dancing, street performers, arts and crafts booths. There’s “Fun Land” for the kids and a tour of historic churches (for those who like that sort of thing). Last year there were also some booths with some cool German antiques, something I haven’t seen before.

Saving the best for last, there’s all that German food and beer. Give me a grilled bratwurst on a fresh-baked roll with spicy mustard, a stein of pilsner, fresh-baked streudel for dessert, and I got no complaints.

Dane

I can’t believe I haven’t mentioned this green Nashville music event yet, and now there are only two more nights (Oct. 1 and to check it out. On Thursdays, at Public Square Plaza, you can listen to great music, FREE, at Live On The Green. If you haven’t seen Public Square Plaza yet, it’s worth going for that alone.

The Plaza is as green as they come. It’s a 2.25-acre green roof on top of a five-level underground parking garage. It has its own irrigation system, using 50,000+ gallons of collected rainwater. In keeping with the theme, the concert series has incorporated several environmentally conscious elements: Nothing is sold in plastic bottles, a free bike-check is available, leftover food is being composted—you get the picture.

And, oh yeah, the music. October 1 is Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Maureen Murphy and October 8 is Citizen Cope, Ricky Young, Next Big Nashville. It’s never been so easy to go green.

Dane

I’ve been going to the state fair since I was knee high to a grasshopper. Never did I think I’d see the day when the fair became hip. OK, I should reserve judgment until I’ve been there, done that, but the hype definitely seems to suggest my fair has modernized some.

I look forward to the usual shenanigans: racing pigs, mule pulling, cow milking, sorghum making, all the cooking competitions. But get a load of what you’ve missed if you haven’t been to the fair in a while: a Family Fun Zone, footprints you can follow all over the fairgrounds to all kinds of surprises; Kid’s country for youngsters; and Game Hype Experience with Wii, Xbox360, and Ps3 games. There’s even a Guitar Hero Competition.

And it wouldn’t be 2009 if the event wasn’t in on the environmental movement, so check out the Greenway Energy Expo. Throw in 4-H, Volunteer Village, ALL-YOU-CAN-RIDE wristbands, and you’ve got yourself a better than fair fair.

Dane

September’s tough. Seems like all the good stuff happens just over Labor Day Weekend. Makes sense: Three days, that end-of-summer feeling, the kids heading back to school. So, there’s lots to do, and choices to be made.

But, if you’re a music fan like me, it might be a bit easier. If you head to Riverfront Park on Sept. 5-6, that’s where you’ll find me and Dora: at the Music City Jazz, Blues & Heritage Festival. Held on the banks of the Cumberland River, it’s a great venue that’s also truly family friendly (children under 12 are free).

As usual, there’s a great line-up, including Boney James, Con Funk Shun, Diane Marino, Minister DeWitt Johnson, and many more. Bring your lawn chair and settle in to enjoy the art, food, and drink booths. Oh, and yeah, the music. Thank you, summer. It’s been nice knowing ya.

Dane

On August 7, Dora and I headed over to the Frist Center for a night of theater, film, and art. The evening began with a presentation from the Nashville Opera, discussing their production of The Fall of the House of Usher, coming this fall. Soprano Sabrina Warren, followed up the presentation by singing excerpts from the opera.

Next, we took in a screening of the film Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts, chronicling the life of the extraordinary conductor. The documentary was directed by the Academy Award nominated director of Shine, Scott Hicks.

Lastly, we checked out the Chuck Close exhibit. OK, I’ve talked about this one before, but he was a friend of Glass’s and Close is actually featured throughout the film.

And, did I mention that the whole shebang is free?

Dane

Any guy that owns a banjo (me) is a bona fide member of the bluegrass nation. But even if you don’t, and maybe you just own the “O Brother Where Art Thou?” soundtrack, the Ryman has a great summer series for you.

It’s called “Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman” and runs every Thursday at 7:30 through July. That makes for a total of six great shows, including some really big-name artists like Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, and the Dan Tyminski Band. First up is Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver and Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper on June 25th.

The Ryman is a fitting place for the series as it played a key role in the birth of bluegrass. It was there that on a Saturday night in December 1945 a 21-year-old Earl Scruggs stepped to the WSM microphone on the Ryman stage playing a five-string banjo with a three-finger roll. And so bluegrass was born.

Dane