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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
Summer means sun, yes. It means getting outside, tossing the frisbee for the dog, getting out on the water. In fact, I think I can say that summer in Nashville may just about beat out any other city around.
Definitely one of the biggest reasons is all the incredible music events and festivals we get during the summer. And maybe the granddaddy of them all is right around the corner ― the CMA Music Festival from June 11-14.
This one is a true monster of an event. It’s got the stellar lineup of artists. Are you a fan of Trace Adkins, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, Wynonna, Brooks & Dunn, or Reba McEntire? How about the Bellamy Brothers, Martina McBride, Neal McCoy, or Little Big Town? Well, then you best get tickets.
Get a four-day pass and free shuttles will run you back and forth to all the venues: LP Field, Riverfront Park, the Exhibit Hall, and the Family Zone/Sports Zone.
I have a colleague here at the hotel who is always giving me a bad time about being a country fan. He is more your rock dude. More cowbell, he always says. So I’m always trying to find country artists he likes too.
A recent one he couldn’t deny is Patsy Cline. At first, he tried to tell me she wasn’t country. Ha. So for his birthday Dora and I got him two tickets to Always…Patsy Cline at the Ryman. We saw it already last month and thought it was great.
I guess you could call it a musical play. It follows her friendship with a fan from Houston in the 60s who she kept up a correspondence with over the years. It’s funny and moving in spots and full of a lot of her great music.
The show runs until May 23 and I think may make my best case with that friend that country music don’t need no cowbell at all.
OK, so here’s the deal. This month is what we call Awesome April around here. And there are so many music events going on during the month that it’s impossible to write about all of them. So, here are a few teasers to get you started.
First, get your spiritual groove on and hit Gospel Music Week, with more than 100 musical performances, panels, and workshops. It runs April 18-22.
And then on the last Saturday in April, the 25th, head over to Centennial Park for the Country Music Marathon and half Marathon. There will be 50 bands playing on 27 stages.
You better take some days off work. You could be busy this month.
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.
to check it out. On Thursdays, at Public Square Plaza, you can listen to great music, FREE, at 
