Tag: Nashville

WATCH: Katie Cole, “One More Time”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Katie Cole
Hometown: Living in Nashville; born in Melbourne, Australia
Song: “One More Time”
Release Date: October 21, 2022

In Their Words: “I have written my fair share of love songs and painful songs of heartache and loss. ‘One More Time’ is really a softer nod to breakups. Sometimes the passion you share isn’t enough to keep the fire going. Sometimes you are just walking different paths and can’t meet in the middle. It’s really about being brave enough to admit that no matter how much you love someone, if you know it won’t last then you should say goodbye. That way, you are cushioning the fall of what is inevitable. But it still doesn’t make it easy.” — Katie Cole

LISTEN: Justin Hiltner, “1992”

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Artist: Justin Hiltner
Hometown: Newark, Ohio; now, Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “1992”
Album: 1992
Release Date: December 9, 2022

In Their Words: “The title track for 1992 was inspired by survivor’s guilt. At the time I began writing it, I was reading And the Band Played On and spending a good amount of time studying the movement for queer rights in the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. It dawned on me that I wasn’t born after the HIV/AIDS epidemic, I was born into it. And almost certainly there were gay men and queer folks dying of HIV in the very same hospital where I was born. If I had been born a mere ten or fifteen years earlier, there’s a good chance I would have died, too. We lost so much, an entire generation; we lost so many precious, incomparable, irreplaceable souls to HIV.

“When I was diagnosed with cancer and when the COVID pandemic hit, the meaning in ‘1992’ was further unspooled and complicated. While public officials touted HIV as a learning experience that would help fight COVID, I couldn’t help but feel immense anger and pain. HIV, like COVID, is not over. HIV infection rates are on the rise in many parts of the world and in the U.S., especially the South, my home for the past decade. While society races to leave COVID in our rearview — prematurely — endangering so many folks, we forget that we did the same thing with HIV, except with an even greater degree of cruelty, inhumanity, and callousness. We haven’t learned a single lesson. That’s what ‘1992’ is about.” — Justin Hiltner

Justin Hiltner · 5 – 1992

Photo Credit: Laura E. Partain

LISTEN: Joy Oladokun with Chris Stapleton, “Sweet Symphony”

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Artist: Joy Oladokun with Chris Stapleton
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Sweet Symphony”
Release Date: September 23, 2022
Label: Amigo Records/Verve Forecast/Republic Records

In Their Words: “‘Sweet Symphony’ is a song I wrote about the love that I got to witness my parents share as a kid. It’s about the vulnerability, the fear, and the ups and downs that come from loving someone. Showing all of yourself so that someone else can accept and celebrate you is what it’s all about. I’m excited to have Chris Stapleton on this song not only because he has one of the most iconic voices on the planet, but also, he’s just an incredible songwriter, artist, and instrumentalist. I feel very lucky and honored that he wanted to be part of this song.” — Joy Oladokun

Photo of Joy Oladokun: Sophia Matinazad. Photo of Chris Stapleton: Becky Fluke

A Bluegrass Family Reunion at AmericanaFest: Photo Recap

Posted on by Shelby Williamson

Ahh it was good to be back at AmericanaFest this year. While last year’s conference felt a bit lighter than normal years, with the pandemic bringing a tentative air, 2022 felt like a bit of a family reunion as we came back in full swing, especially as BGS gathered through the week with so many of those closest to us to celebrate our 10th year. After all, BGS is nothing without our community. BGS is the community! Take a look at the gallery below for a photo recap of our week in Nashville.

We started things off on Tuesdat at a packed Station Inn for a night of bluegrass with Jason Carter and Friends, featuring special guests like Ronnie and Rob McCoury, Michael Cleveland, Ketch Secor, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Shelby Means, Kyle Tuttle, Vince Herman, and David Grier.

Wednesday brought a happy hour at the City Winery Lounge ahead of the Americana Honors and Awards that evening, as we officially celebrated 10 years of BGS (featuring a ton of birthday cake – thanks to the Cupcake Collection!) and an afternoon of music from Rainbow Girls, Willie Watson, and Kyshona.

Finally, on Friday we gathered at the Basement with our friends at Nettwerk Music Group and Taylor Guitars, with performances from Lullanas, Phillip LaRue, Brooke Annibale, Mark Wilkinson, Old Sea Brigade, and Bre Kennedy.

Photos by Steve Lowry

LISTEN: Mya Byrne, “Autumn Sun”

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Artist: Mya Byrne
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Song: “Autumn Sun”
Release Date: September 8, 2022
Record Label: Kill Rock Stars Nashville

In Their Words: “‘Autumn Sun’ was written in Berkeley, California, right after the tragic Paradise wildfire smoke cleared. That morning, the harshness of the late autumn light that had been filtered by fire completely changed, buffered and diffused by really tremendous clouds and some kind of refraction. It was the first clean air day, and turned into a very pretty afternoon. My housemates and I all said the same sorts of things about how beautiful and different the light had become as the entire Bay seemed to take a collective deep breath outside for the first time in weeks, and I wrote the song in about an hour on my back porch, a snapshot of the day and a reflection of how seasons of change change us.

“It seemed really appropriate that was gonna be the song that launches this new label — Nashville is changing, and this song is literally about that moment when you know things are about to be different, but you don’t exactly know how — yet. You just know that it’s happening. I believe in Slim Moon, and all the work KRS has historically done to support the cutting edge of music. To have been asked to be the very first artist to release on Kill Rock Stars Nashville both is an honor and demonstrates their commitment to trans women and other marginalized artists being firmly centered in Nashville, in the Americana and country community. This is also exemplified by my longtime friend Aaron Lee Tasjan recording it — he wants to use his skill set and big heart to try to move the needle for me and for other trans people. I really believe Nashville is rising to meet this moment with us.” — Mya Byrne

Photo Credit: Lauren Tabak

LISTEN: Justin Wade Tam, “The Comfort of Our Dream” (Featuring Erin Rae)

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Artist: Justin Wade Tam
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “The Comfort of Our Dream” (Feat. Erin Rae)
Release Date: September 16, 2022
Label: Soundly Music

In Their Words: “‘The Comfort of Our Dream’ was co-written with my friend Ben Cramer (of Old Sea Brigade) in his sunroom one morning last winter. We were reflecting on the beauty of the mundane moments of a committed relationship. At some point love stops being ‘flowers in the spring’ and starts being about the story you’re building together and all the ups and downs that entails.

“Ben Cramer and Owen Lewis produced ‘The Comfort of Our Dream’ at The Galt Line studios in Berry Hill, a true dream team of collaborators. We started with my guitar/vocal and then Ben added electric guitars, bass, and keys — he really set the ambient frame for the song. My dear friend Jordan Lehning then arranged a French horn part for the bridge and we ended up tracking the arrangement with Corin Dubie at Jordan’s studio. The French horn/whistle combo really took the production in the whimsical direction that I’d hoped it would go in the bridge. To round out the sound, Erin Rae kindly agreed to come sing harmony. I’m a huge fan of her work and her vocal timbre elevated the song to a whole other level. I’m incredibly grateful for this cast of super talented folks making this song special.” — Justin Wade Tam

Photo Credit: Sam Street

WATCH: Troubadour Blue, “Loved Me (Live)”

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Artist: Troubadour Blue
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Loved Me (Live)”
Album: Troubadour Blue Live EP

In Their Words: “‘Loved Me (Live)’ is the first track on our upcoming EP, Troubadour Blue Live, and we’re so excited for people to hear the song, as we feel it’s representative of our sound and just about as fun as a sad song can be! ‘Loved Me (Live)’ is a song that stares the harsh reality of lost love in the face with an air of brutal honesty. The a cappella beginning is how we like to start our live show, so it feels like the perfect first track to our debut EP. We had a ton of fun making it, and we can’t wait for the whole Live EP to drop! We’re excited to give everyone a little preview with ‘Loved Me (Live)’ — out now everywhere!” — Troubadour Blue

Photo Credit: Kurt Ozan

Basic Folk – Kyshona

Posted on by Shelby Williamson

Kyshona is an artist with a literal mission statement: “To be a voice and a vessel for those who feel lost, forgotten, silenced and are hurting.” She’s found that having this tool at her disposal gives her work meaning, especially on those nights when she’s felt like she hasn’t sold enough tickets, merch or gotten enough applause. If one person comes up to her and tells her they feel seen, she walks away feeling like she’s done her work.

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That work also includes many years of being a music therapist with mental health patients, children and those who are experiencing incarceration. Through music, she’s found that everyone has a story to tell. It is her honor and privilege to help them tell their stories.

Growing up in South Carolina, she was surrounded by music thanks to her father and grandfather’s musical groups. She was classically trained on the piano and also the oboe, which she compares to a human voice. After receiving a music scholarship, she found her way to the field of music therapy and found so much purpose and meaning. After graduating from University of Georgia and working as a music therapist, she found her own way to her songwriting in order to keep a separation from her work. She’s released several solo albums, most notably, her 2020 album Listen, whose title track made waves in the Americana world. Recently, she’s released three singles leading us to highly anticipate her next full length. Enjoy the wise and delightful Kyshona!

Editor’s note: Kyshona will be a part of BGS’ 10th Anniversary Happy Hour celebration at Nashville’s City Winery Lounge as part of Americanafest on Wednesday September 14, along with Willie Watson and Rainbow Girls.

Photo Credit: Nora Canfield

LISTEN: Will Hoge, “It’s Just You”

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Artist: Will Hoge
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “It’s Just You”
Album: Wings On My Shoes
Label: EDLO Records/Soundly Music

In Their Words: “It’s the only co-write on the album. Adam Landry and I connected for that one. It was in the depths of COVID where you couldn’t be inside with people, or within 6 feet and all, so we sat outside and wrote on my back porch. It was so nice to connect with an old friend and write a song with real joy in it even in those really dark times. … I didn’t realize how much this touring lifestyle had afforded me a certain level of built-in vulnerability and connection with people. Normally, you get into a van with a group of musicians, and you naturally hang out during the weeks that follow, and there’s a communal aspect. There’s a feeling of being connected. I’d gotten used to that, and without it, I went through something of a nervous breakdown. I needed to recenter myself. … I always want to embrace change — to accept new things artistically — but at the end of the day, I can try to run from this idea that I love good, guitar-based rock & roll music, or I can wear that badge of honor. I’m in the ‘wearing the badge of honor’ phase now.” — Will Hoge

Photo Credit: Katie Kauss

Coming to AMERICANAFEST? Don’t Miss These Parties Presented by BGS

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If you’re headed to Nashville this month for AMERICANAFEST, prepare for more than 175 official artists, insightful industry panels, and yes… parties! Please join The Bluegrass Situation as we present some one-of-a kind moments this year.

Tuesday, September 13 (8-11 p.m.): On the festival’s kickoff night, fiddler extraordinaire Jason Carter will gather an all-star lineup of friends and guests at Station Inn, to perform songs from his upcoming solo album. Look for appearances from David Grier, Michael Cleveland, The Travelin’ McCourys, Vince Herman, and some superb surprises. Presented by The Bluegrass Situation in partnership with Resounding Strategies. All conference and festival passholders welcome.

Wednesday, September 14 (3-5 p.m.): Have you heard? BGS turned 10 this year! To commemorate the occasion, we are raising a glass of sparkling wine in the cozy confines of City Winery Lounge. In between bites of birthday cake, visit with the BGS team and hear acoustic music by Kyshona, Rainbow Girls, and Willie Watson. Drop by on your way to the Americana Honors & Awards. All conference and festival passholders welcome.

Friday, September 16 (1-5 p.m.): Nettwerk Music Group, The Bluegrass Situation & Taylor Guitars present an afternoon of special performances at The Basement. Check out Nashville’s own Bre Kennedy and Old Sea Brigade, along with The Ballroom Thieves, LULLANAS, Brooke Annibale, and Mark Wilkinson at The Basement. Free drinks & food from Delicias Colombianas RR Food Truck! All conference and festival passholders welcome. The public may RSVP here.