In the era of music sharing and downloading there is a severe lack of interest in bars or clubs where live, local music is booked.

This, says Mikki Drury, is a sad state of affairs and one she works diligently to correct by promoting and booking local acts and working with venues to ensure those acts can be heard and respected.

Drury heads Murfreesboro-based Tuscany Gothic Artist Resource Group, a booking group which also offers live and studio photography, press kit compilation, promotion services, management advice and even catering.

“We work with any music style. You name it, we do it, or network with someone who can,” Drury said.

Drury has successfully created 4 to 10 shows a month in Murfreesboro since May of this year in venues such as The Boro Bar & Grill, Temptation Club and Bluesboro.

“We’ve been told that the bands we bring in are most impressive, and even recently [regarding the Straight Dope Cherry, Pavilion and Dirty Holidays show at The Boro Bar & Grill, and the Michael Ledbetter band, Sugar Vibe and Golden Gears show at Bluesboro] that the music played was some of the best the venues have heard in awhile,” Drury said, adding recreating the social aspect of the local live music scene is another goal of the group.

TG started working with Murfreesboro bands Sugar Vibe, Pavilion, Once a Thief, Hybris, Downfall and Dipolar, and that has led to over 200 Tennessee bands that Drury and intern Rich McCune work with now, most still from Murfreesboro. TG’s next show, titled “Give Thanks To Metal,” will be held Nov. 15 at Bluesboro. Bands include Immortal Avenger (Richmond, VA), Unclean (Nashville), Bellicose (Nashville), and Enfold Darkness (Brentwood/Murfreesboro).

“Simply put, this one’s going to rock!” McCune said. “There will be Xbox games, the metal bands, and free beer from 8:30-10:30 p.m. for only a
$10 cover.”

For more information, visit myspace.com/
tuscanygothicarg.