Hayden Coffman
Lately, the creative industry has really had to live up to its name. Some local venues have upped the creativity level with a few new takes on their jam plans, making for events worth watching even while many who are listening remain jammed in at home.
Among those who are improvising solutions is Ridenour Rehearsal Studios. In riding out Murfreesboro’s musical silent treatment during shutdowns related to COVID-19, Ridenour has helped offset the lack of in-person audiences with performances streamed live, straight from its stage onto Facebook. These interactive full length-shows have allowed for requests and opened up the opportunity for artists to earn tips via Venmo. Some have brought in more than 20,000 views. Chris Taylor, Kyle Elliot and Hayden Coffman (a talent contest winner who has played with the Grand Ole Opry’s house band and opened for many acclaimed artists including Aaron Tippin at Ridenour back in November), all took part in these party-from-a-distance soirées.
Nearby, Linebaugh Library has turned a page and has mixed things up as well, offering online story times and book readings, and even free music selections through their Hoopla Bonus Borrows program. The Center for the Arts has taken up virtual reading as well, so if your offspring have taken to acting out then it might be time to get your collective act together and give CFTA’s Tuesday and Thursday night Facebook Live story time, featuring Center actors, a try.
With a lively lead-in of “From every edge of Music City, from some of the finest bedrooms and basements in town . . .” by renowned announcer Keith Bilbrey, WMOT 89.5 Roots Radio put on a “Live from Quarantine” edition of the beloved Music City Roots program. Benefiting the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund and still available on Facebook and YouTube, the evening featured music from host Jim Lauderdale, Lillie Mae, John Oates, Sam Bush and Sierra Hull with Justin Moses.
Points also go out to The Nashville Palace and its neighboring “sister” Scoreboard Bar and Grill. Both have made a sound business out of serving up in-house performances from artists including Pam Miller, Leith Loftin, Joe Denim, Nikki Nelson, Cody Joe Hodges, an around-the-campfire show from Palace mainstays Whiskey Wolves of the West and other tip-worthy opportunities during April 2020 to online patrons.
With the Opry House just down the road from these two venues, it would be remiss not to pause and make mention of the grand tradition of the Grand Ole Opry and the fact that live Saturday night broadcasts of the revered institution have played on in a scaled-down format over radio, streaming video, and even television (locally on WSMV).
MTSU grad turned cafe-namesake turned Nashville Star turned country music superstar Chris Young recently joined in on the streaming trend too, but with a tasty twist. Young and Sony Music partnered with Cracker Barrel to turn the “jam” up a notch, encouraging viewers of a special performance to donate meals to hospital workers. Through May 12, for each $10 e-gift card purchased (at crackerbarrel.com/comfort) Cracker Barrel promises to donate a meal to a hospital worker.
Middle Tennessee resident and SiriusXM radio host Storme Warren oversaw recent Stagecoach virtual replacement “Stagecouch,” even offering an enthusiastic inside look at the so-called campground and festivities map of the XM- and Instagram-based weekend shindig featuring Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Jon Pardi, Ashley McBryde and Thomas Rhett among others.
The rumor is that organizers of Uncle Dave Macon Days, Murfreesboro’s big annual celebration of bluegrass, have discussed joining the realm of online concert experiences and say they will release more details on a virtual Roots Rendezvous in the coming months.
While the building remains closed to the public, The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has moved its weekly Songwriter Sessions program to an Instagram Live format. Just like the on-location sessions, participants will still be able to ask questions of the songwriters and hear stories behind the songs. MTSU grad Eric Paslay is the featured writer on May 5, with other sessions for the month featuring Brandy Clark, Charlie Worsham and Don Schlitz. Find archived sessions at countrymusichalloffame.org.
Bottom line: It’s OK to jam to a jamboree in your jammies.
