Next Big Nashville Music Festival is in October

America's Country Music Capital Holds Annual Rock 'n Roll Blowout

Aug 27, 2009

Nashville, Tennessee is called America's "Music City." That means all kinds of music, not just country. In October, indie rock rules at city-wide "Next Big Nashville."

Say "Nashville," and music lovers think of the Grand Ole Opry, Dolly Parton, honky-tonks on Broadway, and the Country Music Hall of Fame. And that's just for starters. But Nashville bands aren't just twanging country music, and come fall, indie rock takes over. The city's bars, music venues, clubs, and dives are filled with the sounds of tomorrow's potential stars as the indie rock festival, "Next New Nashville" gets underway.

What's a rock and roll blowout doing in a good ole' country town? In fact, Nashville bands have a long history of incubating music in all genres. Bob Dylan, Buddy Holly, Simon and Garfunkel, Neil Young, Paul McCartney, and Janis Ian are just some of the big name pop and rock starts who have stopped to work and record here. Not to mention Elvis.

The festival has grown so much that one week in Nashville alone can't contain it all. Next Big Nashville events have started to take place in other venues and weeks, and have included a spring singer-songwriter showcase at Nashville's the famed Bluebird Cafe, where Nashville songwriters vie to get their songs in front of an audience, as well as a series of performances and showcases as far away as Austin, Texas.

The festival includes more than 200 performers, who are selected earlier in the summer. Applications are open to artists world-wide, but draw a large number of Nashville bands. Consistent with the festival's initial intent to celebrate Nashville's musical tradition and artists, applicants with a connection to the Nashville music scene have an edge, but the festival has been broadening its scope and is mostly looking for great music, no matter where it's from.

While bands who have lived, worked, or played music in "America's Music City" have an advantage when applying, the festival is moving in the direction of a less local feel. Major international artists participate, giving Next Big Nashville a unique variety, ranging from unsigned solo singer songwriters to bands that have contracts with major recording labels.

Performers play in more than a dozen of the city's venues. More than 15,000 people are expected to attend. Events are spread in clubs, bars, and performance spaces around the city, and each act gets a set. On any given night, audiences can see up to a half-dozen acts, and move freely between the different venues, many of which are quite close to each other.

The festival also includes a conference element, comprising daytime lectures, workshops, and sessions on issues affecting the music industry.

Next Big Nashville Practicalities: Tickets, Dates, Shuttle Buses

The 2009 dates of the third annual event are Wednesday, October 7 through Saturday October 11.

Tickets for Next Big Nashville are sold via four-day wristbands. In addition, single-event tickets are available for a few showcase performances. The regular wristband pass ($40) lets the wearer into all the showcases and after-show parties; the VIP pass ($100) includes the day-time music industry conferences as well.

A really nice final touch: Most of the events are in easy-to-get-to downtown venues, but a free shuttle buses run every 15 minutes during the performances, and after the after-hours parties, too.

The copyright of the article Next Big Nashville Music Festival is in October in Tennessee Travel is owned by Karen Berger. Permission to republish Next Big Nashville Music Festival is in October in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.