Kerstie Wolaver
Students bust out their boots for Dairy Science Club’s Line Dance Night
Country music blared from a DJ booth located atop a flatbed trailer. MTSU students kicked, stomped and shook their way across the floor of the Tennessee Livestock Center. At the Dairy Science Club’s second annual Line Dancing Night on Thursday, everyone’s inner boot-scooter was unleashed.
Kicking off at 6 p.m., students piled onto the TLC’s small animal floor sporting blue jeans, boots and cowboy hats. Weary dancers refreshed themselves between songs with snacks and bottled water, presented on tables draped in cow print tablecloths. On another side of the room, the club displayed their trailer, complete with a statue of a dairy cow surrounded by a white picket fence with a “MTSU Farms Dairy Science Club” sign.
About last year: Diana Street looks to the past and future at first anniversary show
As the sun set behind the trees at 1507 Diana Street Saturday night, music fans drifted into the backyard that is now a staple in the music world of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Diana Street, the house-turned-music hub, celebrated its first anniversary with performances from Caroline Bowling, Lilly Hart and BReal. The venue also hosted Sid’s Vintage and Pain in Sin, locally owned thrift pop-ups that have often clothed the fans of Diana Street.
Old Crow Medicine Show rocks Robert’s Western World like a you-know-what with surprise AmericanaFest set
Nashville’s Lower Broadway lit up Wednesday afternoon when Old Crow Medicine Show took the stage at Robert’s Western World to play a pop-up show during the 25th anniversary of the Americana Music Association.
The band gathered in the crowded bar room to commemorate 25 years of Americana, Broadway institution Robert’s and the band itself. The show also marked a celebration of the band’s 2023 album “Jubilee.”
Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked: Cage the Elephant returns to the stage after five-year hiatus
On Sept. 1, fans entered Ascend Amphitheater in droves, bedecked in maxi skirts and excessive jewelry, the audience dressed the part and seemed giddy with anticipation of the Nashville-based main act to come.
Following four diverse opening acts and an antsy intermission, Cage the Elephant finally took the stage at 9:30 p.m., opening the long-awaited set with “Broken Boy.”
Frontman Matt Shultz rolled onto stage on a scooter with a broken foot, but not a broken spirit. Even with limited mobility, Shultz held the audience in the palm of his hand throughout the hour-and-a-half long set.
The Red Clay Strays electrify at three-night headline debut at the Ryman
With cowboy hats atop their heads and drinks in hand, a rowdy Wednesday night crowd filled the pews of the Ryman Auditorium to experience a night of boot-stomping, guitar-strumming good old American country rock music.
Mobile, Alabama natives The Red Clay Strays kicked off a three-night run in downtown Nashville with their feverish tune “Ramblin’,” quickly bringing the auditorium to its feet. Dressed in slick pants, button down shirts and at least one pair of snakeskin boots, the six-piece’s suave attire perfectly represented the blend of old-fashioned gospel music and sounds of Southern rock that were to come.
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard bring psychedelia to Music City at Ascend Amphitheater
On Aug. 31, fans decked in overalls, long flowing dresses and tie-dye ignored the country music filling the bars and honky-tonks of Downtown Nashville. Down by the Cumberland River, a psychedelic night full of music unfolded.
A rain-drenched crowd poured into Ascend Amphitheater to prepare for the grand spectacle of acid rock band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. The downpour didn’t damper the spirits of eager fans waiting to experience the genre-bending group.
Simple as a weathervane: Jason Isbell returns to Bonnaroo with his band the 400 Unit
Some years, Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival often ends with rowdy crowds ready to party for one more night, drunk with excitement from the past weekend.
This year, rather than raving or moshing, the crowd belted heartfelt songs with thick Southern accents as Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit closed out the Which Stage.
Isbell, a 45-year-old Americana singer-songwriter from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, kicked off Sunday at 8:30 p.m., after a brief rain delay, with his backing band, the 400 Unit. With the sun setting behind the crowd and the hot air becoming cooler, Isbell took the Bonnaroo stage dressed in all black and showing a bright smile.
Bonnaroo opening day: Good vibes (and Gwar) kick off this year on The Farm
Johnson City Press
While many spend Thursday working in an office or from home, Bonnaroovians flooded into Great Stage Park in Manchester, Tennessee, known better as The Farm, ready to bask in the sun, dig into dusty fields and soak up good vibes.
Gates opened to Bonnaroo at noon Thursday. While many campers arrived days earlier, music kicked off in the early afternoon hours, ahead of anticipated performances from Post Malone, Jason Isbell, Chappell Roan and the Red Hot Chili Peppers later this weekend. In its 22nd year, Bonnaroo runs through Sunday.
‘Embrace the suck’: Bonnaroo pit lines aren’t for fickle festival-goers
Middle Tennessee State University Sidelines
At Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee, some festivalgoers line up for front-row access to the stage hours before music begins.
Called the “pit” line, this general admission gathering is home to the most dedicated fans. Not everyone can wait for 12 hours in cloudless, 90-degree weather, breathing in endless dust to see their favorite artist. Those who endure the wait earn some of the best views on The Farm, often better than high-dollar VIP tickets.
From queer representation to mental health recovery, here’s what fueled the dedication of these diehard fans on Saturday at Bonnaroo.
Rock isn’t dead, you’re just not looking hard enough
“Rock ‘n’ Roll is dead,” critics might say. Many skeptics claim the genre that has prevailed over many decades is finally coming to its end.
One of the most impactful genres in the music industry is without a doubt, rock.
What exactly is rock music? Some may answer this question with a band like the Beatles, others would say Led Zeppelin, while some will even say KISS or AC/DC. No matter which of these you resonate with, they all come from a common beginning. Rock music has been influenced by so many genres that came before it.
From gospel music to soul, from jazz to country to rhythm and blues, there are so many elements that led to the birth of the rock music that many think of today.
Guitarists such as the iconic Stevie Ray Vaughan influenced many musicians of today, including John Mayer, who introduced an entire group of people to the music of the Grateful Dead when he began touring with Dead and Company.
It is acts such as Dead and Company that connect young audiences with the music of generations past, keeping rock alive and well for the foreseeable future.
Dead and Company also keep the jam band scene alive by inspiring acts such as Mt Joy and Goose, who often cover the Grateful Dead. Many young fans have also found love for acts such as Phish, who have been touring for over two decades. Also contributing to the continuation of psychedelic rock today is King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, who have been feeding fans with new music since 2010.
Still, some young listeners might say, “I don’t know, I think rock is kind of dead.”
I say that rock isn’t dead, fans just need to know where to search
Bonnaroo opening day: Good vibes (and Gwar) kick off this year on The Farm
While many spend Thursday working in an office or from home, Bonnaroovians flooded into Great Stage Park in Manchester, Tennessee, known better as The Farm, ready to bask in the sun, dig into dusty fields and soak up good vibes.
Gates opened to Bonnaroo at noon Thursday. While many campers arrived days earlier, music kicked off in the early afternoon hours, ahead of anticipated performances from Post Malone, Jason Isbell, Chappell Roan and the Red Hot Chili Peppers later this weekend. In its 22nd year, Bonnaroo runs through Sunday.
Five most influential women in rock
Being a woman in the music industry is no easy feat. But for decades, women of all genres have been paving the way for future artists in the industry.
This list of five women who have been especially influential on rock spans across decades as these women each have their own role to play in the industry. All of these women were starters, firsts, and overall, artists who would set the tone for a multitude of musicians in the future.
The Soul Show highlights gifted student artists for second year
The Soul Show made its return to Middle Tennessee State University for a second year, a beautiful tribute to Black artists throughout history who have made a monumental impact on the music industry.
The acts for this year’s show include a lineup of talented MTSU students Monte, KAY-T and The Soul Collective. All of these artists expressed enthusiasm about playing this show.
The best part?
"Its the music, man."
Sole Ventures: College students turning shoes into serious profits
In a townhouse garage somewhere in Rutherford County, three young entrepreneurs are hard at work. Where normally a car would be protected from the elements, Jake Schwankhart, Noah Kopecky and Eli Wurzelbacher tend to their growing business, selling sneakers to customers from Florida to California.