AmericanaFest: Northern Lights and Universal Put on Spectacular Show at City Winery

Northern Lights / Universal Music Artist in the Round

Thursday Afternoon at City Winery

By MCAU Correspondent Wil Comstock

NASHVILLE — Brandy Clark, an artist in her own right, has had songs recorded by Sheryl Crow, The Band Perry, Reba McEntire, and Darius Rucker to name a few.  In 2014, she won the CMA’s song of the year for  “Follow Your Arrow,” recorded by Kacey Musgraves.  This afternoon, she treated us to her Grammy win for Best Americana Performance of “Dear Insecurity,” transparent and beautiful.  

Brandy said she heard that people die twice, the day they physically die, and the day people stop talking about them. She grew up in a small Washington town where her grandmother lived next door. Her song “She Smoked in the House” was written in tribute to her grandmother.

Arkansas native, Fancy Hagood just returned from his first headlining tour.  He had a bad breakup in the spring and decided he would pour the hurt and everything he had learned into songs.  The result was the heartfelt “It’s That Life” and “Fly Away.” I happened to catch Fancy last year, and I can say that over the last year he has matured as an artist and writer. You’ll be hearing a lot more from him in the future.

Caitlyn Smith has had songs recorded by John Legend, Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, and Garth Brooks.  She also recorded and wrote the theme song “The Card You Gamble” for the drama series “Monarch.”  Caitlyn has three boys, 8, 6, and 9 months, they were the inspiration for her new song “Mother of Three”. My favorite was “Tacoma,” a heart-breaking song about a boyfriend who cheated.

Sean McConnell’s parents were folk singers in Boston when he was growing up. It’s in his blood.  He moved with his family to Georgia when he was 11 years old and started playing guitar and writing songs at that time.  He has had songs covered by Rascal Flatts, Martina McBride, Brothers Osborne, Brad Paisley, and many others.  He explained how he learns all the time from his adopted special needs daughter, Abiella. He wrote “As Long As You Keep Your Heart” for her.  Everyone loved the singalong soul-filled number “Shine Your Light On Me.”

What can I say about SistaStrings?  Yes, they are an incredible violin and cello duo.  They have backed Brandi Carlile, Joni Mitchell, Ed Sheeran, Margo Price and many others.  They have appeared on the Grammys and the Oscars. They also are a great songwriting team with exquisite voices!  Monique told how one evening while on tour with Brandi Carlile she couldn’t sleep.  The line came to her, “How Can You Sleep When You’re Living With Dreams.” She woke her sister, and they finished the song.  My favorite of the afternoon, “The Reckoning,” is a symphonic and vocal masterpiece.   Can’t wait for their album to get finished, I’ve been waiting for over a year!