Americana Fest Awards Show Adds Entertainment and Emotion to Spectacular Day

Americana Fest 9/14/22 

By MCAU Staff Writer Wil Comstock

 

     This was the first time I did a whole day at the Americana Fest. Whew!  

     In the morning I caught Ann Powers interviewing the Indio Girls at the Westin: “A Long Look at the Indigo Girls”.  They discussed their youth in the Methodist Church and growing up with a strong sense of community.  That experience carried over into the Indigo Girls building a loving communityof musicians and activists. I was humbled when I found out how many organizations they support. They have invested their lives in giving back to the community.  I have loved these women since “Closer to Fine.” Now I love them more.

     Couldn’t pass up Hillbillies and Hotdogs at Compass Records. I had onions, mustard, dill pickle, and hot peppers on my Vienna dog. Scrumptious!  Upstairs in the studio, I listened to Chastity Brown from Minneapolis. What a voice!  This artist has great stories that make you laugh and wonderful songs that bare her soul. Of note: “Loving the Question,” based on the book Whoopi Goldberg, gave Lauren Hill’s character in “Sister Act.”  She was followed by Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley.  I was familiar with Rob as a solo artist, but teaming up with Hensley takes the artistry to another level. Garry West introduced them, saying they were stone cold bluegrass!  Hensley’s phenomenal flattop picking and Rob’s tasteful and innovative dobro playing are unmatched in any genre.  Add their vocals and you are taken to another land just this side of heaven. You’ve got to hear “The Backstreets Off Broadway” and “Moonshine Runner.”

     After enjoying a cup of coffee on West End, it was time to get in line at City Winery for the Americana Award Show Official Viewing Party.  MCAU Editor Chuck Whiting and I immediately ran into our friend singer/songwriter Lisa Aschmann, who introduced us to artist/writer Frankie Statan and artist Valerie Hawkins.  I fell in love with them by the time we were seated for the show.  I haven’t had the time to pull up their webpages and listen to them yet, but I listened to their stories and got a glimpse into their hearts.  These are unique and special ladies.

     My Award Show highlights:

     The Fairfield Four receiving the Legacy Award and Singing the old slave song “Rock My Soul” which was first written down in 1867.  

     Lukas Nelson presenting and accepting, on behalf of the family, the President’s Award to Don Williams. Oh how I love and miss Don Williams!  

     JP Harris’ tribute to the recently deceased Luke Bell, andperforming the song he will never get to play at the Ryman, “The Greatest Bullfighter”. 

     Lyle Lovett’s tongue and cheek song to touring partner Chris Issak, “We Gave Each Other Covid” Lyle also presented Chris with the Lifetime Achievement in Performance Award.  

Allison Russell’s incredible performance of “You’re Not Alone” with an all star cast including Brandi Carlile and Sista Strings.

     Al Bell receiving the Americana Award in Achievement for An Executive. He was so proud!

     Brandi Carlile telling us what the Indigo Girls meant to her as she was growing up and presenting them with the Freedom Award.

     Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @MusicCityArts and @Chuck.Whiting. 

 

'Tunesmithing' to Feature Five Songwriting Acts in Nashville on May 18

         NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 2016) -- "Tunesmithing" songwriters showcase will spotlight five Americana, country and jazz songwriting acts from 7-9:30 p.m. May 18 (Wednesday) at WXYZ Restaurant/Bar at the Aloft Nashville Hotel, 1719 West End Ave. (near Music Row). 

          Attendees will enjoy original songs by Sally Burgess, Wil Comstock, Melissa Javors, Linda McRae, and Mike Rodgers. Admission is free. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Publicist Chuck Whiting will emcee the show. Songwriter/audio engineer AJ Bigler will handle sound. 

          "Tunesmithing" songwriters showcase is sponsored by Music City Arts Network. The monthly show was founded in 2003 to spotlight emerging, professional and hit songwriters, as well as artists of all kinds. The event offers mentoring, career growth and networking opportunities for artists at all levels. 

          For more information about "Tunesmithing", call (615) 423-9857, write Info@Tunesmithing.com, or visit http://www.Tunesmithing.com.

'Tunesmithing' to Celebrate Blues, Country and Americana in Nashville on March 16

     NASHVILLE -- "Tunesmithing" songwriters showcase will spotlight five professional songwriting acts from 7-9:30 p.m. March 16 (Wednesday) at WXYZ Restaurant/Bar at the Aloft Nashville Hotel, 1719 West End Ave. (near Music Row). 

     Attendees will enjoy original songs by Brian Ashley Jones, Michael Laidley & Rachel VanSlyke, Jody Soland, Stacia Watkins, and Shannon Williford. Admission is free. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Publicist Chuck Whiting will emcee the show. Songwriter/audio engineer AJ Bigler will handle sound. 

Brian Ashley Jones (Photo provided by Brian Ashley Jones)

     "Tunesmithing" songwriters showcase is sponsored by Music City Arts Network and Whiting Publicity and Promotions. The monthly show was founded in 2003 to spotlight emerging, professional and hit songwriters, as well as artists of all kinds. The event offers mentoring, career growth and networking opportunities for artists at all levels.  

     For more information about "Tunesmithing", call (615) 423-9857, write Info@Tunesmithing.com, or visit http://www.Tunesmithing.com.

Stacia Watkins (provided by Stacia Watkins)

Michael Laidley (from Michael Laidley)

Rachel VanSlyke (Photo from Rachel VanSlyke website)

Jody Soland (Photo from Jody Soland website)

Shannon Williford (from Nashville Musicians Union AFM Local 257 website)

Country Artist Scott Coner Releases New Song/Video 'Nashville Song'

By Chuck Whiting

MCAU Editor

            NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 2015) – Hit country artist Scott Coner has released "Nashville Song", a new single and accompanying video that express the highs and lows of working in Nashville's country music industry.

            When it comes to music success, Scott has accomplished much more than the average singer-songwriter. He has recorded songs with country legends such as Charlie Daniels and T. Graham Brown -- even landing a number one hit in Britain with the Tanya Tucker duet, "Maybe She Lied". But the Indiana artist has also faced a number of disappointments, especially on the business side of the industry. His experiences (good and bad) are reflected in the heartfelt, soulful country ballad "Nashville Song".

Scott Coner (Photo by Cyndi Coner)

            "I wrote 'Nashville Song' about my feelings and opinions of the music business," said Scott, who recently taped a concert in Nashville for future airing on You Tube. "In truth, the business side has been hurtful at nearly all levels. But as I have continued on, I have reminded myself that I write and play because I love doing it. I have been truly blessed to work with some great musicians. To me, the song is not about being defeated. Instead, the song is about standing strong and doing things my own way."

            To download the "Nashville Song" song and video, visit the artist's website at www.ScottConer.com, his Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/ScottConerMusic, or YouTube at https://youtu.be/X1CIy5T7Trc.

            "Nashville Song", which was recorded at Nashville's Java Jive, was arranged and produced by Scott and engineer Logan Schlegal. The recording features Scott on vocals and acoustic guitar. Members of the Matthew West Band accompany him on background vocals, electric guitar, bass, keyboards and percussion.

            Scott added that the "Nashville Song" lyric is reminiscent of Alabama's "My Home's in Alabama" in the specific way the story unfolds. His wife, Cyndi, helped bring the video to life with scenes from the artist's recording session, as well as popular downtown and Music Row hangouts such as the Ryman Auditorium, Tootsie's, Hard Rock Cafe, Sony Music, Curb, and RCA Studio B. Cyndi, who oversees the Coner family's Cynnamae Media Productions, said she wanted to take viewers on a "field trip" that showed the places where Scott has experienced musical highs and lows. 

Scott Coner Performs (Photo by Cyndi Coner)

            "The lyrics are pretty specific as far as my working with T. Graham Brown and Tanya Tucker is concerned," Scott noted. "But the chorus delivers the other side of the story. I have been in many offices around town and foolishly, I have put my trust in people who were undeserving."

            Scott's lyric gives listeners a realistic look inside the Nashville music industry. Like many singer-songwriters before him, he drove into town with a batch of original songs and a wishful heart. He later heard a lot of false promises, even outright lies from some of the professionals on Music Row. That reality is expressed loud and clear in the chorus with the line,  "If you're gonna sleep with snakes man, you better be tough."

            But any resulting hard feelings were temporary. Eventually, Scott realized that happiness and success could be found in the music itself. He sings with assurance, "Well I just kept plowing ground... I had my song and I had my sound... Nobody's gonna tell me what to do... It seems to me that if you have a plan... You stay on course and you take your stand... Every man finally gets his chance...."

            The artist hopes his fans will understand that sometimes artists need to channel their hurt, as well as their happiness, through their songs and other works of art. He has no intention of ever quitting the music business or allowing himself to become bitter. Songwriting is just as fulfilling to him now as it was when he was 15 years old.

            "As an artist, you find yourself simply wanting to concentrate on the music itself," Scott continued. "I have faith that if you believe in what you are doing, and continue down your own path, the right people will show up. I believe this because it has finally started to take place."

            A self-proclaimed family man, Scott Coner lives with his wife and two daughters on rural farmland near Franklin, Ind. He has recorded songs with a who's who of country legends including Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown, and Charlie Daniels. Scott's single "Maybe She Lied", a duet with Tucker on Reedy's Dream Records, hit number one on the United Kingdom's Hot Disk Top 40. Other songs, including "Sanibel" (a duet with Brown) and "Reedy's Dream" (with vocal and instrumental contributions from Daniels) have been heard on terrestrial and online radio stations around the world. Also an emerging author, Scott recently penned the book "Lynyrd Skynyrd: Ronnie Van Zant and Me" with Gene Odom, a survivor of the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash.

            Scott is represented by Nashville-based Whiting Publicity and Promotions.

            To learn more about Scott Coner or to download his songs and videos, visit www.ScottConer.com.

'Tin Pan South' Kicks Off With Annual Party On Music Row

     NSAI always kicks off "Tin Pan South" with style, celebrating with an annual party at the Regions Bank (at the Roundabout) on Music Row. A host of songwriters and others filled the bank's lobby on March 23. Check out the following photos by MCAU Editor Chuck Whiting. Learn more about "Tin Pan South" at www.TinPanSouth.com.

Photos: CMA Music Festival Mixer at CMA Headquarters in Nashville

      NASHVILLE -- Staffers for Music City Arts Update stopped by CMA's headquarters in Music City on May 30 for a pre-CMA Music Festival mixer. Music industry pros converged on the parking lot for a mini-festival of their own with food, beverages, games and music. MCAU Editor Chuck Whiting snapped some photos from the event.