MUSIC ROW MAGAZINE: In Photos: Tin Pan South 2014′s Tuesday Shows

by Jessica Nicholson • March 26, 2014 •

Pictured (L-R): Shane McAnally, Brandy Clark, Josh Osborne at The Listening Room. Photo: Bev Moser.

Songwriters have descended on Nashville this week for the annual Tin Pan South shows, which will take place in 10 venues across Nashville.
Tuesday (March 25) kicked off the event with performances from songwriters including Matthew Perryman Jones, Kingston, Jeffrey Steele, Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Marshall Altman, Dylan Altman, Brice Long, Rose Falcon, John Oates, LoCash Cowboys and many others.

All photos by Moments By Moser.

MUSIC ROW MAGAZINE: Bobby Karl Works The Tin Pan South Kickoff Party

Bobby Karl • March 25, 2014 •

Tin Pan South 2014 Kickoff party. Photo: Bev Moser

BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM

Tin Pan South is off and running.
The festival’s launch was commemorated on Monday (March 24) with a cocktail party that had it all -– location, food, talented attendees and industrial-strength schmoozing.
Sponsored by Regions Bank and ole, the gig took place at an ideal location, location, location. You might think that the Regions lobby facing the Roundabout is inconvenient, but you would be wrong. Since the party started at 6:00 p.m., after rush hour, traffic was no prob. Furthermore, the building’s entire parking garage was open and free for the event. Now that’s what I call a location.
Food? Also no prob. Maggiano’s Little Italy restaurant laid it on us: Italian mini meatballs, chicken pesto sliders, tomato caprese skewers, sliced cucumbers with herb cheese dollops, Italian and domestic cheeses, BBQ brisket sliders, crackers and yum, yum, yum.
Thank you, Jack Daniels, for the fully stocked bar. Ditto to the Pop Rock Café for the coffee.
It seemed like everybody I ran into had a story to tell. Rockin’ Randy Perkins has a rockin’ tattooed niece, Kat Perkins, who is competing on TV’s The Voice. She’s on Team Adam.
Bill Lloyd reports that he’s completing a new album. “I don’t know why I keep doing this,” he said. “Because you are good at it,” I replied. I should have said, “really, really good,” since he is one of my best faves.
Spunky, who is a music journalist for atlasjams.com covering the Nashville scene, is also a painter. He has been doing a series of musician portraits for Rolling Stone. And, yes, “Spunky” is the name  on his business card.

Tin Pan South 2014 Kickoff Party. Photo: Bev Moser

Bobby Rymer met Echo Propp. In addition to having a fabulous music-industry name, she is the community-relations person at Nashville Opera and hosts a bluegrass radio show. Whoa.
The room was awash with fabulons. Working the room were Bernie Nelson, James Dean Hicks, Steve Bogard, Suzi Ragsdale, Lance Carpenter, Rich Fagan, Bob Saporiti (a.k.a Reckless Johnny Wales), Steve O’Brien, Janie West, Craig Campbell, Erika Wollam Nichols, Kira Florita, Sherod Robertson, Fletcher Foster, the St. Jude’s music-industry liaison Jackie Proffit, Doak Turner, Mark Ford, Mike Sistad, John Ozier, Emily Mueller, Preshus Tomes, Alicia Warwick, Anthony Smith, Larry Sheridan, Laura Travis Crawford, Ralph Murphy and hostess-with-the-mostest, Lisa Harless.
“Who are all these people?” asked Roger Nichols and I in unison to one another as we gazed upon the throng of youngsters in attendance. Which is bizarre, since he is a generation younger than Bobby Karl. I guess it shows how many people are pouring into our community these days. Even Roger said that he could remember a time when you could know pretty much everyone inside of a year, if you worked at it.
The party was broiling, but tempus fugit. Time to go. Wa-a-a-a-i-t a minute, Bub. Get a load of that Maggiano’s dessert display –- lemon cookies, crème brulee cups, pecan bars, mini cheesecakes and apple crostada. Perhaps a few more moments in partyland.
Tin Pan South, the world’s largest songwriting fest, officially begins today (March 25). Its shows take place at 10 Nashville venues – B.B. King’s, Belcourt Taps, the Bluebird Cafe, Commodore Grille, Douglas Corner, the Hard Rock, The Listening Room Café, The Rutledge, Station Inn and 3^rd & Lindsley.
Drop into any one of those, and you’re bound to have your ears pinned back. During the five-day extravaganza, more than 425 song poets are warbling their wares.

Tin Pan South 2014 Kickoff Party. Photo: Bev Moser

Citing just 10 percent of these, we have, for starters, Adam Wright, Brandy Clark, Leslie Satcher, Rivers Rutherford, Rose Falcon, Ella Mae Bowen, Jimbeau Hinson, Karen Staley, Jessi Alexander, ACM Songwriter of the Year Shane McAnally, Erin Enderlin, Randy Montana, Roxie Dean, Jerry Salley, Marcus Hummon, Angel Snow, Amy Speace and Josh Leo.
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famers on hand include Mark D. Sanders, Sonny Curtis, Allen Shamblin, Pat Alger, Dickey Lee, Mac Davis, Hugh Prestwood, Roger Murrah, Roger Cook and Vince Gill. Plus the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame’s new inductee John Oates (Hall & Oates) and future inductee Jonathan Cain (Journey). Come to think of it, Sonny is in both of those Halls.
Americana fan? Got ya covered. Robin & Linda Williams, Jeff Black, Kim Richey, Chuck Mead (BR5-49), Holly Williams, Kevin Welch and Jim Lauderdale are a few who are participating. CCM fan? How about Amy Grant, Wayne Kirkpatrick or Ashley Cleveland?
Country star gaze, if you must. Rounding out our 10 percent for your edification are T. Graham Brown, Eddy Raven, Jamie O’Neal, Michael Peterson, The Kinleys, Buddy Jewell, Billy Yates, James Otto and Lee Roy Parnell. Trust me, there are many, many, many more who are showcasing. Like 300 more.

All photos by Bev Moser.

MUSIC ROW MAGAZINE: Bobby Karl Works MusicRow’s Rising Women On The Row Awards

(L-R): Sherod Robertson, Publisher/Owner, MusicRow; Sarah Skates, News Editor, MusicRow; Diane Pearson, Sr. VP, City National Bank; Honoree Ebie McFarland, Publicist/Owner, Essential Broadcast Media; Kelly Rich, SVP Sales, Marketing & Interactive, BMLG; Caryl Healey, VP Sales, Sony Music Nashville; Alicia Pruitt, Sr. Director A&R, Warner/Chappell Music Nashville; Julie Boos, Co-Owner, Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy. Photo: Bev Moser.

“Rising Women on the Row” doubled its size and quintupled its entertainment value at its third annual awards presentation.
Staged Friday morning (March 21) at the Legends Ballroom of the sleek new Omni Hotel – I love finding new places to party – the breakfast-buffet event was again presented by MusicRow magazine with the help of its Presenting Sponsor, City National Bank.
“We’ve grown so much in three years,” observed MR’s benevolent overlord Sherod Robertson in greeting the crowd. The room held 300, almost twice as many as used to attend the event during its first two years at Maggiano’s Little Italy Restaurant.
“These women…are fast becoming industry leaders,” he said of this year’s Rising Women on the Row. MR senior news editor Sarah Skates introduced each of this year’s honorees.
Julie Boos is a co-owner of the business-management firm Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy. Her clients include Lady Antebellum, Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins, Kellie Pickler, Kip Moore, Danielle Bradbury and Native Run.
“I feel fortunate to work in an industry with so many talented and smart women….and men,” said Boos in accepting her award.
Honoree Caryl Healey is the vice president of sales at Sony Music Nashville. “I first want to thank Sherod and MusicRow for this honor,” she told the crowd. “All you ladies inspire me every day.”
Publicist Ebie McFarland has built her independent publicity firm, Essential Broadcast Media, into a powerhouse with a client list including George Strait, Eric Church, Darius Rucker, Randy Houser, Jerod Niemann, Ronnie Dunn, George Strait, Rodney Atkins, Brandy Clark and more.
“Wow: It sounds like I am incredibly busy,” she said before thanking the EBM team that supports the company. “I am so honored to be with so many outstanding execs on the stage. Thank you, MusicRow, for doing this for three years.”

Nancy Shapiro, Sr. VP, Member Services, The Recording Academy. Photo: Bev Moser

Alicia Pruitt is the senior director of A&R at Warner-Chappell Music. As such, she has secured countless cuts and many hits. Her staff writers include Chris Stapleton, Liz Rose, Derek George, Michael Dulaney, Kacey Musgraves, Brantley Gilbert and Sean McConnell.
“I feel blessed to be up here today with these girls,” Pruitt said. “Warner-Chappell, you are my family!”
The red-hot Big Machine Label Group has Kelly Rich as its senior vice president of sales, marketing and digital. The company has sold 39 million albums and 135 digital track sales from such artists as Taylor Swift, Florida Georgia Line, Tim McGraw, The Band Perry and Rascal Flatts, among others.
Rich was the honoree who grew weepy, despite her best efforts to control her emotions. “What an incredible group of women up here,” she began. “I want to thank my team. They’re all here.” And as she dissolved, they all cheered loudly.
Diane Pearson of City National Bank congratulated the honorees and said she had a gift for each. I didn’t see them, but am told they got a gift from Tiffanys.
The reason I say that the event quintupled its entertainment value is because the two-hour gig concluded with a short set by Jo Dee Messina and her four sidemen. “She embodies this event,” said Sherod in introducing the assertive vocal dynamo.
Messina told the crowd her story of leaving Curb Records. The terms of her exodus prevent her from recording for any other record label. She launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund her own CD on her own label and raised $121,000 from her fans in less than 30 days. Her use of social media helped her go “outside the box” of standard industry practices.
The resulting album, titled Me, dropped this week on Tuesday (March 18), so her appearance was super timely. She introduced the crowd to the collection’s feisty “attitude” bopper “Breakin’ It Down.”

Jo Dee Messina. Photo: Bev Moser

“I never really write music to fit in,” said Messina. “This single doesn’t sound like anything else on the radio,” she added before launching into her hilarious intro to “A Woman’s Rant.” The banjo-punctuated ditty was a brilliantly witty slice of everywoman life.
She did a brief a cappella snippet of a tune titled “Like a Kid Again.” “Me” was a touching ballad of a woman’s many shifting roles. It brought misty tears to the eyes of several in the crowd. Messina concluded with a spirited version of her 1999 smash “Lesson in Leavin.’” She still sings with immense fire and gusto, and kiddies, she doesn’t need any audio trickery to sound exactly like her records.
The breakfast kicked off with guest Nancy Shapiro sharing her career experiences via a chat with Sherod. She is the national chief of member services for the Recording Academy, the highest ranking woman in the organization.
“There is still not an appropriate representation of women at the highest level [in the music industry],” she observed. “I would like to see more women CEOs. It has gotten better, I will say that. I believe companies are more family friendly than they were.” She cited as mentors Frances Preston, Connie Bradley, Donna Hilley, Roger Sovine, Joe Talbot, Mary Ann McCready and her mother.
“Circumstances may be out of your control, but your attitude is always within your control,” Nancy’s mother counseled her.
Her own advice to business women: “Put your family first. Work past five. Come in a little early. Feel empowered. Feel confident.”
Soaking up the words of wisdom, the music and the good awards vibes were Sarah Trahern, Ronna Rubin, Ree Guyer-Buchanan, Martha Moore, Susan Stewart, Beverly Keel, Lisa Harless, Stacy Schlitz, Becky Harris, singer-songwriter Erin Enderlin, Holly Bell, Laura Crawford, Shawn Williams, Debbie Carroll, Mary Ann McCready, Ashley Ernst, Shannan Hatch, Alicia Warwick and Laurie Schell, who is the director of the Music Makes Us program in the Metro Public Schools.
Fret not: There were men there, too. Lots of them, in fact. Among those working the room were Jody Williams, B.J. Hill, Ben Vaughn, Barry Coburn, Dale Bobo, Scott Stem, Malcolm Mimms, Mark Mason, Dave Pacula and Todd Cassetty. “I’m having breakfast with 100 women,” said a delighted Paul Barnabee. Make that more like, “200.”
City National Bank served as the Presenting sponsor for the third consecutive year while Supporting sponsorships included ASCAP; Marbaloo; Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy; Big Machine Label Group; Loeb & Loeb; The Recording Academy; and Martin, Allbee & Associates.

MUSIC ROW MAGAZINE: Bobby Karl Works ‘MusicRow’s’ CRS Party

(Photo Credits: Bev Moser)

Bobby Karl • February 19, 2014 •

The Band Perry accepts the CountryBreakout Award for Group/Duo of the Year with MusicRow staff (L-R) Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson, Sr. News Editor Sarah Skates, and Chart Dir. Michael Smith. Photo by Bev Moser.

Chapter 447
That droning buzz you hear from downtown Nashville emanates from the constant schmoozing of the 2,400-plus attendees of this year’s Country Radio Seminar. These are radio people. They talk for a living. And they LOVE to talk. So go with the flow.
The unofficial kick-off of the convention is the MusicRow “Meet & Greet Country Breakout Awards” event. Tuesday afternoon (2/18) marked the 12th annual such gathering. A record-setting 666 people RSVP’d this year for the event at Margaritaville’s upstairs party spaces, so working the packed venue was pretty challenging.
The crowd was already at full schmoozola volume when MR’s Sherod Robertson took the stage to welcome one and all. “Looks like you’re having a fun time already,” he said to the thundering herd.

Natalie Stovall and The Drive performs. Photo by Bev Moser.

Steve Hodges accepts Capitol Nashville’s ninth consecutive award for Label of the Year.

Sherod introduced the convention’s first showcasing act, Natalie Stovall & The Drive. “This is our first-ever official CRS, so thank you guys so much,” said Natalie. This might be their first radio convention, but these folks play 200+ dates a year, and the experience shows.
The group’s zesty, driving country-rock sound was punched home via take-no-prisoners showmanship and personality. The Drive is a kick-ass band, and cascading-coiffed Natalie switched delightfully from guitar to mandolin to fiddle during its three-song set. The act concluded with its rollicking, barn-burning, radio-rising single “Baby Come On With It.”
Sherod told us that Natalie Stovall & The Drive has been named “Artist To Watch” by Country Weekly, Billboard and several other media outlets. It has been a “Highway Find” on Sirius/XM’s The Highway channel. “Baby Come On With It” was a top-five most-added single the week it was released. For my money, the group delivered one of the best MusicRow CRS showcase performances. Natalie Stovall & The Drive record for Skip Bishop’s new HitShop Records imprint.
The other showcasing artist at the event was the duo Native Run. The members are Virginia natives Rachel Beauregard and Bryan Dawley. Signed to Show Dog Universal, they’re being produced by Luke Laird and published as songwriters by Creative Nation and Combustion Music. They are also signed to Fusion Music. Paste magazine has hailed Native Run as “The Best of What’s Next.”
“This is our first CRS: We’re so happy to be here,” said Rachel. The duo unleashed a sound that is youthful, ebullient, earnest and sincere. The band was ultra tight, and the team’s vocal harmonies are spot-on. Rachel’s stage presence is undeniably vivacious, and Bryan can really play that guitar he wields. Also: The songs are extremely well written. If first impressions are lasting impressions, Native Run has it made.

Gary Overton accepts Female Artist of the Year on behalf of Miranda Lambert.

Native Run thrills attendees. Photo: Bev Moser

“This is my first CRS,” said Kelly Green of Huntingdon, TN. “If it looks like I’m as lost as a new goose on the farm, it’s because I am.” Kelly was announced as MusicRow’s radio-chart Reporter of the Year by Chart Director Michael Smith. His station is—get ready—WEIO The Farm. Kelly spoke for the entire MR reporting panel by saying, “We play the new music first. If you don’t believe me, just ask Florida Georgia Line.” This is, indeed, the value of MR’s secondary stations. They break new artists, and the major markets follow.

Independent Artist of the Year Tracy Lawrence.

“Happy CRS,” said Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry. “We appreciate all of you.” Her trio was MR’s Group/Duo of the Year. “You’ve supported the heck out of our Pioneer Tour.” The Band Perry next goes out on the road with Male Breakout winner Blake Shelton. His award was accepted by his producer, Scott Hendricks. The Female winner was Mrs. Blake, Miranda Lambert, accepted by Sony head honcho Gary Overton, sporting a sporty new buzz-cut.

Damon Moberly accepts Kacey Musgraves’ award for Breakout Artist.

Introduced this year was the Breakout Songwriter award. Rodney Clawson had seven No. 1 songs on the MR chart last year. Guess who won? “Thank you all from country radio for playing the songs,” he said, “and my publisher and all my BMI friends.”
“It’s great to be an independent artist,” said Tracy Lawrence. “We have a lot of freedom.” His spins on the MR chart earned him the Breakout Independent Artist award for the year.
This award is so remarkable and so deserved: Capitol Records Nashville was named the MR Label of the Year for the ninth consecutive, tenth overall, time. Superstar promoter Steve Hodges accepted, lauding Diane Richey for working the label’s singles for most of those years.
Kacey Musgraves won Breakout Artist. Mercury Records promo VP Damon Moberly accepted, saying, “Thank you for being brave enough to play a female, because we don’t have enough of them these days.” Expect this to be a recurring theme at this year’s CRS.
The crowded room was worked by Mandy Barnett, Kelly Lang, Stephanie Grace and dozens of other baby indie acts, plus veteran singer-songwriter Bernie Nelson. Kelly has a duet CD with hubby T.G. Sheppard on the way. Bernie is working on a long-overdue CD as an artist. Why? “I was getting splinters on my ass from sitting on my porch.” Love him.
Adding to the schmoozing din were David Wykoff, David Ross, Lee Smoot, Lee Richey, Becky Harris, Judy Harris, Mark Wright, Fletcher Foster, Steve O’Brien, Regina Stuve, Vanessa Parker, Pat Higdon, Cliff Doyall, Chuck Dauphin, Wes Vause, Dennis Banka, Bill Wence, Ed Salamon, Tom Baldrica, Preshias Harris, Susan Collier and Paula Szeigis.
The beehive is buzz, buzz, buzzing. Country Radio Seminar is underway.

Scott Hendricks accepts Blake Shelton’s award for Male Artist of the Year

Rodney Clawson receives inaugural Songwriter of the Year honors.

MusicRow CountryBreakout Reporter of the Year Kelly Green.

MUSIC ROW MAGAINZE: Writers Round at the Rectory

Writers Round at the Rectory hosted its inaugural event on Valentine’s Day Weekend at the Cathedral of the Incarnation Rectory. The Writers Round series is a fundraiser for the San Gennaro MusicFest, a two-day outdoor music fest which will take place in Nashville’s Midtown district Sept. 20-21.
Participating in the round were Bobby Tomberlin (cuts by Diamond Rio, Faith Hill, Rodney Atkins, Josh Turner, Thompson Square), Heather Morgan (cuts by Sara Evans, Keith Urban, Brett Eldredge, Lauren Alaina, Tim McGraw, Eli Young Band and the TV show Nashville) and O’Shea (2014 CMAA Best Vocal Group/Duo, and stars of the Australian TV show, O’Shea USA). The event was hosted by singer/songwriter and parishioner, Colm Kirwan, who tours with Don Williams. Brenda Lee was in attendance.

Pictured (L-R): Bobby Tomberlin, Jay O’Shea, Brenda Lee, Mark O’Shea, Heather Morgan and Colm Kirwan.  Photos: Bev Moser / Moments By Moser

IN THE NEWS: Esteemed Photographer Bev Moser Wraps Up a Memorable 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: PLA Media Phone: (615) 327-0100             Esteemed Photographer Bev Moser Wraps Up a Memorable 2013  -  Moments By Moser captures successful moments   - Moments By Moser has captured invaluable moments for over a decade. Respected photographer, Bev Moser, has earned herself the reputation for being one of the busiest women in the photography industry and this year proves that and much more. Her hectic schedule and nonstop bookings in 2013 included her being a part of numerous country music related events as well as private functions such as, but not limited to CMA Music Festival, City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game,  CMT Awards, NSAI HOF Awards, NSAI #1 Awards, SESAC, Tin Pan South, CMHOF Inductees, Music City Center Grand Opening, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Country Radio Seminar, String Fever with Vince Gill, St. Jude, CHS Home Health Care, Hilliard & Lyons, Toast to TN Wine Festival, American Diabetes Association, Gaylord Opryland Convention Center, Humana, SAC Mad Hatter, Wilson County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Mt. Juliet Chamber of Commerce, as well as a diverse clientele roster for private and corporate functions such as business conferences and events, artist publicity photos, weddings, and children/family portraits, etc. Her work has been profiled in numerous publications including Nashville Arts, Nashville Lifestyles, Country Weekly, CMA Close Up, Music Row, The Tennessean, CMT News, Examiner.com, BMI, Tennessee State Museum, Main Streets of Mt. Juliet, etc. Bev Moser, owner of Moments By Moser, proves she has the experience and professional know-how to capture every memory so you can focus on that special moment: “I have hired Bev to shoot numerous corporate events with large groups of clients and executives. She has done an outstanding job in capturing the décor, food and moments throughout the evening… Another thing I love about her is that she is fast in giving you the images from the event. Almost always I have the link in my inbox a few hours following the event. She is always prompt and on time!” – Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center ********************  “You are a dream to work with!” – NSAI ********************  “Highly recommend! Bev took amazing shots and captured the energy of our event! Can’t wait to have an excuse to hire her again.” – Trish Monaghan, Artist Management ********************  “We recommend Bev to our production clients! Everyone has always loved their shoots and time with Bev. She makes them very comfortable and the pics reflect that…she should always be your first call. She is for us!” – Kim Copeland Productions ******************** “I never like pictures of myself and I did not think I would ever say this, but there are several I really like and I am having a hard time deciding which one to use. It’s such a pleasure working with you…!" – Wilson County Convention & Visitors Bureau As a mother of four children (three grown, one still at home), Bev Moser was born and bred in a small town in northwest Iowa and became fascinated with photography at an early age. “I love capturing that moment – the one that shows the twinkle in someone’s eye, that playful smile or that wistful look,” smiles Bev. “When a client calls me personally or sends me a note expressing their happiness with my work – that has to be one of the most rewarding aspects of what I do.” Moments By Moser is available for all types of personal photography portraits and events including: Private Gatherings, Parties, Graduation, Quinceanera, Charity Fundraiser, Prom, Fashion Show, Private Parties, Corporate Events, Red Carpet, Award Ceremonies, Movie Premiere, Wedding, Reception, Sweet 16, Anniversary, Reunion, Bar Mitzvah, Religious Ceremony, Concert & Showcase, Baby Shower, Bridal Shower, Banquet, Conference, Trade Show, Engagement, Sr. Portrait, Family Photography, Holiday Cards, Baby Photo, Pet and all general photography including single photos of contract signing or record deals, portfolio headshot and website photos. For more information, visit www.MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com and www.facebook.com/MomentsByMoser. # # # For additional inquiries, contact PLA Media at 615-327-0100. Special discount offered if you use the PLA MEDIA code through the rest of the year.

The Bluebird Cafe

Photos of chairs by Moments By Moser Photography!

Hello one and all! Thanks for opening your e-mail box to us!  Here's a little about what's happening here at The Bluebird this week and beyond: we just kicked off a special auction for Last Minute Toy Store via ebay.com (info below), info about the New Year's Eve shows, a holiday merchandise reminder, Nashville updates, info on Bluebird On The Mountain 2014, links to the Nov calendar (Dec to post soon), our partnership with the RIAA, info about adopting your own seat here at The Bluebird, advertising with us and having your private event at The Bluebird. THE BLUEBIRD CAFE MEMORABILIA AUCTION - PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT THE LAST MINUTE TOY STORE: Yesterday, November 11, 2013 The Bluebird Café will began auctioning off an assortment of Bluebird Café memorabilia. The online auction – hosted by www.ebay.com – consists of a variety of signed original Bluebird Café chairs and signed Hatch Show Prints. One to two items per week, for five weeks, will be available for online auction. The majority of the auction proceeds will benefit The Last Minute Toy Store in Nashville, TN. The chairs available for auction are the original Bluebird Café chairs. The chairs sat in the café – and in the round - since the late 1980’s. They have been signed by several notable songwriters and artists including: original Bluebird Café in-the-rounders Thom Schuyler, Fred Knobloch Tony Arata and Jelly Roll Johnson (a chair with all four songwriters signatures will be one of the first items up for auction – 11/11-11/17), #1 hit songwriters/artists – and father and son – Rhett Akins and Thomas Rhett (a chair with Akins’ and Rhett’s signatures will be the second item up for auction 11/18-11/24), legendary songwriter Schlitz (a chair with Schlitz’s signature will be the 3rd item up for auction – 11/25-12/1),  Nashville cast members (a chair with several Nashville cast members signatures will be the 4th item up for auction 12/2-12/8), the auction will then conclude with country superstar Martina McBride (a chair with McBride’s signature will be up for auction 12/9-12/15).  Each chair comes with a mounted plaque and certificate of authenticity from The Bluebird Cafe. Kicking off the auction, along with the Schuyler, Knobloch, Arata, Johnson chair, is a Bluebird Café Hatch Show Print/poster pack. This “pack” includes prints and posters signed by country music stars Toby Keith, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban (the poster pack will be up for auction 11/11-11/17). The Bluebird Café will donate the majority of the auction proceeds to its longtime partner The Last Minute Toy Store in Nashville, TN – allowing the Last Minute Toy store time to do some not-so-last minute shopping. More about The Last Minute Toy Store: www.lastminutetoystore.com. HOLIDAY MERCHANDISE REMINDER:  In order to guarantee Christmas delivery, all Bluebird Cafe online merch orders must be received by December 16th, 2013. NASHVILLE NEWS: There's an all new Nashville tomorrow at 9pm CST : Maddie feels lost as Teddy and Peggy's wedding day approaches; Juliette angers a lecherous but influential DJ; Deacon discovers an unexpected ally as he tries to find his way back to music. For all things Nashville, please visit: http://abc.go.com/schedule  NEW YEAR'S EVE @ THE BLUEBIRD CAFE: Get ready to ring in the New Year Bluebird Café style! This year’s New Year's Eve Show(s) will feature recent Nashville Songwriters’ Hall Of Fame inductees Thom Schuyler and Tony Arata, hit writer Fred Knobloch and award winning instrumentalist Jelly Roll Johnson.  The New Year is the chance for fresh starts and new beginnings and we thought it was only appropriate to celebrate with some of the gents that started the “in the round” (or “ITR” for folks in the know) way back at the beginning of The 'Bird's long and esteemed history. That's right! Thom Schuyler (16th Avenue, Long Line Of Love), Fred Knobloch (If My Heart Had Wings, Feels Like Mississippi), Tony Arata (The Dance, Here I Am) and Jelly Roll Johnson (award-winning harmonica extraordinaire) will be our New Year's Eve entertainment. And we know that just one show won't be enough, so they're gonna go ahead and play twice! The first show is from 7:00pm-9:00pm (hey, it's midnight somewhere) and the second is from 10:00pm-the New Year. The original ITR-ers will provide the music. The 'Bird will provide the hats, party favors, champagne toast and all other important New Year's regalia. You just need to show up and enjoy the show (and the shenanigans). ***Reservations are available now via www.bluebirdcafe.com.   BLUEBIRD ON THE MOUNTAIN 2013 AND 2014! Thank you all for making the Bluebird on the Mountain 2013 season absolutely wonderful! Thank you, too, to our always wonderful Bluebird on the Mountain sponsors: Nissan, Jack Daniels and Red Wing Shoes. Special thanks to Vanderbilt Heart.   Regarding next year: Bluebird on the Mountain 2014 season passes went quickly! There will be a limited number of single show passes available closer to the actual show dates. More info to come! ADOPT A SEAT AT THE BLUEBIRD CAFE! In 2010 The Bluebird Cafe launched its "Adopt-A-Seat" campaign which allowed supporters of The Bluebird Cafe to adopt and name a chair in the club. Some of the earliest adopters were: ASCAP, Avenue Bank, BMI, The First Amendment Center, Wendell Moore (in memory of Isaac Hayes), the Nashville CVB, Regions Bank, Terry & Wanda Seay, SESAC and SunTrust.   The campaign continues to this day. You, too, can adopt your very own Bluebird Cafe seat! How do you do that, you ask? It's easy! Simply follow this link. By adopting a seat, not only will you have your very own chair at The Bluebird, but you will also help provide a solid foundation for the future of The Bluebird Café. A little more about the adoption process: The "Adopt-A-Seat" campaign allows supporters to adopt and name a chair in the club.  Each chair and barstool at the club will feature an etched plaque on the back of the seat.  An individual can have their name placed on a seat, a corporation can present their company's name, or a donor may choose to honor someone by naming a seat for them at The Bluebird Café.  The cost for each seat is $1200 for a three year term. The benefactor will then receive their adopted seat, with name plate, at the end of the term.   Additionally, The Bluebird will also be offering their original chairs for sale, with a limited number of them signed by some of the songwriters who have gotten their start at The Bluebird Café.  All chairs will be marked Bluebird originals and have a certificate of authenticity. THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS THE RIAA! Monday, June 20th, at a press conference held at The Bluebird Café, The Bluebird announced its new partnership with the RIAA and the Nashville member labels. Both the RIAA and the Nashville labels have come on board to, as RIAA CEO Mitch Bainwol described it, support “the Bluebird Café’s incubator” of rising and developing talent; including The Bluebird Café’s Open Mic Nights, Sunday Writers’ Nights and the Early Rounds throughout the week. Bluebird COO Erika Wollam Nichols stated, “The Bluebird Café is a place where new talent is discovered nightly. We are thrilled that the RIAA and Nashville labels recognize this and that this recognition has led to this exciting new partnership.” THE BLUEBIRD CAFÉ STORE: You can visit The Bluebird Cafe Store here. Stay tuned for new merch designs! ADVERTISEMENTS/OFFERS/EVENTS: BOOK: THE ADULT GUIDE TO THE ORCHESTRA Our founder Amy's father Shelly Kurland  wrote a very funny little book which would make a great stocking stuffer for any musician in your life. The Adult Guide To The Orchestra is now available at our favorite local bookstore- Parnassus Books in Green Hills or through this website: http://darkhorsebooksonline.com  CD'S FROM STARS OF THE BLUEBIRD Their own CDs, from some of your favorite Bluebird artists! www.AmericanOriginalsCDs.com  PITCH PERFECT RECORDING Full-band demos with musicianship included -- real drums, guitars, bass, keyboards, real piano, pedal steel, dobro, mandolin, banjo, and even accordion are yours at NO EXTRA CHARGE. That means that at $75/hour most full-band demos cost less than $300, as opposed to Nashville's usual $1,000. Hear some samples by visiting the website... and come make your next recordings at Pitch-Perfect Recording! 615-834-4426 or http://www.pitchperfectrecording.com MORE INFO: PRIVATE EVENTS: Now is the perfect time to start thinking about planning your Fan Club party (CMA Music Fest is fast approaching!) or another special event at The Bluebird Cafe! The Bluebird Cafe offers a variety of event special event opportunities. For more information email: events@bluebirdcafe.com.  RESERVATIONS: We take reservations online at our website www.bluebirdcafe.com. Reservations are available at 8:00am CST online. SOCIAL STATUS: The Bluebird Cafe on Twitter and Facebook.