Lipscomb students sample Ken Burns’ sprawling ‘Country Music’ documentary

Lipscomb students sample Ken Burns’ sprawling ‘Country Music’ documentary

Sunday night Lipscomb School of Music hosted a free concert and viewing of part of Ken Burns newest massive documentary series on “Country Music.” The entire series consists of eight segments running at least two hours in length. Before students watched the documentary there was a concert featuring, Cindy Morgan, Scott Mulvahill, Johnson Roberts and Abby Siler. Cindy Morgan performed the longest set, but all of the singers sang an old hymn and the crowd sang along with them. After the concert was over the documentary started. “Country Music” details how country music began and its episodes explore the development of he genre to what it is now. Burns interviews country artists and music industry figures for the film series. Those interviewed include Carlene Carter, who carries the Carter Family name forward, Kris Kristofferson, who changed the literary style of country music, as well as megastars like Garth Brooks and Dolly Parton. Music and photos of such historic stars as The Carters, Mac Wiseman, Hank Williams, Cowboy Jack Clement are featured throughout the documentary. For example, episode six focuses on the wordplay offered up by Kristofferson and his contemporary from the folk-rock world Bob Dylan. The two men’s connections to Johnny Cash are explored in depth. The full documentary series is being shown on PBS stations nationwide (WNPT-Channel 8 in Nashville) and also is available On...
How to save money and attend CMA Festival

How to save money and attend CMA Festival

CMA Fest is one of the biggest events in Nashville and visitors are arriving from all over to attend. While tickets to the main nighttime concert can be expensive, there are many free stages around town. During CMA Fest, fans can hear hundreds of artist, enjoy the downtown Nashville scene and attend six stages of free concerts. Organizers of the festival have said there will be more than 300 artists performing on the free stages this weekend. Some are up-and-coming artists, but there are many big name artist as well. A few of the big names include: Billy Currington, Gavin Degraw, Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, Chase Rice and Ashley McBryde. Free stages are as follow… The Chevy Riverfront Stage is the largest daytime stage at the festival and is located in Riverfront Park. Nashville Acoustic Center is a small stage located in the glass tower of Nashville visitor center just inside Bridgestone Arena. The Chevy Breakout Stage showcases the so-called next big country acts and is located in Walk of Fame Park. Budweiser Forever Country Stage is inside Forever Country Park behind Ascend Amphitheater. Maui Jim Broadway Stage is on the corner of fifth and Broadway and contains a lineup of an emerging artists. Along with the many free stages, there is also a cheap night show going on at Ascend Amphitheater at the same time as the big headliner concerts at Nissan Stadium. The Firestone Country Roads Stage  at Ascend is a $10 admission for lawn seats and $25 for reserved seating. The Xfinity Fan Fair X is another cheap event to attend, costing $10 each day or...
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Peytan Porter jumping into Nashville music scene

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Peytan Porter jumping into Nashville music scene

Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini both came from Lipscomb in recent years, and Lipscomb student Peytan Porter is making plans to follow in their footsteps. Porter started her singing career at the age of 12, but she said it wasn’t actually something she wanted to do at the time. She only wrote songs about how her mom was mean for giving her chores. “I didn’t take it seriously until at a church camp, and my mom was having to sing and act at the same time,” Porter recalled. “She was terrible. Then she was like, ‘Well then you do it,’ and I said ‘Noo!’ They ended up giving me a microphone behind the curtain. So I sang, behind the stage, and our music director came back and was like, ‘You’re a singer; you are doing this.’” Ever since then, Porter has been focusing on her songwriting, including her job as a full-time staff writer at Sea Gayle Music and doing a songwriting internship. She said she has always dreamed of becoming apart of the Nashville music scene, and even called it her “Disney World vacation” when she was able to visit at fourteen. “I would not be at Lipscomb if it was not in Nashville,” Porter said. “I chose to come here when I was young. My mom was like. ‘You can go on a cruise to Cozumel, or you can go to Nashville.’ My sister went on the cruise, and I came to Nashville.” Porter said she chose Lipscomb over Belmont’s music program because she liked how Lipscomb’s program felt like a small, Christian community. She is no longer...

Ford Ice Center opens for business

After cutting the ribbon on Sept. 12, the Nashville Predators look forward to the new possibilities the Ford Ice Center will bring to the Nashville area. The new facility includes two NHL-size rinks, an upstairs party area, a café and a Predators apparel shop. The organization is hoping Ford Ice will provide a place for people to learn how to skate as well as grow the game of hockey in the Nashville area. “This facility is amazing,” Predators intern Kayla Evans said. “I’m glad the organization had the chance to build this, and I’m excited to see hockey grow because of the Ford Ice Center.” Olympic Gold figure skater Scott Hamilton will oversee the Hamilton Skating Academy, which will provide classes for all ages to come out to Ford Ice Center and learn how to skate. Country music singer-songwriter Vince Gill plans to broaden the hockey horizon in Nashville by reaching out to children. The plan is to create a scholarship program funded at Ford Ice Center. The program will be designed to give children the opportunity to play hockey without the hurdles of equipment costs or ice time. As part of the grand opening, the Predators hosted a rookie tournament. Rookies from the Predators, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins played three games each. The tournament provided more preparation for NHL training camp. Hockey fans can also catch Vanderbilt, Middle Tennessee State University and Sewanee’s club hockey teams playing at Ford Ice Center. The three teams will call the new facility their home rink. Over 10,000 fans enjoyed the opening weekend. The organization cannot be more...

Jimmy Eugene, “The Heartstrings” and quartet of students share country music with campus

Four Lipscomb students took the stage Friday night and followed the footsteps of artists like Taylor Swift and Luke Bryan as they performed with local country artist and oral surgeon Jimmy Eugene in Shamblin Theater. Eugene’s band members “The Heartstrings,” or the “E. String Band,” are local musicians who have played with some of the best in the business. Leading off the night, Eugene agreed to let a few of Lipscomb’s talented artists steal the show before “The Heartstrings” took the stage. Jesse Taylor, a junior singer-songwriter at Lipscomb, started the evening off, followed by senior Kelly Dean, freshman David Austin Lowry and senior Lacy Printz respectively. They all performed one of their own original songs. “This was the first time I’ve played this song in front of people that I know, so I was a little nervous,” senior Kelly Dean said after her performance. “I was glad to have people I knew in the audience, though.” Eugene and “The Heartstrings” played several songs throughout the night, including a song Eugene wrote titled “West Bound Plane” about a young lady with cancer he met on a flight from Memphis to New Orleans. “Tonight when you’re going to bed, say a little prayer for that lady,” Jimmy said after performing his hit “West Bound Plane.” “I think about her often.” The night continued with the feel-good music from the band. During intermission, the artists from Lipscomb took the stage once more, only this time, playing covers from their favorite artists in the business while Eugene passed out t-shirts and CD’s. “The Heartstring” band took the stage one last time, singing...