If you are into country music, there will be a free concert this Sunday, June 28. Soooo grab you foflding chairs or blanket and head out to the Jim Warren Park in Franklin, Tennessee (2 - 9 p.m.).There will be activities for kids including game booths, music (their brand), skateboarding, skateboard demonstrations, etc. Headlined by Jeffrey Steele, Country Music Hall of Fame member, other performers will include American Bang, LoCash Cowboys, Ricky Young & Red White Blue, and Pearl Harbor.

I attended last year’s festival and had a wonderful time. Living in Middle Tennessee, home of country music, does have its perks. Where else could you be sitting in a public park enjoying the music and Billy Cyrus just drops by to sing a few songs and then a short time later Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana) shows up.

The festival is held in memory of Jeffrey’s son, Alex LeVesseur, who died in an ATV accident. Money raised during the festival goes to Alex LeVesseur Memorial Fund through The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to help underprivileged children with a passion for skatboarding to improve self-esteem, grades, and become involved in community service.

There is a great article describing the cause and festival at www.williamsonherald.com. It is the first article with a picture of Stephanie LeVesseur, Alex’s mom, titled Tragedy into Hope.

Hope to see you there!

Posted By: Dee Cole

Downtown Nashville will be hosting one of its largest events beginning June 11 - 14 2009. It is the CMA Music Festival. The event features concerts, autograph signings, family activities and more. For 38 years, the event has been an unparalled celebration of America’s music, drawing thousands of fans and media from all over the world.

The CMA Music Festival benefits music education in Music City.CMA has donated over $2,000,000 to further music education programs for children in Metro Nashville Public Schools.

Some of the artists scheduled to appear atr Brad Paisley, Montgomery Gentry, Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town, Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift, Reba, Julianne Hough and Trace Adkins.

If you love music, Middle Tennessee is a great place to relocate. There are all kinds of music represented here. Along with country music, gospel music is vey large and so is bluegrass and jazz. Rap and rock is also here. The real estate market is still strong here and I would love to help you with your move.

Posted By: Vicki Oczkowicz

Can you just imagine live country music and the symphony on the same block? Well, you've come to the right place. The Schermerhorn Symphony Center is a world renowned facility that plays host to the best of the best. The doors opened for the first time in September of 2006. The night was wonderful and heard all around the world. It features 30,000 square feet and a 1,872 seat concert hall, named after Laura Turner. It was modeled after the “shoe box design” of storied concert halls from around the world and features natural lighting, intricate symbolic motifs throughout including the iris (the Tennessee state flower), horseshoes (a tribute to Laura Turner's love of horses) and coffee beans (representing Nashville's Cheek Family of Maxwell House fame).

Our “Music Mile” is the stretch of roadway connecting the Schermerhorn with the music district of Music Row, the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, the Music City Walk of Fame and Museum and the Nashville Arena. The Mile certainly illustrates how the music of Music City is a common thread throughout the business, cultural and entertainment sectors of Nashville. Our connection to music in unequalled, and its reputation as Music City is proven every day of the year.

We say, welcome to Music City, the most musical city in the world with all its southern charm and southern hospitality! Come visit us soon!

Posted By: Tammy Carroll

You can feel it the moment you arrive in Nashville! Music music music ~ its everywhere along the streets of Broadway and Second Avenue. Not just in today's world but early in Nashville's start as a city.

Guitars, fiddles (violins) and buck dancing were the start of something great!! Way back in the 1700's music was a way of life when new settlers came ashore at Fort Nashborough on the banks of the Cumberland River. Even Davy Crockett spent time with his colorful stories and fiddle playing which he shared with family and friends. There is a spot that commemorates Fort Nashborough on First Avenue North with a replica of the original fort.

In later years, Nashville became known on a national basis as a center for music publishing. Nashville was chosen as the reunion city of a massive get together for a group of Confederate veterans in the late 1800's which was held at the former tabernacle which became known as the Ryman Auditorium. There were so many people flocking to the Ryman that a new balcony had to be built to hold all the folks who wanted to escape in the music. It became known as the Confederate Gallery, which is a destination that still stands today.

The Ryman Auditorium has the nickname of, “The Carnegie Hall of The South” by playing host to an array of music events throughout the year. It has an unbelievable acoustic quality that continues today and has received Pollster magazines' prestigious “Theatre of the Year” award for two years in a row. It's known and felt as the nation's best place to experience live music.

Nashville is also known not only for country music, but pop, rock and roll, the blues, classical, jazz and contemporary Christian music. Every type of music can be heard every night of the week all over our fair city. Check out the local hot spots especially down Broadway to Tootsies and the Country Music Hall of fame and Museum. Also the Musicians Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame make Nashville their home. Nashville is at the heart of those who travel its streets who also find a city of culture, academies, wondrous cuisine and Southern charm!

Posted By: Tammy Carroll