The “Nashville Helping Nashville” festival will return to East Nashville this spring on Saturday, May 28. The rain or shine, family-friendly event will be held at East Park at 700 Woodland Street.
While last year’s festival was in direct response to the historic Exit/In coming under threat of
redevelopment, this year’s festival organizers–Heavy Pedal Productions and Rhizome Productions–have united local venues, radio stations and record stores to help protect and celebrate the irreplaceable parts of the live music history and future.
This year’s event will bring together musicians The Joey Fletcher Band, Creature Comfort, DeeOhGee and more to be announced, along with a star-studded headlining tribute to Neil Young featuring a special guest lineup to be announced April 1.
“When Heavy Pedal Productions created ‘Nashville Helping Nashville’ last year, its goal was to unite our city’s independent live music infrastructure and rally it to Exit/In’s defense while also helping support our struggling venues,’ explains Alex Morgan of Heavy Pedal Productions. “With the help of Rhizome Productions, that’s exactly what NHN did.”
“For the first time in Nashville’s history, an event brought fifteen independent live music venues, our local independent radio stations, and artists and fans together for one cause–last year’s wildly successful Memorial Day weekend concert–‘Nashville helping Nashville’,” adds Matthew Leff of Rhizome Productions. “By adding the support of our local independent record stores, we’re excited to continue to expand the circle of support for the foundation of our live music community.”
The event will again host Nashville’s local independent radio stations as part of “Radio Row,” which gives local radio personalities an opportunity to meet their listeners and one another. This year’s festivities will also include a “Record Store Row” to provide space for some of Nashville’s indie record stores, such as Grimey’s, Third Man Records and more, to connect with the city’s music community.
An important goal of the event is to raise public awareness of a potential Metro study proposed by Council member Jeff Syracuse which, if funded, will provide the city a blueprint to ensure Nashville’s independent venues thrive. That need is underscored by Mercy Lounge and Exit/In losing their leases this year.
“This study is desperately needed and the only obstacle preventing it from moving forward is funding. Metro’s Financial Oversight Committee is considering an allocation of American Rescue Plan Funds after generous commitments from both The Nashville Chamber of Commerce and the Nashville Convention Visitors & Corp. This public/private partnership underscores the critical importance of independent venues to our creative economy,” shares Chris Cobb, President of Music Venue Alliance Nashville. “We hope everyone realizes the importance of funding this study and invite all corporations who call Music City home to consider contributing funds.”
Early bird tickets and VIP tickets are on sale now until April 1. General admission tickets will go on sale Friday, April 1.
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