×
Chase Bryant
At 22, Chase Bryant is just more than half Keith Urban’s age but radiates the same amount of confidence, keeps his hair just as well groomed, and―most importantly―boasts a similarly insane guitar prowess. He’s also extremely hands-on when it comes to his projects; on lead single “Take It On Back, x93 for example, he has writing and producing credits in addition to the vocals and lead guitar. Last fall, Bryant hit the road with Brantley Gilbert’s “Let It Ride x93 tour. As he closed out his explosive set at Bridgestone Arena with an extended guitar solo, it was impossible not to picture him headlining his own show there in the very near future. More at chasebryant.comListen to "Take It On Back"
×
Caitlyn Smith
Even though her name may be new to your ears, you’ve already heard a lot from Caitlyn Smith. In addition to Cassadee Pope's first single, "Wasting All These Tears," her catalog includes songs penned for Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum and Jason Aldean—but Smith’s stellar writing is just the beginning. Her latest EP, Everything to You brilliantly showcases raw, honest vocals and a wide-range of musical versatility. Having toured alongside Willie Nelson and Sheryl Crow, the Minnesota native shows no signs of slowing down. More at caitlynsmith.comWatch Caitlyn play "Everything to You" in The Attic Lounge at the War Memorial Auditorium!
×
Judah & The Lion
This rootsy trio brings a boundless pep to every song with a core of banjo, mandolin, guitar and vocals. Judah and the Lion combines bluegrass, country and traditional folk music with the exuberance of youth. Reminiscent of Mumford and Sons or the Lumineers, their 2014 full-length debut Kids These Days, wavers between delicate and rambunctious. This year holds even more promise for Judah Aker, Nate Zuercher and Brian Macdonald, as they head out on an international jaunt to Scandinavia and return home to tour with Mat Kearney (playing the Ryman, April 4). More at judahandthelion.comWatch them perform "Back's Against The Wall" in The Attic Lounge at the War Memorial Auditorium
×
Brothers Osborne
From now on, can the term “bro country x93 refer to actual country music made by actual brothers—like the Brothers Osborne? They’re not from the Deep South, but John and TJ Osborne did grow up below the Mason-Dixon Line, in the fishing town of Deale, Maryland. They moved to Nashville separately, each writing and performing solo for about a decade before uniting as a duo in 2011. That’s when it clicked: Within a year, they were signed to Universal/EMI and cowriting with Shane McAnally and Barry Dean. Last fall, they dropped their self-titled EP (featuring the breezy, bluesy single “Rum x93) and then went on back-to-back stadium runs—opening first for Eric Church’s The Outsiders tour and then Little Big Town’s Pain Killer tour. Judging from the new songs they previewed at those shows, their forthcoming full-length (sometime this year!) is one of the most anticipated of 2015. More at brothersosborne.comListen to "Stay a Little Longer"
×
Photo by Gina R. Binkley
Taylor Brashears
Combining elements of bluegrass, Americana and blues, Taylor Brashears' retro country style welcomes comparisons to Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn. You'll hear The McCrary Sisters as well as Jim Lauderdale on her her 2011 self-titled EP, proving the Nashville native has been making waves long before millions viewers met her this year on NBC's "The Voice." She picked up the violin at age nine after an unforgettable performance by Nickel Creek at the Ryman Auditorium and hasn't stopped playing since, adding even more instruments to her repertoire. Currently in the studio, look for more of Brashears' unfettered twang soon! More at facebook.com/taylorbrashearsmusicPhoto by Gina R. Binkley
Watch Taylor play "What It Feels Like To Lose" in The Attic Lounge at the War Memorial Auditorium
×
Photo by Cory Morton
Dinner and a Suit
After playing together for years, cousins Jonathan Capeci and Joey Beretta formed their current musical incarnation, Dinner And A Suit, with the addition of longtime friend Anthony Genca, and drummer Drew Scheuer (who they serendipitously found on YouTube). The mostly Jersey-born, Nashville-based rock group has been touring non-stop since the release of their 2012 LP Since Our Departure, until pausing to record live at Smoakstack studio with acclaimed producer, Paul Moak (The Weeks). The result is Stay, a four song EP released in October 2014 that is raw yet polished in the vein of The Script or OneRepublic. These guys won't be slowing down anytime soon with what's already been called the “latest obsession x93 from MTV Buzzworthy and named “Discovery Of The Week x93 from Last.FM. More at dinnerandasuit.comPhoto by Cory Morton
Watch them perform "Can't Get Enough" in The Attic Lounge at the War Memorial Auditorium!
×
Brooke Eden
When your biggest musical inspiration personally invites you to perform with her in front of a roaring amphitheater crowd, there’s a good chance you’ll be too flustered to get through the whole song. But when Brooke Eden hopped onstage with Sugarland in 2012, she belted out the duo’s hit “Baby Girl x93 as Jennifer Nettles looked on in awe. That fortuitous performance led to a deal with Broken Bow Records and opening gigs for acts ranging from Alan Jackson to Florida Georgia Line; last fall, Eden was tapped by Vogue as a trend-setting country “It girl x93 alongside Miranda Lambert and Lily Aldridge. Look for her debut single in early 2015 and her first album later in the year. More at brookeeden.comListen to "American Dreamin'"
×
Chris Nathan
If you’re lucky enough to catch Chris Nathan around town―he’s usually touring the country with acts like Edwin McCain and Kris Allen―he’ll make his presence known immediately. Part of that is because he’s a commanding 6’6 x93, but a lot of it is because he packs a soulful punch into every note. The Buffalo native channels everyone from Jason Mraz to Sam Cooke to John Legend; he sounds kind of like Gavin Degraw with a bit more swagger and a lot more soul. His first full-length, So’Fully Yours, is a live acoustic album with an unintentional twist: He recorded it while he had bronchitis and the flu. (But if we hadn’t told you that, you never would’ve guessed.) This year might prove to be Nathan’s finest, as he’ll be recording the follow-up to So’Fully, an album that’s seven years in the making. More at reverbnation.com/chrisnathanWatch Chris play "Mercy" in The Attic Lounge at the War Memorial Auditorium
×
Playing the 2015 Music in The City showcase— Jan 20!
Mickey Guyton
Just a few bars into any of Mickey Guyton’s songs, you can hear the influence of LeAnn Rimes in her pure yet powerful voice. It rings even clearer once you learn that her first national performance was singing “Crazy x93 for an all-star concert at the White House―that’s a must-watch video. But the Texas native also taps into her gospel upbringing, resulting in a sound that is part classic Dolly Parton, part “I’m Every Woman x93–era Whitney Houston. Last March, Guyton released her acoustic EP Unbreakable, and this year she’ll drop the debut album she made with a dream duo of producers: Nathan Chapman (aka Taylor Swift’s main man) and Dann Huff (who’s responsible for Keith Urban’s last six albums). More at mickeyguyton.comListen to "Better Than You Left Me"
×
Photo by Austin Lord
Fleurie
You can’t tell from her melancholy, Daughter-like tunes, but Lauren Strahm (aka Fleurie) is the very opposite of morose. After studying in Australia for three years, the bubbly Strahm planted in Nashville, bringing cinematic sound and prolific songwriting with her. Strahm recently teamed up with renown photographer Jeremy Cowart for her next project—a new EP that blends her raw vocal element with synthetic layers of pop and presence (out this spring). More at fleuriemusic.comPhoto by Austin Lord
Watch Lauren perform "There's A Ghost" in The Attic Lounge at the War Memorial Auditorium
×
Colony House
Not since NeedToBreathe has a Southern rock band made themes of faith so palatable to a wide audience. But that’s exactly what indie trio Colony House has done with their first EP, last year’s When I Was Younger. Brothers Caleb and Will Chapman and Scott Mills borrowed their name from an apartment complex just off West Main Street in Franklin―and maybe inherited some of their appeal from Caleb and Will’s dad, CCM legend Steven Curtis Chapman. Those little pieces of home and family will accompany Colony House on their 2015 tour with Kongos, kicking off this month. More at colonyhouse.comListen to "Silhouttes"
×
Photo by Mason Dixon
Maurico
If anyone knows the definition of hustle, it's Maurico. From early on the local hip hop artist used music as an outlet for expression and in his EP "I Am Maurico," turns his own life's trouble into encouragement and inspiration for others. When approached by Kyle Cook (Matchbox 20) to sign to the new Tennessee Recording Company label—Maurico was resistant, naturally. He'd spent years building his own career and almost didn't take the meeting. Thankfully he did, expanding his message of positivity to a diverse and growing audience in Music City. More at maurico.comPhoto by Mason Dixon
Watch him perform "City Come Alive" in The Attic Lounge at the War Memorial Auditorium!
×
Playing the 2015 Music in The City showcase— Jan 20!
Drew Baldridge
There’s a new face among Nashville’s current crop of radio-friendly country studs who’d get the thumbs up from Mom and Dad. Rising star Drew Baldridge fits in so well, in fact, that he’s a go-to opening act for many of those male artists, including Cole Swindell, Thomas Rhett, Dustin Lynch, and Justin Moore. While he doesn’t have his peers’ Southern roots, he does draw inspiration from small-town life―his hometown of Patoka, Illinois, has a population of about 600. In 2014, Baldridge began releasing his first full-length album, Crossing County Lines, in four-song installments; judging by the first volume’s debut at number 15 on the iTunes Country Chart, fans will eat up the remaining tracks as quickly as a down-home meal. More at drewbaldridgemusic.comListen to "After Midnight"
×
Photo by Chuck David Willis
Devan DuBois
Made in Louisiana, marked by LA, and manumitted in Nashville, Devan DuBois already bears the swagger of a legend. His stunning full length, Le Fou, is a mysterious and impeccably diverse blend of blues/hip-hop/roots rock, garnering such sonic comparisons to Bob Dylan, Jack White, and the Black Keys. The intentionally elusive artist imbues everything with his signature aesthetic, understood best by the highly circulated, Chuck David Willis directed video for "Long Live." After another of his tracks, “Too Many Aces, x93 landed in an ad campaign for Ketle One last year—can't wait to see what 2015 has in store… More at facebook.com/DevanDuBoisMusicPhoto by Chuck David Willis
Listen to "Other Lovers"
×
The Lonely Biscuits
Grady Wenrich and Sam Gidley formed The Lonely Biscuits in 2011 after being randomly assigned as roommates at Belmont; shortly afterward, their classmates John Paterini and Nick Byrd joined the mellow indie band. These days, the foursome is still playing together―and now they’re all living together in 12 South (as well as carpooling to gigs). These festival favorites represented Nashville well in 2014, with slots at Hangout Fest, Austin City Limits, and Bonnaroo in addition to their own headlining tour. They closed out the year with Moon Taxi’s annual New Year’s Eve gig at War Memorial Auditorium, ringing in 2015 with their signature mix of soul, pop, funk, hip-hop, and good vibes. More at thelonelybiscuits.comWatch them play "Hands Tied" in The Attic Lounge at the War Memorial Auditorium!
×
Playing the 2015 Music in The City showcase— Jan 20!
Lindsay Ell
With only a quarter of a century under her belt, country singer-guitarist Lindsay Ell can already say she's traveled the world opening for The Band Perry (2013 We Are Pioneers tour), opened for Buddy Guy and shredded alongside one of her favorite players, Keith Urban. The Calgary crooner began early, inheriting a musical passion from her family and developing her guitar skills while traveling to country-bluegrass camps with her father. She was discovered at thirteen and mentored by Randy Bachman ("American Woman," "Takin' Care of Business"), then went on to study at Berklee College of Music before making Nashville her permanent home. This guitar hero(ine) is currently recording her debut album expected in 2015 and while she's not out to change perceptions about girls with guitars, with chops like these, she can't help it. More at lindsayell.comListen to "Shut Me Up"
×
Photo by Ramiah Branch Photography
Justin Forrest
Affable and talkative, Justin Forrest is out to do what he loves. You can hear the influence of his idols, Jimmy Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan, in his playing—but the vim behind his voice is all from the heart. The soulful guitar virtuoso first started playing at age eleven and has formed a bond with the instrument strong enough to carry him through tough times. Losing his father to cancer, as well as other close loved ones, only solidified Forrest's resolve to pursue his musical endeavors. Winning the 2012 SESAC Project Next showcase provided even more encouragement and led to his December 2013 full length record, Chapters that begs for much more to be written in Forrest's bright future. More at justinforrest.netPhoto by Ramiah Branch Photography
Watch Lauren perform "City Life" in The Attic Lounge at the War Memorial Auditorium
×
Photo by Robby Klein
Muddy Magnolias
It’s hard to believe Kallie North and Jessy Wilson have officially been performing together for less than a year―their first show as the Muddy Magnolias was last April. It’s also hard to believe they even found each other in the first place: Before meeting in Nashville, North was living in a 200-person town in the Mississippi Delta and Wilson was touring the world as a backup singer with John Legend. The songwriting partners–turned–magnetic stage duo, who are signed to Capitol Records’ I.R.S. division, combine their love of the diverse genres they were raised on: rock ’n’ roll, blues, hip-hop, and country. More at muddymagnolias.comPhoto by Robby Klein
×
Zeke Duhon
Well, at least one person can’t complain about The Civil Wars disbanding last year. Zeke Duhon, a quiet singer-songwriter from Tulsa, was new to town and looking to record his meditative pop-rock; meanwhile, the Grammy-winning duo’s longtime producer, Charlie Peacock, suddenly had a few openings in his schedule―and time to handpick a fresh project. The collaboration resulted in Duhon’s six-track self-titled EP, featuring standout tracks like the synth-tinged “Faith and Hope. x93 Next up for the Big Deal Music artist: his debut full-length, which arrives early this year. More at zekeduhon.comWatch Zeke play "Faith & Hope" in The Attic Lounge at the War Memorial Auditorium
×
Photo by Dan Martinie
All Sons & Daughters
Expanding the bounds of what it means to make church music, Leslie Jordan and David Leonard of All Sons & Daughters fashion roosty-folk music (think Civil Wars) that continues to find its way to congregations all over the globe. As worship leaders at the non-denominational Journey Church in Franklin, TN, their songs including "Oh Our Lord," "All The Poor and Powerless," and "Great Are You Lord" are becoming staples in the anthology of contemporary Christian music. After a 2014 tour with Crowder, this spring the band will travel coast to coast bringing along fellow-Nashvillian, Sandra McCracken. Their latest self-titled full length continues to make an impact inside and outside the church. More at allsonsanddaughters.comPhoto by Dan Martinie
Listen to "More Than Anything"
×
Magnolia Sons
Leading the charge of Nashville's soul resurgence are the Magnolia Sons who've been making retro pop rock and soul since 2011. The fifteen-plus band roster reads like a genealogy; and that's just how they'd like it. The big funky family includes: Austin Aguirre, Benjamin A. Harper, Dustin Sellers, Alexis Saski, Laura Mayo, Keshia Bailey, McKenzie Gregg, Lydia Elise, Stephen Daniel King, Jared Cooper, Travis Eidson, Ryan Latham, Eli Hall, Anthony Jorissen, and Paul Thacker all together making a beautiful racket. This kinetic crew channels a 1960s-esque version of Fitz and the Tantrums with spry vocals, suited-up singers, and groovy horns. Recording regularly, the Sons have a back-log of tunes they release one by one on their website. More at magnoliasons.comWatch them perform "Stakes are High" in The Attic Lounge at the War Memorial Auditorium
×
Photo by Sarah Barlow
Playing the 2015 Music in The City showcase— Jan 20!
Native Run
This dynamic duo isn't out to save the world, but their high-energy, countrified tunes just might. Native Run combines the vocal and instrumental prowess of longtime friends Rachel Beauregard and Bryan Dawley. From singing in worship bands together after college to playing big stages on David Nail's I'm A Fire tour, there's so much more to come from these two. Even better, each of the eleven tracks on their upcoming record showcase Bearegard and Dawley's songwriting chops. If you missed the pair making their Opry debut in the summer of 2014, make sure catch them out early 2015 on the Lipstick Graffiti tour with fellow rising artist, Sam Hunt. More at nativerunmusic.comPhoto by Sarah Barlow
Watch them perform "Good on You" in The Attic Lounge at the War Memorial Auditorium!
×
Mikaela Hamilton Photography
Sun Culture
Warm and breezy is the way Chase Coy describes his new indie pop project, Sun Culture. Akin to Vampire Weekend or Grouplove, this sound is a reinvention of sorts for the Greenwood, Indiana singer-songwriter after parting with his Universal Republic label. In August 2013, Coy and co-writer/producer Jordan Schmidt created a self-titled, eight track release showcasing Coy's continued metamorphosis as an artist. Longtime fans will savor his Copeland-like vocals washed to shore by dreamy beats and surging guitar licks. More at suncultureband.comMikaela Hamilton Photography
Listen to "Sea Salt"
×
Old Dominion
Huge congrats are in order to Old Dominion: They’re the first indie band to be part of a stadium tour. And this isn’t just a slight upgrade from the small clubs they’re used to―they were handpicked by Kenny Chesney to open select dates on his Big Revival mega-tour, which kicks off in March and will also star Eric Church and Jason Aldean. The huge venues might be new, but Matthew Ramsey, Brad Tursi, Trevor Rosen, Geoff Sprung, and Whit Sellers have been quietly working their way up in the industry for over a decade as songwriters; they’re responsible for hits like The Band Perry’s “Better Dig Two x93 (Rosen), Tyler Farr’s "A Guy Walks Into a Bar x93 (Tursi), and Dierks Bentley’s “Say You Do x93 (Ramsey/Rosen). When it was time for them to record their debut project as a band, October’s self-titled EP, they called in Grammy-winning producer Shane McAnally―and didn’t have to look far for the best writers in town. More at olddominionband.comWatch them play "Shut Me Up" in The Attic Lounge at the War Memorial Auditorium!
×
Playing the 2015 Music in The City showcase— Jan 20!
Danielle Bradbery
This rising starlet is the youngest to ever win NBC’s The Voice (season four), with coach Blake Shelton calling eighteen-year-old Danielle Bradbery, "the most important artist to ever walk across The Voice stage. x93 The young entertainer continues to charm audiences with her sweet, soulful sound on the highest charted single for a debut female artist in 2013, “Heart of Dixie. x93 In addition to being named as one of CMT’s Next Women of Country, this year Bradbery hits the road on select dates of Miranda Lambert’s Certified Platinum tour. More at daniellebradbery.comListen to “Young “in America
×
Photo by Spencer Combs
Steve Moakler
Nine years after moving to Nashville from Pittsburgh, Steve Moakler has reached the highest tier of the local singing-songwriting community. Not only was his against-all-odds ballad, “Riser, x93 cut by Dierks Bentley―it became the title track of Bentley’s latest Grammy-nominated album. Moakler recorded the song too, for his third full-length, Wide Open; in it, he vows to do whatever it takes to rise above: “When darkness comes to town, x93 he sings, “I’m a lighter. x93 He’s referring to a relationship, but the lyrics apply perfectly to Moakler’s illumination of―and beating the odds in―his adopted hometown. More at stevemoakler.comPhoto by Spencer Combs