The East Nashvillian March/April Issue is On Stands and Online
The East Nashvillian March/April issue is on stands and online now! Along with our cover story on Steve Earle, we have feature stories on Drkmttr, Soft Junk Records’ Nic Schurman, Heather Lose and The Tennessee Conservationist, a whirlwind tour of eight well-established breakfast stops, and much more.
Grab your copy at magazine stands around town, or view the entire issue online here.
Creamer and The Pat Sansone Trio at Vinyl Tap
East Nashville’s own classic pop-rock glam band Creamer is playing a double-bill with The Pat Sansone Trio at Vinyl Tap at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 21.
This double-bill is by no means a coincidence, as Sansone — of The Autumn Defense and Wilco, and Philip Creamer (frontman of Creamer) have been collaborating since March 2016. “Pat and I met at the Family Wash when my band Dovetail was opening for the Cordovas. Right off the bat he had a strong direction for my music, and we quickly got in the studio to make Creamer,” says Creamer. Co-produced by Sansone and Josh Shapera (Flaming Lips, The Autumn Defense), Creamer’s self-titled debut album was released in September of last year. (Check out our recent feature story on Creamer.)
With such a power combo of musicians, there is the question of whether or not the Vinyl Tap show is a sneak peek of a possible future tour with Creamer and Sansone. “This is a doubleheader, but you never know what could happen next,” says Creamer. “We play Bar DKDC in Memphis following Nashville, additionally featuring Justin and the Cosmics.”
Vinyl Tap, a craft beer bar and record store located in the Eastwood neighborhood, was specifically chosen for this night of music. “Pat thought Vinyl Tap was the right vibe. We both love our East Nashville people and places, so we wanted to keep it close to home,” says Creamer.
In regard to what’s next on the horizon, Creamer says he has several things in progress. “I’m spending my time developing new material, and we have some out of town dates in the works for this year.” As dates are locked in, they’ll be announced at WhoIsCreamer.com.
When not touring with Wilco or The Autumn Defense, The Pat Sansone Trio is an outlet for Sansone to share his extensive catalog of songs. They focus on performing at select dates and festivals, making the March 21 date all the more special.
Vinyl Tap is an intimate-sized space, so make sure you arrive early as room is limited. There is a suggested $8 donation for admission.
Creamer: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
The Autumn Defense: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Kabobs for a Cause at Lyra
Celebrate the first day of spring on the patio at Lyra with a special happy hour from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20.
A portion of the happy hour proceeds will benefit The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation whose goal is to transform lung cancer into a chronically managed disease by the year 2023 and ultimately to find a cure.
Chef Hrant Arakelian will be on the patio grilling up a variety of his famous savory kabobs to complement the special happy hour cocktails. Click here for more information on The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation.
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Martha O’Bryan Center to Open Third Academic Student Union
Having completed a six-month selection process with multiple area high schools, Martha O’Bryan Center has chosen Hunters Lane High School as the location for its next Academic Student Union — a program that has shown strong results already at Stratford and Maplewood High Schools.
Designed like a college student union, but for teenagers, Academic Student Unions (ASUs) create a one-stop-shop
for high school students to receive academic, social and emotional, work and career, and college prep assistance.
“Our selection process begins by looking at where there is the greatest need, based on the percentage of students who are economically disadvantaged, and where the school is with measurables like ACT scores and college-going rates (trade programs and technical schools count),” says Peter Martino, chief development officer at Martha O’Bryan Center. “We then reach out to administrators to gauge interest, tour each other’s facilities, and then there is a request for proposal for the school to submit so we can assess the cultural fit between the school and us.”
Having plenty of space available full time inside the school is also a factor when selecting the high schools to be part of the program. “We are there all day for the students, and part of the model is creating a compelling ‘third space’ that students can feel is their own,” says Martino, adding the leadership at the school is also a significant factor in the selection process.
With seed funding secured from a Nashville foundation for the initial three years of the new site, Martha O’Bryan Center and Hunters Lane will open the new Academic Student Union in August 2019.
Martha O’Bryan Center’s first ASU opened at Stratford High School in 2010, called the Top Floor. At the time, Stratford had the district’s lowest college-going rate in the city. Since opening the Top Floor ASU, Stratford’s college enrollment rate has increased from 30.4 percent to 59.6 percent. The same model was applied at Maplewood High School in 2014, and the college-going rate increased from 37.2 percent to 50.2 percent.
Despite only 12 percent of high schoolers in the country taking part in afterschool programming, the ASUs draw participation from the majority of students in the schools where they serve by giving students a voice and the choice to drive the experience. “We allow students to come whenever they want and take part in whatever offerings meet their needs,” states Kent Miller, Chief Program Officer at Martha O’Bryan Center, in an official press release. “This can look like many different things depending on the student — help finding a job, academic tutoring, joining a club, getting help with financial aid for college, or meeting with one of our counselors to talk about relationships.”
A total of 3,570 students have participated in the ASUs since 2010. ASU students have received over $62.3 million in grants and scholarships. Hunters Lane will be the largest high school for Martha O’Bryan Center’s ASU model to date and will consist of five full-time and two part-time staff.
Martha O’Bryan Center is an anti-poverty, non-profit organization was founded in 1894 and has operated from the heart of the Cayce Place community since 1948.
“How do we attack poverty,” asks Marsha Edwards CEO of Martha O’Bryan Center. “One of our most important strategies is to invest in middle school and high [school] students without a family history of college-going. Our Academic Student Unions provide academic support to students, setting them up for post-secondary success, which is critically important because upward economic mobility does not happen in this modern world without a post-secondary degree or credential. Seventy percent of the students we serve are first-generation college students. As Dan Portfield, CEO of the Aspen Institute has stated, ‘First generation college-goers are among the most important Americans.’ We believe that the investments we make in our high schools, their faculties and students will return dividends in Nashville families for 100 years.”
The Martha O’Bryan Center has several sources of funding, including money from the state of Tennessee for tutoring, corporate donations (including transformational gifts from the First Tennessee Foundation), and many individual donors who give every year. The nonprofit doesn’t charge the school district or the students for anything. “We could certainly use additional funding to ensure we can adapt and meet as many needs as possible for our students, be it more transportation options, extra tutors, or additional college field trips. Donations from neighbors in Nashville are greatly appreciated,” says Martino.
Click here for more information on the Martha O’Bryan Center.
Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival Passes on Sale Now
Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival has announced its initial lineup of acts and is scheduled for Sept. 21-22 at The Park at Harlinsdale in historic downtown Franklin, Tennessee.
Performers include Foo Fighters, The Killers, Keith Urban, Leon Bridges, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, The Head and the Heart, +LIVE+, Jenny Lewis, Lauren Daigle, Phosphorescent, Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, Better Than Ezra, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Rayland Baxter, Justin Townes Earle, The War And Treaty, The Wild Reeds, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Adia Victoria, Molly Tuttle, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Caroline Rose, Devon Gilfillian, Lucie Silvas, Stephen Kellogg, The Dip, Cedric Burnside, Songhoy Blues, Kacy & Clayton, The Watson Twins, J.P. Harris, Chloe Gendrow, Anna Rose, Vincent Neil Emerson, Mando Saenz, Anna Shoemaker and many more. Artists are scheduled to perform across six stages this year including ASCAP Shady Grove, Midnight Sun, Gold Record Road, Harpeth River, Vanderbilt Health Lil’ Pilgrims Family Stage and Mare Barn Theatre and the Americana Music Triangle Experience Stage.
“Pilgrimage truly showcases all that middle Tennessee has to offer: all genres of music, the best artisans and makers and incredible cuisine all in a family-friendly atmosphere that ends by 8:30 p.m. each night,” says Pilgrimage partner and Better Than Ezra co-founding vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Kevin Griffin. “I’m most excited for the ‘pilgri-mashups’ we’ve come to expect over the years featuring incredible collaborations such as Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton, Preservation Hall and Willie Nelson, Ruby Amanfu and Weezer, and Holly Williams and Sheryl Crow. With the diversity in this year’s lineup, who knows what could happen!”
Passes go on sale TODAY, Friday, March 15 at 10 a.m. CT at pilgrimagefestival.com.
General admission 2-Day Pilgrimage Passes begin at $185 (children age 10 and under get in FREE when accompanied by an adult Pilgrimage Pass).
For information about lodging or to find out more about the Franklin area, check out visitfranklin.com.
St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Events
If you like beer, brunch, Celtic music, singalongs, or have kids, here are a few St. Patrick’s Day weekend events to consider:
The Crossing’s Unplugged St. Pat’s Jam at East Nashville Beer Works
The Crossing, a Celtic folk-rock band from Chicago, will be playing at the East Nashville Beer Works taproom from 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, March 17. Click here for more info.
St. Patrick’s Day Brunch at Smith & Lentz Brewing
Smith and Lentz Brewing is teaming up with Rudie’s Seafood and Sausage to serve an Irish brunch in their taproom. Enjoy $3 nitro pours of their Dry Irish Stout with corned beef dogs, Irish potato nachos, and more.
They’re also hosting a traditional Irish dance performance by Scott-Ellis School of Irish Dance starting at noon followed by lessons for all those who want to learn how to do an Irish jig.
The brunch begins at 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 17. Click here for more info.
Creative Zone: Saint Patrick’s Day Hats and Fiddles at Country Music Hall of Fame
If you’re looking for something fun to do with the kiddos on St. Patrick’s Day, this is a family-focused event.
Children are encouraged to show off their individuality by decorating a paper fiddle or wearable paper hat, drawing their inspiration from the museum galleries or Saint Patrick’s Day. The event begins at 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 17. Click here for more info.
Beer & Hymns – Saint Patrick’s Pub Sing 2019 at Mercy Lounge
Beer & Hymns has had many large events since first formalizing in November 2013 at the now-closed popular brunch-spot Mad Donna’s in East Nashville. The goal is a public, night-time croon in the manner of a Dublin pub. Come get your group-singalong on with lovingly curated and pre-selected music.
Doors are at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 16. Click here for more info.
Quick Bits
― Mayor David Briley plans to spend millions of dollars in city funds over the next decade to redevelop Nashville’s aging public housing. According to the Tennessean’s sources, Briley is expected to announce the redevelopment financing, and an allocation to the city’s affordable housing grant fund later this month. Read more at the Tennessean.
― Shed Fitness is to open in August at Highland Yards — the first announced tenant for the future Highland Heights neighborhood development. Read more at the Nashville Post.
― According to Zillow, Nashville rent prices are on the rise again. There are 4,026 homes available for rent in Nashville right now, and most of them are in the downtown loop area and East Nashville. Read more at WKRN.com.
― This April Third Man Records celebrates a decade in Nashville with the first Raconteurs live show in eight years. Other artists on the bill include Margo Price, Josh Hedley, Teddy and the Rough Riders, Alison Mosshart, and many more. Read more at Third Man Records.
― The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers plays a delicate “balancing act” with the Cumberland River before, during, and after rainfall events to avoid flooding along the river, including the Omohundro Water Plant, run by Metro Water Services. Read more at WKRN.com.
― If you’re a fan of Chase Bank, you’re in luck. Plans are set for Chase to open its first retail branch in Nashville this year, followed by their second branch opening in 2020 that will be located at 1111 Gallatin Ave., in the planned Hill Center Greenwood project. Read more at the Nashville Post.
― East Nashvillians beware of losing your outdoor plants to thieves, especially around Mother’s Day. Read more at Fox 17 News.
― Carla Hall co-host of ABC’s The Chew, restauranteur, author, chef, and Nashville native lists Butcher & Bee as one of her top 10 favorite restaurants in Nashville. Read more at OpenTable.
― East Nashville gets some brewery love in Sounds Like Nashville’s list of “Nashville’s Best New(ish) Breweries.”
