Who is #Next2Rise?
How about YOU?!
We’re switching things up for the next installment of our Next2Rise series at Flavor 90s Bar (1526 Demonbreun St., Nashville) by giving YOU a chance to show us what you’ve got!
Come out this Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 7-11 p.m. to play a few songs. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find yourself on an upcoming Next2Rise lineup…
The weather gods continued to favor Gussapolooza all weekend long. While the morning started off chilly by my standards — since moving to Nashville, I think anything below 70 degrees Fahrenheit is on the cool side — I woke up last Saturday morning to a beautiful day, without even the thought of a cloud in the sky.
There was a full day’s worth of music waiting to greet us across three different stages, and a series of seminars kicking off the day inside the MTAV Barn stage. After Friday provided us with a brilliant primer coat, we were prepared to take in the full Gussapolooza experience in all of its glory.
The beautiful weather, the opportunities to connect, and another diverse, talented lineup made Day 2 into a can’t-miss experience. Here, we got to appreciate the power of an idea, as we observed how a small festival that began in Russ Robson’s backyard has turned into a three-day celebration of creativity that brings people out in droves — not just from the surrounding area, but from across North America and beyond.
Melanie Peterson (IG | Spotify)
Alessandro Montelli (IG | Spotify)
Francesca Panetta (IG | Spotify)
Burning Bridges (IG | Spotify)
The Blues Emergency (IG | Spotify)
Fortunate Losers (IG | Spotify)
The late summer sun was shining. Shades of sky blue and kelly green draped over the Canadian landscape, as I drove into Ontario by way of the Ambassador Bridge, connecting Detroit to Windsor.
I — and UMC — had never been here before. Not only did I find myself in another country, but I was there on behalf of this plucky little platform I started with a USB mic, laptop, and idea in my childhood bedroom 11 years prior. Surreal.
I still had a few more hours to go before I’d arrive to my destination: Cookstown, about an hour north of Toronto. Gussapolooza — an emerging festival for independent artists — was set to begin.
I arrived shortly after 5 p.m. ET, where I was greeted warmly by organizers and volunteers. After getting camp situated, I grabbed my camera and walked up to the festival’s dual main stage setup.
Suddenly, we were off to the races.
Throughout the evening, I found myself remarking at the talent and diversity on the lineup. It felt that, with each new performance, I had found my new favorite moment of the night.
Moreover, all of us in attendance were free and encouraged to create and enjoy it all. It became evident quickly that Gussapolooza is more than a festival; it’s a community that brings us back to the fundamentals, while providing meaningful opportunities for artistic expression.
Certainly, to build a career in this industry, there is a necessary emphasis on the business side that we all must embrace. However — if just for a weekend — Gussapolooza invited us all to drop the pretense, come as we are, and find unity in the art form that inspired our creative journeys.
Gussapolooza was here for another year, and it was ready to remind us why we do what we do.
Note: I tried to get to every performance, but there were a few I missed throughout the weekend, in the flow of things. If I missed yours, I offer my humblest apologies. Let’s make it up sometime!
Jeff Gutteridge (IG | Spotify)
The Manic Boys & Girls Club (IG | Spotify)
7:09 p.m.: Don’t sleep on Canada’s country artists! Angelica Appelman performed in the barn today, and her combo of vocals and stage presence is a winning one!
6:25 p.m.: Lots of powerful vocalists throughout today’s lineup, and Vanessa Lio is no exception. Have a listen!
5:07 p.m.: Our Sunday adventure continued with glam rock cowgirl Jessica Sevier — and her noticeably fantastic songwriting!
4:27 p.m.: Onto today’s performances! Blackstock kicked things off, and those vocals were STRONG to start our Sunday!
2:52 p.m.: Simply put, last night rocked. If you need further evidence, check out this moment from Cigar Club.
2:27 p.m.: The Blues Emergency brought big energy to Saturday night’s lineup — and they’re fronted by Andy Du Rego, whose Black Suit Devil project has been featured here on UMC before. Small world!
2:00 p.m.: Speaking of last night, look at how Fortunate Losers had the whole place rocking! Tremendous set — shades of Tool, Deftones, and early Our Lady Peace (think Happiness… and earlier).
1:40 p.m.: My upload speeds have been a little slow out in the field, as well, which is contributing to the backup in updates.
BUT… we’re going to get caught up, and it starts with this clip featuring the mega-talented Harley Olivia, whose performance lit up a picturesque late summer evening in Ontario.
Sunday, September 15 | 1:23 p.m.: Oh man… I’m behind the 8-ball here! I guess that’s what happens when you fully immerse yourself in an event this epic. There are lots of videos on my phone, which we’ll be rolling out here, Instagram, and YouTube.
While I get caught up, I want to thank everyone who attended and empowered my Perfect Your Pitch seminar this morning! I’m grateful to have been on this stage, and for the connections made!
8:16 p.m.: What do you think? Should Tyler Lorette come hang in Nashville sometime?
7:07 p.m.: Things just got HEAVY with Burning Bridges!
6:22 p.m.: Seattle psych legends General Mojos delivered an impressive set, showcasing their seamless musicianship earlier this afternoon. The audience took notice — a LOT of people came up to the front for a closer look.
5:50 p.m.: Lots to update you on, starting with the fun brought forth by alt-rock trio Wishwell.
4:42 p.m.: A couple more performances coming in! The first is Italian-born Alessandro Montelli rocking the afternoon crowd, followed by folk trio Wild Bloom covering Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club.”
3:17 p.m.: One thing I appreciate about Gussapolooza is not only the dedication to showcasing original music, but original music from across genres. With that in mind, here’s a little snippet from pop/R&B artist David July.
1:54 p.m.: Plenty of great insights from Matt Bacon. Here’s one for any artists reading this to digest…
How is content making your audience FEEL?
What emotions will your audience experience coming to a live show or engaging with you?
1:07 p.m.: “It’s never been easier to get the word out about yourself as a musician.” Matt Bacon emphasizes that while marketing platforms may change, the strategies behind marketing are timeless.
12:44 p.m.: And, as a friendly reminder, a familiar face presents tomorrow at 11 a.m.! 😉
12:41 p.m.: Easy start to the day, about to take in Matt Bacon’s social media marketing seminar before the (musical) games begin for the afternoon!
Saturday, September 14 | 12 p.m.: Top of the afternoon to ya!
Let’s kick today’s coverage off with last night’s closing performance from CMAGIC5, who brought out all the bells and whistles to conclude Night 1!
11:20 p.m.: Still coming down from the spiritual experience The Manic Boys & Girls Club gave us…
9:45 p.m.: Feral Minks with one of my favorite sets of the night. A lot of groove in their music — reminds me quite a bit of Kings of Leon.
9:26 p.m.: If you know me, you know the level to which this is high praise: Gussapolooza reminds me of the stories I’ve been told about the early days of Musikfest (which is now the largest free, non-gated music festival in the US). There’s clear passion, vision, and attention to detail, and you can tell that everyone in this community believes in this festival.
9:01 p.m.: And, just like that, Ashley Gilmore & Friends are here to show that an all-acoustic arrangement can be just as powerful!
8:45 p.m.: Cudbear is the truth! They didn’t stop bringing the energy in torrents for their entire set. In fact, they seemed to only gain more power as the set went on.
8:12 p.m.: Stumbled upon a party in the barn with Usual Suspektz!
7:14 p.m.: As I was making the previous update, I was uploading this fun little snippet from Gussapolooza veterans, Freightliner. Come get some!
7:09 p.m.: Been making my way around, and caught In Your Walls playing a new tune inside at the MTAV Barn Stage!
6:14 p.m.: Sweet chili Thai chicken pouting from Foodiez Barrie. I’m already in love.
6:03 p.m.: We are underway! I set up my tent and came back up from tent city, just as Barrie, ON native Brigitte Eve kicked off Gussapolooza 2024.
12:26 p.m. ET: We’ve arrived in Canada! This thing that started with a USB mic and a laptop in my childhood bedroom is officially an international movement.
Friday, Sept. 13 | 9:42 a.m. ET: Woke up like dis…
I pulled into the lovely Monroe KOA in Petersburg, MI shortly after midnight last night. Day 1 on the road took a little longer than expected; I had to stop for new tent poles, and when I couldn’t find what I needed, I ended up buying a new tent. That, plus a missed turn that briefly took me into Indiana, led to a slight delay.
After all of that excitement — and setting up my tent in the dark — I woke up like dis…
Nonetheless, it’s onward to Gussapolooza from here!
Thursday, Sept. 12 | 12:17 p.m. CT: The Blog-a-Thon is back, baby!
We only pull this one out of our arsenal for the most epic of quests. I’d say our first trip to Canada — for UMC, as well as my first trip to Canada ever — for an independent music festival unlike any other is an adventure worthy of live updates, all weekend long!
We have the opportunity to mix it up with 40+ artists and scores of creatives this weekend in Cookstown, Ontario. And so, I’ll be chiming in to give you the sights and sounds — plus anything interesting I find along the way.
I’m about to get on the road, so buckle up, as we take you for a thrilling ride! Keep checking back here for updates, and if you need some traveling music, here’s what I’ll be bumping on my way up north…
We keep talking about this Gussapolooza festival. Curious to hear what all the buzz is about?
Well, there’s plenty for you to hear right now.
Our friends at The Indie Distributor — the organization behind Canada’s premier festival for emerging artists — have released the official Gussapolooza 2024 playlist. This epic, 2+ hour volume features 40 of the artists on this year’s lineup, from across North America and the musical spectrum.
Dig in! And, if you can get up to the Toronto area this weekend, why don’t you get your passes before it’s too late?
Finding true love means not giving up when times are tough; it means weathering the storms and resolving to find the brighter days ahead.
Nashville-based soul singer Beth White takes us through these ups and downs with her new single, “Pretty Baby,” a dreamy R&B offering that smooths out love’s rougher edges.
“‘Pretty Baby’ is a dichotomous song about the peaks and pits of love,” White said. “The verses navigate negative intrusive thoughts regarding one’s relationship and its future, while the choruses are the resolution to questioning, and reflect understanding and calmness in the one you love.”
“Pretty Baby” was recorded at Skinny Elephant Recording in East Nashville, and was co-produced by White alongside Ryan Connors. White performed all vocal duties on the track, while Connor serves as its sole instrumentalist.
Cannabis products have become more prevalent in American society. Many states have fully legalized their sale or use, either for medical or recreational purposes, while cannabis products have also been decriminalized in other municipalities across the United States.
Today, we welcome Marley Sims (a.k.a. CannaBae Marley) for a lightning quick edition of The Quinn Spinn, who discusses the different types of cannabis products (CBD vs. THC) and their therapeutic uses.
Follow CannaBae Marley: https://instagram.com/cannabae__marleyy
This episode of The Quinn Spinn was recorded and produced at Helping Our Music Evolve (H.O.M.E.), Nashville, TN.
Opening theme: REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become
#GetSpunn
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3fhgcfrjZt19NLFagfRB5o
Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-quinn-spinn/id1455228949?mt=2&uo=4
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinnspinnofficial/
The countdown is officially on! In just one week, Gussapolooza Music & Arts Festival will return to Cookstown, Ontario, for an unforgettable weekend celebrating Canada’s emerging music and arts scene. From September 13-15, over 40 independent artists will take the stage, transforming the Georgian Bay Steam Show Grounds into a vibrant hub of creativity, music, and community.
Festival Highlights:
Tickets & Info: Tickets and camping passes are still available but selling fast. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this one-of-a-kind event. For more information, ticket purchases, and updates, visit Gussapolooza.com
Contact:
Gussapolooza Music & Arts Festival
media@gussapolooza.com
www.gussapolooza.com
Follow Gussapolooza on social media for live updates and exclusive content:
There are times when a song is more than just a song; when it is a statement of arrival, and a significant step on one’s healing journey.
“Try Hard” — the new single from Nashville-based songwriter Emma Driver — is one of those moments. The first single from her forthcoming EP, Ashamed to Admit This (coming spring 2025), the tune unveils a new sound from the former Fresh Lady. Combining anthemic pop sensibility with a robust pop punk edge, Driver sings about confronting one’s insecurities and using them to serve others facing similar struggles.
“Try Hard” also marks a significant life milestone for Driver, who faced mortality in the form of a lymphoma diagnosis at age 27. Lyrics like “what a nightmare to be perceived” — written before her diagnosis — took on an entirely new meaning, as she lost her hair to chemotherapy and became unrecognizable even to herself.
In the end, music ultimately helped her transform her fear and shame into art — while still allowing her the room to be vulnerable and accepting of her own humanity.
“I used to think that I would get to a point when I just didn’t care; like a switch would flip, and I’d just know who I was and be good. But now in remission, I still catch myself,” Driver said. “I fully beat cancer and am over here worried about if a random person thinks I’m cringe. I’ll always care, because it’s human to want to be liked, understood, and validated. Finally putting this song out feels like owning this part of myself I used to feel shame about, and that’s so freeing.”
Free yourself from your own fears of judgment when you play this one at max volume!
Sunday brunch is a Nashville tradition, almost as important to Music City’s culture as the music itself.
The Sunday Funday Crew — a creative collective bridging Nashville’s musical and cultural gaps — is bringing new life to the tradition, with a weekly event at Flavor 90s Bar (1526 Demonbreun St.).
The Sunday Funday Crew 90s Brunch Extravaganza begins this Sunday, September 8. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy unique menu items created by Flavor 90s Bar, a revealing game of ‘Never Have I Ever,’ and opportunities to connect with Nashville’s creative community. There might even be some line dancing… but you’ll have to find out when you get there.
The weekly 90s Brunch Extravaganza takes place every Sunday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. It’s free to enter! Why don’t you spend your Sundays with us?
