Category Archives: announcements

LOOK INSIDE: Full Night-by-Night Crescent City Crossroads Lineups

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We now have full lineups for Crescent City Crossroads II, set to take place during NOLA MusiCon on October 28 and 29.

But first… we’re thrilled to announce that New Orleans-based Brazilian funk band Lapis is returning to the fold! They’ll close the two-night extravaganza for us on Thursday, October 29 after their stellar performance during last year’s event.

With that, here’s when everyone will be joining us later this month at Gasa Gasa (4920 Freret St., New Orleans) — below the ticket link buttons, of course. 😉

NIGHT 1
NIGHT 2

Wednesday, October 28
8 p.m.: Doors
8:30-9 p.m.: Craig Greenberg (New York, NY)
9:15-9:45 p.m.: ARREIS (Nashville, TN)
10:00-10:30 p.m.: Aaron Maras (New Orleans, LA)
10:45-11:15 p.m.: Kelsey Muse (Nashville, TN)
11:30-12 p.m.: Damian CH (New Orleans, LA)

Thursday, October 29
8 p.m.: Doors
8:30-9 p.m.: HOMEWORLD (New Orleans, LA)
9:15-9:45 p.m.: Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess & Cosmic Sound (Nashville, TN)
10-10:30 p.m.: E.T. (Nashville, TN)
10:45-11:15 p.m.: Alfred Banks (New Orleans, LA)
11:30-midnight: Lapis (New Orleans, LA)

As the Marionettes Dance: Josh Herman Tells the Story of ‘The Old Puppeteer’

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He once played fine theaters
But that day is gone.
The Old Puppeteer had to move right along…

Josh Herman’s decades-long career in entertainment has been full of impressive accolades and exciting turns. A member of The Screen Actors Guild, The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and the Royal Court Repertory Company, Josh has had opportunities to perform onstage, on-screen, and just about everywhere else — from the circus, to your local carnival, to the boardwalks of the Jersey Shore.

His next stop? The Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre in New York City’s Central Park.

That’s where Josh will perform this Sunday, October 18 at 3 p.m. as part of Suspended Oddities: Marionnette Puppet Slam. Produced by Arlee Chadwick and sponsored by The Puppet Slam Network founded by Heather Henson — daughter of the late Jim Henson, creator of The Muppets — this afternoon of original, short-form experimental string puppetry is family-friendly and free to attend.

“It means a lot to be part of the event, because I’ve always respected the performers from the Swedish Marionette Cottage in Central Park,” Herman said. “I’ve worked with and gone to performances featuring many of these puppeteers over the years, many of whom were part of the ‘who’s who’ of puppetry.”

Suspended Oddities: Marionnette Puppet Slam takes place Sunday, Oct. 18 at 3 p.m. at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre in New York City’s Central Park. Free tickets are available at this link.

The Puppet Slam event coincides with the release of Herman’s new music video for his song, The Old Puppeteer. The new single — a minimalist waltz featuring Herman on vocals and guitar and Charlie Willis on violin — tells the story of a beloved entertainer that time forgot. Over time, bright lights and big stages turned to street corners and sidewalks, until one day, he was nowhere to be found, save for memories.

“I have been a street performer and busker myself, and met and befriended many other street performers. Some of it is based on that experience,” Herman noted. “A large part of the inspiration for the song came from an episode of the television show Highway to Heaven, which starred the late Michael Landon as an angel. In one episode, one of my favorite performers, Dick Van Dyke, portrayed a kind-hearted street puppeteer named Wally who eventually becomes an angel himself.”

The video was directed by Jonathan McFarland, and features Herman performing with an array of expressive puppets, many of which he produced or restored alongside puppet makers Fred Cowan, Scott Land, Linda Sliski, Lisa Land, and Roger Dennis.

Watch the video below. And, for our New York area friends, get your tickets to Sunday’s Puppet Slam here.

As for what makes the event special?

“All of the puppet pieces at the event on Sunday will be done with Marionettes. This is not the usual case with puppet slams, where all forms of puppetry are usually performed, making this puppet slam unique,” Herman noted. “People can expect innovative puppetry with everything from short, interesting stories; classic tales; Marionettes dancing; and circus style acts with many surprises.”

Here are the Artists Set to Perform During Crescent City Crossroads II

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Last week, we broke the news that NOLA MusiCon’s Crescent City Crossroads showcases — a big hit during last year’s conference — were returning as a two-night extravaganza in The Big Easy later this month.

This year’s showcases will take place October 28 and 29 at Gasa Gasa (4920 Freret St., New Orleans), with doors opening each night at 8 p.m. We have artists from multiple cities set to join us — including some of NOLA’s best and brightest rising stars!

Here’s the full artist list. We’re working on finalizing each night’s time slots — and we might have one more addition in the process. In the meantime, get acquainted with the artists who are confirmed to join us!

Alfred Banks (New Orleans, LA)
ARREIS (Nashville, TN/Chicago, IL)
Aaron Maras (New Orleans, LA)
Craig Greenberg (New York, NY)
Damian CH (New Orleans, LA)
E.T. (Nashville, TN)
HOMEWORLD (New Orleans, LA)
Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess & Cosmic Sound (Nashville, TN)
Kelsey Muse (Nashville, TN)

You already know you don’t want to miss a minute, so why not get your tickets to both nights?

NIGHT 1
NIGHT 2

Going to NOLA MusiCon? Join us for Crescent City Crossroads II!

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You have your badge for NOLA MusiCon, taking place in fabulous New Orleans, Louisiana October 28-30. It’s three days full of top-notch music industry education, networking, and live performance.

You DON’T?! Well, you’d better get on that!

Speaking of live performance, one reason you’ll want to join us in The Big Easy this #SpookySZN is that we’re putting together another two-night Crescent City Crossroads extravaganza!

Crescent City Crossroads II will take place the first two nights of the conference — that’s October 28 and 29 — at Gasa Gasa (4920 Freret St.). Each lineup will feature an array of artists from a variety of genres and locales. Artists from Nashville and New York will join some of New Orleans’ own to celebrate the city’s rich cultural heritage.

Those lineups and a ticket link will be coming your way next Tuesday, Oct. 13 (after we get back from Confluence Carolinas, which is happening this week). Keep an eye out, and again, get your badge for NOLA!

NASHVILLE: Get Fresh Photos for Fall

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Old and new friends alike came by the UMC Creator Lab Experience last week for some fresh headshots, interview content, and one-mic performance videos. A great time was had by all!

In fact, we had so much fun that we decided to bring our summer photography special back for the month of October. If you’re in Nashville (or plan to be), book your shoot between now and October 31, and you get a 2-hour shoot plus as many edits as we can handle for $175.

Headshots? Got you! Live shots? Got you! Those fun promo shoots by the train tracks? GOT YOU!

Let’s make some magic this fall. Hit the button below to get started (and learn about the other services we offer through the UMC Creator Lab).

LET’S GET IT GOING!

A Week’s Worth of Nashville Film Festival Ticket Giveaways!

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The 2026 edition of the Nashville Film Festival kicks off this week — and we’ve got your tickets to some incredible music documentaries, all week long!

Every day this week (Mon.-Fri.) at noon CT, visit our Instagram for a fresh ticket giveaway for one of this year’s featured music documentaries. These five films span the globe, providing different perspectives on the music industry — from the underground, to the big stage, and everywhere in between!

Our ticket giveaways kick off today (Monday, 9/21) at noon CT. We have five (5) pairs of tickets for each film, and each contest lasts for 24 hours. Winners will be notified the following day via Instagram DM, where we will coordinate ticket delivery.

Entering to win is easy:
1) Visit @umcworldwide on Instagram.
2) Like the current day’s ticket giveaway post.
3) Tag who you’re bringing to the screening in the comments.

Information on each film and ticket giveaway can be found below. Tickets for each film can also be purchased for 20% off using our exclusive code, UMC20, at checkout.

Jail Time Records
Screening: Friday, Sept. 25 at 12:30 p.m.
Giveaway: Begins Monday, Sept. 21 at 12 p.m.

Jail Time Records is a documentary musical that follows recording artists emerging from one of the world’s toughest settings. Inside the crammed alleyways of the Central Prison of Douala in Cameroon, the film immerses itself in the lives of the inmates-turned-artists that make up Jail Time Records, the first recording studio in an African prison.

The Man with the Big Hat
Screening: Friday, Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. (w/ Q&A)
Giveaway: Begins Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 12 p.m.

An unsung pioneer of 1970s Texas Progressive Country, Steven Fromholz had a knack for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Revered by legends like Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett & John Denver, he remained commercially unknown. He sought redemption on the Rio Grande as a river guide until a debilitating stroke erased his musical memory, stripping Fromholz of his artistic identity. Through newly discovered archives that include never-before-heard recordings, this intimate excavation of sorts is driven by an obsessive persistence, that brings Fromholz back to life, and reshapes the notion of success and artistic fortitude.

Songs from the Circle
Screening: Saturday, Sept. 26 at 5:30 p.m. (with Q&A)
Giveaway: Begins Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 12 p.m.

One hundred years after its founding, the Grand Ole Opry crosses the Atlantic for the first time. Songs from the Circle follows Luke Combs, Mumford & Sons, Darius Rucker, and a crew of American country legends on British soil — through the rehearsal rooms of Abbey Road, the backstage corridors of the Royal Albert Hall, and onto a sold-out stage for a centennial concert one hundred years in the making.

Bleeding Hearts
Screening: Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. (with Q&A)
Giveaway: Begins Thursday, Sept. 24 at 12 p.m.

A music-driven love story about real-life couple Zella Day and Jesse Woods, the musicians behind the emerging band Chaparelle. Following their first year together, the film captures the joy and uncertainty of chasing a shared dream while navigating pressures that could spark their breakup—or their breakthrough.

The House Band
Screening: Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 12 p.m.
Giveaway: Begins Friday, Sept. 25 at 12 p.m.

In 2025, after multiple tours and multi-platinum record sales, Mumford and Sons found themselves missing the early days playing music in a community, and wanted to recapture the joy and spontaneity of collaboration. So, they invited 18 of their favorite musicians to board a vintage train in New Orleans and play a very unconventional tour.

The rules were simple: everyone was invited to collaborate with whomever they wished, and anyone could suggest a song. These musicians, many of whom had never met, were to be a real band. Their goal was to create some truly once-in-a-lifetime performances along the way. 

In each city there would be one special guest, so the band had to learn new songs on the train each day well enough to play with the likes of Lainey Wilson, Darius Rucker, Maggie Rogers and Noah Kahan. 

It soon becomes clear how much work this is, and how every musician on the train has to confront their own fears and limits, playing songs they have never heard before. Can they bond together and help each other reach a common goal? Or will fatigue and doubt tear them apart? These are the stakes every night, and watching how each musician handles this pressure becomes a fascinating watch. Through their experiences, we get an understanding of what it is actually like to be in a band. Self-doubt, joy, insecurity, desire, and commitment are all on display as these musicians put it all on the line for each other. 

The Nashville Film Festival takes place Sept. 24-30. The festival — one of the first and longest-running in the United States — “discovers, elevates and honors filmmakers, screenwriters and musicians from around the world while engaging, connecting and strengthening the Nashville community.” We’re honored to partner on film’s biggest week in Music City, and we look forward to seeing you out there!

Ty Warner Announces Release of New Instrumental Single, “Nora’s Jump”

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Composer and performer Ty Warner has released “Nora’s Jump,” his second instrumental recording. The song was written especially for Warner’s granddaughter, Nora, giving the recording a deeply personal meaning and making the release a celebration of family as well as music. The new single brings together vintage guitar tones, modern studio production, and a collaborative team of musicians and producers.

The recording features a collaborative effort with Wyoming Wave Studios, which provided the foundational production track. Asha Henshaw, a recent graduate of the Berklee College of Music, contributed to the project with background vocals and her musical and production expertise. Henshaw also handled the recording’s mixing and mastering, taking the project from the initial tracks through to the finished master.

“Nora’s Jump” features three distinct guitar tracks, each selected to contribute a different tone and character to the arrangement.

The primary rhythm guitar was recorded using a rare 1981 Ibanez “Ragtime” guitar. The second guitar track features a 1971 Gibson J-40 played in Drop D tuning, adding depth and resonance to the composition. The melody was then layered using a 1979 Ovation 1116-4 Concert Classic nylon-string guitar, providing a contrasting tonal quality to the arrangement.

Henshaw took the three guitar tracks recorded at Wyoming Wave Studios and developed them into the finished arrangement with an expressive and carefully crafted production approach. Her contribution helped capture the atmosphere and musical feel Warner envisioned for the recording.

“The goal was to capture a particular feeling and let the character of these guitars come through,” said Warner. “Working with Wyoming Wave Studios and Asha allowed the original tracks to develop into something much bigger than I had initially imagined.”

The release of “Nora’s Jump” follows Warner’s first instrumental recording and continues his exploration of instrumental music built around distinctive guitar sounds and collaborative studio production. The song’s inspiration as a piece written for his granddaughter adds a personal story to the project and reflects the connection between music, family, and creativity.

“Nora’s Jump” is available beginning September 18, 2026, on major music and media platforms. A digital copy may also be purchased directly through Warner’s website, and it comes with the song’s official sheet music as a free bonus item.

NASHVILLE: Enjoy Discounted Preds Tickets, Courtesy of UMC!

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The 2026-27 NHL season begins in less than two weeks. That means our Nashville Predators have a chance to build on last season’s second half surge and get back to the postseason, in pursuit of their first Stanley Cup victory.

And, once again, you’ll have the opportunity to join the Preds in their quest, courtesy of Underground Music Collective.

We’re excited to team with the Preds once again to provide you with Preds Perks, featuring exclusive offers on select games throughout the 2026-27 season. All season long, this link will refresh with the latest offers, as we rally around our hometown team!

We’ll see you at Bridgestone Arena this season. We can’t wait until the puck drops!

CHECK OUT OUR PREDS PERKS!

SEPT. 22: The UMC Creator Lab Content Experience!

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Level up your artist profile and make it easier to get booked.

On Tuesday, September 22 from 7-9 p.m., join us at City Limit Studios (14919 Lebanon Rd., Old Hickory) for the UMC Creator Lab Content Experience, an event designed specifically for independent musicians and creators who want clean, professional media assets. For one evening, rotate through dedicated rooms or pick individual stations to get everything you need for your promotional materials.

The Experience & Individual Station Pricing

  • The Infinity Room (Headshots with Gerard): Clean, professional portraits that look great for press features, social media, and booking profiles.
    Individual Price: $50
  • The Creator Lab (Interviews with Kelsey Muse): A short, friendly 3 to 5 minute interview that helps showcase your personality and background to fans and industry folks.
    Individual Price: $50
  • The Saloon (One Mic Performance with NuRenaissance): A clean, single take live performance video for songs under 3 minutes with professionally mixed audio.
    Individual Price: $75

Choose Your Package

1. The Artist EPK Package

Includes Professional Headshots and the Interview.

The core package to get your visual and background profile ready for sharing.

  • Early Bird (Register by September 7): $60
  • Advance (September 8 to September 21): $70
  • Day Of (September 22): $85

2. The Raise the Bar Package (Best Value)

Includes Headshots, Interview, AND the One Mic Performance.

The complete package so you walk away with a full set of promotional media.

  • Early Bird (Register by September 7): $100
  • Advance (September 8 to September 21): $125
  • Day Of (September 22): $150

Want to sign up for just one station instead? Individual station options are available at checkout.

Important Details

  • Turnaround Times: Headshots and interviews will be ready within 5 business days. Performance videos will be ready within 10 business days because of audio mixing.
  • Capacity is Limited: To keep things running smoothly and ensure quality, we are only taking a limited number of artists. Lock in your spot now before early bird pricing ends on September 7.

Got questions? Send a direct message to us on Instagram @umcworldwide. Ready to register? Do it now!

In the Music Industry? Snag These Early Bird Conference Passes Before Sunday

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We’re just a few weeks away from hitting the road, as we resume our Underground Revolution Tour in some of our favorite cities and towns across North America.

The tour resumes next Thursday, July 9 right here in Nashville, with a special takeover event in support of the UMC Creator Lab. Then, we’ll head back home to Bethlehem for Musikfest (and the associated Musikfest Music Industry Conference) as July turns into August. From there, we head North of the Border once more for this year’s edition of Gussapolooza, which is rapidly becoming one of Canada’s premier independent music festivals.

That leaves us with a couple of October adventures which still have early bird passes on sale… for now!

You have until this Sunday, July 5 to purchase badges at the lowest rates for two of our favorite music conferences. Both of these events provide you with a prime opportunity to learn, connect, and collaborate with artist-focused professionals from across the music ecosystem — all while immersing yourself in the rich cultural heritage of each region!

Don’t wait! As of July 6, badge rates for both of these conferences will increase. We look forward to seeing you in Charlotte and New Orleans this fall!

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