Category Archives: announcements

SAVE THE DATE: UnderDogs Across Borders Vol. 2 Set for August 13

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As announced on last night’s edition of Have You Met…?, we’ll be back at Helping Our Music Evolve on Wednesday, August 13 with an all-new lineup for Volume 2 of our UnderDogs Across Borders benefit concert series.

The concert — supporting our UnderDogs Across Borders campaign, designed to open the gateway to even greater collaboration for our community of creatives across genres, disciplines, and geographic boundaries — will once again be hosted on our YouTube channel, with those local to Nashville invited to attend in-person. Hosted by Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess, this fantastic evening will welcome a diverse lineup of artists from across our community, including:

You can attend either virtually or in-person for a $10 suggested donation — which you can make anytime by following this link!

Have You Met These New UnderDogs?

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Our popular Have You Met…? interview series is set to return in-person and online this coming Wednesday, July 23 — and this time, we’re introducing you to all new faces!

Join host Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess as she welcomes three of the newest members of our UnderDogs community to the stage at Helping Our Music Evolve (615 Main St., Suite G1, Nashville). We’ll go live at 7 p.m. CT, as we welcome incredible creatives, including:

  • E.T., renowned Nashville-based hip hop artist.
  • Brittany Beech, owner of Frozen Moments Photography.
  • SADGURL, songwriter, performer, and alchemist.

Be sure to tune in! And, if you want to be featured on an upcoming edition of Have You Met…?, become an UnderDog today!

Beyond the Music: What’s Happening at Gussapolooza 2025?

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Gussapolooza Music and Arts Festival is turning up the volume—and the vibes—for 2025, with even more to experience beyond the stage. Taking place August 22–24, 2025, this year’s festival invites attendees to discover more than music, featuring an expanded Wellness Zone, an even bigger Kids Zone, and unforgettable outdoor camping fun for all ages.

Now in its biggest year yet, Gussapolooza continues to grow as one of Canada’s most exciting emerging festivals, spotlighting indie artists while building a creative, inclusive, and family-friendly environment. In addition to its stacked musical lineup, the 2025 event offers unique attractions for every kind of festivalgoer.

Expanded for 2025: The Wellness Zone

Back by popular demand, the Health & Wellness Zone returns with even more ways to relax, recharge, and reconnect. Guests can enjoy yoga and meditation sessions, breathwork classes, sound baths, healing arts practitioners, and wellness-focused vendors offering services and education in a peaceful outdoor setting.

The Kids Zone Returns—Bigger Than Ever!

Families are welcome at Gussapolooza! The enhanced Kids Zone includes crafts, face painting, music lessons, games, and child-friendly performances, making it easy for parents and little ones to enjoy the festival together.

Camping Adventures + After Dark Fun

Weekend passes include free tent camping, with upgraded RV and power site options available. Campers can enjoy the community vibe with a late-night fire, spontaneous jams, and exclusive after-hours sets on the legendary Rebel Stage—where surprises and secret sets keep the music going long after the main stage wraps.

“Gussapolooza has always been about creativity, discovery, and community,” says Festival Director Valerie Robson. “This year, we’re expanding what a music festival can offer—creating an experience where you can dance, learn, relax, connect, and explore, all in one place.”

Whether you’re a music lover, wellness seeker, parent, or just looking for a weekend escape, Gussapolooza 2025 has something for everyone.

Tickets are on sale now! Early Bird passes sold out quickly, but general admission and camping upgrades are still available at gussapolooza.com.

Love Alabama Shakes? Play an Instrument? Apply to Play this Oct. 11 Tribute in Nashville!

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GRAMMY-winning roots rock band Alabama Shakes have carved out a unique legacy for themselves — one that continues to take shape, as the band embarks on its 2025 reunion tour this summer.

A pair of Nashville musicians looks to honor that legacy on Lower Broadway this fall — and they’re looking for a few talented professional musicians to join in the fun!

Nashville-based artists Mandy Moon and Chelcie Jette are spearheading a special Alabama Shakes tribute show, set to take place Saturday, October 11 from 8-10 p.m. at Acme Feed & Seed (101 Broadway, Nashville). Submissions are now open for interested musicians to join the house band — and it’s a paid opportunity!

All you need to do is head over to this form, fill out some information about yourself, share a couple of performance clips, and wait to see if you have been selected!

In addition, guest vocalists are invited to submit through a separate form, which can be found here.

Want to Engage Your Fans Directly? Check Out this Webinar July 1!

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In our never-ending, ever-evolving quest to Give Creators the Power, we decided: isn’t it about time that we educate our UnderDogs on ways that they can engage their fans directly — without all of the gatekeeping and algorithmic middle-men?

That’s what we’re doing with the help of our friends at ForeverFan, a platform developed to “help artists, labels, and marketers activate real fan data, drive direct revenue, and build sustainable, long-term growth.”

On Tuesday, July 1 at 12 p.m. CT, we’ll be joined by Chance Emerson, founder, and Joshua Coase, leading Customer Success Manager, who will share how ForeverFan helps artists build real fan connections, sell music and merch, run pre-saves and giveaways, segment superfans, and track fan behavior—all without needing a team of marketers.

This Lunch & Learn is a benefit for UnderDogs members. That means you’ll want to Become an UnderDog before this Tuesday at 12 p.m. CT. You’d better get on that!

Want to learn more about ForeverFan? Take a deep dive!

UnderDogs Across Borders Benefit Concert Series Begins July 9

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2025 has been a breakthrough year so far for the entire Underground Music Collective community — and we’re here to make sure the magic lasts all year long (and beyond)!

That’s why we’re launching a new benefit concert series in support of our UnderDogs Across Borders campaign, with the first event — a hybrid in-person and virtual concert emanating from Nashville — taking place Wednesday, July 9 from 7-9 p.m. CT.

We’re taking you on a multi-genre thrill ride featuring four Nashville-based artists — including 2025 NEXT2RISE artist Nicolas Soul, alt-pop songwriter Virtues, R&B/soul singer and rapper Kfhox, and hip hop artist Southside MAB. Joining them on the lineup — all the way from the Lehigh Valley Underground in Pennsylvania — will be rockers Powder Valley Bang (who have been gaining some serious steam up there lately).

Need a refresher on UnderDogs Across Borders? Through this capital campaign, we aim to open the gateway to even greater collaboration. Your support bolsters UMC’s presence at major conferences and festivals in North America and Europe, while helping us build a stronger, more sustainable music industry that is ripe with fresh opportunities.

Our groundbreaking first half of 2025 featured major conference appearances, media opportunities, and the official launch of our new UnderDogs virtual community. This has established Underground Music Collective as an international super-connector for independent musicians, creative professionals, and notable brands.

Help us continue to build toward an incredible future where Creators Have the Power. Make your donation and RSVP here, and join us in Nashville or virtually (from anywhere!) on Wednesday, July 9!

Looking for an additional way to support UnderDogs Across Borders? Check out our GoFundMe campaign, or become an UnderDog today!

Run it Back: ‘Have You Met…?’ Returns June 26

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It’s been a busy couple of months around here (and everywhere we’ve been), but we’re ready to introduce you to more members of our UnderDogs community!

Our Have You Met…? series returns Thursday, June 26, and will feature interviews from three hand-picked artistpreneurs from within the greater UMC universe. Livestreamed from Helping Our Music Evolve in East Nashville, audience members have a choice to join us in person locally, or catch the magic from anywhere in the world on our YouTube channel.

Joining us for this edition of ‘Have You Met…?’ will be…

Da’ Healerz to Perform at NMAAM June 27

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Fresh off the heels of their latest Heal Talk Experience, UMC NEXT2RISE artist Da’ Healerz have another opportunity to spread the message of Heal Hop.

The Nashville-based duo — comprised of Lord Goldie and Foundation Mecca — will be a part of the Nashville’s Got Soul Community Showcase. The event — taking place Friday, June 27 from 7-9:30 p.m. at the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) — “brings together 15 local artists, including poets, musicians, and DJs, for an unforgettable evening that celebrates Black Music Appreciation Month through storytelling, genre-bending artistry, and soul-filled connection.”

Nashville’s Got Soul is presented in partnership by NMAAM and Soul’d Creative Collective. Tickets range between $5-15, and include student and friends & family discounts.

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Gussapolooza Tier 1 Tickets Available Until June 1

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Imagine a weekend where the music never stops, creativity fills the air, and strangers feel like friends. That’s Gussapolooza — and Tier 1 tickets for 2025 are only available until Sunday, June 1.

Set in the heart of Cookstown, Ontario from August 22–24, Gussapolooza is more than a music festival. It’s a three-day escape into a vibrant, welcoming world where artists, dreamers, and music lovers come together to share unforgettable moments.

Expect late-night jams by the campfire, hands covered in paint, dancing barefoot in the grass, and moments of pure connection with people who just get it.

Here’s what the Gussapolooza experience looks like:

  • A packed weekend of live music from incredible rising talent.
  • Camping with your crew (or making a new one).
  • Wild paint parties, immersive art, and spontaneous magic.
  • Food trucks, fresh air, and wide-open fields full of music and movement.
  • A creative energy that flows from stage to sky.

“There’s nothing quite like it,” says Festival Director Valerie Robson. “It’s not just a festival — it’s a feeling. If you know, you know.”

Tier 1 passes are the best deal you’ll get — and they’re only available until June 1 at midnight. Grab your tickets now, and don’t miss your chance to be part of something unforgettable.

Gussapolooza Announces Lineup Featuring Bleeker & Grant Boyer

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The Gussapolooza Music and Arts Festival is back—and the official 2025 lineup has just been announced!

Taking place August 22–24, 2025 in vibrant Cookstown, Ontario, this year’s festival features special guests Bleeker and Grant Boyer, alongside returning Gussapolooza award winners Manic Boys and Girls Club, Harley Olivia, and Cudbear. They’ll be joined by an eclectic lineup of emerging artists from across the country for a weekend packed with creativity, energy, and inspiration.

More than a music festival, Gussapolooza is a family-friendly celebration of community, creativity, and connection. Guests can explore immersive experiences like the Kids Zone, a tranquil Health & Wellness Zone, interactive art installations, local artisan vendors, and more—offering something for everyone.

Festivalgoers can also enjoy a full weekend stay with a variety of camping options, including RV power sites, designated family camping, and access to onsite showers—ensuring a fun and convenient festival experience for all.

“We’re beyond excited to welcome Bleeker, Grant Boyer and so many incredible artists to Cookstown this summer,” said Russell Robson, Founder and Organizer of Gussapolooza. “Gussapolooza has always been about more than music—it’s a community-driven, family-friendly celebration where people of all ages can come together, connect, and be inspired by the arts. We can’t wait to share this experience with everyone again in 2025.”

Gussapolooza is also proud to announce a meaningful new partnership with Stevenson Memorial Hospital. A portion of all ticket sales will go directly toward funding the hospital’s new state-of-the-art facility, strengthening access to healthcare in the surrounding community.

Tickets are now on sale and the full artist lineup is available at www.gussapolooza.com. While there, you’ll find information on how to get involved as a volunteer, vendor, or member of the media.

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