Category Archives: live music

REPLAY: UnderDogs Across Borders, Vol. 1

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TONIGHT! We’re going live from 7-9 p.m. for the first-ever UnderDogs Across Borders benefit concert. Join us as we present a genre-diverse interstate lineup featuring independent artists from within the Underground Music Collective community.

By supporting UnderDogs Across Borders, you are empowering UMC 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 for our artists.

The lineup (in order of appearance):
Virtues
Nicolas Soul
Matt Schmoyer of Powder Valley Bang
Southside MAB
Kfhox

How to attend:

  • In person: Helping Our Music Evolve, 615 Main St., Suite G1, Nashville, TN 37206 (Doors 6:30 p.m.)
  • Virtually (from ANYWHERE!): Our YouTube channel (embed below)

How to support:

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.

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.

GET YOURS NOW

WATCH: It’s Music Monday for Powder Valley Bang

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You may have noticed a new friendly face around here by the name of Matt Schmoyer. Not only has Matt faithfully jumped in and begun reviewing music for UMC, but he’s doing it while also pouring plenty of love into his own musical project.

That project? Powder Valley Bang, a Lehigh Valley, PA-based rock band that creates Golden Moments of Rebellious Exhilaration. They’re hard-hitting, energetic, and offer a sense of familiarity while delivering something completely fresh to audiences.

We’re super proud of Matt and the guys today, as they appeared on WFMZ’s Music Monday program in Allentown, PA. Here, they play a couple tunes and share their summer plans — which includes a gig at this year’s Musikfest up in Bethlehem, and possibly even a Nashville date on the horizon!

(Also, special thanks to Matt for sharing some of what he learned from participating in BRANDCAMP from UMC Academy this winter!)

Check out the full interview and performance!

Anthems Against Abuse: An Inside Look

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Daisy Sellas and Brittany Bishop are the co-founders of Anthems Against Abuse, a Nashville-based non-profit dedicated to providing support and resources to victims of domestic violence and other forms of abuse. Their flagship event — a music showcase featuring all female-fronted artists — is in its second year, taking place at The Coliseum in Nashville on Saturday, June 14.

Daisy and Brittany share the story behind the organization, and we take a deep dive into why it’s important to identify and stop signs of abuse in their tracks.

If you need help, resources are available. Visit ⁠anthemsagainstabuse.org.

The Quinn Spinn is recorded and produced at Helping Our Music Evolve, Nashville TN.

Opening theme: REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become

Become an UnderDog! Join our community at ⁠community.umcnashville.org.⁠

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THIS THURSDAY: An All-New Heal Talk Experience in Nashville

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Da’ Healerz will be back at NECAT Network (120 White Bridge Pike, Nashville) this Thursday, June 12 for an edition of The Heal Talk Experience featuring all-new special guests.

Join Da’ Healerz — Nashville hip hop vets Lord Goldie and Foundation Mecca — as they bring you an immersive experience centered on live performance and healing discussions beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Supporting Da’ Healerz this time around will be a performance from hip hop artist and music industry educator T.R.A.N.E. Spitta, alongside a sound healing demonstration from singer, producer, and vibrational sound alchemist Milly Roze.

As always, it’s free to tap into The Heal Talk Experience. RSVP here!

#RoadtoSXSW Part 2: London Bound

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Even when I took this photo in March, I can’t say I saw this coming so soon…

While I was in Austin a few months ago, I had a chance to learn about the first-ever SXSW London event taking place this year. The team was hosting a breakfast networking event near their bus inside of the Expo Hall, and I decided to pop by and check it out to begin my first full day in town.

Well, one thing led to another. Not even three months later, I find myself typing this at Boston Logan International Airport. My destination? SXSW London, to explore an entirely new city (and continent) on behalf of UMC. In the process, I’ll also be exploring possibilities to bring UMC and its artist community across the pond (and vice versa) in future years.

Man… what an unreal year 2025 has been so far. It started with the original #RoadtoSXSW, which produced so many amazing memories and connections. Then, we found ourselves in Toronto at the start of May for the first-ever Departure Festival & Conference (formerly Canadian Music Week). Now, we’re headed to London — and who knows where else between now and New Year’s Eve!

(OK, maybe I know at least *some* of those details. Stay tuned!)

As for this week, I look forward to the connections and conversations to come — and, in true #GoUnderground fashion, I’m excited to get a sense of what London’s music community is truly all about.

I also (finally) downloaded the Jetpack app — the one that allows me to post to WordPress — on my new phone. So, I’ll be able to provide updates on the fly throughout the event. Stay tuned here to The Blog (and of course, Instagram and YouTube) as I share the highlights, lessons, and updates from UMC’s latest international quest.

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.

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