Category Archives: Partners

PHOTOS: Creative Pulse Open Mic at New Heights Brewing

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Creative Pulse is an organization that gives independent artists the opportunity to perform in a variety of settings throughout Nashville. From established and up-and-coming local artists, to those traveling in from out of town, they are providing a platform for artists across all genres to be heard.

Last month, we had a chance to attend their open mic and spotlight series at New Heights Brewing, just south of Broadway. There, we were treated to a tremendous feature performance from soulful piano pop songwriter, a human (yes, that’s his artist name!), in between open mic performances by a host of Nashville’s standout indie artists.

The series returns to New Heights this Wednesday, June 3 from 7-10 p.m., featuring a spotlight performance from South African-born country artist, Wynn Hansen. While you wait, enjoy some photos from our previous adventure below!

Gussapolooza Reveals Full 2026 Lineup

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Gussapolooza Music & Arts Festival returns to the Georgian Bay Steam Show Grounds in Cookstown, Ontario on August 21–23, 2026 for its fifth annual edition. What started as a backyard gathering has grown, year after year, into one of Southern Ontario’s most distinctive independent music weekends — three days of live music, original art, and community built entirely from the ground up. 

Built by musicians, for musicians — and the community that keeps showing up for them. 48 acres of open grounds, three stages, and a lineup drawn entirely from the independent Canadian music scene. 

2026 Lineup 

Headlining Saturday night is Feral Minks — the Kitchener rock outfit who have been building serious momentum across the Canadian independent scene. Produced by Jay Emmons of The Glorious Sons, their breakout single “Matador” cracked the Top 25 on the Canadian Active Rock charts, and the band earned HTZ FM’s Rock Search title in 2024, joining a lineage that includes Finger 11, The Trews, and The Glorious Sons. Multi-year Gussapolooza alumni and the festival’s 2025 Band of the Year, the Feral Minks return to close out Saturday night and receive a gold vinyl award on stage. 

Also on the 2026 bill: Propter Hawk — the Toronto five-piece fronted by Malorie Jo Blake, whose horn-drenched rock and roll has earned features in the Toronto Star and placement on Sportsnet’s Hockey Night in Canada; Taming Sari, the bilingual Ontario-Atlantic rock outfit whose single “Crazy” hit 50,000 Spotify streams and 50,000 YouTube views within weeks of release; HARKNESS, Toronto’s psych-pop solo artist known for a commanding live presence and building a loyal following across Canada and beyond; Cabin Fever, the southwestern Ontario folk/roots trio whose single “Devil Is A Friend” was featured on Season 3 of “The Trades” on CraveTV, and whose music has landed on CBC’s Alt Country and Canadian Country playlists and drawn coverage from outlets in the UK and New Zealand. Returning to the Gussapolooza stage: The Manic Boys and Girls Club — the Toronto alt-pop/rock sibling duo whose EP was produced by Gavin Brown, the award-winning producer behind Billy Talent, Metric, and The Glorious Sons. 

The full 40+ artist lineup spans rock, country, folk, and alternative, and includes Tony Rust & the Mudhorses, The Thick, Feura, Suzi Kory, Dumb Crush, Kill/Death Radio!, Black Paint, Coco Rose, The Meringues, Joanna Bronson, The Connors Brothers, and many more. Full lineup and schedule at gussapolooza.com. 

About the Festival 

Gussapolooza is an all-ages, three-day independent music and arts festival rooted in community, creativity, and connection. Since 2022, it has created a gathering space where independent and emerging Canadian artists play to the families, music lovers, and loyal regulars who have made this weekend part of their summer. 

Programming spans three music stages — the Main Stage, Barn Stage, and Side Stage — alongside a dedicated Kids Zone, Health & Wellness Zone, Vendor Village, Creator’s Convention (an outdoor podcast and media activation space), and Artist Alley. 

New in 2026: WonderGround, an immersive art zone featuring large-scale installations. 

A Platform for Independent Canadian Music 

At a time when independent artists face shrinking venue circuits and consolidating festival rosters, Gussapolooza represents something built differently. The festival was started by a musician who wanted to create a stage worth playing — and has grown entirely on word of mouth, community investment, and a commitment to keeping the lineup independent. 

For many artists on the 2026 bill, Gussapolooza is one of their largest stages of the year — and the crowd that fills those grounds came specifically to find them. 

Festival at a Glance 

  • Dates: August 21–23, 2026
  • Location: Georgian Bay Steam Show Grounds, Cookstown, Ontario
  • Format: All-ages, three-day outdoor music & arts festival with camping
  • Stages: Main Stage, Barn Stage, Side Stage
  • New in 2026: WonderGround — immersive art zone
  • Tickets: Available at gussapolooza.com

The Carolinas’ Place in the Music Landscape (ft. Rick Thurmond)

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There is a cultural revolution taking place in the Carolinas, and Rick Thurmond is one of the people shaping the movement.

Rick spearheads Confluence Carolinas, a boutique music industry conference in Charlotte, North Carolina that brings artists and industry minds into the same room — and onto a level playing field — every October. The four-day event takes place this year from October 7-10, and gives the musical world an opportunity to connect, all while exploring an arts and cultural destination on the rise.

Pre-sale passes are available now: ⁠https://confluencecarolinas.com/

Opening theme: REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become

This episode of The Quinn Spinn was recorded and produced at The Russell, Nashville, TN.

Learn more about The Quinn Spinn: ⁠https://umcworldwide.com/thequinnspinn⁠

Is Your Music Ready for PR? (ft. Dr. Brandi Sims)

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Today on The Quinn Spinn, we feature a long overdue conversation with a longtime friend and colleague!

Dr. Brandi Sims is the founder of Brandinc PR, a boutique public relations agency based in Austin, TX. Brandi’s extensive career in public relations — and specifically, the entertainment sector — has empowered her to help clients develop their stories and gain widespread recognition throughout the creative universe.

Brandi joins us today to discuss her journey, shares best public relations practices for any independent creative, and offers a special resource for independent artists looking to make a sustainable splash in the ecosystem.

This episode of The Quinn Spinn was recorded and produced at The Russell, Nashville, TN.

Opening theme: REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become

Learn more about Brandinc PR
Learn more about The Quinn Spinn

TONIGHT: Barz in the Boro at Cedar Glade Brews

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Tonight (May 2), one of the Nashville area’s premier independent hip hop and R&B showcases returns for its first Saturday residency.

Join Nashville hip hop veterans E.T. and Raw Proof as they present Barz in the Boro at Cedar Glade Brews (906 Ridgely Rd., Murfreesboro). The monthly showcase and cypher “is built to give you that authentic hip hop vibe,” giving independent artists an opportunity to perform, connect, and find community in true hip hop culture.

This month’s lineup features music from DJ Know Love, a special vinyl pop-up by Phonoforever, and performances from featured guests, including:

Learn more about Barz in the Boro: Website | IG

PR for Indie Artists: An UnderDog Exclusive

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How do you build credibility without burning bridges? How can your creative brand become more visible to the right audience?

Our friends at Brandinc PR — the Austin, TX-based firm that helped put us on the map a few years back — have come to us with the answers to those questions and more, as you navigate the world of public relations and brand awareness.

They’ve made their webinar, PR for Indie Artists: How to Build Visibility Without Burning Bridges, available to our UnderDogs members for a DEEP discount. When you become an UnderDog, you will have access to this 1-hour strategy session hosted by Brandi Sims for just $147 when you use the code UMCPR at checkout — a $200 discount from its standard price of $347.

This is just one of the ways we (and our partners) are helping the UnderDogs navigate the ever-changing creative landscape.

JOIN US TODAY

UnderDogs in Austin, Pt. 2: Sahara Lounge

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Our SXSW 2026 adventure continued into the following week, as we had a couple more performances left in us before we got on the road back to Nashville.

This time, we were just up the road from where we left off at Sahara Lounge. There, we were joined once again by the good folks at Rhythm & Soul Radio — curators of yet another a magical experience — and the Rollin’ Souls house band, whose immeasurable talents were the wind beneath our wings, creating a send-off fit for an UnderDog.

It was there that Kelsey Muse brought the “Whispers” all the way to Austin, generating plenty of buzz that is still carrying weeks later.. Joining her on the bill was Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess, who graciously stepped into an available slot at the last minute to deliver poetry spoken straight from the soul.

Branches of the Cellotree (ft. Andy Beckey & Sarah Clanton)

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Through live events, production services, industry education, and community, Andy Beckey and Sarah Clanton are giving independent artists near and far a safe place to land.

The couple — both touring musicians in their own right — co-founded Cellotree Arts, which features a series of house concerts and a full suite of services for independent artists. Community is the name of the game, and they’ve built one that is robust and meaningful across the musical universe.

Opening theme: REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become

Learn more about Cellotree Arts Presents
Learn more about The Quinn Spinn

Vote Now to Shape This Year’s Gussapolooza Lineup!

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While we’re on the topic of exciting, community-based August music festivals, we’ll also be taking our third trip up to Ontario for Gussapolooza, the three-day extravaganza featuring some of the best up-and-coming talent from across Canada — and the globe!

Our friends up there have received so many submissions this year that they need a little bit of help sorting through them. That’s where you come in!

Introducing Sound Check, a chance to discover new artists and help shape the Gussapolooza 2026 lineup. Every few days, they will be unveiling a new genre category with a fresh batch of artists from around the world. Your job is to head over here, listen, and vote for the artists that you want to see perform at Gussapolooza. The artists with the most fan support move forward in the selection process.

Want your vote to go even further? You can access 3x voting power by purchasing a Gussapolooza Insider Pass. The Insider Pass costs only $25 CAD, lasts throughout the 2026 Gussapolooza season, and includes even more perks, including giveaways, exclusives, and more.

It’s all in the name of creativity and community, as Gussapolooza comes our way August 21-23 at the Georgian Bay Steam Show Grounds in Cookstown, Ontario. Get those tickets here!

ACT FAST: Musikfest Music Industry Conference Early Bird Rates Expire April 1

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As we excitedly announced months ago, we’re returning to our original home of Bethlehem, PA this August for the Musikfest Music Industry Conference, a three-day meeting of the industry minds set to occur in the middle of the nation’s largest free, non-gated music festival.

If you want to get in on the action for the lowest rate possible, you’d better hurry: Early Bird badge rates expire this Wednesday, April 1.

The Musikfest Music Industry Conference (MIC for short) will take place from August 2-4 inside of the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks brings together artists, educators, producers, industry professionals, and students for three days of conversations, workshops, mentoring, and performances focused on the real world of music today. (Also, rumor has it that someone you may know is a featured presenter once again this year…)

View conference badge options and get yours here. While you’re in town, don’t forget to enjoy the entire Musikfest experience, taking place throughout Bethlehem from July 31-August 9 (with the popular Preview Night taking place on the South Side on Thursday, July 30).

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