Category Archives: photos

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.

UnderDogs in Austin, Pt. 1: Kenny Dorham’s Backyard

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Last month, the UnderDogs took a trip to Austin, TX to take part in this year’s SXSW week festivities. It was a chance to connect with old friends, make new ones, and bring the light of our community to the Texas Capitol.

We also lined up some performances for our artists, in conjunction with our friends at Rhythm & Soul Radio out of New York and featuring the wonderful talents of The Rollin’ Souls house band.

First up was a day at Kenny Dorham’s Backyard, operated by the East Austin Creative Coalition. A beautiful, sunny Saturday lent the perfect energy to this unique, all-outdoor artistic space — the perfect backdrop for UnderDogs like Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess, Nicólas Soul, and Yonna Jones to showcase their unique abilities and connect with new fans.

Enjoy these shots from this fantastic afternoon, and stay tuned. Part 2 is coming soon…

PHOTOS: NuRenaissance Media’s Certified Lounge Podcast

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We had the opportunity to swing by Solberg Studios on Nashville’s historic Jefferson St. this weekend. Camera in tow, we helped capture some upcoming episodes of the Certified Lounge podcast, produced by NuRenaissance Media.

Hosts Samaria Kay and Amoré Dear welcomed a series of guests who are making a difference in the creative community, including Ether Collective founder Joe Baze, Guidance Whiskey founder Jason Ridgel, and performing artists Trane Spitta and MyaSimone. Episodes are set to release a bit later this spring, and feature inspired performances and insightful, forward-thinking conversations from some of Nashville’s most spirited entrepreneurs.

We’ve got some behind the scenes photos of the performances below. Be sure to tap in with our friends at NuRenaissance Media for updates!

PHOTOS: Nashville’s Big Bash (Dec. 31, 2024)

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On Tuesday night, we rang in 2025 with 200,000 of our closest friends.

The masses descended upon Bicentennial Capitol Mall for Nashville’s Big Bash — the nationally broadcast country music New Year’s Celebration. This year’s edition — which we live-blogged from the scene of the action — featured performances from Keith Urban (who also co-hosted the CBS telecast following his performance), Shaboozey, Brittney Spencer, Kane Brown, and local legend Jelly Roll.

Spirits remained high throughout the night, even as snow flurries began to fall at different points throughout the event. Overall, the party was a fitting send-off to 2024, and an exciting start for the year to come.

Gussapolooza, Day 3: We Are Guss!

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The final day of Gussapolooza 2024 was a special day for me, personally. Before a note of music was performed, I had the opportunity to present my Perfect Your Pitch seminar to the artistpreneurs in attendance on Sunday morning. Thanks to the team behind the scenes at Gussapolooza and MTAV for making this amazing opportunity possible!

Once my seminar concluded — and after I had the chance to chat with few folks in attendance — it was time to grab my camera and get back out there for Day 3’s action-packed lineup.

Day 3 was bittersweet. It was a joy to appreciate the community that had gathered throughout the weekend in support of emerging artists. At the same time, we knew that our time together for 2024 would soon come to an end — which meant that we had to get as much out of the final day as possible.

And, as we had come to expect, the final day delivered. As the late summer sun glistened over Ontario once more, artists from across the Canadian music landscape offered us a snapshot of the creative world that awaits all those willing to explore. As the sun set and the festival’s final performances took shape, the die-hard Gusses soaked in every last minute of this year’s festival.

Then, we met at the barn for the afterparty, where festival organizer Russ Robson deftly wove his story — and the story of Gussapolooza itself — into an enthralling, five-song acoustic set before opening the stage up to an open jam that lasted into the wee hours.

Now, we leave you with a collage, featuring the many parting glances we took toward this year’s festival. We thank everyone at Gussapolooza for their warm welcome, and we look forward to supporting this amazing, three-day experience again — in 2025 and beyond!

Gussapolooza, Day 2: A Full Day in the Sun

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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.

David July (IG | Spotify)

Melanie Peterson (IG | Spotify)

Alessandro Montelli (IG | Spotify)

Wild Bloom (IG | Spotify)

Old Soul (IG | Spotify)

Wishwell (IG | Spotify)

General Mojo’s (IG | Spotify)

Francesca Panetta (IG | Spotify)

Burning Bridges (IG | Spotify)

Tyler Lorette (IG | Spotify)

Harley Olivia (IG | Spotify)

The Blues Emergency (IG | Spotify)

Cigar Club (IG | Spotify)

Fortunate Losers (IG | Spotify)

Devious One (IG | Spotify)

PHOTOS: Gussapolooza, Day 1: We Arrive North

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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!

Brigitte Eve (IG | Spotify)

In Your Walls (IG | Spotify)

Freightliner (IG | Spotify)

Usual Suspektz (IG | Spotify)

Cudbear (IG | Spotify)

Ashley Gilmore (IG | Spotify)

Feral Minks (IG | Spotify)

Jeff Gutteridge (IG | Spotify)

The Manic Boys & Girls Club (IG | Spotify)

CMAGIC5 (IG | Spotify)

PHOTOS: Tenille Townes & Friends Pay Tribute to Patty Griffin

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One of country music’s modern-day stars took the 3rd & Lindsley stage in Nashville this week, gathering a few notable friends to honor a folk legend.

Tenille Townes headlined a sold-out evening celebrating the songs and stories of multi-time GRAMMY winner, Patty Griffin. The 90-minute set featured a variety of cuts from throughout Griffin’s revered 30+-year career, presented with the passion and reverence befitting a folk icon.

Townes was joined by an all-star lineup of special guests throughout the night. These included GRAMMY-, CMA-, and ACM-winning Ashley McBryde; Nashville-based Southern rockers The Cadillac Three; and rising country artists Caylee Hammack and Meg McRee.

PHOTOS: Aaron Lee Tasjan at The Blue Room

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Aaron Lee Tasjan at The Blue Room (Nashville, TN)

Aaron Lee Tasjan is a performer’s performer; one whose love of art and experimentation combines in tremendous fashion with a distinct reverence for the rock and roll traditions which came before him. With a knack for storytelling and a sharp wit to match, he invites each member of his audience to make a personal connection with his music.

That’s what we had a chance to experience last Thursday at The Blue Room, and we were more than happy to take the ride!

Tasjan’s performance was in celebration of his new album, Stellar Evolution. Released on April 12, the full-length offering explores and shatters sonic boundaries, while offering personal takes on sobriety (“The Drugs Did Me”), the queer adolescent experience (“Horror Of It All”), and the state of American political culture (“I Love America Better Than You”).

Set highlights — aside from the aforementioned fan favorites — included special guest appearances by renowned guitarist, songwriter, and producer Butch Walker; indie rock standout Molly Martin (who opened the evening), and interdisciplinary musician and producer Lafemmebear on an exciting rendition of Lucinda Williams’ “Drunken Angel.” Walker and Lafemmebear stayed onstage to add their respective flavors to Tasjan’s 2021 song, “Up All Night.”

Of the new tunes, “Pants” brought funky, feel-good vibes to accompany a message empowering the audience to feel comfortable within their own skin. The beachy, romantic “Ocean Drive” brought a sense of serenity into the room, as it captured the essence of feeling at home with the one you love.

Tasjan even gave us a preview of what is to come post-Stellar Evolution by performing two new songs. “The Real” felt like a love letter to those in attendance; one which gave Tasjan a chance to showcase his guitar chops, with an emotive solo reminiscent of Richie Sambora at his most soulful. Immediately thereafter, “Punk Rock Joy” was a high-energy banger which made a statement — no matter what the world, society, or a government takes away from us, it can’t have what’s inside our hearts.

PHOTOS: Pug Johnson & The Hounds at The Basement

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Hailing from the Golden Triangle region of Southeast Texas, Pug Johnson grew up influenced by Americana greats and sounds of the Bayou.

On Tuesday night, we had the opportunity to witness those worlds collide at The Basement in Nashville, when Pug Johnson & The Hounds took the stage. The end result was a fun, 40-minute romp that was part country, part blues, part Zydeco, and all from the heart.

Johnson’s profound, yet edgy lyricism connects with listeners on an authentic human level, while his calm, confident presence serves as a linchpin for the band’s live experience. From there, The Hounds had plenty of room to show off their chops, flowing artfully through a sonically-diverse, well-crafted set fit for the Great American Songbook.

Pug Johnson & The Hounds are back in Texas for a run of shows, before heading back out on the road this spring. Want a look at what you can expect? Look no further…

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