Music stage

A documentary about one of Nashville’s most celebrated and important venues will premiere at the 2019 South by Southwest Film Festival: Bluebird tells the story of the Bluebird Cafe, which has been a launching pad for new songwriters since 1982. Situated in a nondescript strip mall in the city’s Green Hills neighborhood, the Bluebird Cafe, with its tight 90-maximum capacity, has played host to career-making performances. Taylor Swift was famously discovered on its stage, and the pop superstar is one of many artists who appear in the film. “Whether you’re the biggest songwriter in Nashville or someone who has been there for a week, it’s an equal playing field,” says Kelsea Ballerini in the trailer, which also features Vince Gill, Trisha Yearwood, Faith Hill and Kacey Musgraves. Garth Brooks, Maren Morris and Jason Isbell, among others, are also set to appear in the film. Founded in 1982 by Amy Kurland, the Bluebird Cafe has become a must-visit for … [Read more...] about Bluebird Cafe Documentary ‘Bluebird’ to Screen at SXSW

“What do I owe the Bluebird? Just everything I’ve got,” says Garth Brooks of the Bluebird Café, the iconic club that launched his career and those of many other aspiring songwriters and artists. As the fabled Nashville nightspot celebrates its 35th anniversary, a star-studded documentary film is in the works to celebrate its incredible legacy. A fundraising campaign for Bluebird: The Movie officially launched last week with a Facebook Live event at the club, featuring Lucie Silvas, Eric Paslay, new artist Tenille and songwriter Dave Barnes, along with Charles Esten, who made a surprise appearance after wrapping filming on Nashville. Currently underway, the fundraising campaign runs through November 20th. Numerous perks, from movie posters and T-shirts to the opportunity to have your name engraved on one of the Bluebird’s chairs, are available to donors who help fund the film. The documentary, directed by Brian Loschiavo and produced by … [Read more...] about Garth Brooks, Kelsea Ballerini Slated for New Bluebird Cafe Movie

Eric Church has just wrapped up a sold-out two-night stand at Colorado’s breathtaking Red Rocks Amphitheatre – and he’s glad the gigs are over. Sprawling solo shows that touched on songs from his entire career, the concerts have taken their toll on the singer, who, after returning east, is holed up at his family’s mountain retreat in his native North Carolina, far from Nashville’s soupy summer. “I’m still recovering from Red Rocks. It was a hard few nights,” he says by phone. “The acoustic shows for me are special things. I love doing them – I don’t love doing them a lot.” Church will need to rest up. Prior to taking the stage for Night One at Red Rocks, he announced his 2017 Holdin’ My Own Tour, a massive 60-plus-city run kicking off January 13th that will find him performing two sets with an intermission. He’s aiming for three-hour shows and, to ensure that run-time, has done away with opening acts. … [Read more...] about Eric Church on Ambitious Tour, Timely New Song and Political ‘Anger’

Xierzhati Yahefu’s drama, which follows the wartime friendship between famous Chinese and Kazakhstani composers, picked up prizes for best co-production film, best leading actor, best leading actress and best music. The Composer, a China-Kazakhstan co-production charting the tumultuous life of Chinese composer Xian Xinghai has swept this year’s Golden Screen Awards, picking up gongs for best co-production film, best leading actor, best leading actress and best music. Director Xierzhati Yahefu's The Composer examines the friendship that was forged between Xian and the Kazakh composer Bakhitzhan Baykadamov during the Second World War. The Chinese composer became stranded in the Kazakhstani city of Almaty after Germany had attack the Soviet Union in 1941 and was taken in by Baykadamov who – legend has it – had never before heard of his new house guest. After settling down in Kazakhstan, Xian produced some of his most famous works, including the symphony … [Read more...] about Golden Screen Awards: China-Kazakhstan’s ‘The Composer’ Takes Top Prizes