The free fun in Nashville just never ends...really there is always something going on.

This weekend was chocked full of fun!

FRIDAY

Late spring and summer on Fridays and Saturdays in Centennial Park, there is an event called Musicians Corner.
It's a free Concert series benefiting several local charities.

You can't miss Centennial Park, just look for the replica of the Parthenon. 

Yes, I said the Parthenon! But we will save that for a future post.

There were people everywhere, and more importantly DOGGIES. 

There were kids chasing fireflies, there were families and couples and groups of friends and did I mention DOGGIES? 

They even had a doggie cool off station complete with a doggie pool.

Some brought their own food and drinks while others purchased from the many food trucks available.

There was a breeze blowing through the trees cooling off the hot day and 

as darkness fell it was almost chilly, almost!

I was there to see one of my all-time favorite performers. Steve Forbert, and was pleasantly surprised by the opening act Leigh Nash from Six Pence Non The Richer.

If I wasn't already in love with this city, 

watching Steve Forbert singing under the stars would have stolen my heart.

SATURDAY

Another fun filled free day!

About twenty minutes outside of Nashville is Franklin TN. It's a great little city with lots to do and It's no wonder that more Nashvillians are moving there. 

If you don't have a tight budget you can move to 

the wonderful (if slightly Stepford) community of Westhaven. 

For those of us not fortunate to call Westhaven home we can visit during Porchfest. 

The wonderful members of the Westhaven community have literally opened their little bit of heaven to the rest of us. During Porchfest bands play all day for free. Around the lake are food trucks and local vendors selling things from jewelry to homemade root beer. The big event however is not an event but many events. Throughout the neighborhood residents have invited local musicians to set up stages on their porches (ahh now you get it). Its truly amazing, you can wonder around the streets drinking your water from the free water trucks and stop to listen to a performer, if you don't hear something you like you can move on a few blocks over and find something you prefer. 

How cool is that!

We were lucky enough to see Kyle Cox perform.

 If you haven't heard Kyle sing you might want to get a little taste of who he is by 

watching him sing to his pet duck Buddy (yes I said pet duck)

click here for Covers with Buddy

If all the food, drinks, music and walking become too much 

don't worry you can get a  free golf cart ride back to your car.

Sunday

Ok this was not free but it was awesome!

Ringo Starr at the Ryman

I'm not a Beatles fan (I know, I know) while I can appreciate their contribution to modern music, its just not something I choose to listen to. If they come  on the radio, with an exception of  

While my guitar gently weeps and one or two others I will, without fail, turn the station.

That said, I have always had a secret rush on Ringo. What can I say? I have a thing for dark men with big noses. I just love him. He always seems so happy and upbeat and never takes himself seriously.

 I wasn't sure what to expect but he was amazing.

 First he looks a good 20 years younger than he actually is. 

There is not much I can say to describe what a fun night it was.

And as for the all star band? With Todd Rundgren, Steve Lukather, Richard Page and Greg Rolie taking the lead on songs they are famous for they did not disappoint!

I can't wait to see what my next Smashville weekend has to offer.

My second big night out...

There is this awesome new way to explore new music here in Nashville and it's called Cause a Scene, They have these things called secret shows, You by a ticket but have no idea who you are going to see, just a date when you buy it and then later you find out who you will be seeing. How much fun is that? And to make things even more interesting these shows can be held anywhere from the  American Legion to someones living room.

The one I attended was indeed held in a living room and there were three acts playing.
 We were  treated to  a quirky new singer songwriter  Kyle Cox. He was an amazingly talented and humble performer. The living room was fun, the home owners had moved all of the furniture to the outer walls creating an intimate viewing and stage area.  The people attending were varied in both age and personality making for an even more unite experience.

This was simply tons of fun and I highly recommend buying tickets to a secret show!

I have lived in a big city before, New York City, New York in fact.

Nashville however is in a world of it's own.

We headed over to East Nashville, home of the hipsters and one of the many areas or revitalization going on in this city, to a place called Fond Objects.

We were there for a record release party.  So naturally we went into the record store. We perused the cassette tapes for sale and then went into the clothing part of the store. Trying not to look as out of place as we felt, we wandered around a few more minutes before asking where said performance was taking place.... We are told it is around back in the yard....

cue twilight zone music 

We pay five dollars to enter the back yard and the area can only be described as The Beverly Hillbillies meets Hipster Cool, the back yard is "decorated" with indoor couches, a church pew, various paintings and miscellaneous oddities. A tabby cat who was cooler than Felix. There is an outbuilding that may at some time have been a home and the band was set up inside.

further back there was a petting zoo. yup you read that correctly. a petting zoo complete with a sign not to give the animals beer or face expulsion! There were two goats and a pig, though the pig was in hiding. the goats were very friendly.

The act, Matt Haeck was as eclectic as the "venue". The performance was high energy and fun.

of course the night would not be complete without a thunder storm nothing like being crammed on a porch with people you don't know trying to stay dry with the smell of wet goat drifting by.