Sunday, September 6, 2026
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Author: Jason Shrum

B SidesFEATURED
Jason Shrum

Kathie, Kathy, Dolly and Punk Rock

On August 25th, 2026 the world stopped with the news that Dolly Parton had passed away.  It was a shockwave that was felt by so many.  Everyone who had ever been touched by her music and her kindness was saddened to learn that the earth would keep spinning without The Smoky Mountain Songbird. We were so lucky to live in a timeline that saw us floating on this space rock with such a bright and selfless human being.  So how would we cope?  For me this bombshell coincided with my mom, Kathie, coming up to Nashville to see my new house and celebrate her birthday.  She was also arriving in Music City with her friend, Kathy, who was also celebrating her birthday.  The best thing that we could do was to dive headfirst into the sounds and soul of Dolly.

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ALBUM REVIEWSFEATURED
Jason Shrum

Rosemary Shultz: “Tied to You” Single Release

As I yapped my way into another friendship post Bowery performance, Rosemary and I slowly developed our own connection. I ventured to the Teakwood Garden (RIP) to dive into Rosemary’s Musical World once more. I was there when she performed the Harmonica for the first time live. I took a day off my neurotic schedule to dress up like a fairy princess, and enjoy some tea at the Troll House Cottage. I badgered my husband to take me to the 1865 Club when we were counting pennies to support our evening out. I fought my way to show up to house shows haggardly when I felt like the social experience would be a direct cause of my death. And after I bit the bullet to write my first Rock Oracle Article? Rosemary’s TreeHouse Collab was the first local show I covered as an Oracle for Rock Oracle. To get to my point, it has not always been easy for me to nurture a connection with Rosemary. In fact, both of us have been on the hustle with our Earth energy, and Watery Dreams. Yet, there has been a String Tied to You, Tied To Me.

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FEATUREDLIVE REVIEWS
Jason Shrum

WNXP Summer Line Series with Bully and Massie99

This summer’s shows hit a little bit different than last summer’s shows because now, Rock Oracle is a building a team and we had our first team building exercise at WNXP’s Summer Line Series. We were in attendance for the second of four events curated by Nashville Public Radio Station WNXP (91.1 FM) for this summer. By we, I mean myself, plus new additions to the squad Sarah and Stacey who, along with Florida Oracle, Mooney, have been instrumental in taking Rock Oracle to the next level.  The first WNXP event was with Devon Gilfillian and was deemed a huge success as people filled the Ascension St. Thomas Landing at Nashville Yards on June 26th.  The sophomore installment of this well orchestrated showcase was Bully and Massie99, on August 22nd, at the outdoor venue.  I was thrilled to introduce these artists to my team and share in a magical night evening of music community. 

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FEATUREDINTERVIEWS
Jason Shrum

Meet Musician Jon Worthy

Jon is a grinder. A hustler is the greatest sense. A go getter of all things and he will not be bogged down by the way that the music industry is dictating how you should go about your tactics. Go back to 2019 when he played 121 shows – including a handful of festivals such as Musikfest. In 2020 (you remember that beautiful year), Worthy pivoted to recording and production where he set up a studio in his house and began releasing self-produced tracks. Songs such as “She’s Alright,” “Remember When” and “I’ll Be Ok” were released at that time. Worthy has also worked with several prominent names including Lincoln Parish (Cage the Elephant), Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes) and Arlie. Also, in 2019 Worthy released his third full-length album called Something’s Gotta Give. This album veered towards more of an indie-Americana-folk blend than his prior releases. The album has amassed well over 300K streams and radio play across the country including heavy rotation on Nashville’s Lightning 100. 

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FEATUREDMUSIC NEWS
Jason Shrum

Are You Ready to Rock? Rock Steady Nashville Sure Is.

Rock Steady will be making its debut as a show promoter at The Basement East on Sunday, August 23rd for an evening that celebrates Nashville’s enduring rock scene. That’s right, it is not all country music. This unique event is a new collaborative concept that aims to connect the creative thread between the long-standing legendary rock music scene and its surrounding arts community. This music and art showcase honors Nashville’s past, present, and future local rock scene with live performances, local art features, interactive experiences, and community organizations. Nashville’s rock scene is incredibly rich in history and has long been a launching point for some of the highest rock talents. This legacy continues to influence the scene today, setting the foundation for Nashville’s unique music community. While much has changed in this city, Nashville’s supportive network of impassioned artists remains the same

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ALBUM REVIEWSFEATUREDMUSIC NEWS
Jason Shrum

Sophia Brand’s New Single ‘Rodeo’ is Much More than Just Another Breakup Song

Sophia told me, “Honestly, ‘Rodeo’ was born out of a moment of transformation. After being cheated on and discovering it was with the same woman who had been involved with a previous partner, I was done being the victim. I didn’t want to write another heartbreak song so I leaned into the anger and the writing process became my way of reclaiming power. I wanted it to be a song about recognizing the pattern, refusing to be blindsided again, and this time being the one in control. The concept is equal parts seduction and revenge with luring him back in and then tearing him apart. I want anyone listening to feel empowered with any situation that leaves them feeling minimized because it’s not in their control”. She added, “Anyways, I promise I’m a nice person!”

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B SidesFEATUREDMUSIC NEWS
Jason Shrum

Let’s Get Weird One More Time!

The complexity of the music paints abstract grooves and scratches scores of stories we have all wanted to behold. Their voices add to the fray and slap on yet another layer of gorgeous convolution. Izaac has a raspy, robotic element piped into his microphone that heightens this mystical adventure.  His words seem to bounce around the room and crash through any physical barriers. Gabrielle is not to be missed on the other side of this team.  She brings forth an element of soul, hitting high angelic notes and phenomenally constructed primal screams.  She dances graciously between notes and vocals.  She is in the moment.  We are all in the moment.

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