rock journalism Archives

March 5, 2026 Jason Shrum

New Singles From Red Guitar Music Out Now

There are a couple of new singles out now from Red Guitar Music that are certainly worth checking out. RGM is a full-service record label located in Nashville that was founded by guitar player and Catchfire band member Travis Fairley. By “full-service” Fairley includes A&R, booking, publicity, recording, mixing and producing. RGM was created by an artist, for artistsand is a niche label that caters to those young up and coming artists looking to get a foothold in Music City. Travis himself has been able to navigate this landscape quickly, after graduating with a music degree from Belmont University. He is a guitar player, a performer and an engineer who has worked with musicians of country, rock, Americana, folk, grunge, and classical backgrounds. His latest artists are Carl Pariso and The Tower Brothers.

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February 9, 2026 Jason Shrum

Eastside Bowl, DRKMTTR and 615 Indie Live

February 7th, 2026 marked the second installation of 615 Indie Live in Nashville, Tennessee. There were nearly 70 collective musical acts performing at 15 venues across the city. The purpose is to promote within. The nonprofit organization of Music Venue Alliance Nashville (MVAN) works hard to make sure that independent venues and artists of the area are represented and able to perform during a typically slow time for live music. This is a celebration of new artists, singers, songwriters and original music that you may not get your ear to through any other channel. The whole experience was just $20 to get into every spot and see every band possible.

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February 6, 2026 Melinoe Macaria Mourningstar

Caermonia Memoriam Norway 2026

At the end of the Ceremony, I would say I felt changed to some degree. Not only for the love, harmony and peace felt within the community for my husband and I. But from the force of MUSIC. Music that brings us all together. Even the darkest of us. Music is a foundation of home within us all. If you cannot relate to someone who is different than you, I dare you to connectto them through music and art. We can bridge our division through the deep inner networkings of the muse within us all. Because at the end of the day, we are all people grieving the loss of something or someone we love. We are all people fighting to find joy in creative endeavors. We are all souls living in a sea of chaos. We release the horrors through the rite of creation and we unify within community. May we all continue to create. For we never know the significance of what we shall leave behind. And it will always be worth it. Whether it is a billion beings, or one lost soul. The inspiration you leave behind is your magick mark upon this realm.

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February 2, 2026 Jason Shrum

Nashville Heats Back Up with 615 Indie Live

615 Indie Live is a celebration of Nashville’s Independent Venues and Artists, and it is produced in partnership by the Music Venue Alliance Nashville (MVAN) and Visit Music City. The event was created last year to support Nashville’s independent music venues and to showcase the city’s local diverse music ecosystem by driving business, both new and loyal, to Nashville’s Independent Music Venues during a historically slow time of year, while raising awareness of their importance. It also supports Nashville’s local artists, by investing more than 50% of the event budget towards paying participating artists, performers, and musicians. Finally, it acts as a fundraiser for MVAN, with proceeds from ticket sales contributing to the organization’s Emergency Relief Fund and operating budget.

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January 18, 2026 Jason Shrum

Paul McCartney’s “Eyes of the Storm” Keeps The Beatle Touring

McCartney carried his 35mm Pentax camera around him during these three months and created portraits of not only his mates John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison, but of loved ones, roadies, fans, hotel and airport workers and a handful of “unidentified women backstage”. Pulled from McCartney’s personal archive, most of the images have never seen the light of day before this worldwide tour. What is created is a perspective of the young upstarts before they wave of mega-stardom. The gallery is aptly named “Eyes of the Storm”.

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January 14, 2026 Jason Shrum

Here’s to a Weird New Year

When the music hit, it was simply stunning. The red tapestry that hid our presenters eased aside, and we gazed upon our bards who were set beside their keys and strapped with a guitar, a saxophone and an armament of talent. A backdrop of red beams shown through a cloud of eerie fog. The opening tone was a taunting murmur of hum that drifted about the atmosphere and held us tightly. That hope we longed for was imminent, if even just for a moment.

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January 12, 2026 Jason Shrum

Elvis Presley’s Birthday Bash in Nash

Elvis’ 91st trip around the sun would have been this year and his “Birthday Bash” was happening Friday, January 9th. It was featuring Elvis tribute man Dennis Jalefrom Austria on Lead Vocals with The TCB (Taking Care of Business) Band Members & guests Glen D. Hardin, Terry Blackwood, Larry Strickland, Boh Carter, Paul Leim, Donna & Craig Morris, Larry Hall, Mike Brignardello, Kerry Marx, The Holladay Sisters , Bobby Ogdin with Special Guests Deborah Allen, Thomas Gabriel (Johnny Cash’s grandson) and was hosted by Donna Presley, who is Elvis’ first cousin. I wasn’t going to miss it. This would be the closest to The King that I would ever get.