An audience of hundreds of guitarists and other acoustic string players are invited to sing and play along with Jerry Douglas, Buddy Miller, Nicole Atkins, Gretchen Peters, Amythyst Kiah, and more.
Nashville, TN (April 9, 2019) -- Guitar Mash is bringing its signature “Urban Campfire” back to Music City the afternoon of May 11th with some of Nashville’s best guitarists and singer-songwriters sharing the songs that shaped them. An audience of hundreds of guitarists and other acoustic string players -- together with music lovers and fans -- are invited to sing and play along with Buddy Miller, Nicole Atkins, Gretchen Peters, and Amythyst Kiah. Guitar Mash will announce an additional special guest closer to the event date.
Following his participation in Guitar Mash’s flagship event in New York City in 2015, Grammy Award-winning dobro player Jerry Douglas and Guitar Mash Artistic Director Mark Stewart (Paul Simon, Bang on a Can) promised to bring this participatory event to Jerry’s hometown. In 2018, the first annual Nashville Urban Campfire attracted a full house of players and music lovers. Featured singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier called Guitar Mash a “happiness machine.”
Complementing the relaxed and open atmosphere of the “campfire,” Guitar Mash projects the charts of each featured song, and Chord Coaches (not ushers) help get each attendee seated and each player tuned up. The Guitar Mash Nashville House Band led by Jerry Douglas (dobro) and Mark Stewart (guitar) includes Barry Walsh (keys), Viktor Krauss (bass) and Gary Gold (drums), and backs each featured artist as well as the audience singing and playing along.
Whether or not you have an instrument in hand, you are in for a special afternoon with renowned artists as they share the songs and stories that have shaped their lives and music-making.
“We are so excited to be bringing our Urban Campfire back to Music City and to partner again with Jerry Douglas to connect everyday people with some of the best guitarists and singer-songwriters in the world,” says Guitar Mash Founder & Executive Producer Rebecca Weller. “Guitar Mash Nashville represents our first foray out of New York City and sets a thrilling standard for further expansion around the country.”
Jerry Douglas says,“I find it unconscionable that our children can go through school without a proper musical education. The specialized program Guitar Mash offers reaches people young, and not so young, bringing to life the experience of making music with peers and the exhilaration that can bring. Simultaneously, Guitar Mash continues to contribute to inner city outreach programs, in hope that even those unable to attend our show have the opportunity to feel the love that music gives unconditionally.”
Nurturing the future generation is critical to the Guitar Mash mission of connecting people through participatory musical storytelling. Each Urban Campfire partners with teens in the local community; in Nashville, Guitar Mash is collaborating with the W.O. Smith School, whose teachers will serve as Chord Coaches, and with an ensemble from Southern Girls Rock Camp who will lead the audience in a song. Students from both organizations will be guests in the audience.
Guitar Mash Artistic Director Mark Stewart says, “Community music making is ancient stuff. It is one of the perfect onboard apps humans are born with... and born for. We have precious few opportunities to play and sing together. So, we are malnourished these days. With Guitar Mash we set the table and invite folks to it.”
This year, Guitar Mash is offering the opportunity to further connect with the artists at an after-party. VIP tickets include reserved seating at the event as well as an invitation to an after-party hosted by Gruhn Guitars.
Details:
- Saturday, May 11th, 2019
- City Winery Nashville (609 Lafayette Street)
- Doors: 12:30 pm
- Show: 1 pm (end time approx. 3:15 pm)
- GA Ticket: $32/$10 for students
- VIP Ticket: $75 which includes: Prime Seating, Guitar Lover’s Gift Bag, Private After-Party at Gruhn Guitars (6-8pm) including cocktails & BBQ with Jerry Douglas, Mark Stewart, George Gruhn & select artists from the day.
For more information:
Guitar Mash