Nashville Is Awesome in April

Posted by amyclark on 08/24/2008
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3/19/2008 Staff For the sixth consecutive year, Nashville will showcase seven major music events all in the month of April, designating the collection as "Awesome April in Music City."  With several unique concerts, festivals, award shows, and exhibitions, the country music capital celebrates spring with country and Christian artists, songwriters, athletic folks, and members of the independent film industry. “It’s going to be another awesome month for this city,” said Butch Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Six years ago we began to collectively market all of the unique events happening in April. We have seen strong growth in attendance at each event and visitor spending has increased dramatically.” "Awesome April in Music City" events include: Awesome April Kick Off and 103 WKDF Birthday Bash—For the fourth year, Nashville’s premier country music station presents a spectacular concert March 30 at 7 p.m. at the Sommet Center. Lee Brice, Bucky Covington, Stephen Cochran, Trailer Choir, Marshal Reign, Randy Owen of Alabama will perform.  Restless Heart’s 25th Anniversary tour will also be featured.  Tickets are available through Ticketmaster beginning February 23. Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival— The 16th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, presented by Regions Bank, will run April 1-5 and features over 75 shows with 250+ songwriters performing in small venues throughout Nashville.  Josh Turner, (“Long Black Train”-Josh Turner), Carolyn Dawn Johnson (“Single White Female”-Chely Wright), Jim Peterik, (“Eye of the Tiger”-Survivor) Kip Winger, (“Seventeen”-Winger) and ‘The Hitmen’ of GAC fame, (Jeffrey Steele, Bob DiPiero, Tony Mullins and Craig Wiseman) are confirmed for this year's event.  Five day, “Fast Access” passes are on sale now at www.tinpansouth.com or call NSAI at 615-256-3354.  Full festival lineup will be available on the website, March 7. GMA Music Week— The highlight of GMA week (April 19-24) is the GMA Dove Awards Show, Christian and gospel music's biggest night of the year, which will be held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville on Wednesday, April 23, 2008.  The Gospel Music Channel, the nation's first and only 24/7 all-gospel/Christian music television network will produce the Dove Awards in high definition and broadcast live on GMC from 8 - 10 p.m. (ET/PT).  For more info, visit www.gospelmusic.org.  Music City Walk of Fame— Music City, Inc. (the charitable foundation of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau) will celebrate the fourth class of inductees to the Music City Walk of Fame on Sunday, April 20 at 3:00 p.m.  Music City Walk of Fame is produced with the support of presenting sponsor Gibson Guitar and sponsors GAC, the City of Nashville and Metro Parks.  Permanent sidewalk medallions with each honoree’s name will be installed in the sidewalk along the Music Mile, the roughly one-mile stretch of Demonbreun Street from 4th Avenue South to the Buddy Killen Circle at 16th Avenue South.  Nominations are open to the public and accepted in the categories of Artist, Musician, Songwriter, and Producer/Music Industry Executive.  Application forms are reviewed by the Music City Walk of Fame selection committee. For more information, visit www.visitmusiccity.com/walkoffame. CMT Music Awards— The 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS will air LIVE on Monday, April 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT* on CMT and CMT.com.  CMT’s 17th annual fan-voted awards show will take place at Nashville’s Curb Event Center at Belmont University.  Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 615-255-9600, online at www.CMT.com and ticketmaster.com.   Nashville Film Festival—(NaFF) takes place April 17-24 at Regal Green Hills Stadium 16. and is one of the longest-running, most notable film festivals in the South. Last year, more than 20,000 film lovers, entertainment professionals and industry insiders from all over the world attended NaFF to enjoy 240 films from 44 countries, incisive industry panels, and music showcases.  For more information, please visit www.nashvillefilmfestival.org. Country Music Marathon & 1/2 Marathon—The 9th annual Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon takes place Saturday, April 26, 2008.  On Friday, April 25, 3,000 kids will kick off the music-themed race weekend in the YMCA Country Music Kids' Marathon. Both the marathon and half marathon courses start in Centennial Park on West End Ave. and finish outside of LP Field, home of the Tennessee Titans. All runners trek through Nashville’s Music Row, Belmont University, and Bicentennial Mall. Marathoners also continue further along the Cumberland River and through Shelby Park.  The course features 50 live bands and 25 high school cheer squads, with a finish line festival and a post-race concert featuring one of country music’s name acts at the Sommet Center.  A free two-day Health & Fitness Expo is held on Thurs., April 24 and Fri., April 25 at the Nashville Convention Center.  More information is available at www.cmmarathon.com For an up-to-date listing of other Awesome April events, visit the events calendar at www.visitmusiccity.com/visitors/awesomeapril.