As a Music Designer, I can’t think of a much better place to ring in a New Year than Music City…Nashville, TN! The city’s annual NYE festival, Music City Midnight, took place in the heart of Nashville at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, a new location this year to accommodate the 100k+ music-lovers who braved the rain and cold to see some fantastic live music and welcome 2017.
The lineup this year featured Keith Urban, Styx, A Thousand Horses, Moon Taxi, Charlie Worsham, and the Fisk Jubilee Singers.
Going in to the event, I was most excited to see Moon Taxi. Having listened to the group (and programming them for my clients) for years, this was my first opportunity to see them live – and on their Nashville hometown turf! The group did not disappoint! My favorite songs include: “All Day All Night,” “Morocco,” and “The New Black.”
Headliner Keith Urban put on an energetic set, to which I couldn’t help but dance along in the rain with my fellow cowboy hat and rain boot wearin’ neighbors. I have to tip my hat to Urban and his band for taking us into the New Year with a heartfelt medley of the incredible artists we’ve recently lost. Shortly before midnight, Urban flowed seamlessly into songs from George Michael, Leonard Cohen, Glenn Frey, Merle Haggard, David Bowie, and Prince.
As the 25-second countdown to midnight began, a music note (in true Nashville form– not a ball) cascaded from the sky, reflected the rain, and illuminated the faces of thousands of chanting voices.
As everyone cheered and welcomed 2017, a gigantic fireworks display hung in the air, and Keith Urban kicked off several more songs to round out his set.
Nashville, you sure know how to throw a party. I’ll be back.
– Submitted by Carly Grimm, Music Design