Pilgrimage Festival -- Music. Food. Celebs.

Touring the art vendors at Pilgrimage Festival -- thanks for the photo, Kristin Luna @ Camels + Chocolates.

Last weekend was certainly a hot one, but it did not keep fans from across the country from making the pilgrimage to Franklin for the second annual Pilgrimage Festival. Two days of music, art, and food -- and attended by over 15,000 folks. It was my first year attending, and y'all -- I LOVED it. Despite the heat, the festival was incredibly well executed, from the art vendors, to staff, to the top-notch talent.

Speaking of talent, this year's lineup included Daryl Hall & John Oates (!!), Beck, Jason Isbell, Grace Potter, Kacey Musgraves, Violent Femmes, The Arcs, Cake, Anderson East, and more. Only in Nashville.

Ms. Kacey Musgraves killing it on stage, per usual. 

Speaking of Nashville... In typical Nashville fashion, celebs abounded. Lily Aldridge and Caleb Followill were there to catch Beck, Miranda Lambert danced side stage during boyfriend Anderson East’s set, and Haley Williams of Paramore hung backstage to support friend Kacey Musgraves. N’Sync’s Chris Kirkpatrick (!!) and GRAMMY-Award winning producer Dave Cobb were also spotted partaking in festival fun. Sadly, I heard of no (Pilgrimage Festival partner) Justin Timberlake sightings... There's always next year, I suppose?

Did you #MakeThePilgrimage this year? What was your favorite part?

High school/college me was freaking out about Better than Ezra.

The art vendors were incredible, and the locale of the festival was stunning.

The Park at Harlinsdale, where Pilgrimage Festival is held, is stunning.

Speaking of Ms. Musgraves, this happened. I love her. The perfect way to cap of a perfect weekend.

(Thanks to George Dickel for having us out, and for the VIP treatment. I do love your whisky.)



SaveSave

TPAC GIVEAWAY! Win 2 Tickets to Rodgers + Hammerstine's Cinderella | Contest Closed!

Congrats Jacob Mitchell, you're the big winner. Everyone else, stay tuned -- there will be more chances to win in your future! -m

-----

Want to check out Cinderella at TPAC on opening night, October 20th? Well, you're in luck — I'm giving away two tickets to this Tony Award-winning show from the creators of The Sound of Music and South Pacific.

Delighting audiences with its contemporary take on the classic tale, this lush production features an incredible orchestra, jaw-dropping transformations and all the moments you love — the pumpkin, the glass slipper, the masked ball and more. You'll certainly be transported back to your childhood in this hilarious and romantic Broadway experience for anyone who’s ever had a wish, a dream... or a really fabulous pair of shoes.

You have multiple ways to enter — and it's so simple:

1) Follow me on Instagram (@experiencenash) or Facebook, and leave a comment on this blog letting me know you've done so (1 entry per follow.)

2) Leave a comment on my Instagram image about the contest (link here), and tag a friend you think should follow Experience Nash (One entry for every person you tag!)

I'll notify the winner next Wednesday, October 21. Good luck!

Chatting with Gillian Abbot, Dirty Dancing's "Baby" - coming to TPAC in September!

Nobody puts Baby in a corner they say, well, they've clearly never met me.

I recently sat down for a quick chat with Baby, aka Gillian Abbot -- about her upcoming visit to Nashville's TPAC with the traveling production of Dirty Dancing. It wasn't really in a corner, but felt I needed a reason to use one of the best lines from the 1980's in my blog.

EN: Your favorite part about touring with Dirty Dancing?

GA: Performing for so many audiences throughout America. Each city brings a new energy and it's an incredible opportunity to connect with people from all different walks of life.

EN: What's the most challenging part about the role of Baby?

GA: It's very physically demanding! Between all the dancing and "running around behind my family's back", I don't stop. It's very important for me to take good care of my body so that I can give it my all 8 times a week and stay healthy. 

EN: What can the audience look forward to when the curtain raises at TPAC this September?

GA: Hopefully an ecstatic energy filling the theater both on and off stage! This show is a unique collaboration between performers and the audience as many of the patrons are holding their breath for each moment from the movie. I love how the audience motivates us as much as we inspire them in reliving this iconic love story. 

EN: Have you done a show in Nashville before, or have you visited? What do you love about it? If not, what are you most excited to see while you’re in town?

GA: This will be my first time in Nashville! I am most excited to experience Music Row. I am from Calgary, Alberta, home of the Calgary Stampede, and I'm a huge country music fan! I'm also hoping Taylor Swift happens to pop into our show...she's in town with her tour and I've always thought we would be good friends!

EN: Nashville is filled with aspiring musicians and artists. Any advice to local musicians looking to make it into the theater world?

GA: Start with WHY you want to be an artist. By getting to the root of your desire to perform, not only will it help you through the hard times when it would be easier to give up, but it will also guide to other artists who share a similar passions and will therefore be your best collaborators. 

Thanks Gillian! And y'all, you're not going to want to miss the classic story of Dirty Dancing -- featuring some of my fave 80's classics like "Hungry Eyes" and everyone's favorite song/scene to reenact, "The Time of My Life" (which, I may or may have danced to in front of my mirror in the privacy of my bedroom as a child. Or okay, yes, I still do it.) 

Coming to TPAC September 22-27, tickets are on sale @ tpac.org.

---

GILLIAN ABBOTT (Frances “Baby” Houseman) humbly makes her National Tour debut as “Baby”. Recently made her television debut on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, performed in choreographer Stacey Tookey’s Moments Defined, and The Metropolitan Opera’s Prince Igor. Proudly graduated from The Juilliard School after beginning her professional career in Cirque du Soleil's Beatles LOVE show. Blessed to begin her journey in Calgary, Alberta among family, friends and mentors. Thanks be to God! www.gillianabbott.com

Top 5 Music Venues in Nashville

You're in Nashville. Whether you live here or are just visiting, you must take advantage and catch some of the unbelievable musicians while in town - truly, you're among the greatest in the world.

Of course the artist you're seeing will define how the good the show is or is not, but, I'd argue that equally as impactful is the space that you see them in. Luckily, Nashville is filled with plenty of spots that will please even the most discriminatory of musical act and venue palettes.

Here are my choices for the BEST music venues in Nashville (and in my typical fashion, the following are in no particular order):

The Basement
There is just something about this place. Literally in the basement of a business on 8th Avenue near Downtown, I have seen some of the most incredible musicians in my life come in and out its doors. A small, intimate venue that gets you up close and personal with the performing acts.