Nashville's music community bands together for benefit concert
March 07, 2020
In the wake of the devastating tornado that ripped through Middle Tennessee, Nashville musicians and artists are rallying to provide relief to survivors. The storm's winds reached up to 175 miles per hour, destroyed countless homes and businesses, left thousands without power, and took the lives of 25 people.
The arts community in East Nashville has responded by curating and hosting a star-studded benefit concert to raise money for "disaster relief and mental health organizations." The lineup includes a plethora of Nashville local legends including Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, Margo Price, Black Keys Guitarist Dan Auerbach, Sheryl Crow, Soccer Mommy, and Yola. The festival has been dubbed "To Nashville, With Love" and will take place on March 9 at Marathon Music Works. [Update, March 7, 11:08 a.m.: the concert is sold out, but donations can still be made through the event website. In addition, the concert will be broadcast live on Nashville station Lightning 100.]
Proceeds from the event will be distributed and managed by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. The Nashville-based, independent radio station Lightning 100 will be presenting the concert.
The disaster hits even closer to home for the music scene. A staple venue of the scene, Basement East, was hit directly by the storm, not long after it had hosted a benefit concert for Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders. Five employees were able to take shelter in the basement just before the tornado hit the building. Co-owner Mike Grimes stated that the workers were unscathed.
Grimes went on to express a message of hope and resilience.
"We have seen the resilience of Nashville before, but nothing like the display of humanity being put forth currently," he said. "That sweat equity combined with our incredible friends' generous offers of their gift of music will galvanize our city, making it stronger than ever before. Please join us Monday, friends, for an event that will help and heal. We will rise."
Country rock staple and former Drive-By Truckers member Jason Isbell, who's resided Nashville since 2011, also released a statement saying that: "Amanda [Shires, Isbell's wife] and I are proud to call Nashville our home, and we're proud of the Nashville community's ability to come together in a time of crisis. We're lucky that our home and our loved ones are safe, but we know that isn't the case for many Nashvillians. I'm happy to do what I can to help the city recover."
External Links
To Nashville, With Love Benefit Concert Announce - Lightning 100
Marathon Music Works, Nashville
Want To Help After Nashville Tornado? Need Help? Here's Where To Turn This Weekend - WPLN, Nashville Public Radio
