Next Big Nashville 2009

Next BIG Nashville is an annual event spotlighting the numerous ways that Nashville connects to, and interacts with, the international music community from the creative to the commercial. Last year, over 15,000 fans witnessed 250 artists over 5 days at the best venues in Music City. NBN 2009 promises another quantum leap forward. NBN 2009 will feature more daytime conference activities, more parties, more bands, more venues and more interactivity.

What began as a simple showcase for Nashville’s booming non-country scene in 2006 has quickly grown into a nationally recognized music festival and conference that not only gives a deserving spotlight to the depth and diversity of the music and business “Made in Music City” but also serves as an annual destination for artists, innovators and business leaders in the creative community.

This year, for the first time, NBN will open up the submission process to regional bands and will spotlight artists who might not live in Tennessee but are tied to the area through their personal history (the artist was born or grew up there), their business connections (their management, booking, publishing etc. is based there) or their musical endeavors (their album was mixed in Nashville, they have songs co-written with Nashville songwriters etc.). The expanded region for 2009 submissions includes Louisville, KY, Knoxville, TN, Chattanooga, TN, Athens, GA, Oxford, MS, Memphis, TN, Lexington, KY, Asheville, NC, Birmingham, AL Tuscaloosa, AL, St. Louis, MO, Little Rock, AR, Indianapolis, IN, Cincinnati, OH, Bloomington, IN and/or bands within a 350 mile radius of Nashville.

All selected artists will receive VIP badges which include priority entry to all showcases, access to daytime events and VIP parties and the VIP swag bag (last year's bag included $200+ of free stuff).

Previous performers include Cage the Elephant, Dead Confederate, American Bang, Erin McCarley, Matt Wertz, Dave Barnes, Paper Route, Brooke Waggoner, Royal Bangs, The Features, Dukes of Daville, Destroy Destroy Destroy, Butterfly Boucher, Glen Phillips, Dan Wilson, Egon, Eef Barzelay, Dexateens, Joey & Rory, Ferraby Lionheart, Magic Wands, Katie Herzig, Sam & Ruby, Superdrag, The Bridges, Roman Candle, Sarah Siskind, Thad Cockrell, The Dynamites, Whispertown 2000, Turbo Fruits, Vulture Whale and many more.

NBN Press, Artist & Industry Quotes:

"If the sheer range of musical genres on display at the Next Big Nashville festival is impressive, then the standard of musicianship, right across the board, is world-class." THE INDEPENDENT (UK)



"The Next Big Nashville organizers - with all club shows and a stellar lineup of conference panels - are onto something here." PASTE

"The scope of this year’s festival was grand and awe inspiring... and the excitement among the festival-goers was palpable." Nashville Scene

"While honky-tonk bars remain popular down on Broadway, and Music Row continues to shelter an industry largely focused on country and Christian acts, elsewhere a vibrant alternative scene is emerging. Next Big Nashville's annual festivities provide an opportunity to catch many local favourites, from the pop-punk of the Privates to the Dynamites' retro-soul." THE GUARDIAN (UK)

"I had a ball and loved the conference. Might be the best conference of it's size I've attended. Well done." JAKE OTTMANN, VP A&R EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING (NYC)

"I thought the event was great…..the panels were all very relevant, the bands were all REALLY solid, and it was a really good time!" BEKA CALLAWAY TISCHKER, VP A&R, PUBLISHING, RAZOR AND TIE (NYC)