I had the chance to sit down with Nashville favorite, Paul McDonald, to talk about his upcoming “One Big Love” festival. The festival is free and all ages on Tuesday, September 9th from 4pm on at ACME Feed and Seed as a part of Americana Fest. With a stacked lineup full of Americana favorites, McDonald takes his beloved East Nashville tradition to Broadway. In addition to Paul McDonald’s “Mourning Dove’s” band, ACME Feed and Seed is taking on the two-stage festival with acts like Rayland Baxter, Michigander, West Texas Exiles, and more! McDonald’s set promises “very special guests” and the whole evening is slated to impress.
In Paul’s words, “This is a proper lineup that you would camp out for, and it’s for free. Incredible artists and beautiful human beings.” However, the hallmark of One Big Love is this year is its partnership with Songs for Kids, an Atlanta based organization that works with mentally challenged and disabled children. All donations and proceeds to the auction will go to the program, and best of all The Songs for Kids Band will be spotlighted on the Big Love stage at the 7:40-8:10 slot!
The festival has been in a number of locations since its inception in 2023, from The Underdog to The Coliseum, but ACME Feed and Seed is the biggest venue that One Big Love has taken on. Paul McDonald expressed his excitement towards taking the fest to a larger scale space, allowing for 2 stages and room for local vendors. This is also the first year that One Big Love is partnering with the Americana Music Association to present it as a part of Americana Fest!
Paul McDonald has an innate ability to bring people together and lift up rising artists, its evident in the lineup for this years festival and his efforts over the years to spotlight new voices. He calls himself a “Super fan of music who likes good tunes. Whether the artist is in their 70s or fresh out of high school. I’m constantly on the hunt for new artists who I find inspiring. I like to be on the pulse of younger cool bands, because they are the future. I like to use my platform and voice to lift them up, which is why so many of them are gonna be at this (One Big Love).”
Paul McDonald and The Mourning Doves will be headlining One Big Love at Acme Feed and Seed on Tuesday, September 9th. Supported by a slew of these inspiring new artists, this free and all ages lineup is sure to be a highlight of next week’s Americana Fest festivities.
McDonald’s new album, “So Long to The Dark Side” has been out since July 11th, and its accompanying EP “The Light Side Sessions” released today! The EP highlights songs from the album in a more acoustic manner. Paul McDonald is no stranger to this type of stripped back nature, having performed countless solo shows in his time on the road. He says he’s constantly approached by people who tell him they are impacted in a deeper way by these acoustic versions.
Paul Mcdonald, on The Light Side Sessions EP, says “I thought maybe if I take a snapshot of these songs in a different light, with me playing acoustic live and having more of a stripped down arrangement, it might find a different audience and these songs can live in a new way. The songs are the same, but they sound different from night to night, and I wondered what they could sound like with a mandolin, stacked harmonies, and acoustic guitar.” Check out Unwind from the new EP, out today!
Stay updated on One Big Love Festival on the official festival instagram page here! And listen to Paul McDonald and more on Lightning 100 Radio.
