17 Local Music Venues, 5 Local Radio Stations and Nearly 30 Local Artists Come Together to Raise Money to Help Preserve the Exit/In
NASHVILLE – Heavy Pedal Productions and Rhizome Productions announce “Nashville Helping Nashville: An All-Star Musical Benefit to Preserve the Exit/In”, Sunday, May 30th at East Park in East Nashville.
This one night only special event will unite some of Nashville’s most talented musicians as part of a night of music that includes “No More Depression”, an all-star tribute to Uncle Tupelo featuring “Dirt Reynolds” and special guests Aaron Lee Tasjan, Luke Schneider, Joe Andrews, Charles Butler, Andrew Leahey, Jon Latham, Brian Wright, Allen Thompson, India Ramey, Joey Fletcher and many more to be announced.
The night will also include “End of the Line”, a tribute to the Allman Brothers Band with special guests former Greg Allman Band keyboardist Pete Levin, Jimbo Hart and Chad Gamble of Jason Isbell’s 400 Unit with more special guests to be announced.
With the owners of 3rd & Lindsley, the Basement and Basement East, 5 Spot and Mercy Lounge all appearing on local radio stations, including WRLT, at noon today to announce the event, the effort to preserve the Exit/In is more than just musicians and fans. It’s united all five of the major locally owned radio stations as well as seventeen of some of Nashville’s most storied and revered music venues.
TELISHA & CHRIS COBB OF THE EXIT/IN:
“All of us at the Exit/In family have been energized by the outpouring of support we’ve received and acts of solidarity emerging as we do our best to ensure the historic Exit/In stewarded with love, care and creativity for another 50 years – by and for the creative working class of Nashville.” Said the Cobbs who have operated the venue for 17 years. “We are truly humbled by the continued and expanding momentum locally and nationally to do just that.”
SANTO PULLELLA OF 3RD & LINDSLEY:
“The community of Nashville is passionately supportive as we’ve seen time after time, and we’re here to
help preserve important pieces of the very fabric of our town that makes it an exceptional place to live,
visit, and be an artist…be a part of the live music family. We want to see Exit/In remain independent and
thrive.”
WRLT – MICHAEL GRIMES & DAVE BROWN OF THE BASEMENT EAST/BASEMENT:
“Everyone involved with the Basement East and The Basement understands the importance of the Exit/In to our live local music scene,” said the owners of the Basement East and Basement. “We’re really excited to be part of this event and working with so many others to make sure our city’s longest continually operating live music venue is preserved.”
WILLIAM “BONES” VERHEIDE” OF FIVE SPOT:
“The first time my band ‘Bones Explosion’ and I came to play here in Nashville in 1989 we played the Exit/In,” said William Verheide of The 5 Spot. “Everyone realizes that change is inevitable, but we can’t afford to lose the history that is made each and every night in the Exit/In and other venues like it in Nashville. The 5 Spot family is proud to support the Exit/In and this effort to preserve it.”
TODD OHLLHAUSER OF CANNERY BALLROOM/MERCY LOUNGE/HIGH WATT:
“If we can lose Exit/In in this way and despite our massive mobilization and coming together on theirs and our collective behalf to preserve the very soul of Nashville, then no one and no independent venue is safe,” said Todd Ollhauser of the Mercy Lounge. “We all need to think about this and rally hard or else we can and will literally end the essence of what built this city — independence!”
ALEX MORGAN OF HEAVY PEDAL PRODUCTIONS:
“The Exit/In has meant so much to me and so many of us not just here in Nashville but around the world,” said Alex Morgan of Heavy Pedal Productions. “It’s an honor to play even a small part in this movement to preserve the Exit/In for another 50 years and beyond.”
MATT LEFF OF RHIZOME PRODUCTIONS:
“Rhizome is honored to be part of this event to help independent music venues like the Exit/In. Live music is at the core of Nashville and has always played a role in our events,’ Matt Leff. “As we move forward from the challenges of the Covid19 pandemic we are focused on producing events that support our industry and our community.”
General admission tickets will initially be $25 and available for purchase beginning at noon on WEDNESDAY, April 21st at https://nashvillehelpingnashville.eventbrite.com/. 100% of all proceeds will go to Music Venue Alliance Nashville, a local non-profit that represents fifteen local music venues in the city. Those funds will be made available to operators of the Exit/In as part of any purchase of the property from the Chicago-based hotel developer who recently purchased the venue.
In the event the Cobb’s are unable to negotiate the purchase of the Exit/In, the funds will be split evenly between Music Venue Alliance Nashville and a local non-profit that will provide direct relief to local Nashville musicians.
The event is rain or shine, family friendly and will be held at East Park, 700 Woodland Street in East Nashville while providing a safe and responsible environment during the continued pandemic. Event organizers plan to host the Metro Public Health Department on site to provide free Covid19 vaccinations with a confirmation on that hopefully coming very soon.
All Star Benefit to Preserve an Independent Exit/In Ticket Information:
General on sale Wednesday, April 21st at 12 p.m. (CT)
Gates open at 4pm with music from 5pm to 10pm.
Additional event sponsors include Yazoo Brewing Company
Music Venue Alliance Nashville – “Our close-knit organization of passionate and fiercely independent
music venue owners and operators are committed to retaining and nurturing the fragile, yet complex
ecosystem of every individual aspect of our famous music scene here in Nashville, TN. We seek to
enlighten, educate and heighten awareness of what it means to be truly independent, and in this mission
of advocacy and renewed appreciation, we hope to ensure many more decades of passion-fueled small
business success and prosperity.”
Dirt Reynolds – “Founded by Chris Watts in late 2019, Nashville-based Dirt Reynolds released their debut
album Scalawag on July 26, 2020. Scalawag combines raucous rock ’n’ roll and blistering twang with
broke-but-not-broken characters to illustrate the truth and the lies the American South tells to itself and
others.”
End of the Line – “End of the Line brings to the table a studied and mature sound, performed with an
explosive and youthful energy unlike any other ABB tribute experience out there.”