Nature Conservancy Joins Forces with "Music City Roots"

Conservation Nonprofit to Serve As Americana Radio Show's Environmental Partner

The Nature Conservancy’s roots will be showing — live and onstage — when it joins “Music City Roots: Live From The Loveless Cafe” this fall as the live radio program’s environmental partner and nonprofit sponsor. “Music City Roots: Live From The Loveless Cafe” is a weekly live radio show that showcases the Americana music scene. It will air Wednesday nights, 7-9 p.m., live from the Loveless Barn on the outskirts of Nashville. Opening night, October 14, will feature Americana icon Emmylou Harris, the acclaimed songwriting duo of Pam Rose and Mary Ann Kennedy, and emerging artists Annie Crane and Robin Aigner.

Staff from The Nature Conservancy’s Tennessee Chapter will be on hand every Wednesday night to share information on how people can get involved with conservation and make a lasting difference for future generations in Tennessee. Two shows in early 2010 will be designated “Nature Conservancy Nights” with the night’s gate receipts being donated to The Nature Conservancy. Details to follow at nature.org/tennessee and musiccityroots.com.

“We’re tickled to have been invited to be the environmental partner and nonprofit sponsor for ‘Music City Roots,’” says Gina Hancock, associate state director for The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee. “This is a very timely partnership. The environmental movement is now becoming mainstream. At the same time, the Americana movement is growing by leaps and bounds in popularity. Americana artists are among the most thoughtful and thought-provoking musicians on the scene today. They probe the nature of being human in today’s world, while at The Nature Conservancy we maintain the crucial human connection to nature and the vital services it provides. I’d say this partnership is a good marriage of hearts and minds.”

Each “Music City Roots” show will be emceed by WSM announcer Eddie Stubbs and guest hosted by singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale. Future shows will include such musical luminaries as Sam Bush, Radney Foster, Marshall Chapman, John Cowan, Dexter Romweber, Dale Ann Bradley, Peter Bradley Adams, Mike Farris, Scott Miller and Webb Wilder. The show is produced by Todd Mayo, founder of Music City Media and the subterranean radio show, “Bluegrass Underground,” which also airs on WSM 650-AM.

In addition to airing across much of the continental United States over WSM 650-AM, “Music City Roots: Live From The Loveless Cafe” will be streamed live on WSMonline.com. Previously aired programs will also be archived at the site for streaming on demand.

Tickets for the live show each Wednesday are $10 or $5 with a student ID. They are available in Nashville at Grimey’s New and Preloved Music or online at musiccityroots.com. Tickets may also be purchased in advance or on show nights at the Loveless Barn, at the intersection of Highway 100 and the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Every penny of your $10 ticket price on Jan. 6 goes to The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee.

So bring friends, eat a biscuit, sip a drink and enjoy Tim O'Brien, Kristi Rose & Fats Kaplin, Chuck Mead, Donna the Buffalo, and the Believers at the Loveless Barn in Nashville.

Music City Roots: Live from the Loveless Cafe is a weekly live radio show that showcases the Americana music scene. It airs Wednesday nights, 7-9 p.m. on WSM 650-AM, broadcast live from the Loveless Barn on the outskirts of Nashville. The first show of the New Year, January 6, 2010, features Tim O'Brien, Kristi Rose & Fats Kaplin, Chuck Mead, Donna the Buffalo, and the Believers in an evening benefitting The Nature Conservancy.

The Nature Conservancy’s Tennessee Chapter is present at Music City Roots every Wednesday night to share information on Tennessee’s exceptional natural resources and how people can get involved with conservation. The January 6 and April 21 shows in 2010 are designated Nature Conservancy Nights with proceeds going to The Nature Conservancy.

Music City Roots is emceed by legendary WSM announcer Eddie Stubbs and guest-hosted by singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale and WSM announcer Bill Cody. To date, performers have included Emmylou Harris, Nanci Griffith, Sam Bush, The Grascals, Scott Miller, Webb Wilder and many more. The April 21st concert, also benefitting The Nature Conservancy, currently features Marshall Chapman and Minton Sparks. Check back soon to see who’ll be joining these two Southern powerhouse storytellers on stage! Every week exciting artists for 2010 are added to the show calendar at www.musiccityroots.com.

In addition to airing on WSM 650-AM, Music City Roots: Live from the Loveless Cafe is streamed live around the world via www.WSMonline.com.

Tickets for the live show each Wednesday are $10 or $5 with a student ID. They are available at Grimey’s New and Preloved Music and at www.musiccityroots.com. Tickets may be purchased in advance or on show nights at the Loveless Barn, at the intersection of Highway 100 and the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Questions? Contact Trish Crist, Associate Director of Philanthropy at our office in Nashville: 615-383-9909, or tcrist@tnc.org.