Nashville! Bright Shade Music & Arts Festival Is Back for Round Two!
Words by Allyson J.L. Clayton
It takes a lot of courage, or maybe it’s a healthy amount of optimism and perserverence, to not only dream big but to then actually put those dreams into action. Ben Palmer, founder of Bright Shade Music & Arts Festival in Nashville, TN, sat down with Pleaser to give us some insight on what it takes to start your own festival.
It’s part “just doing it”, Palmer says, and part having people behind you who are just as excited about your dream as you are.
“It’s a lot of cold emailing... but honestly, you just have to believe in it and then go for it.”
Ben started putting on live events in his backyard when the world was just starting to open up again after the initial COVID-19 lockdown. It was the spring of 2021, Ben was in his sophomore year at Belmont University, and they started “Live at Lindell”.
“It was 30 or 50 other college students and it was everyone’s first music event back. It was very low-key. We did about eight shows a year for a while.”
Once the free backyard shows started to gain some traction– the last one they held attracting around 300 people– Ben and his friends felt confident moving on to something a bit bigger. Thus, Bright Shade was born.
Bright Shade is coming back to ONEC1TY Nashville for a second year, now with another stage and, hopefully, double the amount of attendees! Boasting a lineup of Nashville locals and other bands who have a strong connection to the Nashville scene, this years’ fest promises to be even more fun than last year!
Photo by Maggie Kimbro (@maggiekimbro)
The top headliners for this year's event are The Greeting Committee and The New Respects, two bands with dedicated fan bases who have fostered strong communities. They will be joined on stage by a number of Nashville locals including Cece Coakley, Nickname Jos, Mercury, W.B. Sims, and many others!
Other than music, festival-goers can expect to enjoy a day full of vintage stalls, handmade art and jewelry vendors, and lots of good food and drink! Music starts at noon on April 29th and goes all day! Get there early and come support the Nashville indie music scene!
Jordy Searcy at Bright Shade 2022
Photo by Maggie Kimbro (@maggiekimbro)
To sweeten the deal, you can enter code ‘PLEASER’ at checkout for $10 off your ticket! Thank you for supporting Pleaser, Bright Shade and all of the artists performing at the festival. SEE YOU THERE!
Bright Shade Music & Arts Festival
info@brightshadefest.com
