My first ever visit to Nashville was in 2007. It coincided with my deputising for Bryan Burnett on his Brand New Country show the week before, so it all felt like a deep dive into country music which would prepare me for the next 17 years or so of bluffing my way on the wireless. It was in Music City I first met our Nashville correspondent, Bill DeMain. We enjoyed a writing session together and also had a long and rather wonderful breakfast at the fabled Loveless cafe one morning where I probably quizzed Bill on all the questions I had about the city that holds so many great stories.
The stories are important. Telling the stories of Nashville has become part of Bill’s many USP’s. In the years since that visit Bill would start the project which drew us to asking him to become our Nashvegas voice. His great Walkin’ Nashville tour which explores many of the great characters and stories of country music. However the walking tour is the least of Bill’s attributes. Like so many in Twang Town Bill is a songwriter of many years with some great material in his back catalogue. As well as that he is also a performing musician whose band Swan Dive were very successful in Asia despite being firmly rooted in America’s Music City. As well as that he is also an accomplished journalist whose writing you will find in Mojo, Performing Songwriter and Entertainment Weekly.
After many episodes of hooking up to Spotland Stusdios on Music Row so we can get Bill’s take on Music City matters we are pleased to announce that on this week’s show Bill will be with us in our studio. He’ll be co hosting the whole two hours with me as we reflect on some classic country, new tracks and the many, many stories Nashville holds within its city limits. Bill’s talked to a lot of the main players over there so we guarantee some indiscreet gossip, a few fun facts and inevitably some real heartbreak. If it were not so there really would be no point in country music.
Expect to hear music from Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams and Charlie Rich. But we will also have new music from Sunny Sweeney, Leif Vollebeck and our latest guest, Hannah White.
As there is no blog next week I should also let you know that the AC will be playing out our second greatest hits package on Tuesday 29th October. We broadcast Part One a while back and felt we should probably complete the task by compiling another long list of favourites. However there is still Part 3 which will arrive next year , God Willin’ and the creek don’t rise. Expect cuts from Sturgill Simpson, Maren Morris, Yola and Jason Isbell plus many more in a two hour of songs you’d wish you’d written yourself. Both shows will start at the usual time of five past eight and you can listen in on BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Sounds. Do join me if you can.
