NASHVILLE – CMA and ACM “Group of the Year” Old Dominion will headline Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th presented by Dr Pepper, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp announced today. A free Amazon Family Fun Zone will be open on Sunday, July 3, from noon to 6 p.m., and Monday, July 4 from noon to 5 p.m. with inflatables and live music.
As previously announced, GRAMMY-winning reggae artist Gramps Morgan, country-pop-punk singer-songwriter Cassadee Pope and country’s Levi Hummon will be part of the diverse concert lineup. The event at the downtown riverfront will include the biggest fireworks show in the city’s history synchronized to a live performance from the GRAMMY-winning Nashville Symphony.
A total of 16 Nashville-based artists will be featured on the Jack Daniel’s Broadway Stage and at the Amazon Family Fun Zone at Music City Walk of Fame Park over the two-day celebration.
“The Nashville 4th of July is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together and to draw in visitors to our city from around the world,” said Courtney Ross, Amazon’s Senior Manager of Community Engagement. “We are delighted to contribute to the programming of this year’s celebration with the Amazon Family Fun Zone, which will feature family-friendly activities and great performances from incredible local artists.”
The Jack Daniel’s Broadway Stage will be located at First and Broadway. After the concert, the event will shift to Ascend Amphitheater for the live performance by the Nashville Symphony and the fireworks show. Media personality Kelly Sutton will host both stages, Wendy Moten of The Voice fame will sing the national anthem and Coach (DJ) will entertain between sets. CMT will nationally broadcast Let Freedom Sing! from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., including a portion of the concert and the entirety of the fireworks show. The fireworks also will be livestreamed on visitmusiccity.com/july4th.
Performances at the Amazon Family Fun Zone on July 3 for Prelude to the 4th will include Troubadour Blue, Craig Duncan & Friends, Les Kerr & The Bayou Band, The Woods, Jesse Labelle and Emily Earle, along with DJ Dave Audé. On July 4, performances will include San Rafael Band, Joe West Band, Jenny Tolman, Nick Howard and Jeverson, along with DJ Rod Youree. Labelle was the winner of the Nashville Needs a Song songwriting competition, a joint initiative in 2020 of the Mayor’s Office, NCVC and Nashville Songwriters Association International.
Summer is a key leisure travel period, and the NCVC will be promoting additional happenings taking place around July 4 to give visitors from around the country - and worldwide - even more of a reason to travel here and stay longer. Ticketed concerts leading up to July 4 are taking place at Nissan Stadium, Bridgestone Arena, Ryman Auditorium, Ascend Amphitheater and Schermerhorn Symphony Center from June 30 to July 5. Find additional Independence Day weekend events: visitmusiccity.com/july4th/other-events.
Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th presented by Dr Pepper is produced by the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp for the city of Nashville. The free, family-friendly event was created to entertain Nashvillians and attract visitors to generate economic activity and tax revenue for the city. The event has regularly drawn more than 200,000 attendees – and a record-breaking 350,000 in 2021. This will be the 19th annual celebration produced by the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp and the 38th in the city.
Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th is presented by Dr Pepper and partners including Amazon, Advance Financial, Budweiser, Dr Pepper Zero, Folds of Honor Tennessee, General Jackson Showboat, Jack Daniel’s, Kroger, Nashville International Airport, Pure Kick, SLIQ® Spirited Ice, SoundWaves™ at Gaylord Opryland®, Wyler’s Light, Tennessee Highway Safety Office: Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk and Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.
VIP viewing: The July 4th VIP Fireworks Viewing Experience provides ticket holders with an up-close view of the show by the river in an exclusive area at Riverfront Park. VIP guests will enjoy drinks and snacks in this private viewing area. Limited tickets available. Purchase at visitmusiccity.com/july4th.
The NCVC is offering two packages, which can be purchased at visitmusiccity.com/july4th.
July 4th in Music City Package
Turn your Independence Celebration into a true Music City Experience with the July 4th in Music City Package. Do your must-see list in the city before enjoying Nashville’s spectacular fireworks show on July 4.
- Hotel stay + July 4th Music City Fun Pack (Adult and/or Child) + Total Access Pass. The Total Access Pass is included at a special price of $109 per person. ($10 off retail price)
Total Access Pass is Nashville’s official combo attraction pass where you can select six attractions and receive several exclusive special offers to even more activities.
July 4th Music City Fun Packs
Make some memories with the July 4th Music City Fun Packs that includes some of Nashville’s favorite celebration goodies. Available in Adult and Child options.
- July 4th Music City Fun Pack | Adult: Nashville Festive T-Shirt, July 4th Koozie, Nashville Bandana and Bag of Locally Made Popcorn. $55 per adult.
- July 4th Music City Fun Pack | Child: Color-your-own Music City Guitar Kit, Bag of Locally Made Popcorn, July 4th Activity Sheet, Design-your-own Premium Goo Goo. $25 per child.
Fun Pack includes one voucher to bring your child to Goo Goo Chocolate Co. located in downtown Nashville, where America’s first combination candy bar was created, to design their own Goo Goo treat.
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Old Dominion
Old Dominion has emerged as one of the hottest breaking bands out of Nashville, fusing clever lyrics and an infectious sound. Their lyrical wit and hook heavy songwriting has certainly proved a winning method: since breaking onto the music scene in 2014, the band has notched eight No. 1 singles at country radio, surpassed one billion on-demand streams, earned several Platinum and Gold single certifications and headlined arenas and amphitheaters around the globe. Old Dominion is currently the reigning CMA and ACM “Group of the Year.” Most recently, the band won their fifth consecutive “Group of the Year” award at the 2022 ACM Awards and took home their fourth consecutive “Vocal Group of the Year” win at the 2021 CMA Awards. Over the course of their career, the band has also been named ACM “New Group of the Year,” A CCA “Breakthrough Group of the Year,” AIMP “Songwriter Artist of the Year” and Music Row “Breakthrough Artist of the Year.” At the 2020 CMT Awards, the band also took home their first win for “Group Video of The Year.” The band has also received nominations for multiple GRAMMY Awards, CMT Awards, American Music Awards, Billboard Awards, and iHeart Radio Awards. Front man Matthew Ramsey was ASCAP’s “Artist of the Year” in 2017. In October 2021, Old Dominion released their stunning fourth studio album Time, Tequila & Therapy, which features the smash summertime single “I Was On A Boat That Day.” The band saw their biggest radio impact yet with 133 adds out of the gate. “No Hard Feelings” was the most-added song at Country radio the week of its impact in December 2021. Old Dominion consists of lead singer Matthew Ramsey, lead guitarist Brad Tursi, multi-instrumentalist Trevor Rosen, bassist Geoff Sprung and drummer Whit Sellers. weareolddominion.com
Gramps Morgan
A Nashville native since 2012, Gramps Morgan moved to town after falling in love with Music City following a performance at the historic Ryman Auditorium while on tour with India.Arie. While his reggae roots are at the forefront with “Positive Vibration,” Gramps sees his music as genre-less - bursting with positive vibration - a soundtrack to celebrate both love and Music City. By flavoring reggae with dashes of both country and soul, Gramps effortlessly blends the sounds of legendary artists like Ken Boothe, Toots Hibbert, Jimmy Buffet and Kenny Chesney creating a sonic recipe all his own to bring everyone to the metaphoric table. His father, Denroy Morgan, a Jamaican immigrant, helped form the Black Eagles, New York’s first reggae group. He also organized several of his children into a reggae band with Gramps joining the appropriately titled Morgan Heritage. Morgan Heritage debuted at Jamaica’s Reggae Sunsplash Festival in 1994 and signed a recording contract with MCA Records that same year. Their debut album, Miracles, featured Gramps on vocals and keyboards. In 2009, after fifteen years of touring and recording with Morgan Heritage, the band decided to pursue solo careers. Gramps’s first solo effort, 2 Sides of My Heart, Volume 1, came out that same year. It landed him on “Good Morning America” and on tour with India.Arie and John Legend. India.Arie invited Gramps to be the featured vocalist on her breezy 2009 single “Therapy.” The song hit No. 22 on Billboard’s R&B and Adult Contemporary charts and remains Gramps’ highest charting single. In addition to his solo career, Gramps continued to work with Morgan Heritage. The group’s 2015 Strictly Roots topped the Reggae Music charts and earned a GRAMMY® Award in 2016 for Best Reggae Album. Morgan Heritage garnered two more GRAMMY® nominations: for 2017’s Avrakedabra and for feature vocals on Shaggy and Sting’s “44/876” (A&M Records, 2018). grampsmorgan.com
Cassadee Pope
Cassadee Pope is a GRAMMY-nominated, Platinum-certified singer-songwriter who released her ninth career album, Thrive on October 15, 2021. The album’s first single, “What the Stars See” was co-written by Cassadee and features Karen Fairchild (Little Big Town) and Lindsay Ell. Cassadee performed the track on The Kelly Clarkson Show. She wrote or co-wrote every song, blending influences from her pop-punk days fronting the band Hey Monday and her country music storytelling and songwriting. In 2020, she released her first acoustic solo album Rise and Shine, which was co-produced by Cassadee and Todd Lombardo. The collection of original songs followed her critically acclaimed album, Stages (2019) featuring hit singles “Take You Home,” “One More Red Light,” and “If My Heart Had a Heart.” From fronting Hey Monday to winning Season 3 of “The Voice” (2012) and releasing her No. 1 debut album Frame by Frame (2013), Cassadee has effortlessly re-arranged the lines of Country and Pop. Her Platinum-selling single “Wasting All These Tears” was awarded with “Breakthrough Video of the Year” at the 2014 CMT Music Awards and her No. 1 hit “Think of You” with Chris Young received a 2017 GRAMMY nomination for “Best Country Duo/Group.” Cassadee has performed on the TODAY show and has been featured in countless notable publications, including PEOPLE Magazine. She has toured extensively, joining legendary artists Tim McGraw and Dierks Bentley. She has played London’s iconic O2 Arena during C2C: Country to Country Festival, earned the distinction of the only Country artist to perform at 2018’s Warped Tour and joined Maren Morris on her GIRL: THE WORLD TOUR in 2019. Cassadee toured as the headliner of the “2019 CMT Next Women of Country Tour,” which brought the franchise outside of the U.S. for the first time. cassadeepope.com
Levi Hummon
Singer-songwriter Levi Hummon spent his 20s practicing his art, but his immersion into country music started much, much earlier: the day he was born. His father Marcus Hummon is one of Nashville’s most prolific GRAMMY-winning songwriters, having penned hits for The Chicks, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts and many more. Being raised by a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist meant that Hummon had master classes early and often, from the time his dad taught him his first three chords on the guitar, and he estimates that he wrote about a million songs with just those three chords. And now, with his viral Walker Hayes collaboration sensation “Paying for It” cementing his status as a rising country star, Hummon is just as at ease in a songwriting session as he is in the studio and on stage. His follow-up tune “Bottled Up” is one that Hummon says reveals more of who he is after a decade of honing his skills: a little countrier, with a roughness to his edges. levihummon.com
Wendy Moten
Wendy Moten is an exceptional, adaptable singer, a pure musical spirit, and a bridge from Memphis to Nashville to the rest of the world. Respected in the music industry as a consummate professional for years, the wider public discovered her talent and charm through her remarkable run on NBC’s The Voice in 2021. She turned all four judges’ chairs on her blind audition and ended up in second place overall – unprecedented for an artist in her 50s. A native of Memphis, Moten sang R&B on a major label in the 1990s then moved to Nashville to become an in-demand harmony singer. She spent 15 years as the key support voice for Julio Iglesias. She has toured with Martina McBride, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, and Vince Gill. She has performed as a soloist on the Grand Ole Opry multiple times and been a featured artist in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Musician Spotlight series. In 2019 she joined the Grammy-winning Nashville western swing band The Time Jumpers. wendymoten.com
San Rafael Band
Nashville-based Rafael Vasquez fuses Latin jazz with the broader adult contemporary market, taking the reigns as a leading Latin artist in Music City. His music is a unique combination of the fiery guitar lines of Santana, the classical technique of Andreas Segovia, and the soulful and gritty vocal sound reminiscent of Sting. This compelling blend of jazz, blues and rock has created a new and popular sound that combines the best of salsa, Latin jazz, and rock. Rafael’s newest musical project, El Cine del Corazon (The Theater of the Heart) is a joint project between Acklen Entertainment and Belmont University. The collection contains an eclectic range of styles—from flamenco guitar to classic Latin rock.
Joe West
Singer/songwriter Joe West is the son of Sarge and Shirley West, the first and only nationally touring African American Country & Western Duo. He was raised on traditional country music with influences from gospel, R&B, rock, folk, blues and jazz and has been described as a cross between Kenny Rogers, James Taylor, Stevie Wonder and Merle Haggard. He serves as the house band for Nashville International Airport and a warm welcome to thousands. He has performed at Bluebird Cafe and private events at the home of the legendary Naomi Judd, opened for The Wooten Brothers and Sara Evans, and been a finalist on The Charlie Daniels round-up. He also has performed at George Jones Roof Top, Ole Red, City Winery, and the world-famous Tootsies Orchid Lounge.
Jenny Tolman
With a razor-sharp wit and throwback sound, Jenny Tolman is on deck to become her generation’s Roger Miller - a comedic troubadour wit a decidedly feminine perspective, offering savvy wordplay and wisdom far beyond her years. With titles like “High Class White Trash,” her debut album There Goes the Neighborhood lit up Nashville in 2020 by delivering engaging snapshots of small-town life in the fictional Jennyville. Not many new artists would step into the spotlight quite so brazenly but doing so has been worth the gamble thus far for Tolman, whom Music Row’s Robert K. Oermann says is “practically single-handedly bringing humor back into country music.” Tolman’s sophomore album Married in a Honky Tonk, which made Wide Open Country’s list of Most Anticipated Country Albums of 2022, was released in March to critical acclaim. jennytolman.com
Jeverson
Recently named to People Magazine’s Emerging Artist Gallery, this 28-year old Grenadian-born singer has recently tapped into Nashville’s multi-genre music heritage to create a unique elixir of R&B, soul and pop sounds spiced up with a bit of Island vibes. His self-titled six-song EP JEVERSON displays the musician’s signature sound, capturing the essence of soul music with a laid-back, island-life vibe. This is testament to Jeverson’s upbringing, which has had a heavy influence on his songwriting. This unique blend of sonic spices is influenced by artists such as Machel Montano, Patrice Roberts, Bob Marley, and Chronixx, blended up with a healthy influence from wide ranging mainstream pop artists like The Clark Sisters, Beyonce, Daniel Caesar and Jacob Collier, in addition to legends Otis Redding and Frank Sinatra. Born and reared in Grenada, Jeverson has been compared to artists ranging from James Brown to Bruno Mars, Anderson Paak, Leon Bridges and Chris Stapleton. He is preparing for a multi-city tour in Summer 2022. jeversonmusic.com
The Woods
The Woods are a true throwback to the songs and influences that initially inspired their varied musical pursuits, and they continually pay homage to the music that moves them through a style that is, at once, both familiar and progressive with newness and nostalgia in every song. Dan O’Rourke brought together Raquel Cole and Leland Rooney, and as of 2021 they officially formed a three-part harmony group known as The Woods. Dan’s musical roots are steeped in the folk-revival era and classic rock of the 60s and 70s, and the fingerprints of those influences are unmistakable in both the melodic style and lyricism of his songs. Raquel Cole is a seasoned musician with her own successful career as a Canadian country solo artist. Leland Rooney is an inspired virtuoso whenever there is a guitar in his hands. The Woods have been hard at work in the studio for the past several months recording and producing an array of new music that is scheduled for release throughout 2022. getintothewoods.com
Troubadour Blue
Troubadour Blue blends evocative songwriting and compelling musical arrangements. The Nashville-based trio includes Daniel Kim Etheridge and siblings Brenna and Eli Wheeler. Through various instrumental combinations by the multi-instrumentalists, the band transports listeners into the stories of their songs. troubadourblue.com
Craig Duncan & Friends
Based in Nashville, Craig Duncan & Friends present an entertaining program of traditional Tennessee and authentic bluegrass music. The group, which features Duncan on fiddle and mandolin, and friends, is based on years of making music together in a variety of overlapping configurations. Bandleader Craig Duncan is a member of the North American Fiddler’s Hall of Fame and Who’s Who in Music & Musicians and has been the featured instrumentalist on more than 80 albums with sales in excess of 5 million copies. His music has been heard on television shows like Malcolm in the Middle and The Oprah Winfrey Show, as well as on A&E, Biography, BET, PBS, History and other cable networks. He is recognized internationally as the author of 57 instructional books for Mel Bay Publications. This high-energy vocalist and fiddler delivers the heart and soul of his music with unique flair and pizzazz. craigduncan.net
Les Kerr & The Bayou Band
Les Kerr & The Bayou Band offer an upbeat, original combination of music they call “Hillbilly Blues Caribbean Rock & Roll.” Bandleader Les Kerr is a songwriter, guitarist and vocalist and former Gulf Coast resident who is a well-established part of Nashville’s music scene. Les Kerr and The Bayou Band have hosted annual Mardi Gras concerts at Nashville’s famed Bluebird Cafe since 1992 and have performed at festivals and events including Nashville’s July 4th, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series (formerly Country Music Marathon), Southern Festival of Books, Red Caboose Park concert series, Jefferson Street Jazz and Blues Festival and Southern Living Magazine’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. Additionally, the band was chosen to perform at Hall of Fame Park in celebration of the Nashville Predators’ run for the Stanley Cup. Les has recorded eleven albums, including his latest, Part of the Show. Les Kerr and the Bayou Band were featured in the TV documentary Civil War Songs and Stories broadcast on PBS stations across the United States. A three-time nominee for Music City Blues Society awards, Les has been nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year, CD of the Year and Entertainer of the Year awards. The original Mackinac Blues, a Bayou Band favorite, was included in National Public Radio’s All Songs Considered. leskerr.com
Nick Howard
Nashville-based Nick Howard has played more than 1,000 shows across the world, released six albums and had singles top the charts in multiple continents. In 2012, the British-American singer-songwriter learned German in two months and won The Voice of Germany. His forthcoming album Hope, Happiness & Heartbreak includes recent singles (Where We Call Home, Brave and Our Time) that have received widespread radio play and were spotlighted by MTV, SiriusXM, Disney, NBC, Fox, CMT, Spotify, Shazam and Apple Music. Nick has headlined tours and toured with Train, Gavin DeGraw, Boyce Avenue, Rachel Platten, Lifehouse and Eric Hutchinson. In 2014 he performed his hit song Untouchable to over 1 million people in Berlin on New Year’s Eve and more recently, was asked to sing the national anthem at Madison Square Garden. His music has been featured on TV in over 50 countries, including shows such as Keeping up with the Kardashians, Pretty Little Liars, The Hills, Jersey Shore, Switched at Birth, LA Ink and 90210. His song Fight was recently used at the Tour de France and Our Time as the finale number on NBC’s World of Dance. nickhowardmusic.com
Jesse Labelle
Nashville-based Jesse Labelle meshes modern country music with classic country lyrics and high energy-guitar playing to deliver an unforgettable live performance wherever he takes the stage. Jesse’s soaring vocals and energetic stage show have landed him opening slots with many country greats, including Garth Brooks, Keith Urban, Eric Church, Jason Aldean and Brooks & Dunn. He sold out 22 shows at the Listening Room Cafe, as well as 3rd & Lindsley. Jesse recently played Stagecoach 2022. In 2021, Jess released his self-titled EP, “Jesse Labelle - Part 1.” In 2022 Jesse will release new singles and a second EP “Jesse Labelle - Part 2.” jesselabelle.com
Emily Earle
Emily Earle is a mix of heartfelt lyrics and contagious melodies. Influenced by the distinctive places she grew up, Emily combines Texas grit with Colorado cool. After graduating from Berklee College of Music, she made her living playing on subway platforms in between uptown trains at Rockefeller Station in New York City. One afternoon, while playing the subway, she caught the ear of a television producer who asked her to sing on NBC’s The Voice in Los Angeles. Since then, Emily has had songs cut by artists including Steve Earle and Walker McGuire. She has shared the stage with Robert Earle Keen, Shawn Camp, Steve Earle, Aaron Watson, Tanya Tucker, John Michael Montgomery and more. emilyearle.com
Coach
Coach has been a DJ in Nashville for 15 years. He works parties with Whiskey Disco, Recognize, Schwing and Y2K.
DJ Dave Audé
With more than a dozen years as a veteran producer and DJ, Dave Audé has produced, remixed and listened to a mountain of records. Like an archeologist uncovering ancient treasures, Audé expertly distinguishes classics, a reason why U2, Sting, Coldplay, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Royksopp, Bastille, Ariana Grande, Zedd, Mark Ronson, Erasure, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, Chris Brown, Kelly Clarkson, Britney Spears, Pussycat Dolls, Beyoncé, tATu, Donna Summer and Korn have trusted him. In 2016, Dave won a GRAMMY Award for his remix of Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk,” which also won three more GRAMMYs, including Record Of The Year. Dave recently received his third GRAMMY award nomination in the category of Best Remixed Recording for Met Him Last Night (Dave Audé Remix) (Demi Lovato and Ariana Grande). Dave has also created an unprecedented 135 No. 1 Billboard Dance tracks. His Audacious Records imprint was not only Billboard Magazine’s No. 1 Indie Dance Label for 2015, but it introduced fans to Audé’s 2016 single, “Love Me like You Mean It,” a collaboration with country artist Kelsea Ballerini.
DJ Rod Youree
Rod Youree has been rocking Tennessee Titans home games in front of 60,000 football fans, touring with Rascal Flatts on their Flatts Fest Tour, and bringing the energy to clubs and parties all across the United States. Rod is a true open format DJ. He has shared the stage with artist of all genres ranging from FloRIda to Nervo, as well as legendary DJs like Jazzy Jeff and Questlove. Rod grew up in Nashville.
The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp
The mission of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp is to maximize the economic contribution of the convention and tourism industry to the community by developing and marketing Nashville as a premier destination. Visit the NCVC’s website at www.visitmusiccity.com and follow us on social media:
