While basketball lovers have March Madness, Nashville music lovers have Music City Mayhem. The annual competition plays out on Lightning 100 each March, and begins with 36 local bands. Each weekday, two artists are paired against each other, and listeners can vote online for which one of them is their favorite. The final four will compete live on April 12 at the East-Centric Pavilion (on Fatherland St. in East Nashville), and the winner gets to play an opening gig at Live on The Green this fall. (They also earn themselves some free studio time, and heavy rotation on Lightning 100.)
This week began with the first eight initial rounds behind us, and eight more to go. This Friday’s match brings us Ryan Horne vs. The Co.
Ryan Horne has been making music professionally for the last ten years. His latest CD, The Whistler and The Majestic, was recorded at Sputnik Sound in Nashville. He had recorded a previous album there, and liked Nashville so much that he moved to Music City from his native Atlanta. He says, “There’s so much talent up here… I can co-write with a different person every day of the year if I want to. And it’s great to be surrounded by such supportive artists.”
The Co. began in 2005, with lead singer Collin Brace and keyboard player Troy Akers. They were joined in 2007 by percussionist Nate Fleming, and released their first full length album in 2010. Their newest album, Keep It Together, came out in January.
Check out Lightning 100’s website for more match-ups, and info on how you can vote for your favorite local artists.
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