The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development has announced an exclusive, live-streamed concert series with performances from Citizen Cope, Jason Isbell and Old Crow Medicine Show, and Ashley Monroe at iconic attractions May 23-25 in Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville. The live performances will be streamed onto a two-sided video wall in a high-traffic location in Chicago and will have interactive capabilities between artist and audience as well as a 360-degree panoramic camera angle, making it the first long-distance concert of its kind.
Citizen Cope, born in Memphis and known for his eclectic and versatile sound, will be the first artist to take the stage May 23 live from the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis. Since its inception in 1957, Stax Museum has transformed the way music has been received, crossing a number of historical boundaries, and is home to more than 2,000 artifacts, exhibits, galleries and tributes to the artists who have performed there over the years. Inspired by many acts from Tennessee, such as legendary producer and Memphis native Willie Mitchell, Cope will perform songs in an acoustic setting and states that “Memphis has a vast music history” and has “contributed greatly” to the music of today.
Two-time Grammy Award winner Jason Isbell will perform day two of the experience live May 24 from Music City at Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, one of the world’s largest museums and research centers dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American vernacular music. Isbell will play an acoustic set of tracks featuring songs from his latest album Something More Than Free, which was recorded locally at Nashville’s Sound Emporium studio. Most recently, Isbell sold out four nights at Nashville’s famous Ryman Auditorium, the first and only artist to achieve the milestone, and called it “unexpected, incredible” and “quite an honor.”
Critically-acclaimed, high-energy, old-time string band and Grand Ole Opry members, Old Crow Medicine Show will also perform at the Hall of Fame on May 24. The Grammy Award winning band is known for their powerful, live-busking, and gained a platinum record for their hit song “Wagon Wheel.”
Singer, songwriter, and member of the country music trio Pistol Annies, Ashley Monroe will come back to the the city she calls home for a live performance May 25 at the historic Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville. The theatre, designed by renowned Chicago architects, has been home to some of the state’s most memorable performances and entertainment since the late 20s. Monroe credits her hometown as a source for inspiration stating, “The melodies I write to this day still remind me of home.”
“As the birthplace of so many genres, Tennessee’s musical history roots are deep with ground-breaking events,” said Kevin Triplett, commissioner of Tourist Development. "The three days of streamed concerts, showcasing the amazing talent of Citizen Cope, Jason Isbell and Old Crow Medicine Show, and Ashley Monroe, feature the wide variety of music that is ours. Originating from Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville highlights these music destinations and venues as well as the artists and their music. And it makes this streamed event another incredible first that puts the music stake even deeper in the ground for Tennessee."
Tennessee has long been known as a global music destination for live performances, historic music venues and recording studios. It is the state where the genres of blues, bluegrass, country, gospel, soul and rock ‘n’ roll originated and has more musicians per capita than any other place in the world. The Soundtrack of America: Made in Tennessee tourism campaign aims to highlight and introduce music that is born and fostered within the state. The three stars on the state flag represent the regions of West, Middle and East that are as musically diverse as they are topographically, which is why three concerts over three days are required to showcase just a small sample of Tennessee’s musicality.
Additionally, Chicago is a top tourism market for the state of Tennessee. Due to direct flight paths into the state’s major airports and close geographical driving range, Tennessee has become an easily accessible destination for many tourists over the years.
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