Intimate country concerts promised by Nashville Takeover

If a trip to Music City, USA this summer is not in the cards, The Backyard Music Company aims to scratch that live music itch when the Nashville Takeover lands in Kawartha Lakes July 24-26.

Billed as an “authentic Nashville experience you can’t get from stadiums or mainstream festivals,” organizer Scotty James says the thirteen events to be staged across the country this summer will feature performers from Nashville, Canada and potentially around the globe.

Like what you would experience in Nashville, the weekend promises “Bluebird Cafe-style” writer’s rounds, surprise guests, intimate rooms, and late-night after parties. James says the 3-day format proved itself last year with takeovers in Port Stanley and Collingwood, but the event had a more modest beginning.

 “This all started originally with a small backyard concert. We basically packaged the whole Nashville songwriter’s concept and made it a turnkey concert experience that homeowners could offer to their neighbours and friends,” he explains. “We did 150 backyard concerts in our first year, and then transitioned to venues, like breweries, barns and wineries across North America. Because I always wanted to raise the bar, we shifted our whole business model again to these whole town takeovers.”

Fenelon Falls and Bobcaygeon will host shows, with the Cow and Sow and Graz mentioned as venues so far. At Nashville Takeover shows, the artists are not announced until they actually step on the stage. While some ticket buyers might balk at the idea of not knowing exactly what they are paying for, James says there’s a good reason for that practice. “We don’t announce the artists because it’s all about organic discovery, like if you were to walk into a songwriter bar in Nashville and you had never heard those artists before. That’s the kind of feeling, or essence we’re trying to capture.”

He is confident the performers won’t disappoint seasoned local fans since Fenelon Falls and Bobcaygeon have solid live music scenes, to the point where audiences are accustomed to seeing professional talent drop in on open mics.

 “I lived in Nashville for five years and I spent a lot of time there hosting showcases. I got to know a lot of artists there, so we pull from those entertainers. I make frequent trips to Nashville still to discover the artists that are really, really talented, but haven’t quite broken out yet.”

James said some of the performers at the takeovers are from Canada as well. “We will also be featuring artists that are a little more established – that have hits, have number one songs – so it’s a mixture of both.”

A big part of the appeal of Nashville is the top-notch music to be heard in every single bar on the strip, at any time of the day. It is possible to see a great band in a bar at two in the afternoon, walk out, take two steps, and see an even better one in the club next door.

Another part of the charm is that so many musicians gravitate to Nashville to get their big break. The country music machine has changed a lot, but it is still possible that the solo performer you see at bars owned by major country artists like Eric Church or Morgan Wallen will become the next Kacey Musgrave or Lainey Wilson. That’s the vibe James hopes to create – seeing a relative unknown in a small, intimate space close to home before they make it big.

Standard single day passes start at $59, with a weekend pass running $99. VIP and after party packages are available as well. A total of 15 artists will be featured over the weekend. The full event schedule and venue details will be released to ticket holders closer to the date.

For more info, check out thenashvilletakeover.ca.