Next Big Nashville Panel Discussions

THE NEW NEW NASHVILLE: WHAT DO WE NEED?
The easy answer of course would be a beer and a nap, but the real answer is going to be a little tougher to discern considering the unpredictable (and unenviable) state of the music industry. Fortunately, NBN has assembled a crew of knowledgeable pros with deep Music City roots to get to the bottom of this classic barroom conundrum. Panelists include Jim Hester from the Mayor's Office, legendary local promoter Rick Whetsel, Jay Williams from talent booking giant William Morris and Scott Mcghee of Mcghee Artist Management. 10 a.m. Thursday at the Musicians Hall of Fame

THE NASHVILLE CURSE
No, it's not about our inability to get Thai food delivered at three in the morning--it's about our city's inability to field a rock or pop artist that breaks beyond cult status and soars into the platinum-plated stratosphere. We have our own theories regarding the rest of the nation's indifference (cough*Free Masons*cough), and we're sure you have yours (Aliens? Chupacabra? Nashville Cream?). Bobby Bare Jr., Haley Williams from Paramore, Matt Friction from The Pink Spiders and some corporate-y suit-types will weigh in on the mystical forces shaping our scene. 1:45 p.m. Thursday at the Musicians Hall of Fame

BEN FOLDS KEYNOTE INTERVIEW
Now don't get us wrong, we love Ben Folds, but we've seen him in enough mundane, everyday situations that we're sort of non-plussed about hearing him talk. Seriously, you wouldn't believe how disappointed we were when we found out that he doesn't leave a trail of puppies and rainbows when he walks. On the other hand, Cap'n Normal Dude will be talking with Esquire Magazine music editor Andy Langer, a man whose work we admire and who we have yet to witness indulge in normal human activities (despite our best efforts--that restraining order's a bitch). Expect utter awesomeness. 3 p.m. Friday at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Ford Theater

RED BULL MUSIC ACADEMY W/DJ EGON
To say that we're fans of Egon and Stones Throw Records is a bit of an understatement. We can remember the very first time we laid eyes on one of their releases (Rasco's "the Unassisted" single), where we bought it (Growroom, Amherst, Mass.) and the name of the dude behind the counter (Johnny Hush). Music City ex-pat Egon's meticulously crafted deep-funk compilation The Funky 16 Corners is one of our all time favorite party records and we unabashedly lust after both his record collection and his music research skills. He's being interviewed by one of our favorite local platter pushers DJ Coolout so you know it will "tighten up tighter." 4:15 p.m. Friday at the Musicians Hall of Fame
Thu., Sept. 11, 10 a.m., 2008