After a year without live shows, Nashville’s music venues have suffered greatly. Some of them have found innovative ways to continue operating at a very limited capacity, while the desire to watch live performances the way we used to lingers on. But as COVID-19 vaccines become more accessible and we start to enjoy some of the freedom we had pre-pandemic, enjoying a live show is now at least a little more feasible.
In order to make up for lost time, Nashville-based blues-schooled singer-songwriter James Hatem will be raising funds for The U.S. Bartenders Guild and Music Venue Alliance Nashville as he attempts to break a Guinness World Record by performing at 80 venues across the city all within a 24-hour timespan. The current record was set in 2012, when Helge Toft and his band performed at 65 venues in Haugesund, Norway.
Hatem will be performing at venues large and small all throughout Music City on Friday, April 9. He’ll run the gamut from Springwater, The Groove and The Basement to midsize spots like Exit/In, The Basement East and Mercy Lounge all the way up to Bridgestone Arena — hence the name of the project, “The Basement to Bridgestone Arena.” Hatem hopes to bring awareness to the plight faced not just by Nashville’s music venues, but also by artists and crews.
If all goes according to plan, you’ll have at least 80 chances to see Hatem in person. To make a donation, see the full list of venues and more, visit the website he’s set up for the attempt. There, you’ll also see notes on how the project will comply with all CDC guidelines. Audiences at each venue will be limited and personal protective equipment will be worn by all team members. Hatem and his crew will also all undergo COVID tests.
