Songsmith Jason Isbell and his formidable band The 400 Unit’s annual residency at the Ryman has become one of Music City’s best-loved (relatively) recent traditions. This year’s installment marks the 10th running of Isbell and company’s Mother Church homecoming.
It’s also tradition for the group to use this major platform to signal-boost artists they think you ought to know better, and the same is true of this auspicious occasion, though the lineup will be a little different than you might expect. October’s shows will feature support from ensembles representing public schools and other music programs around the Southeast — per the Instagram post, “to highlight the educators and students working to shape the next generation of live music.”
The opening night of the run on Oct. 16 will lead off with some performers from the vicinity of Athens, Ga., via Nuçi’s Space Camp Amped Program featuring Women in STEM. ForgetMeNots, a student band from Middle Tennessee’s own YEAH! Rocks Music Camp will play on Oct. 17, followed by the Macon, Ga.-area Otis Redding Foundation Allstars on Oct. 18. The series jumps to Oct. 23 for its next entry, when Nashville’s Wright Middle School Mariachi Ensemble will play, followed by students from Nashville School of the Arts on Oct. 24. The LoveUnited group from Music City’s The L.O.V.E. Academy wraps it up on Oct. 25.
Arts education has never stopped being important, though the dollars to make it happen continue to be harder and harder to come by. The dedication of the educators and the passion of the students is consistently inspiring, and deserves the spotlight. I have to admit my bias as a YEAH! volunteer in the distant past, but I still feel strongly that camp showcases are among the best shows you’re going to see anywhere — and that’s just the start of the evening. Tickets to the October residency go on sale Friday, June 20, at 10 a.m.
Update, July 17: YEAH! announced the specific band of YEAH! Rocks campers who will perform Oct. 17.
