Wick-It the Instigator and DJ Crumbz took the titles for Nashville’s best DJ’s in the Red Bull Thre3Style contest Tuesday night. Hundreds of supporters came out to The Cannery for a night of DJ and dance mayhem. Red Bull paraphernalia decorated the room, along with sweet visual Video screens by PlayMe Art and a festively appropriate DJ photo-booth by Generationdomination.

Eight DJ’s; Dorian, Wick-It, Mike Allison, Braddy Daddy, DJ Crumbz, Cliffy D, ROBOT EARS and Fan Fiction were put to the test to see who had the best spinning skills. Each took turns playing a selection of at least three genres or styles of music in 15 minutes. DJ Rob Swift, Al D Words, Drew Mischke, DJ Don Juan and myself judged on their track-selection, technical skills, creativity and their ability to bring the house down. Dorian lit the turntables on fire (literally) and gave the records a spin with his foot, but in the end Wick-It the Instigator and DJ Crumbz claimed the tables. DJ Rob Swift closed the night out with his mad DJ skills.

The two DJ winners will fly to Miami next Friday the 26th to compete at the Red Bull Thre3Style Regional Final taking place at Winter Music Conference, the week-long electronic dance music event. Best of luck in representing Music City boys!

Eight of Nashville’s best DJs will battle it out Tuesday night for the chance to be crowned the city’s best for the Red Bull Thre3Style competition. Get your dance shoes on, this place is going to be thumping! Dorian, Wick-It, Mike Allison, Braddy Daddy, DJ Crumbz, Cliffy D, ROBOT EARS and Fan Fiction will be put to the test to see who has the best spinning skills. DJ Rob Swift, will take over the tables after helping judge the competition. Each hand selected contestant will have 15 minutes to mix three different genres of music and win over the judges and the crowd.

I am honored to be one of the judges marking scores based on song selections, creativity, skill, swagger and audience reaction. This show is at The Cannery Ballroom, March 16th and it’s free! I hope to see you there!

American Idol’s Bo Bice, Journey’s Jonathan Cain, Rachel Thibodeau (Good Directions) and Chris Wallin (Don’t Blink) performed to a packed house Tuesday afternoon at The Rutledge in downtown Nashville. The songwriters played the official pre-party for 18th annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival.

Jonathan Cain had the crowd singing along with nearly every word of his ten song medley which included hits Don’t Stop Believin’, I’ll Be Alright Without You and Faithfully. Mayor Karl Dean took the stage next and joked, “It’s impossible to follow that act. That last person you want to hear from after that is a local politician.”

This years festival will be held March 30-April 3rd and will feature more than 300 talented writers such as; Trace Adkins, Kathy Mattea (Callin’ My Name), Lee Roy Parnell and Rivers Rutherford at eight venues across Nashville.

Tin Pan South is named in honor of New York’s Tin Pan Alley (once the world’s capital of professional songwriting) and draws attention to the songs that make Music City what it is all about it. Check tinpansouth.com for more details.

CMA Best New Artist award-winner Darius Rucker performed at Hard Rock Cafe Nashville Wednesday night, as part of Hard Rock’s two-day, multi-city March On Stage launch. The event kicked off Hard Rock’s March On Stage live music event series benefiting Musicians on Call, an organization founded with the mission of bringing live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities.

After playing their Crossroads taping to a standing room only crowd at the Ryman Auditorium Tuesday night, Kenny Chesney and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Steve Miller had an impromptu jam at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge.

The two took the path down the ally between the Ryman and the honky tonk, snuck in the back door and made their way to the front stage and straight into Miller’s classic “Fly Like An Eagle.” A slew of Miller classics followed like “Take The Money & Run,” “Abracadabra,” “The Joker” and “Rock’n Me.” The pair also indulged in an improv freestyle blues that leaned into the “Red House” chord progressions, a romping take on Hank Williams Sr’s “Mind Your Own Business,” Chesney’s “Livin’ In Fast Forward” and Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Love Struck Baby.”

The guys took the small stage just before 11 and played until the wee hours of the morning.
Gotta love Music City! If you see any celebs out and about let me know by clicking by clicking HERE!!!

Pictured: Steve Miller live at Ravinia Festival in 2009

My gal Heather Byrd and I finally scored a ticket to Sony Music’s annual CRS celebration on The General Jackson, one of the most talked about events every year.

Country star Sara Evans kicked off festivities for a slew of out of town radio broadcasters. By nights end a list of “A-listers” took the stage including; Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Carrie Underwood, Brooks & Dunn, Miranda Lambert and Bryan Adams.

Kellie Pickler talked about how her grandparents upbringing made her a sucker for classic country before busting into Loretta Lynn’s, You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man).

Miranda was next on the bill. It wasn’t long before she introduced Carrie Underwood, “I have a hot friend that can sing and loves rock ‘n’ roll like me.” The two ladies seemed excited to sing the tune Travelin’ Man.

Carrie stayed on stage for her latest hit, Temporary Home. After her performance, Sony VP of National Promtion, Skip Bishop, presented Carrie with a plaque for 20 million digital transactions. The country cutie made a joke that there should be room for the huge plaque on her ceiling. She was also kind enough to let Skip try on her engagement ring, after pulling up her “self proclaimed hooker boots.”

A portion of the boat ride was spent on a touching dedication to Butch Waugh, who recently retired as Sony Music Nashville Executive Vice President. A montage of Butch’s work, which influenced the careers of countless artists and projects, played on the screens throughout the boat. Waugh was given a trip to Italy for his family as a token of appreciation.

The evening wrapped up with a surprise performance from Bryan Adams. He joined Brooks & Dunn on stage for Summer of 69. Bryan Adams and Brad Paisley coupled up for Cuts Like A Knife and Carrie Underwood joined Adams on stage for Its Only Love.

It was an honor to finally get a seat on the boat. I enjoyed walking back onto land with Bryan Adams by my side and getting a horn toot from Kix Brooks as he sped past us in his fabulous red Lamborghini.

Sadly, no photos were allowed during the performances but I hope to get some trade shots soon. These pics of Miranda being presented a gold plaque for Revolution and Carrie Underwood with a “20 million digital sales” award, were snapped on the boat Thursday night.

On day two of CRS I interviewed more than a dozen artists. Coincidently, many were family members including; Carter’s Chord, Coldwater Jane & The Harters. Trailer Choir was the funnest interview of the day and the most awkward interview was with Burns and Poe. I can’t give to many details, you will have to wait and see the videos on yallwire.com.

The highlight of the day was Sony Music’s luncheon in the CMA Performance Hall. American Idol’s Danny Gokey and country superstar Alan Jackson were among those that performed.

Country duo Brooks & Dunn took the stage to announce that the last show of The Last Rodeo tour will be in Nashville, August 10th and will benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame. Tickets are only $25! The duo is pictured here with Museum Director Kyle Young. After the announcement, the top selling duo sat down for a little Q & A with the radio broadcasters and shared funny stories of their years on the road together.

Alan Jackson entertained the crowd for quite some time after the announcement. He dedicated his first song, Good Time to Brooks & Dunn and joked about the Hall of Fame gesture being a “nice tax break.” He also teased about playing the luncheon for free and ragged on Keith Urban, who acted as a guitar player in his Mercury Blues video. He was a hoot! Check out Keith’s long hair in the video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHEzBdtbQ6k

Later Thursday night, Sony hosted a party on the General Jackson. Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood and Bryan Adams performed on the 3 hour dinner cruise. Good times! Be sure and check back, I’ll have more details in my next post.

Taylor Swift headlined CRS’s 6th Annual Music City Jam at the convention center Tuesday night. Taylor played for a surprisingly small crowd (a couple hundred) in the Entrance Center Hall. In the past, this event has been wall to wall with attendees. However, I didn’t mind the small crowd it made for a better view as she entertained the crowd.

At one point during the show, Taylor popped up on a small stage in the middle of concertgoers. As she walked back to the stage, Taylor showed her appreciation to Country Radio by giving several hugs and offering thanks to those in the crowd.

The top selling artist took multiple opportunities to share her love for country radio. “No matter what size stage you play, don’t forget those who brought you to the dance,” Taylor said with sincere appreciation.

The show was interrupted for a moment as Big Machine Records CEO Scott Borchetta surprised Taylor with an enormous plaque which acknowledged her for selling 10 million albums, having the #1 selling album of the year and for being the biggest selling digital artist in history.

Other highlights from Taylor’s performance included a cover of Justin Timberlake’s What Goes Around Comes Around, while dancing seductively on the piano bench. Before Should’ve Said No, Taylor explained that it was written after a boy cheated on her. Near the end of the song she and another female band mate passionately beat the heck out of a Stomp style drum set.

Julianne Hough (pictured) was one of the guests for the evening. The Dancing With the Stars star was introduced as one of Taylor’s best friends, before taking the mic for two songs.

I thought Taylor put on a good show, with true passion and gratitude toward CRS attendees. I’m still trying to figure out why there wasn’t a strong turnout… thoughts?

The 41st annual CRS is in full swing in downtown Nashville. Today I interviewed more than a dozen artists including; Laura Bell Bundy, Joey & Rory, Josh Gracin and Colt Ford. Laura Bell Bundy was by far the most entertaining of the day, boy does that gal have some energy (and she has given up Red Bull for the past two days). She did a slew of hilarious impersonations for our camera. You’ll have to wait and see the out-takes on yallwire.com.

I also made it over to the UMG luncheon. Gary Allen, Billy Currington, Vince Gill, Julianne Hough, Jamey Johnson, Randy Rogers Band, Sugarland, Josh Turner and Lee Ann Womack were among those that played (pictured). Jamey Johnson got a standing ovation for That’s Why I write Songs. Vince Gill was given a standing O as well and Josh Turner had the crowd laughing when he commented, “I’ve never had this many people open for me!”

I’m off now to catch The Music City Jam featuring Taylor Swift and friends.