The United is launching an exciting new initiative, “Nashville North,” which aims to bring together entertainment, education, and economic development in a unique way. This initiative will help create a strong and growing link between Nashville, known as “Music City,” and Westerly. As part of this, The United will collaborate with Nashville’s famed Bluebird Cafe and the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, home to the Taylor Swift Education Center.
The Bluebird Cafe, renowned for discovering artists like Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks, and Faith Hill, has earned international recognition. It’s famous for its intimate “In The Round” performances, where songwriters share the stories behind their songs. The Bluebird has expanded its reach beyond Nashville, bringing performances to places like Santa Fe, NM, Sundance, UT, and even London, UK.
Scott Swift, a financial advisor and entrepreneur, is credited with the vision to connect Westerly with Nashville’s music scene. His strong ties to both communities helped spark this collaboration. Callahan, a spokesperson for The United, expressed gratitude to Swift for initiating this partnership, which will merge Nashville’s rich songwriting tradition with Westerly’s own musical heritage.
This fall, the Bluebird Cafe will bring Nashville’s singer-songwriters to Westerly, presenting performances in the same intimate style that made the venue famous. “We’re excited to offer this unique experience to New England, starting this fall and continuing quarterly,” said Tony Nunes, Artistic Director at The United. “This series will give audiences a rare opportunity to hear the stories behind the music, offering a deep dive into the creative process of some of Nashville’s most respected songwriters.”
The United Music School (UMS) is also partnering with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Words & Music® program. UMS educators recently attended a one-day teacher training at the Museum to learn how to incorporate the Words & Music curriculum into their After School Arts program. This free initiative, aimed at middle school students, helps kids build language arts skills and confidence by creating original song lyrics. The students will then work with a Nashville-based songwriter to transform their lyrics into fully developed songs through an interactive workshop.
Adding to the connection between Nashville and Westerly, Southwest Airlines is launching a new direct route between Nashville and Providence, R.I., on Tuesday, April 8. Southwest has been a long-time partner of the Bluebird Cafe and has served both Nashville and Providence for nearly 40 years. To celebrate the new nonstop flight, The United will host a special pop-up performance at T.F. Green Airport.
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