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Axios Nashville
Nashville's downtown library to reopen
The downtown branch of the Nashville library will reopen on Saturday after being closed since August for routine maintenance.Driving the news: The library was closed primarily so work could be done on the building's heating and cooling system.State of play: The library announced trees in the Robinson courtyard had to be destroyed because their roots were causing possible structural issues for the building.The library is working with a landscape architect to come up with a plan for the future of the courtyard.
New Nashville music festival will spotlight indie venues in 2025
An all-day festival celebrating Nashville's independent music venues will take place next year on Feb. 1.The big picture: The festival, called 615 Indie Live, will feature local artists performing at 13 independent venues across the city.615 Indie Live is a partnership between the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. and the Music Venue Alliance Nashville, which is a collaboration of independently owned and operated venues.State of play: In a census conducted earlier this year, music industry stakeholders called for more partnerships that boost Nashville's creative community.The new festival comes at a time when independent music venues have been suffering due to corporate competition and Nashville's exorbitant real estate costs.What she's saying: "Independent music venues are the heart and soul of Music City, providing a stage for new artists across diverse genres to showcase their talent and be discovered," Convention and Visitors Corp. president and CEO Deana Ivey said in a press release.What's next: The artist lineup will be unveiled in the coming weeks, organizers said.The presale is underway. An event pass costs $15.Nate's thought bubble: 615 Indie Live sounds a lot like the fantastic former festival Next Big Nashville, which brought an eclectic mix of local artists together.
First look: New poll tests public's view of Nashville police
A strong majority of residents feel safe in Nashville and give high marks to police chief John Drake and the Metro Nashville Police Department overall, according to a new poll.Yes, but: Nashvillians also feel less safe than they did five years ago, the poll found.Why it matters: Police funding and public safety strategies are pervasive issues in Nashville.The big picture: The poll is one of the first major projects by a new nonprofit called the Nashville Police + Public Safety Alliance.The organization, which is led by former top YWCA executive Patricia Glaser Shea, hopes to build community partnerships to improve...
Nashville's Dead End Records specializes in metal, punk vinyl
A new record shop in the Germantown neighborhood is turning the volume up to 11 on Nashville's vinyl scene.Why it matters: Dead End Records specializes in vinyl albums by metal, punk and loud rock bands. Nashville is a vinyl-enthused town with several successful shops, but Dead End is a rare niche shop that focuses on a specific genre.The shop sells bumper stickers that brag, "No, we don't carry Taylor Swift."Driving the news: Ironically, the shop is located on Taylor Street in a collective of art galleries and retail shops near the Bearded Iris brewery.Dead End Records, which opened in July,...
New group wants to bring NWSL club to Nashville
A group of investors led by powerhouse pro baseball agent Lonnie Murray is working to bring a National Women's Soccer League franchise to Nashville.Why it matters: Nashville has invested billions of dollars in pro sports, but the city is not home to a major league women's team.Between the lines: Murray shared details about HerGame Nashville, which recently went public, in interviews with the Nashville Business Journal and Nashville Banner.The NWSL is expected to announce its next expansion franchise in the coming months. HerGame Nashville has the backing of Mayor Freddie O'Connell and Nashville SC lead owner John Ingram.If Nashville wins...
Metro works to launch the Office of Youth Safety
Two recent shootings underscored the urgency for city leaders to address the issue of youth safety. Driving the news: Police say a 14-year-old shot and killed another 14-year-old during an attempted robbery in East Nashville last week. The city is still reeling from the mass shooting earlier this month on...
Nashville leaders push to make greenways safer
A Tennessee lawmaker is urging Nashville police to ramp up their efforts to combat "safety problems besetting Nashville's greenways and parks" following the shooting death of a woman on the Mill Creek Greenway last week.Why it matters: The high-profile homicide case horrified the city and spurred conversations about safety concerns that residents face in public spaces.Tennessee House Rep. Jason Powell said the tragedy is indicative of a widespread problem. In a Monday letter, he called on city leaders to take urgent action.State of play: Alyssa Lokits, 34, was exercising on the Mill Creek Greenway at 5:30pm on Oct. 14 when...
Nashville could see a warmer winter this year
Compared to 1991-2020 averages; Data: NWS; Map: Axios VisualsNashville could be in for a winter that is warmer than usual, according to the annual NOAA winter outlook released last week.Why it matters: The more mild conditions favored in Tennessee and throughout the Southeast follow long-term trends of warmer winters. Between the lines: NOAA's climate outlooks are probabilistic, which means they communicate the odds of a particular outcome, rather than predicting definitive conditions.Zoom in: The outlook calls for a weak La Niña event this winter. La Niña is an ocean and atmosphere cycle in the tropical Pacific Ocean. It can influence...
Republicans and Democrats are on both sides of Nashville transportation proposal
Strange political bedfellows lined up for and against Mayor Freddie O'Connell's $3.1 billion transportation funding plan in recent days. Why it matters: O'Connell's ballot measure seems to have the backing of Nashville's political establishment, but there have been some notable defections. The latest: Former Gov. Bill Haslam, a Republican, is...
Songwriter Liz Rose, a Taylor Swift collaborator, holds surprise concert on Southwest flight
Celebrated Nashville songwriter Liz Rose headed to Miami to watch her frequent collaborator Taylor Swift perform in The Eras Tour over the weekend.Rose's Southwest flight to Florida became a surprise concert for the Swifties on board.What happened: Rose serenaded passengers on Flight 1989 from Nashville to Miami on Thursday with renditions of "All Too Well" and "You Belong with Me," two of the megahits she co-wrote with Swift.She sang on microphone near the cockpit and brought a guitarist along for accompaniment. They both wore merch from The Bluebird Cafe.It was the 100th concert in Southwest's Live at 35 program that presents live music performances onboard at 35,000 feet. The intrigue: Passengers got friendship bracelets made by Southwest employees.💭 Adam's thought bubble: Rose was a fixture on many of Swift's early country hits, including "Tim McGraw," "Teardrops on My Guitar" and "White Horse." She played a vital role in helping a teenage Swift refine her voice as a writer, and Swifties are all better for it.My dearest Taylor-related dream is that she and Rose reunite for more collaborations somewhere down the road.
Dave Matthews Band's Jeff Coffin reflects on Rock Hall induction
Jeff Coffin has a lot of jobs.The Nashville-based saxophonist is a longtime member of the Dave Matthews Band. But his resume also includes work as a bandleader, a composer, an instructor at Vanderbilt University and the head of his own independent label.Why it matters: After decades as a working musician, Coffin and the rest of DMB will receive one of the music industry's highest honors this weekend when they are inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.Coffin is still reeling from the news."I just wanted to play music," Coffin tells Axios. "And this is where the path has...
Blackburn and Johnson air new ads in Senate race
As the Tennessee Senate battle entered the home stretch, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn dropped a new ad touting her tough stance on China while state Rep. Gloria Johnson made a play for moderate voters.State of play: Blackburn, the incumbent Republican, enjoys a fundraising advantage over Johnson.Her new ad "Breaking China" highlights her hardline stance on issues related to the top U.S. rival.In the ad, Blackburn is seen smashing plates illustrated with the Chinese flag. "China stole our jobs, sent us a virus. They're buying up our land and spying on us," Blackburn says. "We're gonna have to break a lot more 'china' to save America."The other side: As a state lawmaker, Johnson has carved out a reputation as a progressive champion.In her new ad called "TN not DC," Johnson touts herself as a gun owner who fought for low taxes. She calls herself a teacher, not a politician.
Settlement in Swan Ball lawsuit is "imminent"
The legal battle over the high-society Swan Ball fundraiser could be close to an end, as the event's upper-crust boosters and Cheekwood Estate and Gardens say they are finalizing a settlement deal.Why it matters: Cheekwood, which has hosted and benefitted from white-tie gala since its inception in the 1960s, has been at odds with a group of volunteers who organize the annual fundraising event for months.Both sides said they should be able to control the Swan Ball name. Their dispute boiled over into a federal lawsuit in July.Zoom out: Cheekwood argued that the volunteer organizers had not managed funds properly while the volunteers said the botanical garden was overreaching into the planning and finances of their event.Last month, a federal judge declined Cheekwood's request to stop the organizers from hosting the Swan Ball at a different location.The latest: In a joint court filing this week, both sides said they were "working to finalize a written agreement and anticipate imminent settlement of this matter."No details about the settlement agreement have been made public yet.
Mapped: When and where to see peak fall foliage in 2024
Fall is finally in full force. What's happening: Temperatures are getting frostier, flannel is getting cozier and leaves are beginning to get prettier. State of play: Trees around the city are starting to show flashes of yellow, and experts expect the peak beauty of the season is just around the corner.
O'Connell administration studies historic zoning improvements
A study of historic zoning regulations is underway in Nashville as leaders seek to satisfy preservationists, neighborhoods and downtown honky-tonk owners. The big picture: Downtown honky-tonk owners pursued state legislation earlier this year that would have watered down historic zoning protections in Nashville. The legislation, backed by the Broadway Entertainment...
Your 2024 Nashville election guide
Nashville voters can now cast their ballots for the Nov. 5 election, which includes races that touch every level of government.Why it matters: In addition to the presidential race, which is sure to draw crowds, voters will decide on a sweeping overhaul of the city's transportation system. Other races will determine Middle Tennessee's representatives in Congress and at the state Capitol.How to vote⏲️ Early voting begins Oct. 16 and lasts through Oct. 31. In Nashville, voters can cast a ballot at any of the 13 early voting locations around the city. Be sure to check the list, as some locations...
Most Americans think democracy is in danger, per new Vanderbilt poll
More than 50% of Americans think our democracy is "under attack" in the run-up to the Nov. 5 election, according to a new poll from the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy. Why it matters: The poll is the latest indication of the anxious mood of the electorate in...
Former Tennessee Titan Derrick Henry is still the king
To make the Titans' lousy start to the season even more painful, former Tennessee star Derrick Henry is dominating for the Baltimore Ravens. Why it matters: Henry's contract with Baltimore is less expensive than the deal the Titans gave his replacement. Flashback: The Ravens signed Henry during this past offseason...
Tennessee is close to releasing a new execution protocol, official says
Prison officials have almost finished crafting a new protocol for lethal injections, the state's correction commissioner told lawmakers this month.Why it matters: Tennessee is inching closer to resuming executions after a hiatus of more than two years.The big picture: Gov. Bill Lee stopped an execution by lethal injection an hour before it was set to take place in April 2022 after prison staff failed to conduct required testing of the chemicals that were to be used. Experts say proper testing confirms the drugs will be effective and safeguards against unconstitutional cruel and unusual punishment.Lee paused executions for an independent review,...
Charted: How Nashville home prices skyrocketed over time
Data: Redfin; Chart: Axios VisualsNashville home prices stayed steady during the summer months, as we told you last week, but the long-term trend is much different.Why it matters: Home prices have skyrocketed over the last five years. It's a vivid illustration of how the city's affordable housing crisis developed in real time.By the numbers: The median home in the Nashville area sold for $301,400 in July 2019, according to data collected by Redfin.Five years later, that figure had jumped by more than 53%, to $462,500.The big picture: While mortgage rates have ticked down, high home prices and low inventory continue to sideline many shoppers nationwide.Reality check: Realtor.com chief economist Danielle Hale tells Axios she isn't expecting rates to dip below 6% this year, even though the Federal Reserve has previewed further cuts.
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