Monday, June 10, 2013

Music City Eats

Posted by Erin Wilburn / 1 comment » / festivals, Nashville

If you follow very many food bloggers, especially on instagram & Twitter, you may have seen buzz from two recent food blog conventions.  I’ve been to two food blog conventions myself, BlogHerFood in Atlanta, and a Food Blog Forum here in Nashville.  And I must admit, what I took away the most isn’t what I learned in the seminars & learning sessions.  It was the food eaten and friendships made at social events.  One response I often hear from non-food bloggers is “Oh, I wish I could go to something like that, but I don’t have a food blog!”  Well friends, I’ve got the perfect event for you!  I’m so excited about a new festival coming up in September here in Nashville called Music City Eats.  From their website: “Music City Eats: Nashville Food, Wine & Spirits Festival is the brainchild of Grammy award winning artists (and Nashville residents) Caleb and Nathan Followill of Kings of Leon, world renowned chef Jonathan Waxman, Austin-based C3 Presents — producer of Austin FOOD & WINE Festival, Austin City Limits Music Festival, and Lollapalooza — and Vector Management’s Ken Levitan and Andy Mendelsohn.”

This event is going to be a truly unique Nashville event.  Not only will there lots of glorious food to eat, there will be informative panel discussions, cooking demos, book signings, and musical entertainment.  Local & regional chefs & restaurants will be represented including the nationally acclaimed City House, Etch, Catbird Seat, Merchants, and more.  But this is more than just a celebration of Nashville, as famous chefs from across the country will be coming including John Besh, Tom Colicchio, Giada De Laurentiis, Tim Love, Aaron Sanchez, and more more more!  Seriously, there are too many *power* names to name!  (Go to the Talent page of Music City Eats for the full list.)

Oh, and I mentioned music right?  What else would you expect when the festival is being thrown in part by global rock stars?  Well, you can expect a rockin’ good time at Petty Fest!  From the website: “Petty Fest Nashville is an all-star review of the legendary music of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Celebrating all things Petty, the night will be hosted by the Kings of Leon and the Cabin Down Below Band, along with many other very special guests.”

I’m so excited an event of this stature is coming to Nashville.  If you love food, love to cook, love to eat, you truly MUST come!  Don’t think this is an event for Nashvillians only.  Nathan and I are already arranging a babysitter so we can enjoy ourselves all weekend.  (No one under the age of 21 is permitted, including infants & children in child carriers.)  The Nashville group of food bloggers & food enthusiasts is a great group and I look forward to seeing all my local friends attend.  But, I would LOVE to see & meet my out of town food friends, readers, & followers as well!

The full schedule of events & lineups have not been announced, but tickets are already on sale now.