Online review by Lonesome Highway
Plans changed however when word spread that Cale Tyson was hosting an end of festival celebration at The American Legion joined by an array of artists who had performed over the past week. Due to join the party were Aaron Lee Tasjan (no surprise), Nikki Lane, Jonathan Tyler, Molly Parton, Robyn Hitchcock, Emma Swift, Jamie Wyatt and Erin Rae and with such an impressive list is was decided to defer The Time Jumpers until another year. The American Legion, situated at 318 Donelson Pike East Nashville, is a private members club which hosts events from time to time to raise funds for the maintenance and upkeep of the complex. It’s like a workman’s club in by gone times and punters are required to sign in at the venue prior to admission. If features a hall which was still decorated from previous functions including a mirror ball and happy birthday balloons which may very well have been located at ceiling level for quite a while. A separate bar is situated the entrance door where old timers very busy playing cards and drinking beers. In the hall the stage has been decorated by Cale Tyson and his team and to our delight included not one but two steel pedal guitars on stage.

The format for the evening sees Tyson invite the various guest to the stage where they each perform one song, all covers and mostly standards, well known to all present. Tyson’s band includes his regular steel player Brett Resnick and an equally talented group of players. It’s a wonderful evening, relaxed and the perfect end to a wonderful festival.

What follows could not be script written by the writer. Lonesome Highway has been unapologetically raving about both the album and live shows by the hottest name in Nashville this year which is Margo Price. During a break between artists I slipped out to the near empty bar to arrange refreshments and fate would have it Margo and her husband Jeremy were sitting at the bar. She had just arrived at the venue to make special guest appearance having been on stage with Emmylou Harris and Steve Earle at a recording of Skyville Live just minutes earlier. Having had the pleasure of meeting the charming young lady after her show in Manchester in September it was a fitting end to the whole adventure to have another chance to encourage her and her husband to visit and play Ireland in 2017. A lasting memory for me as I lifted my drinks from the counter was her engagement with the lady serving the drinks who must have been in her eighties. Price gently whispered “Mam I got to sing on stage tonight with one of my all-time heroes Emmylou Harris”. To which the smiling barmaid replied with a slow southern drawl and holding Price’s hand “Honey, you’re a big star now.” You couldn’t make it up!

Minutes later Price was on stage belting out Guy Clark’s Rita Ballou in fine style. The evening finished with all the artists on stage closing the set with a rousing Goodnight Irene.