NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Bluebird on the Mountain concert series will conclude its successful second year at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory with a show featuring Tim Nichols, Rivers Rutherford and Rebecca Lynn Howard.
Gates will open at 6 p.m. Advance tickets are available through Ticketmaster, which will add a handling fee. Tickets are limited, and past performances have sold out prior to the day of the show. The concert will be held rain or shine.
Nichols has scored several No. 1 hits since the 1980s, including the recent smash by Tim McGraw, “Live Like You Were Dying,” which set a record of 10 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Radio and Records chart. Nichols and co-writer Craig Wiseman also became New York Times best-selling authors due to the success of their companion book by the same title.
Nichols has reached the top with several other artists, including Trace Adkins‘ first No. 1 song “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing,” Keith Whitley (“I’m Over You” and “Brotherly Love”), Terri Clark (“Girls Lie Too” and “I Wanna Do It All”) and Lee Ann Womack (“I’ll Think of a Reason Later”).
Rutherford, a native of Memphis, received ASCAP’s Song of the Year award for Brooks & Dunn‘s “Ain’t Nothin’ ‘Bout You,” and recently garnered his fourth No. 1 hit for co-writing “Homewrecker!” by Gretchen Wilson. His song “She Don’t Tell Me To” will be included in Montgomery Gentry‘s “Greatest Hits” CD set for release in November.
Rutherford also wrote Chely Wright‘s breakthrough single “Shut Up and Drive,” “Real Good Man” by McGraw and “When the Lights Go Down” by Faith Hill. Other artists who have recorded Rutherford’s songs include Randy Travis, Gary Allan, Trick Pony, Blake Shelton, Andy Griggs and Josh Gracin.
Howard began her career at age 17 when she moved to Nashville. Now 26, the Salyersville, Ky., native recorded “Softly and Tenderly” for the soundtrack of the 1997 movie The Apostle, and has released two albums, her self-titled debut in 2000 and Forgive in 2002.
Artists who have recorded songs written by Howard include Reba McEntire, John Michael Montgomery, Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood and Lila McCann. Howard also has provided vocals on several notable albums, including Dolly Parton‘s Little Sparrow, Loveless’ Strong Heart and pianist Jim Brickman‘s Simple Things.
Bluebird on the Mountain presents artists from the stage of Nashville’s renowned Bluebird Café singing on scenic observatory grounds overlooking the city. The series is booked by Amy Kurland, founder and owner of the Bluebird Café.
Tickets are available in advance for $55 per carload or at the door for $65. Cars may contain a maximum of eight people and no RV’s or buses will be admitted. Single tickets cost $17.50 in advance and $25 at the door. Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs and pack a picnic basket.
After the show, concertgoers are encouraged to gaze at the heavens using the observatory’s Seyfert telescope.
Dyer Observatory is located at 1000 Oman Drive, off Granny White Pike between Old Hickory Boulevard and Otter Creek Road, near Radnor Lake. A map is available at www.dyer.vanderbilt.edu/directions.htm.
Media contact:
Todd Vessel, (615) 322-NEWS
todd.vessel@vanderbilt.edu