Rock and roll invaded Broadway and CMA Fest earlier this month, when Rock Nite held a free concert at JBJ’s Nashville on June 5.
The Rock Nite concert took place in the middle of Broadway during Nashville’s biggest country music festival and was headlined by Cage the Elephant. Music started at 11 a.m. and continued until after 11 that evening.
Fans who wanted to attend Rock Nite had to RSVP in advance. Due to a large number of RSVPs, anybody wishing to attend the all-day concert was told to arrive at JBJ’s as early as possible. Even after the headliner took the stage, fans were hopeful to get into the venue, standing in a line that wrapped around the building.
Feeding off the energy in the venue, Cage The Elephant delivered a highly energetic performance, as they ripped through all of the fan favorites. The free show also allowed the alternative rockers to debut a new single, “Beaches In Tennessee,” that will be released on streaming platforms July 10. The band even made sure to play the song twice during the set list, and some audience members left with a copy of the track on flash drives.
Dexter & The Moonrocks – or as they called themselves, The Turtles – took the stage just before the headliners. In the last year, Dexter & The Moonrocks has seen an increase in popularity, even garnering ample radio play. It was fun to see the Nashville crowd sing along with the band during a fun 30-minute performance.
The Rock Nite concert featured three different stages, including the main stage on the first floor. Additionally, music was taking place on the fourth floor and on the rooftop stages. This all-day concert highlighted the music of several local artists, including up-and-coming artists signed to Big Noise Management.
Music City Magazine arrived at JBJ’s Nashville in the middle of the afternoon and was able to catch several bands on the main stage. Artists in this slideshow include: Cage The Elephant, Dexter & The Moonrocks, Dogpark, Edgehill, Mod Sun, and Letdown.
All in all, Rock Nite provided a great time for all who made it into the venue, and here’s hoping this is the first of many times it crashes CMA Fest.
