Features
Breaking Barriers: How Middle Tennessee women are reshaping male-dominated tattoo industry
Photo courtesy of unsplash.com Story by Allison Borrell / Contributing Writer The tattoo industry has long been a male-dominated field, but women across the country and in Nashville have been reshaping it over the past decade. To fully understand the role of women in the tattoo industry, we have to go back to the early …
Simply Pure Sweets bakery gives young entrepreneur, world class chef her spark back
Photos and story by Jeffrey Harrell/ Contributing writer “Ding, ding,” the timer sounds, signaling the first batch of blueberry muffins are done. Chantell Kennedy-Shehan resets her timer for another batch. She has two more before she switches to cinnamon rolls. Her iPhone dings again, this time to tell her it’s 5:30 a.m., an hour before …
House Shows: Murfreesboro’s DIY scene keeps independent music alive
Photo by Olivia Ladd Hiding away in the basements, living rooms and backyards of Murfreesboro rental homes is one of the most progressive, tight-knit yet expansive artist communities in the country: the Murfreesboro house show scene. A house show is exactly what it sounds like: a show held in a house. A typical house show …
SLF 2016: Author Ann Patchett on her inspirations and journey
“I didn’t want short stories; I wanted to write a novel,” said award-winning novelist Ann Patchett, the keynote speaker for this year’s Southern Literary Festival. Speaking to the crowded Student Union Ballroom, the Nashville author detailed her personal journey as a writer, from her inspirations, to how she ended up speaking at so many university convocations. People …
SLF 2016: Songwriter Nathan Bell on characters, propaganda and Taylor Swift
With his straightforward lyrics and everyman persona — the kind of guy who wrinkles every shirt he puts on — Nathan Bell is an accomplished Iowa songwriter, relocated to the Volunteer State in 1991. Whether he’s singing about wars, marriage equality, or working in America, the subject of his latest album, I Don’t Do This for …
Mayday’s Mantra: ‘Love the people, love the beer’
Photo by Meagan White // Staff Photographer In the far end of an old warehouse on Old Salem Road resides an artsy chaos of fresh suds and live music. Opening the door to Mayday Brewery reveals to you a wacky black-and-white painted path that leads you past art-smattered walls and large windows looking into the …