With a nickname like Music City, we know our visitors expect to hear the best music during our Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th event. We get to celebrate in Nashville in 2025 with Dierks Bentley, Russell Dickerson, Niko Moon, Grace Bowers, Keesha Rainey, and more.
Dierks Bentley
After more than 20 years on country’s family tree, Dierks Bentley celebrates the outliers of small-town life – and of country music – with his 11th studio album BROKEN BRANCHES (Capitol Records Nashville) set for release June 13. Whittling down his essential sound to its rooted and most resolute, the 11 songs embrace unruly characters wherever they’re found, ultimately adding beauty to the whole. A proud broken branch in his own right, the multi-Platinum superstar’s current Top 30 “She Hates Me” is quickly climbing the charts following eight Number One albums, 22 Number One songs and over nine billion global streams – plus 15 Grammy nominations and membership in the historic Grand Ole Opry. A global headliner and against-the-grain torch bearer for country’s organic roots, Bentley will launch his 30-city Broken Branches Tour on May 29 with Zach Top and The Band Loula. Continuing the path built from the ground up, as an entrepreneur, he has opened four locations of the gastropub and live music venue “Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row,” has a Flag & Anthem lifestyle collection “Desert Son” and recently released ROW 94 – a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey crafted with only “three ingredients and the truth” at Kentucky’s Green River Distilling Co. dierks.com.
Russell Dickerson
Multi-platinum artist and all-in performer Russell Dickerson made a name for himself as an “ace songwriter” (Billboard) full of “unstoppable energy fans can’t get enough of” (E! News). After bursting onto the scene, the Tennessee native quickly stood out by releasing four consecutive career-launching singles that each reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. Since then, Dickerson has earned platinum or multi-platinum status on hits like “Yours” (3X Platinum), “Blue Tacoma” (2X Platinum), “Every Little Thing” (Platinum), “Love You Like I Used To” (Platinum), and “She Likes It” ft. Jake Scott (2X Platinum). In 2023, he scored his fifth No. 1 hit with “God Gave Me A Girl,” followed by the release of “Good Day to Have a Great Day,” “Bones” and his latest single “Happen To Me,” which marked the biggest debut of his career, notching over 9 million global streams in the first week. Known for his electric performances, Dickerson will hit the road this year on the RussellMania Tour 2025, extending into amphitheaters this summer and fall, with direct support from Jake Scott and Niko Moon on select dates. russelldickerson.com
Niko Moon
Niko Moon has established himself as one of country music’s most exciting and dynamic new voices. He first gained recognition as a co-writer for the Zac Brown Band, contributing to hits like “Homegrown,” “Beautiful Drug” and “Loving You Easy.” He has also written songs for other major artists, including Morgan Wallen and HARDY. In 2020, Moon broke out as a solo artist with his multi-platinum single “Good Time,” which topped the country charts and became an anthem for good vibes. Following his These Are the Days EP earlier this year, Moon recently released his highly anticipated These Are the Nights EP, a four-song collection that reflects the magic of life’s simple joys and the energy of life on tour. Tracks like “Money Can’t Buy” and “Summer Don’t Go” highlight Moon’s signature blend of positivity, storytelling and feel-good sound. Most recently, he released “I Love This Beach,” a sun-soaked, coastal-inspired single already being embraced as the anthem of summer 2025. Known for his high-energy live performances, Moon continues to tour the country with his These Are the Nights Tour, delivering unforgettable experiences for fans nationwide. Off stage, Moon and his wife, Anna, co-founded the Happy Cowboy Foundation, which supports mental health initiatives and addiction recovery programs. Niko is also the founder of Happy Himalayan, a premium artesian water brand infused with pink Himalayan sea salt, designed to promote health, wellness, and hydration. Through his foundation, water brand, and music, Moon aims to inspire others to prioritize well-being and positivity. nikomoon.com.
Grace Bowers
Grace Bowers is an 18-year-old, award-winning guitarist, songwriter and bandleader who is undisputedly on a meteoric rise with buzz reaching fever pitch around the independent release of her debut album, Wine On Venus. Produced by John Osborne (Brothers Osborne), Wine On Venus garnered widespread acclaim. Forbes praised it as, “an infectious, joyous party,” and Rolling Stone called Bowers “Nashville’s new guitar hero.” Bowers cut her teeth playing in dive bars, inspired by the blues of B.B. King as well as the soulful funk of Sly And The Family Stone. Her breakout moment came when videos of her playing guitar on social media went viral during the pandemic. She has since become one of the most in-demand and celebrated young guitarists and an inspiration to a whole new generation of female guitarists around the world. Bowers recently performed with Peter Frampton and Trey Anastasio for Love Rocks NYC at the Beacon Theater and at the 67th GRAMMY Awards with Chris Martin (Coldplay). She was awarded the Variety Next Gen award at their annual Hitmakers event in Los Angeles. She also made her late-night television debut on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” was featured on “CBS Mornings” and NPR’s “All Things Considered,” and toured this past fall with The Red Clay Strays, The Allman Betts Family Revival and The Roots. She is currently on tour supporting Gary Clark Jr. Bowers won Instrumentalist of the Year at the 2024 Americana Music Association Honors & Awards, made her Grand Ole Opry debut on her 18th birthday, and was named a U.S. Global Music Ambassador by the U.S. Department of State and YouTube’s Global Music Diplomacy Initiative. She also performed alongside Dolly Parton on CBS, joined Lainey Wilson as part of CBS’ New Year’s Eve Live celebration, and been sought after by everyone from Tyler Childers and Susan Tedeschi to Kingfish. This past summer she joined Slash and Brothers Osborne on the road and performed alongside Billy Idol at the Fired Up For Summer benefit concert. She is perhaps most proud of raising $30,000 with her Second Annual “Grace Bowers & Friends: An Evening Supporting Love, Life & Music” benefit show, $15,000 of which was donated to MusiCares®. gracebowers.com
WALKER MONTGOMERY
Chosen as an “Artist to Watch” by Country Now, Music Mayhem Magazine, Sounds Like Nashville, The Boot and others, Walker Montgomery knows a thing or two about family tradition, but is also striving to build his own legacy. As the son of John Michael Montgomery and nephew of Montgomery Gentry’s Eddie Montgomery, he was raised away from the spotlight in Nicholasville, KY, but moved to Nashville and is carving a path all his own on today’s country scene. Walker made his Grand Ole Opry debut late last year and his pedigree is matched only by his passion for real country music, and he’s already put his classically inspired, honey-bourbon vocal to use on a self-penned debut hit, “Simple Town,” with over seven million global streams. His romantic power-ballad, “She Don’t Know,” featured on the 2022 Rust EP has garnered the new artist a staggering 40 million streams worldwide, in addition to his other story-building singles, the high-energy “Out of Nowhere” and good-time filled “Bad Day to be a Beer.” Montgomery has previously released singles from his EP Work to Do, the title track, “Lonely for A Livin,’” “Tired of You” and “Never Again One More Time,” as well as a collaboration version of “Never Again One More Time,” with Randy Rogers. Walker’s previous single, “I Love The Way You Love Me” has garnered more than 35 million views on his TikTok page. His latest release “Never Had You Anyway” is quickly gaining steam and is available everywhere now. walkermontgomery.com
THE NASHVILLE SOUL EXPERIENCE
The Nashville Soul Experience is a group of touring and studio veterans who have worked with the likes of Zac Brown Band, Gladys Knight, Lyle Lovett, CeCe Winans, Keb’ Mo’, Taj Mahal, Jonny Lang and countless others. Their blend of classic and contemporary soul music is guaranteed to take listeners right down memory lane to the middle of the dance floor.
ALICIA BLUE
Americana-Country artist Alicia Blue began her songwriting journey in 2016 after performing at her first open mic. One of her early songs, “Magma,” found national exposure through Starbucks stores and Spotify playlists. In 2021, she spent time in Nashville collaborating with notable singer-songwriters, eventually making the move to Music City. In 2024, Blue released “Tennessee,” a duet with legendary artist Lucinda Williams. Earlier this year, she performed as part of a multi-genre lineup at the inaugural 615 Indie Live, an event produced by the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp to support and celebrate independent music venues and local artists. aliciablue.com
KIRWIN THE BAND
KIRWAN the band is husband-and-wife duo Colm and Caitriona Kirwan (pronounced column and Katrina). Hailing from Northern Ireland, they now live south of Nashville. Caitriona won a major songwriting competition to win a trip to Nashville, and in 2015 she opened for the legendary Van Morrison. Colm toured with iconic Country star Don Williams for three years. Their genre-bending music is influenced by Country, pop and Americana. kirwantheband.com
LES KERR AND THE BAYOU BAND
Les Kerr and the Bayou Band bring blues, bluegrass, Zydeco, rock and Cajun music together to create their “Hillbilly Blues Caribbean Rock & Roll,” an upbeat combination that follows the bandleader’s influences from his native Gulf Coast to Music City. A fixture in the Nashville music scene for decades, the group has performed at many festivals and has headlined annual Mardi Gras celebrations at Nashville’s famed Bluebird Cafe since 1992. Other performance venues for the group have included Nashville’s official Independence Day celebration, the Grand Ole Opry House, the Country Music Hall of Fame, Southern Festival of Books and events for the Nashville Predators and the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament. This year marks the release of Kerr’s 12th album, Child of Highway Ninety. leskerr.com
KEESHA RAINEY
Keesha Rainey was born and raised in Nashville and is a nationally known singer-songwriter with powerful vocals, high energy, edginess, and signature red hair. She has recorded and released two gospel albums and singles and currently serves as Minister of Music and Worship Leader for her local church. She performs the National Anthem for multiple professional and college sports teams, including the Nashville Predators, Nashville Soccer Club and Vanderbilt University.
NASHVILLE SYMPHONY
Led by Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero, the Nashville Symphony inspires and engages a diverse and growing community with extraordinary live orchestral music experiences. Since its founding in Music City in 1946, the Nashville Symphony has been celebrated for its dedication to contemporary American orchestral music, innovative programming across multiple genres, and a prolific recording schedule that has produced 14 GRAMMY® Awards and 27 nominations. More than 40,000 students and adults have access to 20 free education and community programs each year. Learn more about free and low-cost educational programs and initiatives at nashvillesymphony.org.
