Blogs

So yeah, I was there, and I'm pretty sure I was supposed to blog once or twice (as Kim and Brandon both did) but there just didn't seem to be enough hours in the day!  I was wearing two hats for the week...one of youth group leader and one of festival photographer.  I was thankful Kim and Brandon were there to cover the press tent.  I know they sat in on some outstanding press conferences, and for the most part I was intensely jealous of the time they got to spend in there, hanging out with the likes of Leeland, David Crowder, and Switchfoot (um...I actually made it to switchfoot's conferen

So…I definitely just walked out of the same room as Amy Grant.  She was a special guest this year at Creations 30th anniversary.   Being that I am only 20, I am not very familiar with her, but have heard much about her, and I know the status she holds in the music industry. I am really thankful to have the opportunity to sit and listen in on that press conference.  Hawk Nelson was also a part of that particular press conference.  Amy and Hawk Nelson recently collaborated a song together, which I am curious to hear.

So, it’s Thursday night as I sit here listening to David Crowder in the background (his worship is amazing) in Kim’s car… which she has dubbed our makeshift reporting studio.

I arrived with two of my friends Tuesday night at about 11pm. Let me tell you… constructing a seven-man tent with a mere flashlight is quite the task. Luckily, my friend Tanya whom I was with has had many years’ experience in Girl Scouts, so she did most of the grunt work. But we now have a stable tent to sleep in, and hopefully it will hold up to the heavy rain they are calling for.

[img_assist|nid=730|title=David VS. David|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=170|height=180]Yes... I am one of those people. The 'Idol' addict who watches their contestant of choice recieve words of wisdom from Simon Cowell on Tuesdays, and who bites their nails praying that the same contestant does not get the axe on the Wednesdays follow up episode. 

[img_assist|nid=707|title=|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=174|height=254]Live music at GMA Music week is in abundance each year. Record label showcases, songwriter events, evenings of worship, and more grace the ballrooms of the hotels and clubs big and small all around Nashville. I learned from my first time at GMA week not to ignore all of the postcards and flyers being handed out around town, otherwise you may miss a good showcase. While many showcases are listed online and in the GMA materials, many are not.

Our Tuesday in Music City started with some Artist interviews. We here at InReview researched some fresh tunes and will be bringing you exclusive one-on-one interviews with emerging bands such as After Edmund, The Washington Projects, and Article One in the coming days. Here's a quick photo of Kim and "The Washington Projects" after our interview this afternoon:

You may not be aware that anyone could place votes for the GMA awards each year - anyone who is a member of the Gospel Music Association, that is. As I voted this year, I took down notes on the reason behind my decision in certain categories. I also pondered how many of the artists whom I cast a vote would make it to the second round as the nominee list shrunk. Read on to see how I voted. Then watch the awards ceremony on the Gospel Music Channel on April 23rd live from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN.

[img_assist|nid=683|title=|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=250|height=166]Greetings inReview readers, this is Luke S., guest reporter and photographer for the 2008 Gospel Music Week in Nashville, Tenn. InReview veteran and music junkie extraordinaire Kim is with me in Nashville and we are working together to bring you a different approach to the GMA's.