Harken Hall is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Grassroots & Nudie Suits Music and Arts Festival set for Saturday, September 12, in partnership with the Madison-Rivergate Area Chamber of Commerce. Created to celebrate Madison’s deep roots in Americana music and its thriving creative community, this event will honor the past while looking toward the future in Madison. The all-day festival will showcase live music, local art, heritage crafts, activities, food, and more with something for everyone.

The concerts at Harken Hall will kick off at 7:00 p.m., featuring Carlene Carter, the daughter of June Carter Cash and legendary country star Carl Smith, and stepdaughter of Johnny Cash. She describes herself as “Carter Girl,” as did her mother, grandmother and maternal aunts. She started her singing career with The Carter Family while still a teen. While in her 20’s, she released her self-titled debut album recorded in England with Graham Parker’s band The Rumour and an ocean away from her Tennessee roots.

In keeping with the Americana genre of music, Oliver Wood has been the frontman of The Wood Brothers since 2004. His music blurs the boundaries between folk, gospel, country-soul, and Americana, which has earned him an international audience and a GRAMMY Award nomination. His debut solo album “Always Smilin’,” and follow-up “Fat Cat Silhouette” result in a collection that evokes the swagger of a Saturday evening picking party one moment and the solemnity of a Sunday morning gospel service the next.

“Sometimes you gotta write the songs you need to hear,” musician, actor and author Lola Kirke says of the title track of her new album Trailblazer. Kirke is said to get a laugh while tugging on your heartstrings. It’s the unique gift that helped her sell out historic venues like New York’s Bowery Ballroom and West Hollywood’s iconic Troubadour.

“Madison has been a cultural hub for decades, and we’re proud Harken Hall can bring Americana music back to the community,” said Harken Hall President Jamie Amos. “Grassroots

and Nudie Suits is a special way to bring our neighbors together, including newcomers as well as long-time residents.”

Named for its dual inspiration, “Grassroots” is in reference to the area’s bluegrass and musical history and community pride, while “Nudie Suits” pays tribute to the iconic, rhinestone-studded outfits once worn by country legends like Hank Snow and Patsy Cline, who lived in Madison. With Nudie-style suits becoming popular again with artists like Orville Peck, Post Malone and Lil Nas X, this festival will continue to put a spotlight on Madison.

The festival’s anchor location, Amqui Station, was saved by Johnny Cash in 1979 and became a community center after its restoration in 2010. The nearby Harken Hall is a signature venue, with it being only the second building in the Nashville area built specifically for musical acoustics. These two locations for the festival make the area the perfect place to bring the community together.