Plus: Indie music fest returns | Wednesday, August 27, 2025
 
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Axios Nashville
By Nate Rau and Adam Tamburin · Aug 27, 2025

Happy Wednesday. In case you were wondering, Adam defeated Nate in the office Taylor Swift engagement pool.

This newsletter is 984 words — a 3.5-minute read.

 
 
1 big thing: 615 Indie Live festival returning in 2026
 
The 615 Indie Live logo

Image: courtesy of 615 Indie Live

 

The 615 Indie Live music festival, which celebrates Nashville's independent venues, will return for its second event early next year.

Why it matters: Coming back for a second festival signals the first year was a success.

Zoom in: 615 Indie Live pairs Nashville artists with independently owned and operated music venues across the city.

  • The all-day festival is a partnership between the Music Venue Alliance Nashville and the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp.

Flashback: At the inaugural event in February, 60 artists across many genres performed at 14 venues, including Dee's Country Lounge in Madison and Rudy's Jazz Room downtown.

By the numbers: More than 2,200 tickets were sold to this year's event, which raised $35,000 for MVAN.

The big picture: 615 Indie Live's return coincides with a gritty time in the music business for independent venues. Rising real estate costs make lease payments expensive and profit margins thin.

  • Corporate giants Live Nation and AEG have invested heavily in Nashville, putting independent venues in underdog status.
  • 615 Indie Live strategically chose February for its festival because that's a slow time of the year for clubs.

What she's saying: "Independent music venues are where much of Nashville's creative energy comes to life," CVC president and CEO Deana Ivey said in a statement.

  • "With the return of 615 Indie Live, we're inviting locals and visitors alike to discover new sounds, support neighborhood venues, and experience the depth of talent that makes Music City so unique."

If you go: The 2026 festival will take place Feb. 7. Early bird tickets cost $15 and prices will increase after the lineup is announced in the coming months.

  • Artist submissions are officially open today and run for the next two weeks at www.615indie.live.

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2. Where Taylor and Travis should get married
 
Football player Travis Kelce in red uniform kissing Taylor Swift in a black dress amid a crowd with cameras and media in the background at a sports event.

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift embrace after Super Bowl LVIII. Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

 

Don't call the Swifties in your life today — they're too busy blasting "Love Story" on repeat.

State of play: Nashville resident Taylor Swift and football star Travis Kelce announced their engagement yesterday in a joint Instagram post that ricocheted across the internet at warp speed.

  • The New York Times sent a breaking news alert. Even President Trump, who has publicly condemned Swift, offered his congratulations in the middle of a Cabinet meeting.

The intrigue: The upcoming celebrity wedding stands to be one of the biggest pop culture talking points in years.

  • And it could take place in Nashville.

Zoom in: Nashville has been Swift's adopted hometown since she moved here as a teenager to make it big on Music Row. While she and Kelce have the resources to get married just about everywhere, Music City could be a natural choice.

What we're watching: There are plenty of picturesque wedding venues around town, but there are a few that stand out as possible Swift picks.