America’s Music City is About ALL Music...Not Just Country

Written by Trey Godsey

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For a rising country star, the city of Nashville is what money is to a Fortune 500 company--

essential. But, what about artists who do not want to pursue country music? Is there a spot for them in “Music City”?

From the puke-stained sidewalks outside of Honky Tonks lining Broadway to the bachelorettes sporting rhinestone boots and cowboy hats, a thriving culture of country music fuels “Nashvegas”. Nashville has always been the world’s largest stage for country music, home to iconic attractions like the Grand Ole Opry, the CMT building, and the Country Music Hall of Fame. The city breeds A-listers like Morgan Wallen, Miley Cyrus, and Taylor Swift; many of which got their start in country music.

But some aspiring artists don’t fall under the country umbrella, and they claim that Nashville offers a plethora of opportunities, regardless of genre. That includes Nashville’s premiere indie-rock band, Multi Ultra.

Lead Vocalist, Derrick Wesley, and guitarist, Nolan Brown, formed Multi Ultra in 2021 after a

previous band separated. In just four years, they amassed nearly 5,000 followers on Instagram and won Lighting 100’s Music City Mayhem competition in 2023, beating out 31 other musical acts.

“For an artist outside of country music, there’s definitely a lot of opportunities if you seek them,” Wesley said. “Now, especially with the internet, it’s not as black and white as it used to be; it used to be either you were a country artist, or you were starving.”

While it can be tough, there are venues like “Whiskey Jam” that will host rock bands and some that are even primarily rock centered like “EXIT/IN”, he said.

“There’s a lot of rock bands [playing] on Broadway, believe it or not,” Wesley said. “As long as you’re resourceful then there’s definitely a community of rock and roll bands.”

The city’s growing population includes the growth in desire to hear other genres of music; and artists outside of country music craft their own lane to transition Nashville into a city for all music to be heard. And with more diversified artists like 2xBrooklyn and Multi Ultra showing up every day, the local Nashvillian can experience all that the home of country has to offer.

Multi Ultra has a show on Sunday, March 9, at “3rd And Lindsley” in Nashville, Tennessee. For tickets visit https://www.3rdandlindsley.com/tm-event/multi-ultra/.