FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2011
Contact: Will James, bands@atticweb.com

Douglas Corner Café to Host “Gram Parsons 65^th Birthday Bash Nashville”

Can you name a country music artist who died almost four decades ago that Rolling Stone magazine puts five ahead of Tom Petty in their Most Important Artists of All Time list and whose influence and fan base is greater now than when he died?

Now in its fourth consecutive year in Nashville, Gram InterNational, an annual one-night festival event devoted to honoring the late great Gram Parsons by presenting local bands influenced by him, is returning to Music City, November 4, at the Douglas Corner Café. Begun in Nashville, the event will be in six cities in four countries this year.

The event is organized by the Gram Parsons Petition Project, whose goal is to move Parsons’ name into consideration for induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame (gramparsonspetition.com has over 5,600 signers so far). Parsons would have been 65 this November 5, thus this year's theme.

The local Nashville bands chosen to honor Parsons in 2011 include: 

*6:30-7:10: Grand Persons (Don Pedigo)

7:20-8:00: Devious Angels

8:10-8:50: Rebecca Jed & the Bucksnort Beauties

9:00-9:40: Sunday Valley

9:50-10:10: Chris James & the Gram Band

10:20-11:00: Donna Frost

11:10-11:50: The Burritos w/ Walter Egan

Headliner Walter Egan (of "Magnet & Steel" fame and who penned Gram's classic duet with Emmylou Harris “Hearts On Fire”) and The Burritos will be playing material from their recent CD Sound As Ever (which is how Parsons signed his letters). Chris James will be offering up some unrecorded and/or little known Parsons' songs. Another band, Sunday Valley, was just named "Best New Outlaw Band of 2011" by Nashville Scene. It's non-stop great talent all night.

The answer to the opening question is: Gram Parsons. Rolling Stone ranks him  as No. 87 in their Top 100 Most Important Artists of All Time. Many claim that his influence on Keith Richards and the Rolling Stones changed the direction of their music. Myriad bands continue to claim Parsons was their guiding light.

Many others claim Parsons as their gateway into the world of country music, the kind which during Gram's short life was being played by the likes of Cash, Haggard, Buck Owens, the Louvin Brothers and so many more. Gram’s protégé, Emmylou Harris, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame a few years ago; her mentor, former Byrd, Burrito and Fallen Angel Parsons, has so far not been considered.

Will James, founding director of Gram InterNational, says that bands play their own music with a nod to Gram. “We don’t call them ‘tribute’ concerts, as folks get the impression that the bands will just play Gram songs,” Will states. “You will hear plenty of Gram, but bands are chosen that have a deep respect for and are influenced by Gram’s music. I want to hear them play their own stuff.”

Parsons disliked labels, saying, "I think pure country music includes rock and roll. I've never been able to get into the further label of country rock.” Will agrees: “And now you have this plethora of alternative labels – alt country, Americana, outlaw country, cowpunk – it just becomes overwhelming... and ultimately meaningless."

While Parsons was the genesis behind all these movements, Will feels that traditional country music, drove his great songwriting and singing. "He was trying to introduce a true American art form, lyrically modified by Dylan and others, to a whole new audience that found it foreign in a very divisive time.”

After Will talked with local legend Mervin Louque, he knew where the event would be this year. “Douglas Corner Café is legendary in Nashville, especially among those who deeply understand great songwriting and true country music.”

Will suggests coming early. “We are scheduling seven great bands in under six hours with full 40-minute sets, so you don’t want to miss anything. For example, you're going to be hearing a lot more about our first act, Devious Angels, who will start at 6:30 on the dot." He adds, "Also, we're giving away a bunch of band CDs, a 1st Annual Gram InterNational T-Shirt, and a copy of the show poster to the first 20 attendees."

The door is just $10 for all that music. "It's not a late night, so be sure to stay for headliners The Burritos and a special sing-along at midnight, the beginning of Gram's actual 65th birthday."

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