Stephen Trageser
@stephentrageser615.bsky.social
music editor, Nashville Scene; regular, Gyro Spot; some call him "Goose"; probably thinking about Kate Bush
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"I was put on Earth to do a certain number of things. Right now, I am so far behind I will never die."
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"I was put on Earth to do a certain number of things. Right now, I am so far behind I will never die."
I put together a playlist with a little more than three hours of music from Nashville folks as a companion to our Year in Music issue. Take a listen, buy some records!
Year in Music 2025: A Nashville Music Playlist
Stream an audio companion to our cover package with three hours of music from Hayley Williams, Starlito and Don Trip, William Tyler and more.
www.nashvillescene.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:26 PM
I put together a playlist with a little more than three hours of music from Nashville folks as a companion to our Year in Music issue. Take a listen, buy some records!
The annual In Memoriam issue remembers people who are gone, but it also reflects on the talents, skills, dedication and big heart that people have in them and make communities work.
This week’s cover package: In our annual In Memoriam issue, we commemorate many of the irreplaceable figures Nashville lost in 2025.
In Memoriam 2025
Commemorating many of the irreplaceable figures Nashville lost in 2025
www.nashvillescene.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:03 PM
The annual In Memoriam issue remembers people who are gone, but it also reflects on the talents, skills, dedication and big heart that people have in them and make communities work.
Behold! It's Year in Music time. Major thanks to all our writers and everyone at the Scene, Hayley Williams and everyone who took time to answer our survey questions, everyone else making music — and to you for reading. A lot going on here, get a doughnut and settle in.
This week’s cover story: In our annual Year in Music issue, we talk with rock star Hayley Williams, count down our favorite local albums of 2025 and more.
Year in Music 2025
Talking with rock star Hayley Williams, counting down our favorite local albums and more
www.nashvillescene.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Behold! It's Year in Music time. Major thanks to all our writers and everyone at the Scene, Hayley Williams and everyone who took time to answer our survey questions, everyone else making music — and to you for reading. A lot going on here, get a doughnut and settle in.
Hell of a review on a hell of a show — big thanks to Jason and Victor for covering.
In our live-review column The Spin: Erykah Badu’s 25th anniversary touring celebration for ‘Mama’s Gun’ brought moments that shook on a cellular level to The Pinnacle.
Erykah Badu Casts Her Spell at The Pinnacle
In our live-review column The Spin: The touring anniversary celebration for ‘Mama’s Gun’ hits as hard as the album did in 2000.
www.nashvillescene.com
December 9, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Hell of a review on a hell of a show — big thanks to Jason and Victor for covering.
Reposted by Stephen Trageser
Shortly after a pair of star-studded concerts in his honor, Raul Malo of The Mavericks died from the cancer he'd been treated for. He was 60.
Raul Malo Has Died
The legendary frontman of The Mavericks was 60
www.nashvillescene.com
December 9, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Shortly after a pair of star-studded concerts in his honor, Raul Malo of The Mavericks died from the cancer he'd been treated for. He was 60.
Reposted by Stephen Trageser
“I’ve always believed that music is one of the most powerful bridges that we have. It crosses cultures, politics ... languages — and sometimes, pain. In these past months I’ve had to fight battles I never imagined. But on the hardest days, music remained my companion.” — Raul Malo, RIP.
In our live-review column The Spin, rocking country legends The Mavericks honored their leader Raul Malo — who's undergoing cancer treatment — Friday at the first of two benefit shows at the Ryman.
The Mavericks and Friends Salute Raul Malo at the Ryman
Bandmates and friends galore honored the country band’s leader, currently undergoing cancer treatment, at the first of two benefit shows.
www.nashvillescene.com
December 9, 2025 at 4:33 PM
“I’ve always believed that music is one of the most powerful bridges that we have. It crosses cultures, politics ... languages — and sometimes, pain. In these past months I’ve had to fight battles I never imagined. But on the hardest days, music remained my companion.” — Raul Malo, RIP.
And greatly appreciate Daryl catching up with The Ornaments, who've been playing some of my all-time favorite music time and again through the holiday season for 20 years.
As The Ornaments get ready for their 20th season of celebrating Vince Guaraldi’s beloved music from ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas,’ contributor Daryl Sanders catches up with the trio.
The Ornaments Gear Up Again for ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’
We talk with the trio as they prepare for their 20th season of celebrating Vince Guaraldi’s music from the animated classic.
www.nashvillescene.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:52 PM
And greatly appreciate Daryl catching up with The Ornaments, who've been playing some of my all-time favorite music time and again through the holiday season for 20 years.
Also belatedly: Many thanks to JP for some additional reading and resources on how people come up with standardized protocols for event safety. Man, this stuff is complex.
In a companion to his story on concert safety, JP Olsen takes a closer look at organizations working to develop industry-wide safety standards for live events.
Planning Safe Shows
Taking a closer look at the development of safety standards for live-event production.
www.nashvillescene.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Also belatedly: Many thanks to JP for some additional reading and resources on how people come up with standardized protocols for event safety. Man, this stuff is complex.
Major thanks to Matt and Ang for the coverage of this massive tribute to Raul Malo!
In our live-review column The Spin, rocking country legends The Mavericks honored their leader Raul Malo — who's undergoing cancer treatment — Friday at the first of two benefit shows at the Ryman.
The Mavericks and Friends Salute Raul Malo at the Ryman
Bandmates and friends galore honored the country band’s leader, currently undergoing cancer treatment, at the first of two benefit shows.
www.nashvillescene.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Major thanks to Matt and Ang for the coverage of this massive tribute to Raul Malo!
The Scene: Proudly tracking public gaffes, bloopers and blunders galore since 1989. Plus all-timer illos by the great Holly Carden!
The 2025 Boner Awards have landed! From country star meltdowns to political ineptitude, here’s our 36th annual lineup of blunders and bloopers.
The Boner Awards 2025
From country star meltdowns to political ineptitude, here’s our 36th annual lineup of blunders and bloopers
www.nashvillescene.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:40 PM
The Scene: Proudly tracking public gaffes, bloopers and blunders galore since 1989. Plus all-timer illos by the great Holly Carden!
My section of the paper relies on a substantial group of great freelance writers, many of whom do it full time and are getting hit very, very hard by the insurance marketplace BS. One more reason to be angry.
December 3, 2025 at 4:14 PM
My section of the paper relies on a substantial group of great freelance writers, many of whom do it full time and are getting hit very, very hard by the insurance marketplace BS. One more reason to be angry.
Grateful to JP for digging in on the complex issue of live event security and hitting up some experts in the field.
A Look at Today’s Complex Concert Security Landscape
We talk with security experts about making live events safe — and making them feel safe — for everyone.
www.nashvillescene.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Grateful to JP for digging in on the complex issue of live event security and hitting up some experts in the field.
Bonnaroo is returning with some standout bookings. Will it be enough to bring folks back after the cancellation? We'll see.
Skrillex, The Strokes, Kesha and More to Play Bonnaroo 2026
Noah Kahan, Rüfüs du Sol, Amyl and the Sniffers, Weird Al and many more are on the festival’s return lineup following the 2025 cancellation.
www.nashvillescene.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Bonnaroo is returning with some standout bookings. Will it be enough to bring folks back after the cancellation? We'll see.
I very much wish I'd been able to get to William Tyler and Friends' gig, but at least Katherine and Steve could get there and cover for us. Lot of good and important music to cover but this kind of thing really hits home for me.
William Tyler Gathers a Wealth of Friends at The Blue Room
The ace musician and pals continue their Friendsgiving jam tradition and celebrate Tyler’s recent LP ‘Time Indefinite’
www.nashvillescene.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:15 PM
I very much wish I'd been able to get to William Tyler and Friends' gig, but at least Katherine and Steve could get there and cover for us. Lot of good and important music to cover but this kind of thing really hits home for me.
And speaking of appreciation, it's time for the Scene's letters thereof! Got a lot to be thankful for this year, and I wrote about postpartum health care workers and air traffic controllers.
This week’s cover story: Our notes of gratitude to the community advocates, health care workers and others who make Nashville special.
Hey, Thanks: The Scene’s Letters of Appreciation 2025
Our notes of gratitude to the community advocates, health care workers and others who make Nashville special
www.nashvillescene.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:48 PM
And speaking of appreciation, it's time for the Scene's letters thereof! Got a lot to be thankful for this year, and I wrote about postpartum health care workers and air traffic controllers.
Greatly appreciate this from Jason.
Before Thomas Dolby stops at The Basement East, contributor Jason Shawhan gives us a tour of the singular electronic pop wizard’s catalog.
Thomas Dolby Is Still a Singular Force in Pop Music
Spinning through the maestro’s catalog ahead of his show at The Basement East
www.nashvillescene.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Greatly appreciate this from Jason.
Big thanks to @hannahcron.bsky.social for our biannual round-up of Record Store Day things!
Your Quick-Reference Guide to Record Store Day Black Friday 2025
We run down special releases and happenings at local record stores for the special mom-and-pop record shop event on Nov. 28.
www.nashvillescene.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Big thanks to @hannahcron.bsky.social for our biannual round-up of Record Store Day things!
Boots, scooting AND boogeying? Ashley Spurgeon Shamban, maybe best known to Scene readers for recapping every damn episode of 'Nashville,' went to the CMA Awards for us.
Culture correspondent and seasoned critic Ashley Spurgeon Shamban put boots on the ground at Bridgestone Arena and brought us this in-person report on the 59th Annual CMA Awards.
Lainey Wilson, Zach Top and More Win Big at the 59th Annual CMA Awards
Cultural correspondent Ashley Spurgeon Shamban put her boots on the ground at Bridgestone Arena for a report on the 59th annual awards show.
www.nashvillescene.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Boots, scooting AND boogeying? Ashley Spurgeon Shamban, maybe best known to Scene readers for recapping every damn episode of 'Nashville,' went to the CMA Awards for us.
Reposted by Stephen Trageser
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November 20, 2025 at 8:09 PM
As our editor likes to say, all of our work is free to access. None of it is free to produce.
nashville-public-media.fundjournalism.org/makeagift/?c...
nashville-public-media.fundjournalism.org/makeagift/?c...
Thanks to Jason for catching up with Rufus Wainwright. Sounds like they had a great time and these shows will be a special and kinda weird thing, which is how I like it.
Rufus Wainwright Talks Weill Tribute ‘I’m a Stranger Here Myself’
We check in with the polymath singer-songwriter about his forthcoming ‘I’m a Stranger Here Myself’ ahead of a two-show engagement at City Winery.
www.nashvillescene.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Thanks to Jason for catching up with Rufus Wainwright. Sounds like they had a great time and these shows will be a special and kinda weird thing, which is how I like it.
Stoked for this:
Due to demand, a second night has been added to The Features and Glossary's benefit show. The outstanding Middle Tennessee rock bands are reuniting to support public and community radio.
The Features and Glossary Reunite for Benefit Shows
Only a few tickets remain for second night of the January run of gigs at Eastside Bowl supporting public and community radio stations.
www.nashvillescene.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Stoked for this:
Thanks to @hannahcron.bsky.social for catching up with Margo Price, coming back to the Ryman this week. New band and record rip.
Margo Price Swings Back to Old-School Country
We talk with the ace singer-songwriter about ‘Hard Headed Woman’ ahead of her Nov. 20 Ryman show.
www.nashvillescene.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Thanks to @hannahcron.bsky.social for catching up with Margo Price, coming back to the Ryman this week. New band and record rip.
Thanks to Bailey and new-to-us photog Erin Folk for hitting up Soft Junk for Joelton Mayfield's release party. Sounds like a blast!
In our live-review column The Spin, standout songsmith Joelton Mayfield celebrated his long-in-the-works debut LP ‘Crowd Pleaser’ at Soft Junk.
Joelton Mayfield Gets His Flowers for ‘Crowd Pleaser’
In our live-review column The Spin, the rising songsmith celebrated his debut full-length with help from lots of friends at Soft Junk.
www.nashvillescene.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Thanks to Bailey and new-to-us photog Erin Folk for hitting up Soft Junk for Joelton Mayfield's release party. Sounds like a blast!
Reposted by Stephen Trageser
Prolific Nashville folk singer-songwriter Todd Snider has died at age 59.
Todd Snider Dies at 59
According to posts on Snider’s social media accounts, it was determined this week that the singer was “suffering from an undiagnosed case of walking pneumonia,” and ultimately died on Friday.
www.nashvillescene.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Prolific Nashville folk singer-songwriter Todd Snider has died at age 59.
Reposted by Stephen Trageser
He’s being celebrated by GQ today, so here’s a reup of my September cover interview with noted man MJ Lenderman for @nashvillescene.com. Among other things we talked multitool masculinity, David Berman’s AMA thread and the hilarious (and sympathetic) appeal of the sad sack
AmericanaFest Preview 2025: Talking With M.J. Lenderman
The lauded songsmith and multiple Americana Awards nominee discusses his influences, including the late, great David Berman
www.nashvillescene.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:51 PM
He’s being celebrated by GQ today, so here’s a reup of my September cover interview with noted man MJ Lenderman for @nashvillescene.com. Among other things we talked multitool masculinity, David Berman’s AMA thread and the hilarious (and sympathetic) appeal of the sad sack