Chad Cochran (cowtownchad.com) has just finished his fifth year of photographing Americanafest in Nashville. His recent spread in The Fall Wellness issue of No Depression features a portrait series Cochran has been working on to normalize the conversation around mental health, called “I Didn’t Want To Tell You.” The objective of the project was to marry his portrait work with musicians to further the necessary conversation around mental health. It includes portraits and stories about mental health with Steve Poltz, John Paul White, Sarah Shook, Jaimee Harris, Lydia Loveless, and Elizabeth Cook.
Cochran was born and raised in the small town of Fredericktown, Ohio. Wanting nothing more than to escape his rural upbringing, he attended Bowling Green State University and eventually made his way to Columbus. Missing the connection to small-town life, Cochran began taking photographs of the rustic landscapes that surrounded him as a child. His fascination with decaying barns, homes, and vintage signs provides him with the connection to the small town he grew up in. Fittingly, Cochran also has a lifelong love of music and has been able to merge it with photography. Well respected in the “Americana” music scene, he travels frequently to Nashville and currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio and is based out of 78th Street Studios.
Glide is honored to share Chad Cochran’s Americana Fest diary from the week of September 10-15, 2019 in Music City. Below he shares with our readers some of his most memorable photos from the week and captions that highlight why these artists are ones to soon lookout for again or for the first time.
Andrew Leahey: Leahey was all over the place At Americana -here he is sitting in with Elizabeth Cook. He released his album Airwaves to rave reviews back in February and is now in full touring mode!
Aubrie Sellers: Here she is delivering a great performance during the Big Velvet Revue, curated by Paul Cauthen. Sellers is gearing up to release her second album, and fans got an early listen in July with her new single “Drag You Down.”
Banditos: Had everyone singing and dancing at the Bloodshot Records event on Friday. Fans are raving over the Banditos’ versatile sound and magical blend that feels like home on their album Visionland.
Chris Shiflett: Podcaster and Foo Fighter, Shiflett brought his country-rock show to the Basement East stage on Wednesday. Shiflett released his second solo album Hard Lessons in June making some of his personal trials and stories feel like a catalog of wisdom for all to indulge in.
Elizabeth Cook: Cook had the full band in tow and swam in some swamp rock, leaving us all anxiously awaiting her new release. In the meantime, Cook can be found touring alongside Will Hoge for the month of October.
Great Peacock: These guys are old friends and amazing musicians. They played the Baby Robot Official Americanafest Day Party so we took the opportunity to grab a few band shots in the green room. They recently released an amazing cover of “Cortez the Killer.” Neil would be proud…
Jesse Malin: Malin has a history with hardcore and punk, but blended seamlessly in this years AmericanaFest. In his newly released album, Sunset Kids, Malin confronts heavy thoughts with fearless lyrics and melodies that’d criminal for anyone to miss.
Judy Blank: Netherlands-based Judy Blank was the talk of the festival and might have played more times than any other artist. I caught her when she was coming in for an interview with my AirBnB roommate, Sloan Spencer from Country Fried Rock. She played several official showcases and Americanarama at Grimey’s. I even ran into her at my own radio interview at WFMU. She has a new EP Coming out in the fall – can’t wait to hear it!
King Corduroy: KC played the Music City Roots Showcase this year and tore the roof off the place. The big finale was “Soul Man” performed with the entire showcase line-up! His new EP Avalon Ave just came out and was recorded at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals and was produced by Jimbo Hart. need I say more?
Leah Blevins: Blevins is becoming better known around Nashville and sat in on several showcases this week. She is one not to be missed. Blevins has released two EP’s since 2015 giving herself the time to truly sink into her craft and emotional intelligence. Thus, only adding to the rich nature of all the things her music has to say.
Misa Arriaga: Misa showed up to play with Malin Pettersen at the Baby Robot Day Party and I couldn’t pass up photographing him. He’s worked with Lillie Mae, Joshua Hedley, Rayland Baxter, and Kacey Musgraves. He’s currently working on a new album with Malin – and from what they played at the party – it’s going to blow people away.
Patrick Sweeny: Sweeny getting up close and personal during the Better Together event. Sweeney is sharing his soul and pouring into a big bucket of blues live on tour September through December.
Paul Cauthen: Cauthen put on a funk-country-disco-rock set that included James Brown level dancing. His new album release Room 41 hits hard with intensity as it outlines a troubling time in his life with complete honesty and characterizing sound.
The Commonheart: Pittsburgh based group The Commonheart performed an energetic folk-soul revival set at the Cannery Ballroom on Friday. They just released their new album Pressure overflowing with hits and an addictive sound that fans can’t get enough of.
Vandoliers: Texas standouts, Vandoliers delivered their “if The Mavericks were a punk band” set to a packed house at The High Watt. The release of their album Forever back in February locked in a must-hear sound that only they can claim.
