Natalie Stovall and her band The Drive hosted last night at Nashville’s 3rd and Lindsley an evening of Nashville’s best female songwriters and artists. Highlighting CMT and Change the Convo’s Next Women of Country movement, the show was preceded by a panel centered on women in country music. Stovall took the stage at 7:30, performing a full set of her own songs before inviting a series of incredibly talented female friends to share their own music with the packed crowd.
Stovall herself is an absolute force, delivering an energetic set replete with her fair share of outstanding fiddle solos, and spent most of her time performing from atop a light box at the front of the stage. The Tennessee native performed her 2014 single “Baby Come On With It,” as well as songs like “Dear Dolly,” an open letter to Dolly Parton for whom she was joined by friend Ruthie Collins.
Stovall proceeded to introduce a group of incredible songwriters and artists, setting the foundation for a night of incredible talent with no shortage of expressions of sisterly love. Collins returned to the stage for several songs, and artists including Kelleigh Bannen, Caitlyn Smith, Sonia Leigh and Brooke Eden, Jamie O’Neal, Noelle Scaggs of Fitz and the Tantrums, and Hailey Steele. Some performed with The Drive while others took the stage acoustic; while most fell to country, even the genres were a diverse offering, ranging from Caitlyn Smith’s performance of her Meghan Trainor and John Legend hit “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” to Sonia Leigh’s reggae-infused performance. Scaggs and Stovall performed a shimmering cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams.”
The night ended with the group all taking the stage, closing with, fittingly, Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like A Woman.” As country music has received a large share of criticism in recent months for its lack of female voices receiving a strong push to radio, Stovall’s show was a refreshing and engaging evening of stellar musicianship, positive energy, and wonderful songs.