
Gracelands – home of Elvis Presley. © EPE
Today at London’s Waterloo station, a special exhibit opens called “The Sights & Sounds of Tennessee” opens.
Lasting until June 17th the exhibit is obviously a promotion of the US state and by showing some features of the state and allowing us to try some of their well-known products, it is an attempt to persuade us to consider holidaying in the state. That it coincides with a new direct service from British Airways to Nashville which started last month makes it a lot easier for Britons to get there a lot faster than it did previously when it was necessary to change at other airports and wait for connections.
On show each day will be live music from 2pm until 4pm and here is a list of the performers:
Gill Landry, 4 June
Kashena Sampson, 5 June
Robert Vincent, 6 June
Danni Nicholls, 7 June
The Luck, 8 June
Bennett Wilson Poole, 11 June
Jake Morrell, 12 June
Worry Dolls, 13 June
Rob Heron, 14 June
Martin Harley, 15 June

At the Jack Daniel Distillery
Why the performances? Because Tennessee has more musicians per capita than any other place in the world and is said to be the birthplace of seven different forms of popular music—blues, bluegrass, country, gospel, soul, rockabilly, and rock ‘n’ roll. Tennessee is also home to world-renowned music attractions including Beale Street, Bijou Theatre, Bluebird Cafe, Blues Hall of Fame, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Graceland, Grand Ole Opry, Sun Studio, Ryman Auditorium and Tennessee Theatre.
The live performances will be followed by a Jack Daniel’s Happy Hour lasting from 4 to 6 pm at which the famous whisky will be available for free tastings along with its cider brands which, I confess, I had not heard of.
How many travellers will be journeying on a later train this coming month as the lure of another sample of Jack Daniel’s makes them miss their usual service?