• All Feature Articles

Bishop Gunn Aims Higher in Nashville

by Rich and Laura Lynch

It was only the first day of Country Music's biggest festival in Nashville known as the CMAs but the best group in town this week just might be the upstart and insurgent rock band called Bishop Gunn from Natchez, Mississippi. They played a dynamic one-hour set from the top of the new downtown Westin facility on Thursday, June 7, 2018 on a stage built above the hotel's outdoor pool.

We caught their debut album release party for their brilliant self-titled opening statement Natchez named so in honor of their roots and hometown. Having now seen the band twice we can say they are two for two in delivering the goods that are winning them fans up and down the Natchez Trace in spots like their home base, Leiper's Fork, Tupelo and Music City proper.

Their set was pretty close to last month's gig but still finely displayed the quartet's roots and influences in a quick and concise, compelling showcase. You could call the young lads a hair band but that's only because all four still have their mighty and Samsoneque locks. But, don't look to them for 80's style pop metal. They are more prone to mix the sound of British guitar based blues distilled through the Delta and their own southern rock heritage. So, in addition to their own captivating catalogue we got prominent covers from Led Zeppelin, the Allman Brothers and Wilson Pickett's version of "Hey Jude" to bring the rooftop celebration to a close.

Bishop Gunn is Travis McCready (vocals, guitar), Burne Sharp (drums), Drew Smithers (guitar) and Ben Lewis (bass). They announced from the stage at the L27 on the 27th floor of one of Nashville's newest hospitality properties that this was the highest they have ever played. But, they are also quickly moving up the ranks in rock and roll - so you don't know where they'll play next. Call your promoters and it might just be a town near you! As they target their follow-up record it will be interesting to watch the guys evolve. They might even find a home on the jam band scene if they can stretch out the middle a bit more to lengthen the dance party.







Scenes from the triumphant Bishop Gunn concert on the Westin rooftop at L27.

Related Links: For more information on BISHOP GUNN and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links -- Bishop Gunn


.





Do you like MCN??? Did you know that the best way to support this site is to BUY our founder's Music Catalog on BANDCAMP? Top songs are now Half-Off and so our are full-length albums!



Did you know that MCN Founder Rockin' Rich Lynch hosts some of the world's top musicians and songwriters on his regularly scheduled webcast - watch all the episodes here - and please share the links far and wide!







• Paws, Claws and Applause: The Acro‑Cats Bring Their Purrfectly Wild Show to Nashville



• Four Guitars, One Unforgettable Night: 40 Fingers Dazzle the Fisher Center



• Max Weinberg's Jukebox Rocks Harken Hall With a Crowd‑Powered Setlist



• Nashville Film Festival Shines Bright in Its Seriously Strong 57th Year



• From Taliesin to Tennessee: Max Weinberg Frames the Architecture of His Life Before Harken Hall Date in October



• Robin Trower Brings Nashville to a Boil as His New Album Shine Lights Up the Fisher Center



• Little Feat at the Ryman: The Fans Cry Out - Feats Don't Leave Us Now



• A Thunderous Ryman Return: Roger Daltrey in Nashville Was Indeed A Great Night Out!



• Water Wars: Land Owners Take Sides and Battle Over Liquid Blue Gold in Texas



• Rock Legends Giant Play Two Big Shows at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville



• Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country Celebrates Ryman to Robert's at the Mother Church



• Squeeze and Adam Ant Squish the Heat With a Cool Night of Music in Nashville



• The Nashville Sounds' Bats Were Anything But Dead on a Sweltering Theme Night in Hit City



• Elizabeth Cook Brings The Easy Kind Home: Belcourt Screening Caps an Eight‑Year Odyssey



• It Was a Big Weekend for the Kats and Cats in Nashville



• Nashville Becomes an International Soccer Hub as Premier League Arrives in Music City



• Men At Work and Toad the Wet Sprocket Join Forces at The Pinnacle in Nashville



• The Countrification of Kentucky Thunder Rolls On at the Ryman's Bluegrass Finale



• Niko Moon Launches Roots From Maggie's Place and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville



• The Circle Welcomes Three New Voices in Back‑to‑Back Debut Nights at the Grand Ole Opry in Music City





• Meet Rich and Laura Lynch.

© 2026 MusicCityNashville.net
All Rights Reserved