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BMI Rooftop On The Row Takes It To a New Level with Ray Fulcher and Ashland Craft in Nashville

by Rich and Laura Lynch

On August 16, 2022, BMI hosted an industry event at their office in Nashville, Tennessee. The night featured live performances from two of their talented artists - Ray Fulcher and Ashland Craft. In addition to good music - food, drinks, swag and networking opportunities were on the bill.


Ashland Craft performs at BMI Rooftop On The Row in August 2022.

Due to inclement weather the party was dropped down one level below the rooftop to the parking garage but that didn't dampen anyone's spirits seeing that all the sponsors like George Dickel Whiskey, Samuel Adams, Truly and Twisted Tea were still in place pouring complimentary drinks even as the skies threatened to pour outside. If anything, the slight change in venue gave the evening the feel of an even more exclusive underground soiree for the VIP invitation only attendees.

Ashland Craft put her own spin on country with her debut album Travelin' Kind. She is among CMT's Next Women of Country Class of 2021 and Pandora's Country Artists to Watch 2021. Ashland started out playing bars in her South Carolina hometown but since then has moved on to supporting slots for Luke Combs, the Zac Brown Band and more. Craft's influences included Bonnie Raitt, Chris Stapleton, Def Leppard, Sheryl Crow and The Chicks who are reflected in her edgy brand of country.

Ashland kicked off the night with a mostly up-tempo set of tunes, some from her new record. Craft chatted between songs while encouraging folks to clap and dance. One of her most compelling pieces was "As Good As It Gets" that has not been released yet but was packed with the good advice to be happy with what you have. After that she slowed it down for an acoustic number called "Make It Past Georgia" that touched upon traveling and meeting different people. The band returned for a fun version of the game changing "I Smoke Weed" and they closed with another fine new tune called "Mile a Minute".


Ray Fulcher performs at BMI Rooftop On The Row in August 2022.

Musician Ray Fulcher has a Masters of Social Sciences & Education. He was a car salesman and an ATV Parts & Service Manager but in the background there was always music which is currently Ray's true calling. His debut Black River struck a chord with listeners as it reflects some of his influences while meeting a goal to lift people up with songs that speak to the heart.

Ray shared that he took a chance moving to Nashville and his gamble paid off. Shortly after arriving in Music City he was introduced to Luke Combs which soon led to some very successful co-writes. Fulcher's first song was the lively "Looks" flowing into a wild-west tribute in the form of "John Wayne". Next was the cutting and relatable "Damn If It Didn't Hurt". He continued telling his story of leaving Georgia and how an Eric Church concert changed his life. Later he encouraged his fellow dreamers to keep pursuing their dreams. Fulcher closed with "Anything Like You Dance" a colorful story about meeting a girl on the dance floor.

These summer time concerts are an opportunity for BMI to showcase some or their musicians. BMI was founded in 1939 with an aim to represent artists from a wide range of genres. Today, BMI is the biggest music rights organization in the USA. BMI is an advocate for the value of music, representing over 18.7 million musical works created and owned by more than 1.2 million songwriters, composers and music publishers. The organization also provides career assistance in the areas of licensing, showcasing, training and more.


BMI Rooftop On The Row is a great time even in a parking garage.

Related Links: For more information on BMI ROOFTOP ON THE ROW and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links - BMI Rooftop on the Row | BMI Rooftop On The Row Reigns Supreme with Drew Parker and Alana Springsteen | Ray Fulcher | Ashland Craft


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