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EVA Celebrates 10 Years of Growth and Gratitude in Nashville
by Rich and Laura Lynch
On Wednesday, April 16th, 2025 the EVAlution Fest took place at the Eastside Bowl in Nashville, Tenneessee. The party commemorated the 10-year anniversary of EVA - the TechCrunch and Forbes 30-Under-30 recognized startup that connects corporate event bookers with artisans, musicians, performers and speakers.
EVA founders Channing Moreland and Makenzie Stokel at the Eastside Bowl.
EVA was founded by two Belmont college roommates - Channing Moreland and Makenzie Stokel - who thought "there's gotta be a better way" when it came to music bookings on campus so they created it. Some of their early customers were college parties and local eateries. Today, their clients include the Gaylord Opryland, Music City Convention Center and more. Basically, Makenzie and Channing utilize ever-evolving technology to connect consumers with high-quality entertainment.
In addition to A-list artists such as Trace Adkins - EVA works with entertainers who are growing their incomes gig-by-gig, for whom the steady, well-paid corporate event opportunities offered by EVA are a total gamechanger. Local singer-songwriter Tabitha Meeks has said that EVA was the reason she was able to buy a house. Since 2019, they have put millions in the bank accounts of artists. EVA has completely streamlined the booking process which can be personalized for its clients both here in Nashville and around the country.
EVAlution Fest featured genre-spanning live performances ranging from Holy Spirit soul-rocker Kayley Bishop to improvisational R&B upstart The Broadway Rapper. It was an immersive event combining art, interactive activities and music that showcased some of EVA's high caliber clients. Upon entering the party, the hallway leading to the main room was lined with colorful electronic boards outlining EVA's history starting in 2015 to the present day.
The entrace hallway showcased EVA through the Decade; drinks and music on the Gallatin Pike.
Our first stop was Music City Record Art where we were given a cup to mix paints of various colors to gently pour out on a vinyl LP. It was very fun and we now have a vivid self-created souvenir from EVA. Nearby was Atomic Cigars who was demonstrating and discussing the art of cigar rolling. Founder Jason talked to us about blends and how his business started off as a hobby but now is a good paying gig. Another artistic endeavor onsite was Cinder Bella Studios who offers wood-burning and char-cuterie classes. They had impressive pieces on display and were ready to encourage people to tap into their creative spark.
AI is all the rage and our own Rich walked away very happy with his rock star image created by the onsite photo booth that really brought out his inner self. Also of interest was Aura Photography. Ars Poetica aka Psychic Poetry presented an innovative take on a reading and we were given a note card with prose that had been keyed on an old school typewriter. Ars Poetica is Latin for "The Art of Poetry" and their goal is to remind all of us of the value of poetry to human society.
A number of performers from Goodness Gracious Creative added even more flair to the festivities. One group were dancing while roller skating with one of the trio wearing a disco ball over her head. So, we're not sure how she was able to see but it was a cool visual effect. An even more daring fire dance had us on red alert. Orissa Kelly's flame-laden foot archery act hit the mark, too. Goodness Gracious Creative offers a curated selection of world-class cirque artists, character performers, designers and creative professionals for events.
This diverse lineup of arts and entertainment was there to celebrate EVA yet served as an impressive example of the entertainment options that EVA's platform can facilitate for award shows, business openings, corporate meetings, parties, sporting events and more.
More music and fun at the EVAlution Fest in Nashville.
But wait there was music, too. EVAlution Fest was hosted by the personable David "DJ" Lee. The Moga Family Band were engaging all night while providing solid support for the singers which included The Broadway Rapper - Improvisational R&B upstart, Kayley Bishop - Holy Spirit Soul-Rocker ("Rewrite Your Story"), Carly Moffa - Singer-Songwriter ("Let The Lion Out"), Kate Cosentino - Jazz-influenced songwriter covered by Rolling Stone India ("Emergency Contact") and Alexis Saki - Genre fluid artist of the band Tennessee Muscle Candy ("True Fine Mama").
EVA's founders Channing Moreland and Makenzie Stokel spoke on a number of occasions. They shared their 10 Lessons from 10 Years with one of the topics being that coming up with a name is hard. But, taking risks is, too. They reminded those gathered at the Eastside Bowl to say "YES" and just figure it out even when you're not quite sure how to do it. This lined up with another lesson that you can learn to build your own tech platform.
Other key points were that people are the most important (with a shout out to their sponsors and staff) and celebrate milestones which EVA certainly did. EVAlution Fest was an immersive event combining music, art and interactive activities into one unforgettable night and set the stage for many more years of success.
The Eastside Bowl located at 1508 Gallatin Pike is a multi-purpose venue with a retro vibe that has bowling, drinks, food, live music plus it has plenty of free parking. The Eastside Bowl is also available for special occasions such as EVAlution Fest. Please visit their website for more information and a calendar of upcoming events.
EVAlution Fest was packed with wood burning; record art; cigar making;
psychic poetry readings; AI photography and much, much more!
Related Links:
For more information on EVA and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links -
Book With EVA |
Eastside Bowl
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