maroney-paradise-fest
[Photo by Gina Di Maio]

Briston Maroney brings Nashville’s indie music scene together for Paradise Fest

Earlier this month, Briston Maroney hosted the second annual Paradise Music Festival at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl. Maroney, an acclaimed young artist in the indie-alternative space, and Nashville transplant by way of Knoxville — who claims impressive fans the likes of Jack White, and has become well known for his quirky bop “Freakin’ Out on the Interstate” — founded the festival last year, inspired by the idea of creating a “house show” for the public.

In the spirit of alternative music and of Nashville as vibrant spaces for creative community-building, Paradise Fest was born. Though its first iteration spread over two nights of Maroney-curated music, this year offered three nights of sold-out shows. From Samia to Jack Van Cleaf, Skullcrusher to Hovvdy — for aficionados of indie artistry, of tapping into beloved alt musicians, and of discovering new ones, this event was nothing short of paradise.