Angel Premieres New Film in Nashville

Dispatch from the Nashville Premiere of Angel Studio’s David

From Jerod Hollyfield

For all the talk about Netflix dominance and declining movie attendance this fall, the scene at AMC Thoroughbred 20 in Franklin last Sunday seemed like a return to the halcyon days of 90s holiday moviegoing.

As invitees amassed in the lobby for the Nashville premiere of Angel Studios new animated musical David, the theater resembled a Christmas theme park. Families decorated holiday cookies featuring characters from the movie and frequented the hot cocoa and coffee bar before taking a break for balloon animals.

In place of red carpet hijinks, the studio partnered with nonprofit initiative Give A Little Christmas for a toy drive. Music industry locals who worked on the film’s soundtrack mingled with Christian artists and local church leaders. 

While movie premieres often reek of social climbing and pomposity, the attendees awaiting this early screening of David just seemed excited to be taking it all in. But, as Utah-based Angel has proven over the last three years, it's dedicated to approaching the movie business with a populist sheen–one that has much in common with Nashville’s own creative ethos. 

HEADLINES

• 💰 Former Nashville technology company executives charged with defrauding a Boston-based private equity firm of $20 million. (Massachusetts DOJ)
• 🍩 Jelly Roll gets pardon from Governor Lee for robbery, drugs alongside 33 other Tennesseans. (Tennessean)
• ⚖️ U.S. Senate rejects Lee Beaman, moves forward with four other Trump nominees to the Tennessee Valley Board of Directors. (Lookout)
• 🗣A 16-year-old local was arrested for shooting a valet on Music Square West during a road rage-related argument. (MNPD)

DEVELOPMENT

• Nashville church tackles North Nashville redevelopment with launch of first project (NBJ)
• Nashville Airport spends $450,000 on Boring Co. tunnel prep (TNJ)
• Hillsboro Village office building listed for $2.95M (Post)
• MetroCenter building asking price reduced (Post)

THINGS TO DO

View our calendar for the week here.

📅 Visit our On The Radar list to find upcoming events around Nashville.

🎧 On Spotify: Pamphleteer's Picks, a playlist of our favorite bands in town this week.

👨🏻‍🌾 Check out our Nashville farmer's market guide.

TONIGHT

🎄 Amy Grant & Vince Gill Christmas at the Ryman @ Ryman Auditorium, 3p & 7:30p, Info

🎷 A Tribute to the Sounds of Sinatra - A Rat Packin' Holiday Celebration @ 3rd and Lindsley, 8p, $19.97, Info

🎻 Handel's Messiah with the Nashville Symphony and Chorus @ Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 7:30p, $32+, Info

🪕 The Sparkomatic Coaxials @ Station Inn, 8p, $30, Info

🪕 The Cowpokes @ Acme Feed & Seed, 12p, Free, Info

🎸 Kelley’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info

SATURDAY

🎄 Amy Grant & Vince Gill Christmas at the Ryman @ Ryman Auditorium, 3p & 7:30p, Info

🎄 Christmas Jazz w/ Parker James, Paul DeFiglia, Anson Hohne @ The Blue Room, 7p, Free, Info

🎸 The Lemonheads: Love Chant World Tour @ The Basement East, 8p, $45.02, Info

🎻 Handel's Messiah with the Nashville Symphony and Chorus @ Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 7:30p, $32+, Info

🪕 The Kody Norris Show @ Station Inn, 9p, $25, Info

🎸 Kelley’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info

SUNDAY

🎸 Heart @ The Pinnacle, 7p, $103+, Info

🎻 Handel's Messiah with the Nashville Symphony and Chorus @ Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 2p, $32+, Info

🪕 Bluegrass Jam @ Station Inn, 7p, Free, Info
+ a night for musicians and singers from all over the world to gather and enjoy making music together

🪕 Sundays Between with Easy Green @ Tennessee Brew Works, 1p, Info
+ a bluegrass celebration of the music of the Grateful Dead

📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.

Today's newsletter is brought to you by Davis Hunt, Jerod Ra'Del Hollyfield, Megan Podsiedlik, and Camelia Brennan.