The Stomp monthly concert series returns to Soulshine Pizza in Nashville tomorrow night, Thursday, Oct. 9 with veteran stomp performer Lyndsey Highlander and her guests Little Honey Band and Sarah Darling will be performing.
Little Honey, formerly a trio and now a duo after their third member decided to pursue a solo career on her own, is a rising duo comprised of Katie Mae Smith and Bonner Lind Black, are a new band and are just returning to Nashville in the past weeks after recent concert appearances in New York.
Sarah Darling is most well-known as “America’s Darling,” a contestant on Brad Paisley’s voice competition show “Rising Star” this past spring. Darling has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry with Paisley and solo, and on The Bachelor in 2012. She also runs her own macaroon company “Sweet Darlings” in Nashville.
Highlander, whose single “Flowers Ain’t Gonna Fix This" spent 8 weeks on the CMT Pure Top 12 Countdown including the #1 spot, knew something had been missing in country music for a while, and what was missing was the perspective of women in country music. At that time, she was at the planning stages of The Stomp concert series. (For more on Highlander's thought process about the event, see our previous story on her here)
With the help of her sponsors, Tarter Farm and Equipment and BootDaddy, Highlander took on what was seemingly an impossible mission for one person and decided she was going to do something to bring back the heart, passion and fire women bring to the table. The Stomp series is a monthly event that highlights powerful and strong women in country music and its goals are to remind the format that females are an essential part of the genre as well as to provide a safe, supporting and caring community to encourage and uplift each other.
“Growing up, I lived for the songs of Patty Loveless, Faith Hill, Martina McBride and Trisha Yearwood,” said Lyndsey. “I am aching to find that again in Country music. These women, including me, are so ready to share our stories and artistry with the Country music world! The Country music family needs women, years ago, today, tomorrow, and always. Their spirit, confidence, and eagerness to love is a huge part of what made me want to be in this industry and I want to convey that to every fan."
The first Stomp concert was held on September 11, a poignant date for all Americans, and featured Highlander, Angie Johnson and Hailey Steele. The date, especially meaningful for musician and active National Guard serviceperson Angie Johnson who was stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base southeast of Kansas City, Missouri at the time of the terrorist attacks on the United States September 11, 2001. (Watch for an upcoming feature on Johnson and her military service and musical journey coming soon).
Johnson said she had heard of Highlander through people who worked with her, and knew they had a common concern about the issues regarding females and their almost non-existence on the charts and on radio. Before she knew it, one of Highlander’s publicists, also a friend of Johnson’s, called to say they had been talking about females in country music, and that Highlander was putting together this idea she had.
"She said, 'We mentioned you to her and she would love for you to be a part of it,' she told me,” said Johnson.
“I have always believed in the power of one, but you cannot imagine how difficult this was to put together; all the hours it has taken. Maybe a manager and a company could have handled it, but this one female artist (Highlander) cared so much about girls and music that she had put it all together, and I knew she had a beautiful heart before I even met her,” Johnson added.
“When we finally met, it was like we had known each other forever – and we actually only met the first time at the taping for The Stomp promo.”
Highlander is endearing, both before you meet her and once she’s a part of your life. Every person involved with The Stomp has had nothing but praise for the incredible love she has for women in country music she has never even met, for her family and for God.
South Dakota Country Music Hall of Famer and The Voice Season 2 alum Hailey Steele was the third performer at The Stomp on September 11. She also speaks highly of Highlander and her ability to reach out to and support other females. “I've known Lyndsey since my first week in Nashville. When she asked me to be a part of the Stomp, I didn't hesitate. There may be a lack of women on the country Top 40 charts right now, but there is no shortage of amazingly talented female artists in Nashville,” Steele, who grew up learning to yodel and has shared the stage with the likes of Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson, said.
“Our goal has become supporting each other, and that's what the Stomp is. My entire base group of friends in Nashville is full of insanely talented writers and artists. We are a family of sorts - a support system, a sounding board. The Stomp is an opportunity to show that off, and to show other female artists that we are rooting for one another. I’m proud to be a part of it,” Steele added.
Monthly concerts are planned through the rest of the year, featuring different artists, their stories and their songs each month, at Soulshine Pizza – one of the few places in Nashville where you can not only tip the excellent wait staff on your ticket, but they also provide a line for you to include a tip for the live musicians on your bill. All the artists want to offer huge thanks to Tarter Farm and Ranch Equipment and BootDaddy, who continue to support The Stomp.
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