The Swallow At The Hollow

For New Year’s Eve this year we hand picked three of the best songwriter/performers Nashville has to offer and we scored…big time! Chris Wallin, Tony Arata and Aaron Barker will play with a percussionist and a Nashville cello player for you on New Years Eve. See Montgomery Genty’s Video of “Something To Be Proud Of” above, written by Chris Wallin.

Chris Wallin

Chris Wallin. The name alone brings back memories of his past performances here at the Swallow when the bar for songwriting excellence was raised. When Chris leans in to that guitar and shows of his skill as a master writer and story teller everyone here just shakes their head. This is how it’s done!

Chris has had active chart success and numerous cuts, including his multi-week number one hit single with Montgomery Gentry, “Something To Be Proud Of.” He’s also had top five hits with “I’m Tryin’” by Trace Adkins, and “Speed” by Montgomery Gentry. Other charted singles include “Your In My Head” (Brian McComas), “What Brothers Do” (Confederate Railroad), and “John J. Blanchard” (Anthony Smith), which were all top 40 hits.

Artists who have cut Chris’s songs include Lorrie Morgan, Montgomery Gentry, Sammy Kershaw, Tommy Shane Steiner, Earl Scruggs, Trace Adkins, Michael Peterson, Jeffrey Steele, Confederate Railroad, Keith Anderson, Neal McCoy, Brian McComas, Brad Paisley, Diamond Rio, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith and many more.

In addition to being a great writer Chris is one heck of a nice guy. Hang around after the show and see for your self!

Tony Arata

Back before Darrell Scott proved that fantastic, original, and soulful writers could still get cut in the vapid age of Country, there was Tony Arata. More than anyone, he proved that a writer can write from his deepest place and still create hit songs that will stand the test of time.

In the mid to late eighties, two songwriters met up at a Douglas Corner open mic, Tony Arata and Garth Brooks. Garth loved Tony’s great song “The Dance” and swore that if he ever got a deal, that he would cut it. When he did, it became the most played song in R&R and the ACM Song of the Year, and the first of eight Arata tunes that Garth eventually cut. A string of cuts and number ones followed, including Patty Loveless, Lee Roy Parnell, Trisha Yearwood, and a host of others.

Aaron Barker

A songwriter with 23 top 10 songs began his songwriting career with the number one “Baby Blue,” following a year and half later with the number one song “Love Without End, Amen” which stayed on the charts for 5 weeks. “Easy Come, Easy Go” and, “I’d Like To have That One Back” were later added to his list of number songs recorded by George Strait.

Doug Supernaws’ released “Not Enough Hours In The Night.” George Strait released “I Know She Still Loves Me” and “I Can Still Make Cheyenne” and went straight to the number one position.

Aaron has had several other artist do some of his songs such as Clay Walkers’ release “Watch This”, and “You’re Beginning To Get To Me.” Neal McCoy’s “Love Happens Like That,” Aaron Tippin’s “I’m Leavin’” and Lonestar’s single “What About Now,” “The Questionaire” by Tracy Lawrence. Of special interest to people in the Southern tier of the United States Aaron also writes and sings the Blue Bell Ice Cream Commercials. Such as, “Have Yourself A Blue Bell Country Day” and “The Good Ol’ Days”.

Jenny Gill

Jenny grew up in a musical family that Nashville has grown to call Country Music “Royalty”. The daughter of award winners Vince Gill and Amy Grant, Jenny has two of the best roll models in town. But, put aside the linage and what you have is one of the best singers Nashville ever heard! What a voice! Whether she’s paying tribute to Dad or singing her own renditions of bluesy, sultry, in your face songs, she’s a knockout all by her lonesome.

Come and get a rare chance to hear Jenny close up and….at The Swallow At The Hollow!

Stacy Donahue

A multi-dimensional artist, her passion for singing may only be matched by her enthusiasm for songwriting. It was with a song she wrote herself that she was selected as a finalist from the Chicago area to compete and perform in the Colgate Country Showdown at Country Thunder 2004 in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. Stacy outperformed all other individual performers, taking third place behind two band acts. Nashville was waiting.

She spent two years playing gigs down on Broadway before deciding to truly take control of her career. While many singers in Nashville are content to make due with the talent they have, Stacy has chosen to take time off from the stage to hone her skills. I recently read a quote that said “the only way to predict the future is to create it, Stacy says. “And that’s exactly what I’m doing every single day.

Jon Nite

Born in Amarillo, TX, Jon Nite grew up with roots planted deep in country, blues, and acoustic rock. Jon studied music at Belmont in Nashville. As a finalist in the CMT/NSAI song contest, Jon earned a reputation as an up and coming writer/artist to watch. His vocals have been on a Grammy/Dove nominated country project and in the motion picture Hot Rod. In 08, Jon signed with ZMG music. He has worked closely with producers Russ Zavitson and Ed Seay. Several artists have recorded Jon’s songs: Sweethearts of the rodeo, Blake Shelton, Telluride, Layne Wrye, and Megan Conner. He has opened for artists such as Restless Heart, Trisha Yearwood, Randy Owen, The Trailer Choir, Lee Brice, and Bucky Covington. He is currently writing in Nashville and playing shows across the southeast U.S.