NASHVILLE – The NFL Draft is now one week away, and we're finding out more about the sights and sounds fans will see in Music City - in addition to the draft itself.
On Thursday, the NFL and Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp announced Nashville-based indie-alternative rock band Moon Taxi will kick off 2019 NFL Draft activities with a free performance on the Draft Main Stage on Thursday, April 25.
Also, country music singer-songwriter Lindsay Ell will open for Dierks Bentley on the main draft stage on Saturday, April 27, and country singer-songwriter Ryan Hurd has been added to the NFL Draft Experience Stage outside Nissan Stadium for an early set on Saturday, April 27 as runners from the St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon & ½ Marathon end their race and pass by draft activities near their finish line.
Hip hop artist Mez has also been added to the Thursday lineup at the Draft Experience Stage.
Each night of the three-day 2019 NFL Draft, from April 25-27, will feature a free concert. Grammy-award winner Tim McGraw will play on Friday, April 26, and multi-platinum singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley will play on Saturday, April 27, as previously announced.
In addition to those acts, as well as those previously announced, Sixwire will serve as the house band to provide entertainment between selections on Thursday and Friday on the main draft stage.
Also, Tennessee State University's Aristocrat of Bands marching band will perform at the NFL Draft Red Carpet at The Green at Riverfront Park on Thursday, April 25. As previously announced, Grammy-award winning gospel music great CeCe Winans will sing the National Anthem to open the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25.
More than 20 Nashville-based acts representing diverse genres of music will perform during the three days of activities on the Draft Main Stage and at the NFL Draft Experience Stage.
The 2019 NFL Draft is expected to be the largest event ever held in Nashville and the state of Tennessee. An estimated crowd of 100,000 is expected each day, with three national networks providing coverage as well as an estimated 2,000 credentialed media members.
Downtown Nashville's Lower Broadway and the area outside Nissan Stadium will host free, public activities for the 2019 NFL Draft. Viewing areas for the Draft Main Stage will include Second Avenue North from Broadway to Commerce, Lower Broadway up to Fifth Avenue and Music City Walk of Fame Park. These areas are free and open to the public and will be activated with video screens, food trucks, beverage stands and concessions.
Viewing areas will be activated at noon on Thursday, April 25 and Friday, April 26 and at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 27.
Other features of the NFL Draft, courtesy of the NFL and Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp., include:
Fireworks: Five-minute fireworks show at the conclusion of activities all three nights.
KVB Bridge Lights: The lights of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge (KVB Bridge) will light up in team colors as each NFL team announces selections during the First Round.
Community Food Drive: The NFL's community food drive as part of Huddle Against Hunger invites Nashville companies and organizations to participate and collect food for Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee and The Bridge Ministry.
Bicycle Parking: Bike racks will be available at Public Square Park at Third and Union where riders can park their bicycles. Please bring your own locks.
Dog Park: A temporary dog park is being created on the south side of Demonbreun Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenue for use by downtown residents, who usually use the dog park near The Green at Riverfront Park. The temporary dog park will be fenced and have dog bags and trash cans available.
Here's all the music scheduled for NFL Draft weekend:
Draft Main Stage on Lower Broadway
Moon Taxi will perform prior to selection activities on Thursday. The McGraw and Bentley concerts will both begin at the conclusion of selection activities on Friday and Saturday. Sixwire will serve as house band.
Thursday, April 25: Moon Taxi with CeCe Winans singing the National Anthem
Friday, April 26: Tim McGraw
Saturday, April 27: Dierks Bentley with Lindsay Ell opening
NFL Draft Experience Stage
Thursday, April 25:
New North (Americana)
Striking Matches (alternative rock, pop rock and blues rock)
Mez
Mikky Ekko (alternative)
Friday, April 26:
Jessy Wilson (neo soul/rock)
Willie Jones (country)
Kid Politics (indie pop)
Jonny P (soul)
Charlie Worsham (country singer-songwriter)
Rayland Baxter (alternative)
Saturday, April 27:
Ryan Hurd (country)
Katie Schecter (rock and roll and soul)
Jason Eskridge (soul)
Three Star Revival (soul/jam/funk/Americana/rock)
Andrew Combs (indie folk)
Charles Esten (country/rock "Nashville" TV show star)
