In the first collaboration of its kind, circus-inspired entertainment company Cirque du Soleil has partnered with Universal Music Group Nashville to debut the country music spectacle Songblazers. Premiered on Wednesday, 10 July, at Nashville’s Tennessee Performing Arts Center, the production marks Cirque du Soleil’s first time delving into the realm of country music, incorporating some of the genre’s key milestones with a blend of acrobatics and timeless ballads.
The show was directed by Amy Tinkham, who has worked with music visionaries such as James Taylor, Aerosmith, and Sir Paul McCartney.
"To be asked to make a show about country music is a very daunting task because it’s giant,” Tinkham remarked in a press release. “So, the approach that I took was to go deeply into the history and crafting of a song, which is really key to country music. Telling the truth and telling the story is the beautiful part of country music, so that’s what Songblazers is about.”
The show itself aims to operate as a timeline of the growth of country music, featuring 35 songs from 1867 to the present. Some of the more recent hits include Shania Twain’s sassy Man! I Feel Like A Woman!, Garth Brooks’ Friends In Low Places, and Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up.
The world premiere in Nashville attracted a star-studded audience, including big names Sam Williams, Carlene Carter, BOWEN & YOUNG, Ty Herndon, Rob Mayes, and a host of other influential personalities. Following the debut’s reception, more performances have been rostered for Nashville, meanwhile the rest of the world will simply have to wait their turn.
Chair and CEO of UMG Nashville, Cindy Mabe, said of the show, "This production is a love letter to country music, highlighting its enduring impact through the ages. It's about celebrating our heritage while embracing the future.”
