The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

The Nature Conservancy’s roots will be showing — live and onstage — when it joins “Music City Roots: Live From The Loveless Cafe” this fall as the live radio program’s environmental partner and nonprofit sponsor.

 “Music City Roots: Live From The Loveless Cafe” is a weekly live radio show that showcases the Americana music scene. It will air Wednesday nights, 7-9 p.m., live from the Loveless Barn on the outskirts of Nashville. Opening night, October 14, will feature Americana icon Emmylou Harris, the acclaimed songwriting duo of Pam Rose and Mary Ann Kennedy, and emerging artists Annie Crane and Robin Aigner.

Staff from The Nature Conservancy’s Tennessee Chapter will be on hand every Wednesday night to share information on how people can get involved with conservation and make a lasting difference for future generations in Tennessee. Two shows in early 2010 will be designated “Nature Conservancy Nights” with the night’s gate receipts being donated to The Nature Conservancy. Details to follow at nature.org/tennessee and musiccityroots.com.

“We’re tickled to have been invited to be the environmental partner and nonprofit sponsor for ‘Music City Roots,’” says Gina Hancock, associate state director for The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee. “This is a very timely partnership. The environmental movement is now becoming mainstream. At the same time, the Americana movement is growing by leaps and bounds in popularity. Americana artists are among the most thoughtful and thought-provoking musicians on the scene today. They probe the nature of being human in today’s world, while at The Nature Conservancy we maintain the crucial human connection to nature and the vital services it provides. I’d say this partnership is a good marriage of hearts and minds.”

Each “Music City Roots” show will be emceed by WSM announcer Eddie Stubbs and guest hosted by singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale. Future shows will include such musical luminaries as Sam Bush, Radney Foster, Marshall Chapman, John Cowan, Dexter Romweber, Dale Ann Bradley, Peter Bradley Adams, Mike Farris, Scott Miller and Webb Wilder. The show is produced by Todd Mayo, founder of Music City Media and the subterranean radio show, “Bluegrass Underground,” which also airs on WSM 650-AM.

In addition to airing across much of the continental United States over WSM 650-AM, “Music City Roots: Live From The Loveless Cafe” will be streamed live on WSMonline.com. Previously aired programs will also be archived at the site for streaming on demand.

Tickets for the live show each Wednesday are $10 or $5 with a student ID. They are available in Nashville at Grimey’s New and Preloved Music or online at musiccityroots.com. Tickets may also be purchased in advance or on show nights at the Loveless Barn, at the intersection of Highway 100 and the Natchez Trace Parkway.