Country songwriter showcase expands

Any country fan worth the cowboy hat knows the Jason Aldean hit "She's Country." But does said country fan know the song is co-written by Danny Myrick? Do they care? Would they show up to see Myrick perform it?

After three years, the answer to at least the latter two is yes, time and time again.

"Nashville Unplugged," a songwriters' showcase that once might have seemed a bit "inside" for Las Vegas, just celebrated its three-year anniversary, an expansion to a weekly schedule, and a new companion radio show.

Starting Friday, the showcase will spend every Friday at one of two locations, adding Red Rock Resort's lounge to the Ovation venue at Green Valley Ranch Resort.

For those who like to drive, each week offers different writers at each casino. This Friday it's Philip White, who penned "I'm Movin' On" for Rascal Flatts and Liz Rose, a frequent collaborator with Taylor Swift. July 13 marks the debut at Red Rock Resort with writers Sherrie Austin and Will Rambeaux.

"This is really where we wanted to go with it. We wanted to educate as many people as possible about the art and craft of songwriting," says Brian McComas, who organizes and hosts the show with Aaron Benward.

Some nights have hosted singer-songwriters with higher profiles as performers, such as Keith Anderson, Paul Overstreet, Troy Gentry (of Montgomery Gentry) and Rodney Atkins.

But more of the showcases "celebrate the unsung heroes of Nashville," McComas says. Even so, audience turnout justifies the crosstown expansion, and most of the patrons are "civilians" who aren't trying to write or sell songs themselves.

"You have to remember, these are the songs that are the soundtracks to people's lives," McComas says. "They care about why it was written."

The radio version of "Unplugged" launches at 9 a.m. Saturday on host station "The Coyote," KCYE-FM 102.7. It's a separate studio broadcast, not audio from the live show. ...

Rich Little has found 350 to be a magic number these days. That's the size of the Shimmer Cabaret at the Las Vegas Hotel (former Hilton), and apparently not an overreach for the impressionist's "Jimmy Stewart & Friends." The show has been extended again, to Aug. 22.

And if business holds up, there's no other act booked for the time slot beyond then to keep Little from extending again, says Rick White, who oversees entertainment for the property.

More from the LVH: Monday and Tuesday's benefit performances of Stephen Sondheim's "Company" are in the main theater, continuing a promising trend of community theater groups doing shows in casino venues.

Bill Fayne will helm the 22-piece orchestra and steered the Golden Rainbow benefit into the LVH on the basis of previous work there with his Las Vegas Tenors.

The presenting organization, RagTag Entertainment, also did "Smokey Joe's Cafe" at Green Valley Ranch. Benefits plus local talent plus nice theater space sitting empty on weeknights. Could it equal more good things to come? ...

Finally, here's a test of your old-timerdom. You don't have to go back to seeing the real Elvis in Vegas, but do you remember the first faux Buddy Holly?

George Trullinger's long run in the early heyday of "Legends in Concert" was one of the things that had people talking about the show when this was a smaller town. (At least the couple I shared a cab with talked about him when I was here for the job interview: "Da guy who played Buddy Holly? I thought he was Buddy Holly!")

Today through Saturday finds Trullinger - who still works for "Legends" in other markets - back in town to sit in with Rock This Town at the Golden Nugget lounge.

"I am getting in touch with many old friends to drop by and sit in with the band," he says.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.