Music City Roots abandons plans for downtown music venue, ceases production

Music City Roots is ceasing production after plans for a downtown music venue fell through.

Despite the setback, one of Music City Roots' co-creators said that plans remain in the works to find a permanent venue in the Nashville area.

The weekly live music series launched in 2009, first at the Loveless Cafe, then moving to the Factory in Franklin. For the most recent season, the live concert, radio and streaming series bounced around to several different venues.

As the series grew in popularity, Music City Roots sought a permanent location.

Last year, the company announced plans to launch a new venue at the intersection of 6th Avenue South and Peabody Street in Nashville's SoBro neighborhood.

Americana stalwarts Jim Lauderdale, Elizabeth Cook and the McCrary Sisters appeared on Music City Roots in recent years. The show was also a champion for new artists.

More: 'Music City Roots' headed to Nashville, leaving The Factory at Franklin

Announcement of the abandoned plans came in a series of tweets on Wednesday morning.

"The company is healthy and our team is as passionate as ever about our mission," one of the tweets said. "Yet for the first time in a history that goes back to October of 2009, MCR must suspend production and distribution to our radio affiliates while we make arrangements for the middle and long term."

“We’re actively working on what will be our new, permanent home,” said Todd Mayo, the co-creator of Music City Roots, Wednesday afternoon.

Mayo is also the creator of the Bluegrass Underground, a subterranean concert series which recently relocated from Cumberland Caverns’ Volcano Room to The Caverns, a venue located near Pelham, Tenn. “We’re pursuing various angles and looking for the same kind of permanence and vibe for our new home as the Bluegrass Underground," he added. "We're looking to sink deeper roots into Davidson County, too.”

More: First Look: Bluegrass Underground's new home The Caverns

Thread: Important Message For Fans And Friends of MCR -

With a mix of hope and some sadness, we must announce to you, our family and community, that in recent days our previously announced plans for a downtown Nashville venue partnership have fallen through. — Music City Roots (@MusicCityRoots) July 11, 2018

Music City Roots was awarded $50,000 in grant dollars from the city's event marketing fund last month.

Reach Nate Rau at 615-259-8094 and nrau@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter @tnnaterau. Reach Juli Thanki on Twitter @julithanki or jthanki@tennessean.com.