Cole Villena
- Communications and Marketing Manager, Walk Bike Nashville
Nashville
Articles by Cole Villena
Critic's Pick: Soccer Mommy & Snail Mail
Hometown hero Soccer Mommy (aka Sophie Allison) has racked up several Best of Nashville awards throughout her decade-long career, including Best Single (for 2024’s “Lost”), Best Rock Album (for 2022’s Sometimes, Forever) and Best Record That’s Accidentally Perfect for a Pandemic (for 2020’s Color Theory). This fall, she’s teaming up with her friend Snail Mail for the 26-date S&M Tour, which will make a strong case for next year’s Best No-Brainer Indie Rock Tour award.
Critic's Pick: My Chemical Romance
You might think My Chemical Romance would take the easy path with their Long Live The Black Parade tour, which commemorates the album that still inspires swoopy-haired teens and emo adults two decades after its release. The album’s original 2007 tour brought era-defining fashion and creepy but cool over-the-top theatrics, including blimps that would rise over the crowd during the album’s title song. Would it have been so bad for the band to just do that again, 20 years later? We’ll never know.
Critic's Pick: Tori Amos
Tori Amos has spent three-and-a-half decades putting her declarations on pretty much any topic worth talking about — religion, womanhood, loss, politics, family legacy and abuse, to name a few — to music, powering her way to commercial and critical success thanks to virtuosic piano playing and rich lyricism.
Critic's Pick: The Sewing Club
Members of The Sewing Club say Saturday will be their “first official Nashville headline show,” which is a surprising milestone for a band that’s been playing the Music City club circuit and touring cross-country with bands like Arlie and chokecherry since 2022.
Critic's Pick: Enjoy Food From World Cup Nations
We’re well into the 2026 FIFA World Cup now, and more than half of the tournament’s 48 teams have already headed home after being eliminated in the group stage and knockout rounds. While these nations’ North American adventures are over, you can always be a winner by treating yourself to dishes from World Cup qualifiers big and small.
Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball Returns Feb. 4
Dorie (left) and Izzy Harrison Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball is back in Nashville. The women’s league returns Wednesday, Feb. 4, and players and league leaders are hoping to follow up on a strong inaugural season at Nashville Municipal Auditorium. “We knew when we decided that we wanted to come here that this is a place rich with basketball history,” says Megan Perry, AU’s vice president of basketball.
Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball to Return to Nashville
Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball is set to return to Nashville this winter, bringing players from across Middle Tennessee, the WNBA and the country back to Nashville Municipal Auditorium. The league held its first season in Nashville last year and rode a surge in popularity for women’s basketball, setting attendance and merch sales records for its four-year history. The new season, which tips off Feb.
The Beths Bring Power-Pop Perfection to Brooklyn Bowl
New Zealand rock outfit The Beths dispelled Saturday night’s rain and gloom with 90 minutes of power-pop perfection, serving up catchy riffs, impeccable musicianship and delightful onstage energy. It was the band’s first headlining set in Nashville since 2023, though they have been back through since, supporting The National at Ascend Amphitheater and playing Bonnaroo.
Zac Farro Debuts a Groovy New Chapter
Zac Farro, the Franklin-raised drumslinger who’s helped turn Paramore into one of Middle Tennessee’s most beloved exports, kicked off a new chapter in his solo career Saturday at The Blue Room at Third Man Records with the release show for Operator. The LP is Farro’s first under his own name, following five releases from his project halfnoise. The perpetually hatted percussionist has played with a lot of different sonic textures in his work outside Paramore.
Bonnaroo 2025 Canceled Due to Weather
After a series of weather delays, organizers officially canceled the 2025 run of Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival Friday evening, following heavy rainfall that soaked the festival grounds on The Bonnaroo Farm in Manchester.
Athletes Unlimited Proves Nashville’s Appetite for Women’s Basketball
When confetti fell in Municipal Auditorium on March 2, it was a celebration of four weeks of basketball excellence from Dallas Wings forward Maddy Siegrist. The second-year pro was crowned as the top individual performer of Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball, a professional women’s basketball league that made its home in Nashville this year. But the season finale that day was also a joyous occasion for fans of the game in general.
The People Issue 2025: WNBA Coach Stephanie White
No one is better equipped to illustrate Nashville’s recent history than Ricky Rogers. As the photo archivist at The Tennessean, Rogers combs the paper’s century-old library of photos to create galleries of “Nashville Then.” The galleries are available on the paper’s website and on criminally under-followed social media pages like the @nashville_then Instagram page.
Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball Week 1 recap: Bradford, Siegrist lead the way
Athletes Unlimited kicked off last week at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium, giving Music City fans a taste of professional women’s basketball. Evina Westbrook’s team of efficient guards set the pace in the first week, locking up all but one of the top spots in the league’s individual leaderboard. Crystal Bradford topped the individual leaderboard by securing the most individual stat points and team win points as a member of Team Westbrook, impressing both as a shooter and a rebounder.
What Do the Arcade’s Tenants Think About Its New Chapter?
Nashville’s Arcade has a storied history. It first opened in 1902, with architecture based on the open-air bazaars of Milan, Italy, and became a hub for downtown foot traffic long before the honky-tonks of Lower Broadway. In more recent years, it’s become an engine for the local art community as the home of the First Saturday Art Crawl. But Nashville’s rapid growth brought new places to eat, shop and do business.
Hearing From the Arcade’s New Owners
The Arcade’s new look started to take shape after a group of investors — including local real estate power player Rob Lowe and an affiliate of the Manhattan-based real estate company Linfield Capital — purchased the property for $28 million in April 2021. The new owners have worked to renovate the space and secure new tenants, charting a new course for the historic property.
Athletes Unlimited Brings Professional Women’s Basketball to Nashville
Professional women’s basketball is set to tip off at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium Wednesday with Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball. The league features stars from the Women’s National Basketball Association, the Southeastern Conference and around the basketball world. The monthlong competition begins as interest in the sport is especially high in Music City. In January, a group of investors launched a bid for a Nashville WNBA franchise, the Tennessee Summitt, which would begin play in 2028.
Athletes Unlimited brings professional women’s basketball to Nashville
Professional women’s basketball is set to tip off at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium Wednesday with Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball. The league features stars from the Women’s National Basketball Association, the Southeastern Conference and around the basketball world. The monthlong competition begins as interest in the sport is especially high in Music City. In January, a group of investors launched a bid for a Nashville WNBA franchise, the Tennessee Summitt, which would begin play in 2028.
Severe Weather Resources
The best way to stay safe during a severe weather event is to be prepared. That’s especially true in Middle Tennessee, where residents can experience everything from floods and tornadoes to hurricanes and snowstorms — occasionally in the same year. Here are some resources to stay safe. Nashville Severe Weather Nashvillians have a fantastic resource in Nashville Severe Weather, which posts updates to nashvillesevereweather.com and streams on its YouTube channel during severe weather events.
Hey Thanks, New Mexico State Aggies
The college football world rejoiced — and marveled — when the long-suffering Vanderbilt Commodores defeated the nation’s top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide on Oct. 5. It barely made sense: What had changed since last season, when the ’Dores failed to win a single Southeastern Conference game?
Hey Thanks, Affordable Dental Care Providers
Dental health is an essential part of overall well-being, but it’s not always accessible to Tennesseans. Medicare, for example, doesn’t include dental coverage, and TennCare didn’t expand to cover certain dental procedures until 2023. That’s why we’re grateful for organizations like the Lentz Dental Clinic, which provides both comprehensive care for kids (ages 20 and younger) and emergency care for adults.
In the Club: Nashville Backgammon Association
In the Club is a recurring series in which the Scene explores Nashville’s social club offerings. If you’re ever at the Midtown bar Hi-Fi Clyde’s on a Tuesday evening, you might stumble upon a dozen or so folks thoughtfully gazing at rows of checkers on ornate wooden boards. You might also hear the clatter of dice and the “Aha!” that accompanies a good roll. These are the members of the Nashville Backgammon Association, a club that has met in Music City for 26 years.
Tiger Bar
A theme bar is a delicate balancing act. Commit too hard and you’ll feel tacky, like a grown-up Rainforest Cafe. But people notice if you don’t go far enough, slinging out “drink specials” that are just normal drinks with cutesy names. Tiger Bar executes its 1930s carnival sideshow theme perfectly. The interior is tremendously photogenic, and the menu offers old-timey American spirits along with circus-themed drinks that bring just the right amount of kitsch.
McKay’s
With “The Ultimate McKay’s Road Trip,” the beloved book and music warehouse challenged shoppers to visit all five locations across Tennessee and North Carolina in one day for up to $800 in store credit. The response was clearly bigger than the company expected: Thousands turned up at each store, and emergency workers were enlisted to manage endless snaking lines.
Road Trip Issue 2024: Natchez Trace by Bike
At Mile 117.1 of my Alabama-to-Tennessee road trip, I steadied myself on my handlebars and pulled out my phone. As I plodded past lush greenery under a perfectly blue sky, I made a voice memo documenting a realization I’d made two miles earlier. “I’ve decided,” I said between labored breaths, pedaling away on a bicycle loaded with 30 pounds of clothes, food, water and camping equipment, “I do hate you, Natchez Trace.” A dramatic pause for an audience of no one.
In the Club: Nashville in Harmony
In the Club is a recurring series in which the Scene explores Nashville’s social club offerings. At every year-end concert, my high school chorus sang the same simple refrain: “There is no such beauty as where you belong.” The line made us cry every time because the chorus room was where we belonged — it was a place where we could talk about our emotions, fears and triumphs with people who were really listening, and it was a place where we could channel those feelings into meaningful art.
Summer Guide 2024: Meet Courier Tyler the Bike Guy
If you’ve ever gotten your lunch dropped off by a guy wearing an enormous insulated backpack and a helmet, that might have been Tyler Logel. He’s one of the Nashville bicycle couriers who ride hundreds of miles a week making deliveries on apps like DoorDash. “It’s not easy to get in the rhythm of putting in that many miles every day carrying a loaded pack,” Logel says.
O’Connell Unveils New Details on $3.1 Billion Transit Plan Original
Nashville voters have more details about the city’s much-anticipated transit referendum, which could bring new transit centers, 24/7 transit service, sidewalk improvements and modern traffic signals to the city. The plan, which — pending approval by the comptroller and the Metro Council — will cost $3.1 billion and be on ballots for the Nov. 5 election, would create a dedicated funding source for transit drawn from a 0.5 percent bump in Davidson County sales taxes.
Nashville Scene's People Issue: Advocate Joseph Gutierrez
Joseph Gutierrez had never heard of Murfreesboro until he moved from California — to South Korea. It’s not a typical moving-to-Middle Tennessee tale: The Los Angeles native attended UCLA and dreamt of living abroad, so he moved to Incheon, South Korea, to teach English. Once there, he fell in love with an Asian American woman named Monica and eventually followed her when she moved back home to be closer to family in Murfreesboro.
Hey Thanks, Poll Workers
Following the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump tried to villainize poll workers with accusations of fraud, corruption and all sorts of harebrained schemes as part of his attempt to reject the electoral results. The strategy is still popular among far-right candidates: After she was defeated at the polls in October, Franklin mayoral candidate Gabrielle Hanson cried voter fraud despite providing no evidence and never communicating with the election commission there.
Hey Thanks, People of the Music City Bikeway
This year I resolved to bike to work whenever possible, and I never would have stuck to my goal if not for the Music City Bikeway. The trail provides a convenient ride between my house in Inglewood and the Scene’s office in the Gulch, but what’s kept me coming back is the delightfully random assortment of people there at all times of day.
Zac Farro Channels Japanese City Pop and American Metropolises on ‘City Talk’
It’s never easy to guess what a new HalfNoise record will sound like. Since Zac Farro — a longtime multi-instrumentalist and Paramore member who's produced records for artists like Becca Mancari and Elke — launched the solo project in 2010, his full-length releases have explored synth-soaked electronica (Sudden Feeling), dancey, groovy garage rock (Natural Disguise) and ’70s-style soft rock carried by lush string arrangements (Motif). But the title of the forthcoming City Talk — out Friday, Nov.
One-Fifth of Downtown Nashville Is Devoted to Parking. Is That a Good Thing?
Downtown Nashville is one of the most popular tourist areas in the South and home to around 14,000 residents, according to the Nashville Downtown Partnership. In a city encircled by massive interstates where driving is the most common form of transportation by far, visiting the area means you’ll need a car to get there and a place to park once you arrive. So how easy is it to find a spot?
Ringo Starr Inducted Into Musicians Hall of Fame
Ringo Starr, the musical heartbeat of The Beatles and arguably the most adored drummer ever, has a lot of awards, from two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions to a knighthood bestowed by Queen Elizabeth II. So what does it mean to be inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame, which honors the legendary players who craft, perform and record songs?
Islamic Center of Tennessee Granted Restraining Order After ‘Hostile Takeover,’ Confrontation
The Islamic Center of Tennessee filed suit against former organization board chair Salah Ayesh for staging a “hostile takeover” of the community center for Muslims located in Antioch. The lawsuit alleges that Ayesh, accompanied by two of his employees from his real estate business, stole documents from the center, interrupted worship services and impersonated a member of the Center’s board of directors.
Shotgun Willie’s, MaeMax Market and More Are Building Madison’s Dining Scene
When you’re driving north on Gallatin Pike, it’s easy to think you’re wheeling ever further from the trendy restaurants and award-winning eateries of downtown and East Nashville into a culinary dead zone of fast-food spots and chains. But look beyond the Golden Arches: Madison is establishing itself as a destination for great local eats. Drive up to Tacos y Mariscos Lindo Mexico and pick up the pollo asado al carbon (a favorite of Scene editor-in-chief D.
Foo Fighters Stand Strong, Paramore Rocks and Bops to Wrap Bonnaroo
“Did you just say ‘Happy Father’s Day’?” asked Dave Grohl. “Aw, shit!” He was talking to his daughter Violet Grohl, who joined him during the closing set of Bonnaroo to sing “Shame Shame” and “Show Me How” — two songs she’d performed on in the studio with Dad’s band, the Foo Fighters. He’d introduced her as his “favorite singer in the world,” she’d sung well and she was now trying to get backstage while still looking cool.
Odesza, Lil Nas X, Jenny Lewis and More Connect Old and New at Bonnaroo
In decades past, you were likely to become a fan of electronic music in general and specific artists or producers through word of mouth, or else you’d find it for yourself at a club, a rave or a record store. Even producers with major followings were more likely to be known for their work with or influence on musicians who make pop or hip-hop. That legacy lingers even in our hyper-connected present.
Kendrick Lamar, Three 6 Mafia, MUNA and More Keep Bonnaroo Rolling
Aside from Bonnaroo being a special occasion on its own, fans and artists alike often mark milestones at the fest.
Seeking Council: Candidates Pitch Different Versions of Governance in District 6
East Nashville residents love to say the area, full of beloved local businesses, offbeat community events and wide neighborhood streets, is the best place to live in the city. For folks outside of East Nashville’s District 6, however, there’s an obvious headline for this council race: This district, currently home to the Tennessee Titans’ Nissan Stadium, will soon likely see billions of dollars in investment and development related to the new Titans stadium and East Bank buildouts.
Festival Frenzy 2023: Kendrick Lamar, Odesza and Foo Fighters Headline Bonnaroo
Diarrhea Planet Per tradition, there is no official headliner on Thursday, but Diarrhea Planet, who’ll take over That Tent at 11:45 p.m., are headliners in our hearts. The pop ’n’ punk guitarmy honed their chops in Nashville rock clubs and built an exceptional international fan base before they said farewell in 2018. To the delight of many, they reunited for a couple of gigs in November, playing the final shows at Exit/In under its longtime management.
Giancarlo Guerrero to Step Down as Nashville Symphony Music Director
Nashville Symphony's Giancarlo Guerrero will set down his baton as the ensemble's full-time music director at the end of the 2024-25 season, concluding a 16-year run heading up the orchestra at the Schermerhorn. He will transition to music director laureate in the 2025-26 season and lead the orchestra part-time in 2026-27 as his successor transitions into the full-time role.
Nashville Online: Increasing Broadband Access in Underserved Parts of Middle Tennessee
When the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in the era of remote working and Zoom classrooms, many Nashvillians tidied up their home workspaces and shopped around to upgrade their internet connections. But for people in neighboring counties, where internet access was far from guaranteed for many residential properties, just getting online presented a challenge.
Nashville Online: Meet the Lego Man
Johnathan Pushkar gets paid to talk about Legos for a living. Maybe that’s not giving him enough credit. The Nashville-based creator of the YouTube channel MiniSuperheroesToday gets paid to research trends in the world of Lego collecting and building. He also films and edits videos about the hobby and manages an online presence with more than 125,000 followers across Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. Ultimately, he gets to talk about what he loves — and yes, indulge in his childhood hobby — every day.
Hayley Kiyoko Says Police Warned Her Against Drag Performances in Nashville
Queer pop musician Hayley Kiyoko brought her current tour to Marathon Music Works in Nashville Monday. In a social media post, the singer says she was warned by “local law enforcement” not to bring drag performers onstage to avoid violating Tennessee’s controversial anti-drag bill, which is currently on hold due to a temporary restraining order. Kiyoko, who performed with the drag artists anyway, shared the story in an emotional video posted on her Instagram account.
The Style Issue 2023: Secondhand Shopping Is for Everyone
Anyone could fall in love with shopping at a place like This ’n That Thrift. The Richland Park thrift store offers everything from new and used clothes to books and home goods to “bric-a-brac” — miscellaneous decorative goods otherwise called “knickknacks,” “knickknacks in your backpack” or just “tchotchkes” by store president Greer Broemel. The shop offers a perfect mixture of kitschy, unexpected goods and forgotten treasures looking for a new home. Take a look around, though.
The People Issue 2023: Franklin Community Organizer Kevin Riggs
No one should be homeless in Williamson County. The largely suburban county south of Nashville is one of the wealthiest in the country, with a median income of $115,806. There’s a thriving community of churches, charitable organizations and wealthy donors who gladly throw money at causes from historic preservation to food insecurity.
Concert Announcement Roundup: Drake, Counting Crows, Cave Fest and More
If you've noticed a deluge of concert announcements, you're not alone. Here's our rundown of some noteworthy stand-alone shows and festivals in Middle Tennessee to mark down on your calendar. Sevier Park Fest kicks off at 10 a.m. on May 6 at the 12South hangout. Will Hoge, Lilly Hiatt, Banditos and other performers will take two stages alongside a smattering of local vendors and community groups.
Depths of Wikipedia’s Annie Rauwerda Is Obsessed With Accessible Information
Annie Rauwerda loves Wikipedia. She loves that Wikipedia is, as she calls it, “the most accessible collection of information that humanity has ever had.” She loves its passionate community of volunteer editors, who incorporate new discoveries and information to that collection in real time.
Former Soho House Employee Files Discrimination Suit
A former employee at Soho House Nashville has filed suit against the club, alleging racial discrimination, retaliation and unlawful wage practices while he was employed there as a membership manager.
Paramore Rolls Out 15 Years of Hits at the Opry House
The last time Paramore played in their hometown was at 2018’s Art + Friends, a mini festival at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium meant as a final send-off after a year of touring their fifth studio album After Laughter. On Monday, the band returned to Music City for the inverse: an album release party for This Is Why, due Feb. 10. “Do you know how much has changed since 2018?” said frontwoman Hayley Williams, surveying the crowd at the Grand Ole Opry House.
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