Imagine the perfect summer road trip:  open highway, endless sunshine, nonstop fun, good friends and, most importantly, great music.  Now imagine this trip doesn’t have to end when Labor Day rolls around.

Starting today, OurStage is taking all of our blog readers  across the USA with our 50 State in 50 Weeks series! It’s everything you love about road trips without the steep gas prices and crummy motels.  Each week, you’ll find a new playlist highlighting great OurStage artists from a different state.  In honor of Bonnaroo, we are kicking off week one of 50 States in 50 Weeks with …

Home of: The American Museum of Atomic Energy, Davy Crockett, Dolly Parton

Fun Facts: The state flower is the iris; the state horse is the Tennessee Walking Horse; state songs include “My Homeland, Tennessee,” “When It’s Iris Time in Tennessee,” “My Tennessee,” “Tennessee Waltz,” “Rocky Top,” “Tennessee,” “The Pride of Tennessee”

The Venues: Anybody who’s anybody in the world of country music plays at The Grand Ole Opry. The oldest continuous radio program in the US, The Grand Ole Opry currently broadcasts live from Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House. Also in Nashville is Exit/Inn where rock crowds can catch acts as diverse as Etta James and GWAR. Yes, GWAR.

The Music:
prattle on, rick – In this one-man band, Patrick Rickelton makes sweet, melodic indie –pop/folk. “Reminiscing” is his spot-on tribute to the late, great Buddy Holly. Rave on, indeed.

The Turf – You may think The Turf’s upbeat indie rock comes from London or New York instead of the country music capitol of the world but you’re wrong. Their track “To The Disco” is just as catchy as anything by the Strokes or Kaiser Chiefs. In fact, you may remember it from our prom playlist a few weeks back. If you like what you hear, be sure to check out their fellow Nashville indie rockers hotpipes.

Canon Blue – Canon Blue creates musical atmospheres for both the mundane and insane. His song “Ennui” layers soft vocals over a backdrop of expertly blended musical textures. One listen and you’ll know why “Ennui” has been in the Experimental Channel’s top 10 for all of 2009.  So, if you crave novel but listenable music á la Bradford Cox’s Atlas Sound, Canon Blue is for you.

Buffalo Clover – Bringing the Tennessee twang is Buffalo Clover.  The band draws influences from early blues, folk and gypsy music to create a sound all their own. Their song “15 Reasons” finished in the Americana Channel’s top 10 last month.

Check out more Tennessee tunes below!