One Great Reason to Drive From Western Colorado to Las Vegas This May

If you're a Country Music fan, make plans to jump in your car during the month of May and make the drive to Las Vegas. This is your chance to hobnob with some of Country's finest.

How would you like to hang out and enjoy a show with some of the biggest songwriters in all of Country music? What if you could pull up a chair or bar stool and listen to their stories and hear their music? You can.

Check out the Mizuya Lounge at the Mandalay Bay. Every Friday night the venue presents a free show, Nashville Unplugged. This show features several of the most influential songwriters in the business.

Performances start at 8 p.m. There's no cover charge to speak of. Seating disappears quickly, so get there early.

What exactly is "Nashville Unplugged: The Story Behind the Song"? According to the event's official Facebook page, it is a songwriter in the round show that "brings the most successful, hit songwriters from Nashville right to you."

I would say that description is right on the money. In addition to telling the stories behind their hit songs, the writers also perform a tune or two.

When I was there last October, I enjoyed the opportunity to hang out with Brice Long. What tunes has he written? Well, for starters, one of the best tunes to hit Country radio in years, Randy Houser's hit "Like a Cowboy."

Who will you find performing at Nashiville Unplugged in May 2018? Aaron Benward will be there, for starters. As a songwriter, he wrote, produced and sang the theme song for Bravo’s hit tv show “Project Runway.” He is also behind numerous songs for ABC’s “Nashville.”

Travis Howard will also be appearing in May. Travis’ career began with Miranda Lambert on the first season of the USA Network’s Nashville Star. Together, they wrote 10 songs over 3 #1 albums. Travis' tunes have been recorded by Dierks Bentley, Emily West, and Charlie Worsham.

Make plans to attend Nashville Unplugged. This is the real story behind Country music. This show alone is worth the drive to Las Vegas. Festivals are great, and concerts are always fun. This, however, is the chance to see some of the best in the business in a very intimate setting. Make the drive, and enjoy a night of genuine Country with some of the biggest names in songwriting.