NASHVILLE — Nashville, Tennessee: Home of country music, southern barbecue, cowboy boots, big hair, and record deals. Thousands of tourists line the streets of Broadway each year to tour the legendary Country Music Hall of Fame, get musically baptized inside the Ryman Auditorium’s historic walls, or catch a glimpse of Taylor Swift eating a tomato-mozzarella panini at a local sandwich shop. And then there are the dream-chasers who pack up their cars or grab a bus and head to Music Row with visions of stardom twinkling in their eyes and worn-out guitar cases strapped to their backs.

Without a doubt, this is the Nashville everyone knows. It’s the Nashville you’ve seen on ABC at nine o’clock (eight if you actually live in Nashville) or maybe it’s the one your dad came to in the sixties to join the likes of Chet Atkins, Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline, and Eddy Arnold. But to the locals and those who’ve had the pleasure of peeking behind the red barn backdrop that is the Grand Ole Opry, there is an entire city that spans beyond bedazzled western shirts and smoke-filled karaoke lounges. There is a city of intense cultural intermingling – from food to religion and everything in-between.

And even musically, Nashville’s story is more diverse than you might think.

In an Associated Press article, country music it-girl Taylor Swift said, “I definitely think that with music my favorite thing about Nashville is that it’s a music hub that accepts and allows all genres to be present, and I think there’s been a kind of fusing of genres lately that for me makes me really happy and excited.”

Years ago, the once easily identifiable honky-tonk twang of the 1940s and 1950s eventually evolved into the crooning and more melodic Nashville Sound of the early sixties. Producers quickly began to call on a group of musicians known as the “Nashville A-Team.” Known for their creativity and ability to adapt, these troubadours of country music began contributing to hit after hit, quickly propelling Nashville into the second largest record-producing city in the nation, behind only New York City.

From that point on, the music scene has only continued to grow and adapt; it’s no longer your grandfather’s Nashville. Although it’s impossible to ignore the country music influence that is still the city’s musical backbone, it’s also impossible not to recognize the multitude of other musical and social influences that make the city what it is.

On any given day you can see residents Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, or Tim McGraw about town, but Music City has also drawn in the likes of pop star Matt Kearney and infamous former White Stripes guitarist Jack White, who has his own studio in Nashville and was named “Nashville Music City Ambassador” in 2011 by Mayor Karl Dean.

The musical hodgepodge that is the modern-day music city has been embraced by locals and enticed gadabouts to prop up their boots, hang up their hats, and stay for awhile – even if their hats happen to be fedoras instead of the classic ten-gallon variety.

English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello recently told late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon, “People think it [Nashville] is all about country music, and I know a lot of country music has come out of there, but Blonde on Blonde by Bob Dylan was recorded there. A lot of great records – R&B records, jazz records. It’s a lot of great players and great studios.”

And the sound is spreading. Once rural or suburban, the outer communities of Davidson County no longer rely on large venues or big events downtown to keep the music going. From East Nashville’s eclectic bars and restaurants to Bellevue’s parks and outdoor life, there are plenty of places to grab some local food and hear something you’ve never heard before.

Within Nashville’s city limits, about ten miles south of the Broadway bards and boot-clad bachelorettes, lies Flatrock. The Southern Nashville community as a whole, which includes Flatrock, has a population of nearly 75,000 residents, most of whom are young families, retirees, and single thirty-somethings whose median income is around $45,000 a year. This working class area is known for its cultural diversity – residents from Mexico, Iraq, El Salvador, Vietnam, Ethiopia, and Iran all call it home. With this varied ethnic mix living in such close quarters, the blend of cultures comes through in the food, music, and art that make Flatrock what it is today.

In 2008, Flatrock resident and former booking agent for Nashville’s Exit/In music venue Thomas “T.C.” Weber, along with other members of the community, came up with idea of hosting a local festival that celebrates the distinct characteristics and people that make up Flatrock. This was the beginning of the Hands Together in Flatrock Music and Arts Festival.

Now in its sixth year, the festival has seen a tremendous growth in attendance. Thousands of patrons come from miles around to hear music of all genres, taste local cuisine, and enjoy the art and entertainment on a Saturday in late May. Although there are many music festivals in the greater Nashville area, the Flatrock festival prides itself on its diverse mix of big-name artists and up-and-coming locals, which are are all booked by festival organizer and musician Irene Kelley.

Kelley moved to Flatrock 11 years ago from Mt Juliet. In 2006, she started to learn more about the neighborhood after getting her Realtor’s license.  She began attending community meetings, where she met T.C.Weber, who was trying to get a festival started with other community members.

“I told TC with my background in the music business, I’d like to help by performing and also help to book other performers,”

Seven years later, Kelley is still as active as ever in the annual festival planning.

The music is as diverse as the community itself, and over the years country hit makers, singer-songwriters, African, Zydeco, Latino, New Orleans jazz, pop, folk, and rock have all been represented on the Flatrock stage. Performers have included multi-platinum-selling recording artists Blackhawk; renowned singer-songwriter Buzz Cason, who is known for his collaborations with the Beatles, U2, and Pearl Jam; ‘60s and ‘70s tribute band Boomerang; the Latin band Kazique; local favorites Jeff Skorik, Like Candy Red, and Raining Faith; and even Irene Kelley herself.

“We have no shortage of great music to choose from,” Kelley said. “We try to keep it fresh and give the community the opportunity to experience the best of what is right under their nose.”

In addition to booking, Kelley secures funding from sponsors, serves as MC on the main stage, and helps with post-festival clean up. The music and community involvement have kept her coming back year after year.

“We are definitely unique with lots of cultural diversity. The folks that are starting to move in are younger families and that is really exciting to see.  The festival had been paramount to folks getting to know one another on a face-to-face basis,” she said.

Family and neighbors are definitely at the root of the festival, which is also something that Kelley is familiar with. Both of her daughters have contributed to the festival over the years. Justyna and Sara Jean Kelley are both musicians who have performed and helped manage the stages for festivals in the past.

Beyond the musical lineup is something even more synonymous with Flatrock’s unique flair – the food.

“We have some of the best food in Nashville and the festival really showcases that,” Kelley said.

From upstart food trucks with smoothies and burritos to local burger and wing joints, the Flatrock festival is a food lovers’ paradise. One local favorite that sets up a booth each year is Dairy King, a traditional Southern meat-and-three owned by Flatrock resident Jeff Jones. The iconic restaurant has been serving up comfort food in South Nashville for more than 40 years. Jones was born and raised in Flatrock and his family has always been very involved in the local community. His parents, Thelma and Dudley Jones, bought the Dairy King four decades ago.

“My family was very active at Vultee Church of Christ and very involved in school functions. We bought the Dairy King in 1970. I guess I have just continued the involvement,” Jones said.

At the time, Dairy King served reasonably priced food to families and teenagers who were often on outings or dates at the Wee Tee Golf Course next door. But with the arrival of fast-food chains, Themla Jones began cooking more traditional Southern-style entrees like ham, green beans, and other vegetables to stay competitive – and with that, a meat-and-three was born.

But 40 years of restaurant ownership hasn’t come without its fair share of struggles. In 1979, Nashville experienced a devastating flood when several inches of rain caused the Mill Creek waters to rise, drowning the community. The Dairy King was flooded and the Jones family was devastated; but with the help of volunteers, the restaurant reopened in only ten days.

“In those days, there was less government restrictions regarding flood plain property,” Jeff Jones said.

The restaurant wasn’t nearly as lucky in early May of 2010. Once again, after two straight days of torrential downpours, the entire city of Nashville found itself under water, and the Dairy King was no exception. Homes and businesses were completely destroyed and the city was in a state of emergency. As for the Dairy King, this time, with new zoning codes and permit restrictions, rebuilding in the same spot was not an option. Although the Jones family was devastated after losing the building that housed them for more than four decades, they were able to secure a new spot just two miles down the road on East Thompson Lane. Once again, with the help of volunteers, the Dairy King reopened much to the excitement of the local community.

“If the city of Nashville had its own family room, it might be inside the Dairy King restaurant,” said Nashville’s WZTW FOX17.

That Dairy King tradition has continued to this day, and that’s what patrons have come to love. Jones brings homestyle Southern food to his booth at the Flatrock festival and keeps the setup simple.

“We have had a booth selling chocolate fried pies, and we sold white beans and cornbread a few years ago,” Jones said. “I usually bring two pop-up tents, a couple tables, a generator for a simple heat lamp, a food warmer, and the such.”

After the 2010 flood, Flatrock festival organizers made the decision to contribute a portion of proceeds toward helping flood victims rebuild their homes and businesses, extending their support to the community.

If music, food, and community involvement weren’t enough, the Flatrock festival is also a hub for local artwork, with vendor booths ranging from handmade jewelry, pottery, and textiles to custom artwork and locally made lotions.

In the past, booth vendors have included artist and musician Brandon Bagby; pottery and jewelry makers Laughlin Fine Arts; local painter Wes Butler; and Rainy Waters Heavenly Experience’s Daniell Williams, who makes her own natural botanical body scrubs.

In addition to local vendors, there are also a wide variety of interactive children’s activities in a special kids’ play zone, including face-painting, portrait sketching, and the popular Musical Petting Zoo offered by the Country Music Hall of Fame. The Musical Petting Zoo allows children to play all sorts of instruments – from guitars to drums and percussion to violins to banjos and mandolins – under the guidance of instructors who are available to help.

The diversity of the community is represented each year through eclectic musical performances, palate-pleasing foods, interactive children’s exhibits, and talented local artists and artisans at the Hands Together in Flatrock Music and Arts Festival, and the 2014 event looks to expand on that. This year’s festival will feature Nashville’s Claire Lynch as the musical headliner.

“Claire is 2013 IBMA female vocalist of the year, and it is a great honor to have her perform. She tours all over America and Europe, and I feel really lucky to be getting her contracted to perform for our festival especially in the height of the bluegrass festival season when she is in great demand worldwide,” Irene Kelley said.

As the festival continues to grow, it is clear that Nashville is more than just cowboy boots and honkey-tonks. It is a cultural quilt that weaves together Southern charm, ethnic pride, and rich traditions. And the Hands Together in Flatrock Music and Arts Festival is part of that.

“I hope to see the festival continue to grow. More artists will display their wares, and I know the music will continue to delight and change,” said Kelley.  “We are after all in the heart of music city