Freely Fest Brings First Amendment Conversations To Nashville

Freely Fest Logo (Freely Fest)

Bridgestone Arena will host the inaugural Freely Fest, a musical event designed to help bridge a widening gap in constitutional comprehension among music fans.   

The Killers, T-Pain, and Dominic Fike will headline the sold-out festival Wednesday night. The organizers say the music is a "universal language" used to spark a much-needed dialogue about the First Amendment.  

Put on by the nonpartisan nonprofit Freedom Forum, the festival comes at a time when free expression is a frequent point of conversation on college campuses.  

“Nashville is the center of music and creativity. It has a First Amendment story rooted in free expression through music, art and culture,” said Kevin Goldberg, vice president of the

Freedom Forum and First Amendment expert.  

Nashville was a "no-brainer" due to its deep historical ties to the First Amendment, including the Civil Rights movement and its vibrant music scene, Goldberg said.  

The Freedom Forum’s long-standing connection to the city through local figures like John Seigenthaler, who helped establish the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University, Goldberg also noted. 

Freedom Forum felt it was crucial to host its first event in Nashville, where music is ingrained in its history and culture, and music has been a consistent method to communicate social and political views. 

“I think it’s one of the most effective ways,” said Milla De Villiers, a sophomore songwriting major at Belmont University. 

A 2025 survey titled "Where America Stands" found that a vast majority of the public is unable to identify all five freedoms the First Amendment guarantees: speech, press, religion, assembly and petition.  

"Only 10% of the people we surveyed could name all five freedoms without assistance," Goldberg said. "One in four could not name any." 

Only four people were able to name all five freedoms that the First Amendment protects according to a survey that the Vision conducted out of 39 students. The survey was sent to Belmont’s songwriting department in their weekly email.  

"Most students don’t quite understand their First Amendment rights; Freely Fest is trying to change that," Goldberg said.  

He noted that many students loosely associate the amendment with "free speech" but lack a clear understanding of when those protections apply to their work.  

"It’s easier to teach someone something or think you're going to teach someone something, but it really sticks when they feel it," Goldberg said. "By combining a lot of music and storytelling... it's going to resonate with them and showcase the importance of First Amendment freedoms in a way that is accessible and relevant."  

For student artists in Nashville, the festival highlights a critical legal distinction: the First Amendment only protects individuals from government interference, not private institutions.  

While public universities must respect constitutional protections, private schools like Belmont are allowed to set their own internal policies regarding speech and expression. 

“I’ve never felt like Belmont has pushed a certain narrative,” De Villiers said. “I feel like it’s a very inclusive campus.”  

The festival begins Wednesday at 3 p.m. with activities outside Bridgestone Arena which are open to the public.  

For more information on Freely Fest, visit freelyfest.org 

This article was written by Emma Parvin and Quinn Wells