If you weren't looking that close, Saturday's RecoveryFest would look like any other weekend festival - cornhole, food trucks and live music abound at the gathering at East Park.
However, the theme strikes a sober and life altering note among Nashvillians. Addiction is out there and it's worth talking about.
Many of the artists on stage at the event are recovering or recovered addicts themselves, like John McAndrew. He's just released a new album called Forgiven that chronicles his struggle with alcohol and drugs.
"It takes everything from you. So, when I got to the point when I was losing my mind, that's when I asked for help," McAndrew said.
McAndrew said the festival is about bringing the community of recovering addicts together, to support their growth and to keep them on a positive path.
Organizer Cindy Spelta said the event is important because it brings recovery to the foreground. It makes it all easier to talk about.
"It's important so that family and friends who are struggling with addiction or mental health disorders, don't have to be ashamed about it," Spelta said.
And it's not just alcohol, booths at the event offered information about recovering from opioids and other prescription drugs, or even eating disorders.
