If you’re looking for the perfect soundtrack for the dog days of summer, Nashbash might just fit the bill. The now-annual event that mixes Nashville and Ann Arbor musical talent takes place Thursday afternoon and evening at the Farmers Market area in Kerrytown.

“It’s growing … people are really catching on,” said Whit Hill, the artistic force behind Nashbash and longtime member of the Ann Arbor arts community who now lives in Nashville. “I bet every year attendance has doubled. We had a big crowd last year, and the weather has always cooperated.”

She and her band, Whit Hill and the Postcards, are a part of the Nashbash roster, which also includes headliner Olivia West; Pam Kennedy Boylan; Steve Mitchell; Bill Bynum and Co., Louise Mosrie; Lisa Pappas; and Matt Boylan.

Contributing to the festival atmosphere, the Ann Arbor Artisans Market will be operating a trunk sale under the Farmers Market canopy. Barbecue and drinks (including beer and wine) will be available, served up by Aut Bar owners Keith Orr and Martin Contreras. Immediately following Nashbash, the Aut Bar (across the street at 315 Braun Court) will host an afterglow party with an open mic featuring many of the festival’s performers.

Hill said she is particularly excited about West’s appearance.

“I really wanted a woman just to balance it out a little bit; we’ve had three men and one woman so far. … (Olivia) is exactly who we’re looking for: someone who is up and coming, under the radar but really good and really driven as both a writer and an artist/performer trying to work her way up the ladder.

“She’s fun, fun, fun, with great songs, and a great voice. She’s true country — nothing ‘alt’ about her,” added Hill.

West agreed with that assessment. “I grew up doing gospel; I listened to the blues so much in Kansas City. Then I did Christian rock for a while,” she said. “I would say I definitely have other influences; however, I am country through and through. Lifestyle-wise you don’t get any more country than me and my voice sounds very country, and I can’t change that even if I wanted to.”

She is so country, in fact, her dog is named Patsy Cline.

“I can take her walking after midnight,” she quipped, invoking the title of one of the late country singer’s biggest hits.

West — who has a gospel music background and who released the album “Alone and Personal - Acoustic Sessions” in March — was in a Christian rock band until she moved to Nashville, where record execs convinced her to change her sound.

“I realized I wanted to switch to country because I was in the country music capital and had grown up on country. You can still be a Christian in country — you’re allowed to sing about God in bars.”

“It’s been about 4 years (since I got to Nashville), and about half the people on the radio are my good friends. It’s interesting — they say it’s all who you know, but they don’t say how easy it is to know those people.”

For her part, Hill and her band (singer /keyboardist/ guitarist/ husband Al Hill, bassist Patrick Prouty and drummer Chuck Navyac) plan to play a mix of old and new tunes.

“I’ve written so much since I’ve been (in Nashville), and I want to play some of my newer things,” Hill said. “I’m still working with my bass player (Prouty), and my son Sam (Genson) is going to come in and play — he lives in L.A. now but he is flying in for this.”

She said she has a new album about half done, “some kick-ass tracks I am very happy with.”

Besides West, Hill is also excited that her friend Louise Mosrie, winner of the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival last year, will be on hand. “She’s great,” said Hill, “just tremendous.”

Roger LeLievre is a free-lance writer who covers music for AnnArbor.com.

Listen to a selection of songs featuring performers at this year's Nashbash:

Schedule 5 -5:30 p.m. Bill Bynum Band 5:30-6: Lisa Pappas and friends 6-6:30: Steve Mitchell and Pam Kennedy Boylan (from Nashville) 6:30-7: Louise Mosrie (from Nashville) 7-7:40: Olivia West (from Nashville) 7:40 - 8:30 Whit Hill and the Postcards