It’s 4th of July weekend, and the weather report has us slated for a pretty awesome time in Nashville. It seems that most of our beloved bands and venues are taking a well deserved break this holiday, and that just means that you are going to have to dig a little deeper to get your music fix. Not to fret, our staff has torn through all the weekend calendars to find the best of what’s out there for ya in this latest edition of TWiN!
FRIDAY
MUSIC CITY JULY 4th: NASHVILLE SYMPHONY, BILLY CURRINGTON, ASHLEY MONROE, STRIKING MATCHES, JASON ESKRIDGE, THE FAREWELL DRIFTERS, KACEY SMITH
@ Downtown | 1pm- | Free | All Ages
Sure, the primary point of this post is to tell you about what else there is to do this holiday weekend, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t include Nashville’s acclaimed July 4th celebration. The event, which boasts one of the most incredible fireworks shows in the nation, is also packed with free live music. While it is mostly of the country variety (this is Nashville after all, and a huge tourist-driven affair), Music City curated its acts well, with solid and crossover ready performers like Ashley Monroe and Striking Matches. Per usual, the Nashville Symphony will provide live accompaniment along with the fireworks. Head here for a full schedule, and be sure to get downtown early to grab a good spot! [PO]
DONOVAN WOLFINGTON, RICKY’S HEART, NATIVE AMERICA, ED SCHRADER’S MUSIC BEAT, MAMA WOULD BE PROUD, RACHEL, POPE AND OMEGA SWAN
@ Neuhau5 | 8pm | $5 | 18+
God bless America. There’s so much freedom-loving, firework-blasting, meat-grilling, light beer-chugging fun going down on Independence Day. The house show party people at Neuhau5 have your music fix covered on this glorious day of patriotism. For only $5, the Wedgewood-Houston house is hosting New Orleans’ Donovan Wolfington, glam-punk dudes Ricky’s Heart, poppy garage rockers Native America, Baltimore psych outfit Ed Schrader’s Music Beat, the upbeat Mama Would Be Proud, lo-fi emo sounds from r△achel, the holiness of Pope, and (deep breath) the bitchin’ psychedelic rock of Omega Swan. This party is going to blow up faster than a defective Black Cat firecracker, so get over there! [WD]
SATURDAY
THE PARANORMALS ALBUM RELEASE W/ THE CUNNING AND COMMITMENT BELLS
@ The High Watt | 7pm | $5 | 18+
Some of the best up and coming bands in Nashville burst through The High Watt, and Saturday night features a few of the up and comers in local rock scene. The Paranormals are celebrating the release of their latest effort, Tomahawk, and it will also be a precursor for the rumored upcoming release from The Cunning. The Commitment Bells get things started, and, for a mere $5, this is your sure fire rock choice on this first summer night without a day full of drinking excuses. [MH]
IM AN ISLAND, TWIN BED AND THE PLASTIC BAGS
@ The Stone Fox | 9pm | $5 | 18+
There are two things you can count on at The Stone Fox; great food and great music on the cheap. This Saturday is no exception, when local pop folksters I’m An Island headline with fellow Nash-native neo-punk rockers The Plastic Bags and Twin Bed (solo); all for just $5 at the door. Don’t miss it! [JR]
HYRYDER
@ Exit/In | 8pm | $10 | 18+
Legendary jam band The Grateful Dead continue to live on through studio records, live bootlegs, a Ben and Jerry’s ice cream flavor and tribute band Hyryder. Hyryder carries on the flame by playing monster multi-set shows filled with high intensity jams and sweet vocal harmonies. Take in their version of “Dancin’ in the Streets” from a previous Exit/In show below. [WD]
REGDAR AND THE FIGHTERS, BLUE MATCHES, LIPSTICK AND SNAKE VOMIT
@ Cafe Coco | 8pm | $5 | All Ages
There aren’t a ton of shows going on this weekend, but that should leave your schedule wide open to check out some acts you otherwise might have missed, such as Regdar and the Fighters. The self-proclaimed “nerd rawk” group play an interesting mixture of rock, pop, and electronic, and sound like no other band you’ve ever heard (in a good way). Opening for them are the female-fronted local indie punk act Blue Matches, theatrical rockers Lipstick, and Cafe Coco regulars Snake Vomit. It’ll be an interesting night for sure, with a wide variety of bands, so why not check out what all is going down at Cafe Coco this Saturday? [JS]
HARPOONER, JOE FLETCHER, THE KERNAL
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm | cheap$ | 21+
This weekend isn’t giving us music lovers a lot to check out, but, if there’s one you show you should see, it’s Harpooner with Joe Fletcher and The Kernal. Harpooner describes themselves as 1970s pop-psych, which would make anyone curious enough alone to check them out. This is the kickoff show for Harpooner‘s upcoming tour; it’s 21+ and would be an excellent chance to throw in one last crazy night before the festivities come to a close. [BM]
SUNDAY
BAD SUNS W/ COLONY HOUSE
@ 3rd and Lindsley | 8pm | $10 | All Ages
There are few things less exciting than the Sunday night after a holiday weekend. Forget about the upcoming workweek, and party along with indie rockers Bad Suns instead! Playing along with locals Colony House at 3rd and Lindsley, there’s no reason for you to end this weekend on anything but a high note. Check out their video for their super-catchy song, “Cardiac Arrest.” [JM]
[BM] Beth McAllister
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[JS] Jack Smith
[JM] John Masserini
[MH] Matt Hall
[PO] Philip Obenschain
[WD] Wes Davenport