Live on the Green Continues TONIGHT w/ Moon Taxi, The Delta Saints, & Greg Holden

The 2015 season of Live on the Green has already reached its halfway point, following two fantastic first weeks boasting memorable performances from Lord Huron, Shakey Graves, and Elliot Root and Cold War Kids, J Roddy Walston & The Business, and Houndmouth. Keeping the ball rolling on the annual, free, outdoor fest, which now takes place over four weeks, we continue TONIGHT, Sept. 3 at Public Square Park with local favorites Moon Taxi and The Delta Saints, along with Greg Holden.

As with last year, this season culminates with an epic three-day finale beginning next week, on Sept 10, boasting the addition of a new second stage, and set to feature performers like Ben Folds, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Passion Pit, and many more. Per usual, LOTG is free and all ages, and music will run tonight from 6:15 p.m. to 11 p.m. Gates open at 5 p.m., and there will be plenty of food and beer vendors on site to meet your needs. Parking is just $5 at the Public Square Park Garage below the festival site, and various other garages and street parking options are available on the surrounding blocks. Finally, if you’re looking to up the ante on your LOTG experience, VIP tickets and backstage passes are available for purchase. Find out more about this week’s installment below, and find out more about the entire season on Live on the Green’s site.

MOON TAXI

One of Nashville’s definitive rock and roll success stories of the past few years, and a fitting choice to headline considering winning LOTG’s first Music City Mayhem competition several years back served as one of their big breaks, Moon Taxi began almost a decade ago, while several members were students at Belmont. Quickly finding a regional audience following the 2007 release of their debut, Melodica, Moon Taxi’s early days were characterized by a compelling and polished live show, and an affinity for jam-inspired rock with progressive tendencies. A 2008 live album would follow, and gave way to further touring, early festival appearances, headlining spots at local clubs, and, of course, their first outing at Live on the Green.

The group’s sophomore release, Cabaret, arrived in 2012, and really set the wheels in motion for the whirlwind of success the band have experienced. Finding a poppier balance, doubling down on their songwriting (after often being praised more for their live show), and incorporating electronics, Moon Taxi quickly found a larger critical and commercial audience, going, in a matter of months, from local events like East Nashville Underground, to prominent spots at national fests (including a 2012 debut at Bonnaroo), appearances on late night television (Letterman, Conan), and nonstop touring. Their latest, Mountains Beaches Cities, dropped in 2013, and followed a sonically similar approach to proggy, poppy, alternative rock. While we wait for the band’s much-anticipated new album Daybreaker, set to be released Oct. 2 though Vagrant, here’s a new track to tide you over from the returning LOTG faves.

THE DELTA SAINTS

Like Moon Taxi, The Delta Saints are another local success story, and return to Live on the Green after last performing at the free fest in 2013. We first got hip to them around the time of their 2013 LP Death Letter Jubilee, and have watched their blues informed rock and roll sound evolve and as their national recognition has grown. The group are currently celebrating the release of their new album Bones, which dropped last month, and single “Heavy Hammer” (watch the video below) has definitely been ruling our playlists this summer. Road-worn, electrifying performers who have been making music together for eight years now, The Delta Saints are a live force to be reckoned with, and their LOTG return is well-earned.

GREG HOLDEN

Switching things up a bit this week, the only LOTG not from Nashville is the opener, British-bred, New York based, major label folk singer-songwriter Greg Holden. Born in Scotland and raised in England, Greg took up residence in New York City in 2009, shortly after the release of his first album. Not only has Holden’s music been featured on countless popular TV shows, but he’s also shared the stage with the likes of Ingrid Michelson, The Lone Bellow, and more. His star power began to rise after he co-wrote American Idol winner Phillip Phillips’ debut single “Home” in 2012, and the eclectic, soft rock singer was snatched up by Warner Bros. to release his best album to date, this year’s Chase the Sun.