Live On The Green Comes To A Close Today With All Them Witches, Anderson East, Ben Folds & More!

It’s hard to believe that one of the best events of the year for Nashville is already coming to a close, but I’m afraid that day is now upon us. No need to stay sad, though. The final day of Live On The Green will be one for the books, as the incredible piano pop star Ben Folds takes the main stage at 9pm to close out the series. You’ll also be treated to performances from local psychedelic/southern rockers All Them Witches, soulful crooner Anderson East, up-and-coming retro-rock songstress Elle King, and plenty more, so read on after the jump for a rundown of the full lineup.

As always, this event is totally free, and the VIP packages for Saturday are already sold out. Bike parking is available on site and parking for your automobiles is available at the Public Square Garage for $5, if you’re not lucky enough to live close enough to waltz into the square on foot. This is gonna be a hell of a long day, with music starting at 1:30 and ending at 11, so be sure to bring lots of water and keep yourselves nice and hydrated.

BEN FOLDS

Ben Folds’ headlining performance this weekend is perfectly timed with the release of his new collaborative album So There with New York City orchestral ensemble yMusic. Folds has been involved with several different musical projects over the years, from fronting Ben Folds Five to embarking on a solo career and teaming up with the Nashville Symphony and even the Nashville Ballet, but his ability to put on a kick-ass show has always remained. There’s no doubt that he’s a brilliant and mesmerizing pianist, but the way his talent translates into a sound so universally enjoyable is something worth witnessing, so if you’ve never had the chance to see him, you definitely don’t want to miss this. We’re holding out to hear a mix of tunes from the new album as well as the classics, and being that he’s somewhat of local hero, wouldn’t be surprised if he pulled out all the stops during this show.

ALL THEM WITCHES

Local blues/psychedelic rock outfit All Them Witches have generated all kinds of buzz around town in the last year or so, and they’re only getting bigger. We told you a few weeks ago that they’ve been signed to Nashville indie label New West Records and have their first label-backed album, Dying Surfer Meets His Maker, out on October 30, so hopefully their performance this weekend can tide us all over until its release.

FAMILY OF THE YEAR

LA-based indie pop group Family Of The Year’s first successful single “Hero” may have tricked listeners into thinking they’re strictly an acoustic band, but they also exhibit a lo-fi retro rock sound similar to classic bands like The Beach Boys and modern favorites like Local Natives, while focusing on male/female dual part harmonies. They’re out in support of their new self-titled album, which came out just a few weeks ago and has already garnered great reviews. 

KALEO

Icelandic folk rock band Kaleo made a huge name for themselves overseas before bringing their dreamy sounds to the US, and we’re excited to welcome them to Nashville proper after their performance at Bonnaroo earlier this year. Their hit “All The Pretty Girls” has been all over Lightning 100, catching on as a midway between Bon Iver and Sigur Ros, but with the addition of a bluesy element.

ELLE KING

Blues/soul songstress Elle King is rocketing to fame with her hit “Ex’s and Oh’s”, which topped the Billboard Alternative charts this week, making her only the second female solo artist to hit a number one in two decades. Her sultry, raspy voice is enchanting and pairs well with the upbeat rock sounds on her debut album Love Stuff, so we’re looking forward to hearing it live this weekend.

FUTURE THIEVES

We’ve had the pleasure of seeing Future Thieves tear up the Club Stage at Bonnaroo earlier this year and most recently, our weekly showcase at Acme Feed & Seed a few months ago. So needless to say, we’re excited to witness their big Live On The Green debut this weekend. The four piece based here in Nashville are bringing a true rock & roll sound to the scene, with a hint of Americana and southern rock styles. They’re currently working on a debut album to follow up last year’s EP, so keep an eye out for that to drop in the near future.

ANDERSON EAST

Now based in Nashville by way of Athens, Alabama, Anderson East has honed a unique blend of Americana, blues and rock and captured the hearts of fans here at home and well beyond. In addition to opening up for several notable musicians like Sturgill Simpson and Jason Isbell (who he’s currently supporting on a round of dates), we caught him headlining a show at The Basement a few weeks ago and were enamored by his smokey voice and dynamic performance, so we’re sure you will be too.

STEELISM

Hot off the heels of the release of The Drawing Room: Volume 1, a sort of teaser EP in between releasing their next full-length, local instrumental duo Steelism are bringing their incredible live show to Public Square this weekend. The virtuosos, one on pedal steel and the other on electric guitar, combine to create sounds with funk, jam, and jazz influences, which are enjoyable for hardcore music nerds and just your average listener.

LENNON & MAISY

Whether you watch Nashville or not, chances are you’ve heard of sisters Lennon & Maisy, who play Connie Britton’s daughters on the show. They perform together on the series and outside of it as well, gaining popularity on Youtube for their covers of hits like Charli XCX’s “Boom Clap” or Cage The Elephant’s “Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked.” The girls, who are originally from Canada but now call Music City home, are as talented as they are charming, so make sure to get there early to catch their set.

DAPHNE & THE MYSTERY MACHINES

Daphne & The Mystery Machines, consisting of songwriter/vocalist/guitarist Daphne Culver and her full backing band, came all the way from neighboring Franklin and immediately got into the good graces of Lightning 100 over the summer. From being booked on Nashville Sunday Night, to the showcase at Soulshine Pizza, being a contestant in Music City Mayhem and now LOTG, this string-filled folk outfit is hard to ignore.

THE DISTRICTS

The Districts got their start as high school pals in Pennsylvania who eventually channeled their friendship into music, creating an energetic, youthful rock sound that landed them opening slots for fellow rock bands like White Denim and sets at SXSW, Bonnaroo, and Lollapalooza. Their set is sure to pump up the crowd and get us ready for a long day of great music.

MR. STEVE

Mr. Steve is a local music man and preschool teacher who has been making kid-friendly tunes for the past 10 years, and has played a bunch of family friendly events all around town. This will be a great afternoon set to take the kids to, or who knows – maybe the adults will enjoy it even more.

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