The holiday’s are upon us folks, and this is your final weekend to get that last minute shopping done. If you are like us, you are way behind in the preparation department, but you also recognize that this is the last weekend for some fun before the on-slaught of family and holiday travels. You should definitely consider our FREE 4th Annual Christmas Caroling Party at The Stone Fox on Saturday night, which features over 20 of our favorite artists performing some holiday favorites. If carols aren’t your thing or you need other suggestions for Friday or Sunday, head below to check out all of our staff picks for this weekend in this week’s edition of TWiN!
FRIDAY
WHOA DAKOTA
@ Soulshine Pizza Factory | 7pm | FREE | All Ages
No Country Presents alum and blog fave Whoa Dakota has been getting local radio love as Lightning 100’s artist of the week. If you haven’t spent time with their standout bluesy vintage pop sounds, then you should get hip below immediately, and plan to spend the happiest of hours at Soulshine on Friday night to see how well this translates in their live set. [MH]
JUMP, LITTLE CHILDREN W/ SLOW RUNNER AND INDIANOLA
@ Exit/In | 9pm | SOLD OUT | 18+
Beloved Charleston-based band Jump, Little Children announced a reunion tour earlier this year to the delight of their fans, and the majority of shows sold out in minutes. Their unique sound, consisting of catchy pop melodies built with sweeping orchestral instrumentation, has no doubt been missed since they were last seen on the road in 2005. If you were lucky enough to grab tickets for their show, you’ll also get to enjoy two other Charleston acts: indie-pop band Slow Runner and singer-songwriter Indianola, whose debut record was produced by Michael Trent of Shovels & Rope. [MG]
JONATHAN JACKSON AND ENATION
@ Mercy Lounge| 9pm | $15 | 18+
In addition to playing Avery on Nashville, Jonathan Jackson also fronts the rock band Enation, accompanied by his brother Richard Lee Jackson on drums and bassist Daniel Sweatt. The trio released their fourth album Radio Cinematic last fall, and the album title pretty much sums up its sound, though their stripped down is just as magnetic (check out their Attic Session at War Memorial Auditorium from earlier this year). [MG]
ARC & STONES W/ STEALING OCEANS AND LIGHT BEAM RIDER
@ The High Watt | 8pm | $5 | 18+
Head out to The High Watt tonight for a bill of rock and roll goodness. Locals Arc & Stones have toured with Kansas and played a multitude of shows around the country. They combine blues with grunge, reminiscent of Queens of the Stone Age meets The Black Keys. Stealing Oceans are a Nashville seven-piece group. They superimpose rap verses over saxophones and blend funk with hip-hop and indie rock for something that is truly unique. Opening the night are Nashville via Mississippi alternative rockers Light Beam Rider. Their passion and emotionality places them as the perfect complement to the other bands. Best of all, you can see all of this for a wallet-friendly $5. The show is 18+, starts at 8, doors at 7. [OL]
MIKE FARRIS SINGS THE SOUL OF CHRISTMAS
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $29.50 | All Ages
Founder/lead singer of legendary Nashville band Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies, and accomplished Grammy winning solo artist, Mike Farris is ready to help get you into the Christmas spirit at 3rd and Lindsley Friday night with the first of two nights of seasoned themed performances. Of all the Christmas shows going on this month, this may be one of the best, so don’t pass on your chance at an earful of holiday cheer. [JR]
THE SHADOWBOXERS W/ ALANNA ROYALE
@ The Basement East | 8pm | $10-15 | 21+
One of our most highly anticipated shows of the month brings Atlanta based soul popsters The Shadowboxers to The BEast, with friend of the blog Alanna Royale, and her wonderful band of tricksters. If your non-secular music tastes do not involve Christmas flavored flare, this is the show for you. [JR]
SATURDAY
EAST NASHVILLE UNDERGROUND AND NO COUNTRY PRESENTS: 4TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CAROL SHOW
@ The Stone Fox | 7pm | FREE | 18+
We’ve been telling you about this one for week’s now, and, hopefully, you’ve already picked out some tacky holiday wear and are planning to get festive with us. If you aren’t already in the know, we host this free annual event with our friends at East Nashville Underground at The Stone Fox with over 20 of our favorite artists bringing their interpretation of christmas carols to life. Some are standard sing alongs, some are artistic reinterpretations, and some are originals, but they are all pretty amazing. You can get familiar with our series of previews here. Oh, and if you don’t like Christmas, then check out this special message from CRUDBUMP (who sadly will not be performing). [MH]
MIKE FARRIS SINGS THE SOUL OF CHRISTMAS
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $29.50 | All Ages
Returning to the wonderfully cozy 3rd & Lindsley, Mike Farris will be serenading the crowd with Christmas classic for the second night in a row. [JR]
WHITEHORSE W/ JAKE MCMULLEN
@ The High Watt | 9pm | $15 | 18+
Whitehorse is a two-piece band made up of husband/wife duo Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet. While the two toured individually for years and had successful careers in their own rights, they finally decided to combine forces of their expert vocals and guitar playing. While the two perform and tour alone, there’s no skimping when it comes to their sound. They use loops and effects to create a full band sound with just two people. Also playing is local singer/songwriter Jake McMullen, who’s indie rock and Americana fused sounds we’ve been telling you about for a while. [MW]
CAGE THE ELEPHANT
@ The Basement East | 9pm | SOLD OUT | 21+
Cage the Elephant return to The Basement East for the second time this year, celebrating the release of their highly anticipated new album, Tell Me I’m Pretty (out 12/18). Obviously this extremely intimate affair sold out quick, so we hope you acted fast to scoop up tickets, or saw one of their free smaller shows this week. Otherwise you’ll have to wait until their inevitable big venue return sometime next year. [PO]
SUNDAY
THE ARCS W/ MARIACHI FLOR DE TOLOACHE
@ Ryman Auditorium |7:30pm | $35 | All Ages
Dan Auerbach-led supergroup The Arcs have been generating plenty of buzz thanks to their kickass debut album, Yours, Dreamily. Shockingly, there are still a few tickets left for their Nashville debut, this weekend at The Ryman. It’s not often you get to see such a high-profile new band play a city the first time in such a memorable place, so we can’t recommend this one enough. [PO]
THE WOOLY BUSHMEN W/ BEECH BENDERS and DEADLY LO-FI
@ Basement East |9pm | $5 |18+
The Wooly Bushmen are a Florida band; they play soulful, garage rock with distinct beach influences. They’re a perfect pairing on the East Room bill with Nashville-by-way-of-Bowling-Green Beech Benders, who play instrumental beachy, surf grooves that sound like they could be the theme to any Bond movie. The bill is rounded off with Deadly Lo-Fi, a self-described spooky rock ‘n roll band, who sometimes performs as a two piece and sometimes solo.[MW]
MIGHTY W/ MEL WASHINGTON
@ FooBAR | 9pm | $7 | 21+
Featuring members of All Get Out and Grouplove, new on the scene Atlanta based grimey garage rockers MIGHTY are headlining a cool low dough, end of the week show at FooBAR on Sunday. The project’s, only 20 year old, mastermind, Angelo Fiaretti, relocated from Pittsburgh to Atlanta recently (where he met up with Daniel Gleason from Grouplove and Gordon Keiter of All Get Out) to hone the work which covers subjects from high school bullying, drugs, paranoia, and self discovery, and, while it may sound from first read as overly angsty, the finished product is actually something that works really well. All Get Out’s former lead singer Mel Washington opens things up. [MH]
ALYSSA BONAGURA & FRIENDS CHRISTMAS
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $10 | All Ages
Stand out local songwriter, Alyssa Bonagura, has been making waves this holiday season with her part in the Matthew & Gunnar Nelson song “This Christmas” which has been climbing the holiday music charts. You can head out to 3rd & Lindsley on Sunday for a Nashville Sunday Night presentation that features Alyssa performing some new tracks, and then having a big ole family Christmas party that is sure to be packed with special guests. [MH]
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[MH] Matt Hall
[MW] Meagan Whitney
[MG] Meredith Galyon
[OL] Olivia Ladd
[PO] Philip Obenschain