TWiN | This Weekend in Nashville | Jan. 29 – 31

Sports will dominate the Nashville landscape this weekend, with the NHL All-Star Game sure to pack the city with crazed hockey fans, but, those of you who aren’t planning to attend those festivities, should be eyeballing a number of great shows going on around town.  With a weekend long celebration of the new SIMO record to a birthday party for Mercy Lounge to a final show for Nashville institution Those Darlins to hip hop at the Grand Ole Opry, the question should be, what doesn’t this weekend have in store for us?  Head below to start making your weekend plans with all of our staff picks in this week’s edition of TWiN!

FRIDAY

SIMO
@ Soulshine Pizza Factory | 7pm | FREE | All Ages

Anticipation is building for the release of SIMO‘s upcoming second full length, Let Love Show The Way, which drops on Friday.  The new record was made at Macon, Georgia’s Big House (the communal home of The Allman Brothers Band in the ’60s and ’70s), and was recorded live with guitarist JD Simo wielding Duane Allman’s 1957 gold-top Les Paul (the same Les Paul that is heard on The Allman Brothers’ first two LPs, as well as iconic tracks like Derek & the Dominoes’ “Layla”).  Understandably proud, the local southern tinged, psychedelic, blues rockers are stepping out in celebration this weekend.  The first stop is to promote their reign as Artist Of The Week at Lightning 100 for a free happy hour show at Soulshine on Friday night.  If you haven’t seen these guys live before, particularly guitarist JD Simo, you haven’t really seen live music in Nashville.  Have a listen to the new track “Long May You Sail” below, while you dust off your earplugs for the show. [MH]

MERCY LOUNGE ANNIVERSARY PARTY ft. NIKKI LANE, ELEL, THE ONE AND LONELIES, MILKTOOTH, BUFFALO RODEO, MARC MARTEL, SINCLAIR, CHROME PONY
@ Mercy Lounge & High Watt | 9pm | FREE | 21+

Mercy Lounge was supposed to kick off its 16th anniversary party last week, but, like every thing else, the epic, free event got snowed out. While last week’s lineup doesn’t seem to be getting a makeup date, the party was fortunately planned across two weekends, and Friday’s bill is just as stacked, even tacking on a couple of the bands who missed out on week one. Taking over both Mercy and The High Watt, the free, 21+ party features site faves like Nikki Lane, ELEL, Chrome Pony, and so many more! Don’t miss it! [PO]

THOSE DARLINS (FINAL SHOW) w/ TRISTEN, ADIA VICTORIA
@ The Basement East | 9pm | SOLD OUT | 21+

Fans of local alt-country rockers Those Darlins will have one last chance to catch their live show before they embark on an “indefinite hiatus.” Although there will be plenty of sad feels to go around, there’s no better way to send off one of Nashville’s most innovative rock bands than by dancing your heart out to their hits one last time. The addition of fellow local talents Tristen and Adia Victoria has made this show one of the hottest tickets in town, so make sure you get there early to secure your spot in the pit; this is, if you scooped up tickets in time. [LL]

TEDO STONE, EL OBO, TOMMY HANS
@ Dinos | 8pm | FREE | 18+

Atlanta based indie pop rocker Tedo Stone and his band are rolling into Music City to play a free show at one of diviest (read BEST) spots in town. Get to Dino’s on time to enjoy tunes from El Obo and Tommy Hans as well, and if you’re staying late, I recommend dropping a fried egg on top of your fourth meal cheeseburger. [JR]

THE DEAD DEADS, ANCHOR THIEVES, MYSTERY TWINS
@ The Stone Fox | 9pm | $8 | 18+

Say hello to the new album, Monolith from Anchor Thieves, and say goodbye to The Stone Fox. Yes, sorry to say, as we reported yesterday, The Stone Fox will close its doors on Jan. 31. However, those in attendance will be able to celebrate the Anchor Thieves’ record release and experience the best music venue on the west side one last time.  Anchor Thieves are joined by supergroup The Dead Deads (known for pink smoke on stage, metal riffs and doo-wop harmonies), and the dynamic pop duo, Mystery Twins. No Country exclusively premiered the music video for Anchor Thieves’ song “Relapse” earlier this month, but in case you missed it, that video can be found below. [AJ]

KEYS N KRATES w/ JESSE SLAYTER, STOOKI SOUND
@ Exit/In | 9pm | SOLD OUT | 18+

Electro/trap/hip hop trio Keys N Krates have been amassing tons of buzz in recent years, brushing shoulders with big names like Steve Aoki and Diplo, and forging an underground following with a series of hyped EPs. They’re out in support of their latest, Midnite Mass, and you can tell the hype is real, because not only did they sell out this Exit/In date with Jesse Slayter and Stooki Sound, but they’ve been announced to play Bonnaroo this summer. [PO]

LUTHI, FUTURE ELEVATORS, MY POLITIC, JEN STARSINIC
@ Acme Feed & Seed | 9pm | FREE | 21+

Gonna be downtown for the NHL All-Star experience?  If so, head over to see our friends at Acme Feed & Seed for a stellar all day lineup.  Things stay tame in the earlier hours with local songwriter Jen Starsinic and folky alt country outfit My Politic, before the booze fueled party really kicks off with Birmingham, AL based indie pop outfit Future Elevators followed by No Country Presents alum Luthi.  [MH]

SATURDAY

SIMO
@ Grimey’s | 5pm | FREE | All Ages

The SIMO weekend release party continues on Saturday with an in-store at Grimeys.  If you somehow missed the boat on the first night of festivities at Soulshine, then head over to 8th Ave for your second chance to catch SIMO for free this weekend (Disclaimer: your day might not be completely free if you are as big a fan of vinyl as we are).  Stay in the spirit of the new LP release with another new track, “I’ll Always Be Around,” below. [MH]

MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS
@ Grand Ole Opry | 8pm | $29-69 | ALL AGES

At the time of writing, there appear to be just a few dozen tickets left for Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s Nashville debut at the Grand Ole Opry House. If this is one you’ve been dying to see and you’ve put off buying tickets, you’d better hop on it right now! On the heels of the official announcement of their sophomore album, This Unruly Mess I’ve Made, due out in Feb., the Grammy award winning pair have been recapturing the popularity of their debut, especially through single “Downtown,” a surprise guest from which you can expect see at the show. Also of note: a portion of ticket proceeds will go to benefit a number of good causes. [PO]

JEWEL w/ CHANCE MCCOY
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 6:30pm (SOLD OUT) & 9:30pm ($55-150) | All Ages

If you were hoping to catch multi-platinum singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, actress, and poet Jewel‘s back to back acoustic sets with Old Crow Medicine Show’s Chance McCoy on the Nashville stop of her Picking Up The Pieces Tour, you’d better snag tickets to the late show fast, because the early one is already sold out. Guaranteed to be an intimate treat for Jewel fans, this show is uniquely suited to a space like 3rd & Lindsley. [JR]

KANYE VS. JAY-Z ft. CHANCELLOR WARHOL, ALANNA ROYALE, JUNG YOUTH, LEVI RAY, DAPHNE WILLIS, CLASSIC WILLIAMS, SIK WIT, HOT TUB CLUB
@ The Basement East | 9pm | $8 | All Ages

In what is sure to be the party of the weekend, incredible local acts Jung Youth, Alanna Royale, Chancellor Warhol, Levi Ray, Daphne Willis, Classic Williams, Sik Wit, Hot Tub Club, and more will cover Kanye and Jay-Z, as well as perform one original song. The Basement East also recently added The Pub, so come early enough to grab dinner before this amazing show! [JSt]

THE WHISTLES & THE BELLS w/ JON LATHAM
@ The Basement | 7pm | $5 | The Basement

Planned to be the third show this month from local act The Whistles & The Bells, this Basement outing with Jon Latham actually marks the project’s second performance in January, since last week got snowed out. Fronted by former Cadillac Sky frontman Bryan Simpson, The Whistles & The Bells’ eclectic, Americana folk/rock sound makes them one of Nashville’s best up and coming acts, and we definitely urge you to see them live to see what all of the fuss is about. Find out more right here. [PO]

REBELUTION w/ NEW KINGSTON
@ War Memorial Auditorium | 8:30pm | $22.50 | All Ages

As we told you all about in full detail, modern reggae stars Rebelution are returning for their biggest Music City headliner, and third local date in less than a year, this weekend, along with traditionalists New Kingston. It’s a no-brainer for those trying to catch some island vibes this weekend, and tickets are still available here. [PO]

PROMISED LAND SOUND w/ SKYWAY MAN, HECTA, DJ PALE RIDER
@ The Basement | 9pm | $5 | 18+

Saturday night at The Basement definitely deserves consideration for the top dog, low dough show of the weekend.  Promised Land Sound, whose For Use And Delight was a 2015 favorite album for many at the site, headlines a bill that also features a new project from James Wallace called Skyway Man, Lambchop honcho Kurt Wagner’s HeCTA project, and DJ Pale Rider.  Intrigue alone is worth the price of admission for this one. [MH]

SUNDAY

THE LONELY BISCUITS w/ SIMO
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $10 | All Ages

The SIMO train leaves the Nashville station after their opening slot on Sunday for the Belmont alt-rock/R&B/hip hop outfit The Lonely Biscuits.  Per usual, the Nashville Sunday Night headliner set will end up on the radio, but, if you haven’t experienced it before, the chill vibes at 3rd & Lindsley really are a perfect way to cap off your weekend. [MH]

O.A.R. w/ THE HUNTS
@ Marathon Music Works | 8pm | $26-34 | 18+

We’ve been hyping this one for a while, and now it’s finally here! O.A.R make their triumphant return to Marathon Music Works, this time on the “You Pick The Set Tour”, which is a ABSOLUTE must see for fans of the college rock jammers. Look for family folk rock collective The Hunts to kick things off on what promises to be a righteous Sunday night show. [JR]

ART GARFUNKEL
@ Ryman Auditorium | 7:30pm | $45-75 | All Ages

Let the legendary folk rock singer Art Garfunkel serenade you through the “Sound of Silence”, and the rest of his incredible catalog of songs that are so iconic we could spend three more paragraphs naming off all the movies and ad campaigns they been featured in. For now, we assure you this wonderful night of music, featuring no warm-up act, will be captivatingly unique at The Mother Church. We’re honestly shocked that there are tickets still available, so jump on them while you can, and check another Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Famer off your ’to see’ list. [JR]

[AJ] Andrew Johnson
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[JSt] Jen Starsinic
[LL] Lorie Liebig
[MH] Matt Hall
[PO] Philip Obenschain