As we all prepare for a long weekend to wind down May, we also need to prepare for all the music that is happening in Nashville this weekend. The Basement East is really pinging our radar with their annual weekend-long May Day Festival, but that is just one of the many events in Music City this holiday weekend. Let us help you make plans with all of our staff picks in this week’s edition of TWiN.
FRIDAY
RON POPE
@ Soulshine Pizza Factory | 7pm | FREE | All Ages
Lightning 100’s free, weekly, Artist of the Week showcase at Soulshine Pizza is always a great way to kick off the weekend, and never fails to showcase some quality local acts. This week’s performer, Ron Pope, however, has more of a pedigree than most, with a decade of well-received releases, television appearances and placements, and more on his list of accomplishments. Doubling down on his Georgia roots, Ron recruited a new backing band for his sixth album, Ron Pope & The Nighthawks, which explores the realms of Americana, rock, country, and folk. You can see this buzzworthy singer for free and grab some pizza to boot! [PO]
CIVILIAN w/ DEREK WEBB, VOLUNTEER, KINGSBURY
@ The High Watt | 8pm | $8-10 | 18+
We told you all about Florida transplants Civilian, who just dropped their sophomore LP, You Wouldn’t Believe What Privilege Costs, when they played our Acme showcase a few weeks back. Made up of Ryan Alexander and Dan Diaz, the group perform haunting, layered, melodic indie rock, packing tons of emotional and personal, sometimes dark, thematic focus into their enchanting songs. This weekend, they’ll be joined by Derek Webb, Volunteer, and Kingsbury at The High Watt, so, if you missed them at Acme, you have another great chance to see this talented up and comers in action ! [PO]
THE WHISTLES & THE BELLS w/ RENN
@ Mercy Lounge | 9pm | $10 | 18+
The local, eclectic musical vehicle of former Cadillac Sky frontman Bryan Simpson, The Whistles & The Bells are an artist we’ve had our eye on since practically day one. The project’s self-titled, full-length debut in 2014 wowed us, and we’re eagerly anticipating their followup, which will arrive this year. Hard to pin down, the group combine elements of americana, folk, rock, blues, and more, and you can find out all about them right here. [PO]
MAYDAY 2016 ft. SPACE CAPONE, HALFNOISE, FUTURE UNLIMITED, MYZICA, POLY
@ The Basement East | 8:30pm | $12-15single/$25-30weekend | 21+
Returning to The Basement East for a second year, the three-day long, totally stacked Mayday Fest offers the most bang for your buck this weekend. Friday is heavy on the indie, electro-rock, and post-punk with performances from dance rockers Space Capone, ambient/indie/electro-rocker HalfNoise, moody post-punks Future Unlimited, and more! [PO]
SKYWAY MAN, ANDY C. JENNINGS, JOE SCALA
@ The Basement | 9 p.m. | $6-$8 | 18+
A new creative outlet for James Wallace (of the Naked Light fame), Skyway Man continues the journey for the talented musician, who expertly crafts psychy folk tracks dabbled in unique pop stylings. Wallace fills the bill with Spacebomb regular Andy C. Jennings, and a solo set from Promised Land Sound’s Joe Scala. Tickets will only run you $6 in advance ($8 at the door), making this one of the best deals in town this weekend. [MH]
DICK DALE & EDDIE ANGEL’S GUITAR PARTY
@ Nashville Palace | 7pm | $32 | 18+
You know that song, yeah you know exactly which one we’re thinking of from the opening of Pulp Fiction. That song features some of the best guitar playing ever recorded from from the 1950’s surf craze. And if you’re ready to get down with some classic surf rock from the king of surf guitar then look no further, Nashville Palace has you covered. Dick Dale, surf rock master and one of the first to ever play a Fender Stratocaster, will once again be gracing Music City with his presence. Opening up the show will be Los Straightjacket’s guitarist Eddie Angel for what should be the total nerd fest for all players out there. [JC]
THE ZOMBIES w/ BRUCE SUDANO
@ City Winery | 8 pm | $45-$75 | All Ages
The Zombies are a band that topped the charts back in the days of the original British invasion. Contemporaries of The Beatles, their classic album Odessey and Oracle was released in 1968. Nearly 50 years on, they’re still releasing new music and playing shows. This weekend you can catch them at City Winery along with Bruce Sudano. [MW]
SALT N PEPA, KID N’ PLAY, ALL-4-ONE, COOLIO, TONE LOC
@ Bridgestone Arena | 7:30 pm | $21.50 – $80 | All Ages
In case you needed any reassurance that ’90s nostalgia is, in fact, in full swing, look no further than this I Love The 90’s tour this weekend at BRIDGESTONE ARENA. Individually, the acts on this bill, all fairly huge in their day, are small to medium club sized nowadays, but, together, they can apparently fill (or at least attempt to fill) an arena. If for Salt N’ Pepa and Coolio alone, it could be a good way to dust of your ’90s (and late ’80s) attire and get nostalgic for a night. [PO]
SATURDAY
MUSICIANS CORNER: FAMILY OF THE YEAR, THE BLACK CADILLACS, CORDOVAS
@ Centennial Park | 1:30pm | FREE | All Ages
After only a few short years together Family Of The Year found themselves playing major festivals and supporting bands like Mumford & Sons and Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. Their infectious songs, like “Hero,” have gotten them tons of radio play. They’ll be headlining Musicians Corner at Centennial Park this weekend, and will be joined by bluesy, indie rockers The Black Cadillacs, local band Cordovas, who never fail to impress. [MW]
MODERN ENGLISH w/ KROVI, DJ ICHABOD
@ Mercy Lounge | 9pm | $16-20 | 18+
New wave pioneers Modern English return to Nashville on Saturday night, and this time will be performing in support of the 35th anniversary of their debut release, Mesh & Lace. Don’t worry, this show is certain to be packed full of hits from all of their records though, so warm up those vocal chords and dust off those dancing shoes. Local DJs/producers Krovi and DJ Ichabod get you warmed up. [MH]
MAYDAY 2016 ft. ESCONDIDO, ANDREW COMBS, TRISTEN, BECCA MANCARI, BRYAN CATES, ELISE DAVIS
@ The Basement East | 8:30pm | $12-15single/$25-30weekend | 21+
After an indie rock, post-punk, and dance-rock skewing first night, this weekend’s Mayday Fest gravitates towards folk, indie, and more singer-songwriter driven performances, with favorites like Escondido, Andrew Combs, Tristen, and Becca Mancari! We don’t remember the fest being so genre-grouped in the past, but it definitely makes sense for those just hoping to pop in for a single-day ticket. [PO]
THE BUMBS w/ VILAR, ANDREW CARTER, CASSIDY FORD
@ The End | 9pm | $7 | 18+
Local rockers The Bumbs have been releasing some of the most spaced out rock in town for a little while now, but their latest singles, which are drenched in ’60s pop reverb, offer a totally interested bumb in the road. Rising local blues rocker Vilar is on this bill along with like-minded rocker and Bumb collaborator Andrew Carter and songwriter Cassidy Ford. Get local. [MH]
MORNING TELEPORTATION, PENICILLIN BABY, IAN FERGUSON
@ Queen Ave. | 8pm | 18+
This weekend, Bowling Green psychedelic rockers Morning Teleportation will be playing at Queen Ave. They’re a band of sort-of locals (we count Bowling Green as close enough to Nashville) and they’ve toured with a bunch of great bands, including Modest Mouse and The Flaming Lips. They’ll be joined by Nashville psychedelic band Penicillin Baby, whose new EP, Cryptic Fantasies, we got to premiere earlier this month. Also on the bill is Ian Ferguson, who you may remember from The Kingston Springs, and his inspired performance at our Acme showcase. [MW]
SUNDAY
MAYDAY 2016 ft. ROBOT ROCK: DAFT PUNK SUPERJAM (ft. METH DAD, JASON OF CHERUB, & FRIENDS), BAASH, MIKE FLOSS, THE DEAD DEADS, CHAOS EMERALDS, CHILL WITCH, WES LANGLOIS
@ The Basement East | 8:30pm | $12-15single/$25-30weekend | 21+
Mayday Fest’s third and final day is, perhaps, stacked with some of the biggest names of all, landing mostly in the realms of electronic music, hip hop, and indie/electro-rock. The highlight of the night is a tribute to Daft Punk, featuring members of Meth Day, Cherub, and “friends,” plus performances from Bassh, rapper Mike Floss, newcomers Chaos Emeralds, and more! Hell of a way to cap off a weekend, if you ask us. [PO]
HARPOONER w/ STATIONWAGON
@ Fond Object | 4pm | FREE | All Ages
Citing inspiration from ’70s power pop, local rockers Harpooner are celebrating the release of their new record Rose Park with a cassette release in the back yard of Fond Object. Standout Nashville transplant and troubadour Pete Lindberg supports with his STATIONWAGON project. It’s Memorial Day Sunday, it’s free, and Good People will be providing free libations to those of age. No brainer. [MH]
WILL HOGE w/ RICK BRANTLEY
@ City Winery | 8pm | SOLD OUT | All Ages
Gifted singer-songwriter Will Hoge draws his influences from country, rock and blues to create an incredible soulful sound that hits listeners right in the gut. The Nashville native is headed to City Winery for an intimate solo show that will feature cuts from his incredibly lengthy career. Fellow lyrical master and good friend Rick Brantley will also perform during this evening of emotional storytelling. This one-night-only show has been sold out for weeks, so hopefully you snatched up your ticket early. [LL]
[JC] Julian Ciany
[LL] Lorie Liebig
[MH] Matt Hall
[MW] Meagan Whitney
[PO] Philip Obenschain