It’s an interesting weekend in Music City. The outdoor fests have wried up for the weekend, but the clubs will be hopping with an interesting array of shows including a slew of record releases… and one record player launch into space. If you are looking to make your weekend plans, head below to see our staff picks in this week’s edition of TWiN!
FRIDAY
BENJAMIN A. HARPER
@ Soulshine Pizza Factory | 7pm | FREE | All Ages
To confuse him with that other Ben Harper would be a huge mistake. Not just because it would be a factual inaccuracy, but also because it would be a shameful oversight of this extremely talented local musician. Having spent the last fourteen years playing Nashville, both as a solo artist and with soul group Magnolia Sons, Benjamin A. Harper released his latest full-length Get Thee Behind Me last year. Perhaps you’ve heard the record’s single, “Leave This Place Alone,” spinning all week on Lightning 100 as the radio station hosts Harper as it’s Local Artist of the Week at Soulshine Pizza on Saturday. Check the single out below and don’t miss this show! [JSt]
JOHN MORELAND w/ CHRISTIAN LEE HUTSON
@ The Basement East | 9pm | $12-$15 | 21+
After years of performing and recording, Oklahoma-based singer-songwriter John Moreland broke into the mainstream last year with his incredible album, High on Tulsa Heat. If you love introspective and intimate acoustic-driven songs, don’t miss this opportunity to see Moreland in a live setting. Rising songwriter Christian Lee Hutson will join him for this incredible night of music that is sure to blow you away. [LL]
RAY LAMONTAGNE
@ Ascend Amphitheater | 8pm | $30-$80 | All Ages
Over a decade after his debut album came out, there’s still no one out there quite like folk singer/songwriter Ray LaMontagne. If you’ve never gotten to hear LaMontagne play live, this weekend you have a chance to catch him downtown, at Ascend Amphitheater, for an outdoor show that’s sure to be something you’ll always remember. [MW]
COUPLER (RELEASE SHOW) w/ FUTURE DAZE
@ The East Room | 9pm | $7 | 18+
We mentioned this show earlier this week when we told you about the release of their Third Man Records Blue Room Session album that drops on Friday. The Ryan Norris helmed collective, Coupler, shows off driving electro beats that meld live into an improvisational jam session. You can listen to a clip of the session below, and can grab a copy of the album here. Then make sure you head out on Friday for what should be one of the more interesting shows of the weekend. [MH]
AWAS (ALBUM RELEASE SHOW)
@ The High Watt | 9pm | $5-$10 | 18+
If you haven’t already, get hip to new local electronic future pop duo AWAS ASAP. Honestly, there will never be a better time than this weekend, when they celebrate the release of their debut EP, VIBEY AF. Songwriter/vocalist Ariel Hill & producer/composer Danny Melonz are more than ready to show everyone what kind of party they can put down, so don’t miss it! [JR]
FINANCIER, SUGAR SKU*-*LLS, NIGHTBLONDE, LA BELLE INDIFFERENCE
@ Queen Ave | 9pm | $5 at the door | 18+
Enjoy one of the most unique hangs in Nashville, and venture over to 178 Queen Ave for a jam packed night of underground awesome. Celebrating the release of their split 7” entitled Incantations, Financier and Sugar Sku*-*lls will host a righteous bill, which also features like minded bands Nightblonde and La Belle Indifference. The ridiculously low $5 cover will also get you a copy of Incantations, but only while supplies last, so don’t be fashionably late! [JR]
MAIL THE HORSE, KRISTINA MURRAY, JONATHAN TIMM
@ 12th & Porter | 9pm | $10 | 18+
Americana/roots music spiked with The Clash is a fair assessment of what Mail The Horse are trying to do with their music. Their sound will fit perfect in the friendly confines of 12th & Porter, and, with Americana tinged country performer Kristina Murray plus Jonathan Timm on deck, you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck. If you want to kick back a little this Friday, this is the show for you. [JR]
DWIGHT YOAKAM w/ BRYAN JOYCE, KING LEG
@ Schermerhorn Symphony Center | 8pm | $54-154 | All Ages
Inarguably one of the most influential country artists of the last few decades, the legendary Dwight Yoakam will make his first ever appearance this weekend at the Schermerhorn, following two sold out shows last fall at The Ryman. Joined by Bryan Joyce and King Leg, the acoustics and ambience of the prestigious hall are sure to make this one of the year’s most memorable shows, and the capacity means some tickets are still available for those of you who’ve missed out on Yoakam’s Music City outings in recent years. [PO]
MACHINIST!, DEATH CARD, HAUTEUR, LOOK WHAT I DID, X-RAY VISION
@ fooBAR.too | 8pm | $5 | 21+
If some under the radar punk and hardcore at a sweaty bar with a low overhead sounds like your bag, this show should be on your weekend to-do list. It caught our eye thanks to the inclusion of long-running local proggy, math-y, punk-tinged heavy rockers Look What I Did, but along with Georgia acts Machinist! and X-Ray Vision, plus Memphis group Hauteur and locals Death Card, you’re looking at a buck a band for a rowdy Friday night. [PO]
SATURDAY
THIRD MAN RECORDS 7th ANNIVERSARY PARTY
@ Third Man Records | 10am | Free | All Ages
The eclectic Jack White helmed label Third Man Records celebrate their 7th year in Nashville this weekend by launching a record player into space. Though, the official launch will take place at their Cass Corridor location in Detroit, they will be hosting launch parties in both locations with a special viewing of the event in Nashville’s Blue Room. Copies of the launched record and other goodies are available, and they are even offering 30% off of a significant portion of their inventory. Check out our post from earlier this week for more information. Support local, support awesome. [MH]
THE WANS, COOPER FOX, MOSELEY
@ The High Watt | 9pm | $7 | 18+
Local alt rockers The Wans are ready to melt some skulls at The High Watt, as they continue to celebrate the release of their new record, Run Baby Run. One of Nashville’s best breakout rock acts, we think they have enough cross-over appeal to bring in a wide variety of mainstream music fans. Arrive on time to catch Cooper Fox and alt rockin’ power trio Moseley. Three great bands for under $10? If you love to rock, you’d be nuts to miss it. [JR]
BLANK RANGE, SUN SEEKER, HARPOONER
@ The Glass Menage | 8pm | $? | ??+
It’s been a while since local rockers Blank Range have played a show here in Nashville. But this Saturday that will change as the quartet is set to appear at one of our favorite house show venues on the south side called The Glass Menage. Joining the group will be newcomers to Third Man Records Sunseeker, whose debut single “Georgia Dust” has made moves all across this town and established frontman Alex Benick as a songwriting force to take seriously. Also opening up the show will be Nashville transplants from Indiana Harpooner. Show starts at 8 p.m. Make sure you bring a water bottle because it gets hot in there! [JC]
SUNDAY
311 w/ FLORALORIX
@ Marathon Music Works | 8pm | SOLD OUT | 18+
As we told you awhile back, before the show officially sold out, alternative/reggae/funk/metal 311 return to town this weekend for their first Nashville show in a number of years, with support from local reggae rockers Floralorix. Genre-bending and influential, 311’s 25 year career has surely produced many hits you’re familiar with, whether a hardcore fan or casual listener, and their live show is polished from decades of high-profile touring. If you snagged a ticket early, you’re in for a fun night! [PO]
TRENT DABBS w/ SISTERHOOD
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $10 | All Ages
Trent Dabbs has a long respected history in Nashville both as a solo artist, as well as a collaborator in projects like Sugar & The Hi Lows and Ten Out of Tenn. The folky popster is celebrating the release of his latest solo album The Optimist on Sunday night with a very special Nashville Sunday Night performance. You can head below to check out the new single from the record “Jennifer in Cursive,” and make sure you get there early to check out the opening set from Sisterhood. [MH]
QUIET OAKS, MICROWAVE MOUNTAIN, EXTRAPLANET, TOMMY AND THE OHS
@ The East Room | 8pm | $5 | 18+
If you’ve been wanting to do an anthropological study on the evolution of rock and roll in the great western state of Utah, Sunday night’s show at The East Room is probably the best chance you’re going to get. A lineup stacked with Utah transplants to East Nashville and touring band, hometown holdouts, and Salt Lake City natives Quiet Oaks, this is also the perfect chance for any last ditch efforts to get loud and weird before Monday hits. [JSt]
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[JSt] Jen Starsinic
[JC] Julian Ciany
[LL] Lorie Liebig
[MH] Matt Hall
[MW] Meagan Whitney
[PO] Philip Obenschain