TWiN | This Weekend in Nashville | August 5-7

As we roll into August, summer music options are still going strong, and this weekend is particularly packed with some great shows. Whether three nights of big names at Ascend Amphitheater, a beloved local reunion, the return of Musician’s Corner, or any number of free happenings like Grimey’s in-stores, a music and pizza party at The High Watt, or an art crawl at Fort Houston sound like your idea of a perfect summer hang, we’ve rounded up our top picks and included all of the details in This Weekend in Nashville!

FRIDAY

SARA WATKINS
@ Grimey’s New & Preloved Music | 6pm | FREE | All Ages

Talented singer and multi-instrumentalist Sara Watkins returns to Nashville almost exactly a year after her concert with the Watkins Family Band at City Winery. This time around, she’s promoting her brand new solo record, Young in All the Wrong Ways. Get a taste of her latest project during this intimate (and free!) performance at Grimey’s. [LL]

BEN DE LA COUR
@ Soulshine Pizza | 7pm | FREE | All Ages

Lightning 100 is keeping their long running pizza happy hour Artist of Week tradition going strong. This week’s featured artist is East Nashvillian Americana noir performer Ben de la Cour, and based on what we’ve heard so far, he’s one you don’t want to miss. Cruise over after work for a slice and a beer. Best part is the music is FREE! [JR]

GOO GOO DOLLS w/ COLLECTIVE SOUL, TRIBE SOCIETY
@ Ascend Amphitheater | 7pm | $25-$79.95 | 18+

Kicking off a busy weekend at Ascend Amphitheater, a couple of nostalgic acts, Goo Goo Dolls and Collective Soul, are bringing the soundtrack of the ’90s (as well as some great music they’ve been making since then) to the banks of the Cumberland this Friday! Also joined by newer friends Tribe Society, the Goo Goo Dolls will be celebrating the release of their eleventh studio record Boxes, which is also their first without drummer Mike Malinin since 1995’s A Boy Named Goo. Revisit some nostalgia conveniently embedded below and with tickets as low as $25, get to Ascend on Friday!  [JSt]

SWEET KNIVES w/ DATENIGHT
@ Fond Object | 7pm | All Ages

Some of you may remember a Memphis based black-wave synth punk band from the early 2000s called Lost Sounds. The nucleus of the band was composed of underground garage/punk legend  Jay Reatard and Alicja Trout, but, after in-fighting, the group called it quits in 2005. Jay went on to a celebrated career with Matador Records (before his untimely death), while the other band members pursued their own musical careers. Now Alicja, plus original Lost Sounds members Rich Crook and John Garland, are dusting off some of the old catalog as Sweet Knives. Don’t miss this quasi-reunion of one the top Tennessee underground bands all time, and get there by 7 for a set from local garage punks Datenight. [JR]

ESSENTIAL TREMORS w/ AQUARIAN BLOOD, SERRATION PULSE, SPODEE BOY
@ Soft Junk Records | 8pm | $7 | All Ages

We already told you about the synthy new release from Essential Tremors via Third Man Records a couple of weeks ago, and the celebration will take place at new east side record/performance space hang at Soft Junk Records.  They will be joined by a like minded crew for what should be a nice welcoming party for the new local hang. [MH]

SAD BAXTER (RECORD RELEASE SHOW) w/ PENICILLIN BABY, LAWNDRY, SLOWTALKER
@ Queen Ave Art Collective | 9pm | $7 at the door | 18+

We’ve been looking forward to this one for a while, and now the day is finally here! Help local  grunge punks Sad Baxter celebrate the release of their debut LB Weirdy (on local label Cold Lunch Recordings), this Friday at Queen Ave. It’s being billed as the “saddest birthday party in the whole world,” but we’re pretty sure that’s facetious. With help from a slew of other great locals, Penicillin Baby, Lawndry, and Slowtalker, it’s sure to be one of the best shows of the weekend! [JR]

BOB SCHNEIDER
@ City Winery | 8pm | $25-$30 | All Ages

With a sound that lives at that wonderful intersection of folk, country-western, and rock, Bob Schneider’s music transcends genre. The Austin,TX based performer is becoming known for his solo work, just as much as he is for his time as the lead-singer of The Ugly Americans. He’s stopping in on Music City to perform in the friendly confines of City Winery. Don’t miss a singer-songwriter performance at its best. [JR]

SATURDAY

MUSIC CITY HOT WING FESTIVAL:  DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND, THE MUSIC CITY TOPPERS, AJ AND THE JIGGAWATTS, & MORE
@ Cumberland Park | 12 pm | $15 GA-$150 VIP | All Ages (Under 12 is FREE!)

It’s that time of year again, and if you love you some spicy yard-bird (especially the flapper variety), in a cookout/festival setting, then you better get your butt to Cumberland Park this weekend for the Music City Hot Wing Festival. We’ve covered it before, so we know what we’re talking out: this fest is awesome! Throw in the New Orleans brass laced funk of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, plus The Music City Toppers, AJ and the JiggaWatts, and more, well that’s the recipe for a kickass Saturday. [JR]

MUSICIANS CORNER: BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA, AJ GHENT BAND, MATT BROWN, BENTLEY & THE HUSTLE, & MORE
@ Centennial Park | 1:30 pm | FREE | All Ages

It seems like the spring session just ended, but Musician’s Corner is back to kick off their summer session this weekend.  They start it off right with the bluesy gospel sounds of the Blind Boys Of Alabama, the blues rock of AJ Ghent Band, the soulful sound of Matt Brown, and the funky sounds of Bentley & The Hustle on the main stage.  The acoustic stage will feature sets from Michael McQuaid, Classik Levine, and Handsome & Gretyl to offer, in true Musicians Corner style, just a little something for everyone. [MH]

ILONA
@ Grimey’s New & Preloved Music | 5pm | FREE | All Ages

Bulgarian born, UK based singer ILONA has found breakout success in just a few short years, supporting the likes of Passenger, Hudson Taylor, and The Dunwells, and finding praise from British and worldwide press. With a voice likened to Shania Twain and Karen Carpenter, her style is a real treat, and you can see her this weekend at Grimey’s for free! [PO]

FORT HOUSTON ART CRAWL: DIARRHEA PLANET w/ GNARWAL
@ 500 Houston St. | 6pm | FREE | All Ages

As we announced earlier this week, Diarrhea Planet and Gnarwhal will be providing the FREE tunes at Fort Houston’s latest art crawl this weekend. Sponsored by PBR and our friends at Acme Radio, the theme for the exhibition is “Meal and a Coke,” and and art from Harry Kagan, Ian Bush, and kkbbkb will be featured inside, while music is set to take place on the loading dock. If you missed DP, Nashville’s preeminent party punks, at last week’s Elliston Place Street Fest, this is a cool, all ages opportunity to catch one of our favorite local bands in action. [PO]

MEGHAN TRAINOR w/ HAILEE STEINFELD, COMMON KINGS
@ Ascend Amphitheater | 7pm | $39.95-$59.95 | All Ages

Fan or not, you’ve surely been exposed to Meghan Trainor thanks to her string of massive hits in recent years, including “All About That Bass,” “Lips Are Movin,” and “No.” What you may not know, however, is that Trainor effectively got her career start right here in Nashville, and still splits her time as a Music City resident. In addition to the breakout pop starlet, we’re also intrigued by the inclusion of Hailee Steinfeld, best known for her acting career in films like True Grit and Ender’s Game, who released her debut EP last year. Common Kings round out the bill. [PO]

AUSTIN MANUEL w/ GOOD BUDDY
@ The Basement | 7pm | $5 | 21+

Local singer-songwriter Austin Manuel is celebrating the recent release of his second record, Up the Ridge. With stunning tracks like “Sue in Blue” and “I Just Want You to Love Me,” it’s one of the best releases from this area so far this year. Stop by The Basement to hear it live, along with the ambient and folky sounds of Good Buddy. You can thank me later. [LL]

NEKO CASE w/ K.D. LANG, LAURA VEIRS
@ The Ryman Auditorium | 8pm | $32.75-$69.75 | All Ages

A few years ago, the case/lang/veirs album started coming together when k.d. Lang emailed Neko Case and Laura Veirs, suggesting that the three artists, who barely knew each other at the time, should work together. On the album the three all share lead vocal responsibilities, and you can catch them all together this weekend at The Ryman. Also playing is Andy Shauf, who released his first full-length album earlier this year. [MW]

THE STEPPIN STONES w/ THEM VIBES, HOLLIS BROWN
@ Exit/ In | 8pm | $10| 18+

Charleston, SC based rock ’n’ rollers The Steppin Stones are rolling through town to show everyone they can shred with he best of ‘em. Filling out a great bill are longtime local favs Them Vibes, and NYC based rock band Hollis Brown. That is plenty of quality music for just $10, so don’t say you can’t afford a good time. [JR]

THE PINK SPIDERS w/ TESLA ROSSA
@ Mercy Lounge | 9pm | $10| 18+

We already told you about the special reunion of The Pink Spiders offering up tasty licks from their major label debut Teenage Graffiti, which was first released 10 years ago.  Head here to read up on the full history, and make sure you get out to catch a performance from blog friends and faves Tesla Rossa. [MH]

AVIS, AMERICAN DREAM, NEW MAN, VILAR, MILK PEOPLE
@ The High Watt | 8:30pm | FREE | 21+

Part of a new concert series that includes free pizza and free admission (yes, really!), The High Watt has assembled a talented local lineup of AVIS, American Dream, New Man, Vilar, and Milk People, providing a great weekend option for you frugal types. [PO]

SUNDAY

TWENTY ONE PILOTS w/ MUTEMATH, CHEF’SPECIAL
@ Ascend Amphitheater | 7pm | SOLD OUT | All Ages

We hope you got tickets when we first announced this show last fall, because it’s long since sold out. We’ve watched certifiable rock juggernauts twenty one pilots rise through the ranks of 3rd & Lindsley, Cannery Ballroom, Marathon Music Works, and The Ryman, selling them all out along the way, and, despite remaining uniquely weird and unusually independent, they’ve become a modern rock staple, amassing huge success and crossover appeal. Ascend marks their largest Nashville show yet, and with the immensely talented MUTEMATH on the bill as well, this is likely to be one of the best shows of the summer! [PO]

4 ON THE FLOOR: JOHN McCAULEY, JUSTIN COLLINS, SHELLY COLVIN, VANESSA CARLTON
@ The Basement East | 7:30pm | $7 | 21+

In a truly cool, only in Nashville, event, 4 On The Floor is dubbed a songwriter in the round, which will be held on the floor at the Basement East.  This special event will include John McCauley (Deer Tick & Diamond Rugs), Justin Collins (Justin & The Cosmics), Shelly Colvin, and Vanessa Carlton.  That’s a lot of star power for one “in the round” session, and this is one event that is truly worthy of getting your ass out on a Sunday night. [MH]

BARNS COURTNEY w/ FAIRGROUND SAINTS
@ 3rd & Lindsley | 8pm | $10 | All Ages

English singer-songwriter Barns Courtney has been rapidly commanding attention since his introduction to the world last year with debut single “Fire.” Though newly focusing on his solo material, Courtney previously fronted indie and punk groups abroad, forging his own layered, poppy, and accessible sound along the way. Having already toured with big names like Ed Sheeran and The Libertines, and scoring a spot on the soundtrack of Bradley Cooper film Burnt, Barns seems poised to become a breakout star in the very near future. Catch him while he’s still playing clubs! [PO]

[JR] Jacob Ryan
[JSt] Jen Starsinic
[LL] Lorie Liebig
[MH] Matt Hall
[MW] Meagan Whitney
[PO] Philip Obenschain