TWiN | This Weekend in Nashville | August 12-14

It’s Tomato Art Fest weekend, and tens of thousands will be flooding into East Nashville for the annual homage to the late summer fruit.  For those that don’t like to orelebrate botanical delights, there are plenty of other options on the platter to satiate your musical desires.  Head below to check out all of our staff picks in this week’s edition of TWiN!

FRIDAY

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

Death, taxes, and Friday pizza happy hours at Soulshine, courtesy of Lightning 100; these are things you can count on. This week is no different, and the featured artists is Nashville based Americana rockers the Cordovas, who we’ve been hyping for a while now. You can decide for yourself if we know what we’re talking about or not, when you check out this show for FREE after work. [JR]

FLOGGING MOLLY w/ FRANK TURNER, CHUCK RAGAN
@ Marathon Music Works | 7pm | $25-$125 | 21 +

Celtic punks Flogging Molly have become certifiable rock stars over the course of their two-decade run, thanks to breakout hits like “Drunken Lullabies,” “Float,” and “Don’t Shut ‘Em Out.” Returning to Music City for the first time in three years to play Marathon Music Works, the band are bringing along an especially strong pair of openers and longtime site favorites, Frank Turner and Chuck Ragan. If you like your punk rooted in folk and chock-full of earnestness, this is the weekend show for you. NOTE: This show has moved to Marathon Music Works from the Carl Black Chevy Woods Amphitheater. [PO]

DRESSY BESSY w/ TOWER DEFENSE
@ Fond Object | 7pm | $7 | All Ages

Poppy indie rockers Dressy Bessy are part of the famed, cultish Elephant Six family, and includes members of The Apples In Stereo and The Minders.  They’ve been around since the late 90s, and have been sporadically releasing playful power pop and indie rock since, including their latest release, Kingsized, earlier this year.  Local rockers Tower Defense are slated to get this backyard party started. So, grab a sixer, and get out to see some great music at one of our favorite local hangs.  [MH]

TOMATO ART FEST: JEFFREY JAMES, ELISE DAVIS, AND BECCA MANCARI
@ Five Points | 7pm | FREE | All Ages

Back for their 13th year, East Nashville’s premier street fest kicks off Friday night at 6pm. Check out all the venders, food trucks, and people watch, of course, before the music kicks off with globe trotting singer songwriter Becca Mancari, followed by Elise Davis, and the closer, local R&B laced performer, Jeffrey James, whom is looking to bring the house down on day one of the two day fest. Don’t miss what has been voted the best local festival by the Nashville Scene reader’s poll for nine years running! [JR]

SUMAC w/ JAYE JAYLE, NORDRA
@ The End | 8pm | $10 | 18+

Catch Sumac, featuring members of Isis and Russian Circles, Friday night at The End for a show that’s light on your wallet and heavy on sound. This collaborative group is serve up raw vocals and powerful drums for a head-bang-worthy experience. Joining the heavy rock group are opener Nordra and Jaye Jayle, a punk band from Louisville that features strong backbeats under psychedelic riffs and dark, bluesy vocals. Best part– the show is only 10 bucks. Check out a song from Sumac’s What One Becomes below. [OL]

CORY BRANAN
@ The Basement East | 9pm | $10-$15 | 21+

Cory Branan is hosting a special night of music at The Basement East on Friday night, and his poignant sometimes comical songs cover such a wide range to appeal to most any music fan.  We expect a heavy dose of his highly acclaimed 2014 release, No-Hit Wonder, but also wouldn’t be surprised in the least to see some big name special guests joining in on the fun. [MH]

WATERFALL WASH, AMERICAN ROOMMATES, GLEN MARTIN, QUIET HOLLERS
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm | $7 (at the door) | 18+

After getting your Tomato Fest on for a little while, head on over to The 5 Spot for an inspired bill of indie rock, featuring friends of the blog Waterfall Wash, rockers American Roommates, plus Glen Martin and Quiet Hollers. This party is hosted by local indie label Palaver Records, and it’s the official single release party for WW’s new track “Married to the Sound,” so come celebrate with, well what else, a bloody mary! [JR]

SATURDAY

TOMATO ART FEST: KANSAS BIBLE COMPANY, MUSIC BAND, CHROME PONY, THAT’S MY KID, GOTH BABE, & MANY MORE
@ Five Points | 12pm | FREE | All Ages

We already gave you the full rundown on this year’s Tomato Art Fest in this preview. Though it’s way more than just music, the stellar slate of local performers and site favorites like Kansas Bible Company, Chrome Pony, Goth Babe, and tons more, spread across three stages, should be a must on your weekend to-do list. Browse art and local goods, take part in the tomato-y festivities, and soak up some tunes for FREE! [PO]

2ND ANNUAL TOMATO RIOT ft. JOANNA BARBERA, JORDAN JACKSON, SCALE MODEL, BUTTHOLE, CAT FLAPS, MOLLY ROCKET, DARLING AND THE OOH LA LAS, & MORE
@ 100 S. 14th St. | 12pm | Donations | All Ages

Though not officially a part of Tomato Fest, the Nashville Riot Grrrls are hosting their own free showcase of performers as well as vendors, with all proceeds set to benefit the Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp. With Scale Model, Butthole, Molly Rocket, and tons more musicians, comedians, spoken word artists and more, this supplemental Tomato-adjacent event will be a blast! [PO]

MUSICIANS CORNER: LERA LYNN, JON McLAUGHLIN, THE SISTERHOOD, & MORE!
@ Centennial Park | 1:30 pm | FREE | All Ages

The summer edition of Musicians Corner continues this weekend with standout, now-local songwriter Lera Lynn (whose third LP, Resistor, demands repeat spins), pop pianist Jon McLaughlin, the talented duo of Alyssa Bonagura and Ruby Stewart performing their project The Sisterhood, and upstart local supergroup The Daybreaks.  The Lightning 100 Acoustic Stage also features Larysa Jaye, Megan Davies, and Ashlee K. Thomas.  Per usual, this family and pet friendly event has a little something for everyone.  [MH]

DON MCLEAN
@ City Winery | 8pm | $75-$100| All Ages

Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee Don McLean is stopping in on Music City to share some of his forty plus gold/platinum records with a captive audience. Iconic, and inescapable classics like “American Pie” or “Vincent (Starry Starry Night)” will surely be on display, as well as numerous other tracks. In a city FULL of songwriters, who owe it to themselves to see a legend in action, this is a not-to-be-missed performance. [JR]

CORDOVAS w/ QUINN DEVEAUX, CARSON McHONE, DON GALLARDO
@ The Basement | 7:30pm | $5-$7| 21+

Keeping busy this weekend, Cordovas are also headlining a low dough show at The Basement, with help from soul performer Quinn Deveaux, songstress Carson McHone, and friend of the blog Don Gallardo. That’s a shit ton of great music jam packed into a bill, which is part of a jam packed weekend. Best part? This show is under $10, and you won’t be dealing with a Tomato Festival size crowd. [JR]

THE BLACK MAGS, DARRIN BRADBURY, DJ JAZZY JAZZ
@ Little Harpeth Brewery | 8pm | 21+

Newly rebranded garage rockers The Black Mags are topping of a unique bill at one of our favorite beer producers, Little Harpeth Brewery, with help from folk performer Darrin Bradbury, and DJ Jazzy Jazz holding court in between. Grab a tasty micro brew, and dive into the Nashville underground rock scene. We promise you won’t regret it. [JR]

RON GALLO w/ REALITY SOMETHING, HEYROCCO
@ 12th and Porter | 9pm | $8-$10| 18+

Don’t text in the middle of a Ron Gallo show, he might just take your phone in a fit of rage, just like your high school math teacher always did so you’d focus on the material. Well in this case the material is a good old fashioned dose of in your face rock and roll, and the classroom this weekend will be 12th and Porter. Gallo has been one of our favorites ever since he moved to Nashville from Philadelphia, a city where he was most known for his work as frontman of the popular group Toy Soldiers. Joining Gallo will be hometown rockers Reality Something and Charleston’s Heyrocco. Doors are at 8pm, and tickets will be $10 at the door. Get a taste of Gallo’s recent Audiotree session below. [JC]

SUNDAY

DRAKE & FUTURE w/ ROY WOODS, DVSN
@ BRIDGESTONE ARENA| 7 pm | $49.50-$129.50 | All Ages

Inarguably two of the biggest names in hip hop right now, Drake and Future are two superstars who need  no introduction. Hopefully you snagged tickets to their mega Summer Sixteen Tour when we first announced it, because tickets are seemingly sold out. It’s a busy weekend, but we have no doubt this is the show that everyone will be talking about the most. [PO]

SHANNON LaBRIE w/ JOCELYN & CHRIS
@ 3rd and Lindsley | 8pm | $10| All Ages

Performing live over the airwaves (and in person) as part of Lightning 100’s Nashville Sunday night,  blue-eyed soul singer Shannon LaBrie is ready to share her amazing voice with a growing audience. The Nebraska-to-Nashville transplant, and her latest release War & Peace, have been making waves, including hitting two million streams on Spotify. Be there when Jocelyn & Chris kick off the all ages evening of live music, and be part of a live radio broadcast. [JR]

JULIETTE LEWIS w/ THE NEW REGIME, DAN LUKE & THE RAID
@ 12th and Porter | 8pm | $20 | 18+

You probably know Juliette Lewis from her film career, having starred in movies like What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and a long list of others, but she’s also one of the most powerful, talented frontwomen around today. With all the swagger, and even more energy than Mick Jagger, she’s a force to be reckoned with. Catch her playing this Sunday at 12th & Porter with The New Regime, which features Ilan Rubin, who has played drums for bands like Nine Inch Nails and Paramore. Bowling Green based outfit Dan Luke & The Raid will start things off. [MW]

BLACK WIZARD w/ SKY TEMPLE BLUES
@ The Basement East | 8pm | $5-$7 | 21+

Closing out your weekend is a night of gut-wrenching, head-banging, psychedelic fuzz-metal from Vancouver’s Black Wizard at The Basement East. The band are touring in support of their newest record New Waste, and their live shows are known to evoke the wisdom of stoner metal gods like Sleep and heavy metal legends Black Sabbath. This party starts at 8pm, so make sure you get there on time for openers Sky Temple Blues. Take a gander at the live video below to get pumped for the show. [JC]

[JR] Jacob Ryan
[JC] Julian Ciany
[MH] Matt Hall
[MW] Meagan Whitney
[OL] Olivia Ladd
[PO] Philip Obenschain