The finale of Live On The Green dominates the city landscape this holiday weekend, and we’re sure to spend a lot of the weekend there with you. Believe it or not, there will also be a nice helping of club shows going on around town, and we’ve highlighted our top recommendations with our staff picks below. Of course, if you are looking to get away, there is also the option of grabbing your tent and spending time in the outdoors with our friends at Muddy Roots Festival in Cookeville, who will be bringing you some of the best in all the genres that coalesce into the wide breadth of “Americana.”
FRIDAY
GEARY MOORE
@ Frist Center | 6pm | FREE | All Ages
Originally hailing from Pittsburg, PA, Geary Moore got his start in music after he moved NYC. There he played jazz guitar all over the city, with a very long list of contemporary musicians in the genre. Now calling Music City home, Mr. Moore has gone on to compose his own original music while continuing to work with legends in his field. Check out his incredible “in the pocket” style tonight for FREE, when he brings some tasty jazz to The Frist. [JR]
LIVE ON THE GREEN ft. BAND OF HORSES, NIKKI LANE, THE WILD FEATHERS, SIMO, DANIEL ELLSWORTH & THE GREAT LAKES, RAYLAND BAXTER, JOSH FARROW, THE SHEEPDOGS
@ Public Square Park | 5pm | FREE | All Ages
If you’re not leaving town for Labor Day weekend, there’s almost no excuse for missing Lightning 100’s Live on the Green. Friday’s installment of the weekly series (which concludes its 2016 season with a 3-day weekend) features two different stages. The second stage will feature Nikki Lane, Daniel Ellsworth & the Great Lakes, and Josh Farrow, while The Sheepdogs, Rayland Baxter, and The Wild Feathers will play on the main stage, all leading up to a headlining set from Band of Horses. If all those bands weren’t enough to grab your attention, throw in the fact that it’s completely free, and it makes for a day of music you absolutely can’t miss. [MW]
WILLIAM ELLIOTT WHITMORE w/ JOSIAH
@ City Winery | 8pm | $10-$18 | All Ages
As we already told you about in detail, Americana/alt-country/punk tinged singer-songwriter William Elliott Whitmore returns to Nashville for a unique and intimate show at City Winery, still riding high on the buzz surrounding last year’s Radium Death. Cheaper than your average City Winery show, and with up and comer Josiah on the bill, this is definitely one the weekend’s most promising happenings, as Whitmore is one of the most talented and engaging performers around. Tickets are still available, so grab ’em while you can! [PO]
MEATBANANA w/ SHERIFF RENO HAMILTON
@ 12th & Porter | 7pm | FREE | 18+
With a show spliced with some theatrical elements, but mostly just rock ’n’ roll, Meatbanana are one of the more unique acts gigging this weekend. With focused concepts to their work, like always being yourself, celebrating the awesomeness of life, and, above all else, having fun, what is there not to like about these local performers. Originally formed in 2005, the band reformed after hiatus in 2015, this time with a little bit more of a focused direction. Check out the next chapter in the Meatbanana adventure free of charge, and get to the venue on time for special guest Sheriff Reno Hamilton who will be kicking things off. [JR]
LUTHI
@ Acme Feed & Seed | 8pm | FREE | 21+
Fans of the blog know we’ve been keeping you up to speed on local soul/indie pop talent Luthi. We enjoy his stuff so much, we even helped him put out a single earlier in the summer. He also recently released his new EP, entitled Home Again, and, In an effort to keep his momentum on the up and up, he’ll be performing some of his new stuff with his band at Acme Feed & Seed tonight for FREE! So if you’re not feeling the heat of LOTG, come grab a drink at Acme, and bring some friends to boogie with, while you support one of our favorite raising talents. [JR]
THE MINKS, MOTE, STELLE AMOR
@ The Crying Wolf | 8pm | FREE | 21+
If you’re looking for a chance to hear some great music for free this weekend, and don’t want to brave the downtown crowds for Live on the Green, head over to the east side to hear local bluesy, garage rockers The Minks at the Crying Wolf. If you’re a sucker for powerful, guttural, vocals then frontwoman Nikki Barber’s howling is sure to impress. Also playing are recent No County Presents alums Stelle Amor and Mote, who blend a wide variety of world genres into a modern, pop package. [MW]
BELPHEGOR w/ ORIGIN, ABIGAIL WILLIAMS
@ Exit/In | 8pm | $20-$24 | 18+
Metalheads rejoice, because Music City is happy to welcome Austrian blackened death metal (combining elements of death metal and black metal) rockers Belphegor to Exit/In where they will surely be melting skulls. This is easily the heaviest show of the weekend with like minded acts like Origin and Abigail Williams in the warmup spots. If you want to bang your head and pump your sign of the horn fist in the air, this is the best destination for you. [JR]
STRUNG LIKE A HORSE w/ OPPOSITE BOX, & FABLE CRY
@ The High Watt | 9pm | $5-$10 | 18+
Dubbing their unique sound “garage grass,” given that it incorporates elements of garage rock and bluegrass, Strung Like A Horse are known for bringing great energy to their live performances. The Chattanooga five-piece have also kept the price of their show this weekend low, while still attracting top-notch talent in the opening spots like experimental rockers Opposite Box and theatrical scamp rock performers Fable Cry … all for just $10 at the door or $5 in advance!? [JR]
TIM EASTON, ARIEL BUI, ERIN RAE
@ Fond Object | 6pm | $5 | All Ages
Prolific local Americana rocker and friend of the site Tim Easton is someone we always recommend catching when you have the chance, and the same goes for just about any backyard outing at beloved neighborhood record shop Fond Object. Along with locals Ariel Bui and Erin Rae, Easton is celebrating the release of his ninth LP American Fork, and for just $5 it promises to be one of the weekend’s best low cost, low key hangs. [PO]
SATURDAY
LIVE ON THE GREEN feat: BEN HARPER & THE INNOCENT CRIMINALS, GABE DIXON, JUDAH & THE LION, MOUNTAINS LIKE WAX, THE WEEKS, LOS COLOGNES, BULLY, ALANNA ROYALE, BASSH, AUBRIE SELLERS, & MORE
@ Public Square Park | 1pm | FREE | All Ages
It’s hard to believe it, but Live on the Green’s epic 2016 season comes to a close this Saturday, but not before going out with a turbocharged extra long day of music. While headliner Ben Harper is surely a huge pull, as are top line acts Gabe Dixon and Judah & The Lion, the bills looks stellar from top to bottom, offering some interesting choices like breakout grunge pop locals Bully, soulful faves Alanna Royale, LOTG vets The Weeks, and exciting Music City Mayhem winners Mountains Like Wax, among others! With alternating stages, plenty to eat and drink, and hours of free fun, we can’t think of a better Labor Day weekend hang. [PO]
MUSICIANS CORNER: EMMYLOU HARRIS, ANDREW RIPP, FIONA CULLEY, HAYLEY REARDON, & MORE!
@ Centennial Park | 1:30 pm | FREE | All Ages
Another weekly, free, outdoor festival series comes to a close this weekend, as Musicians Corner’s summer ends with a bang, hosting famed folk/Americana singer Emmylou Harris, along with Andrew Ripp, Fiona Culley, and Hayley Reardon. With an acoustic stage featuring Grace Theisen, Ty Cooper, and Kiya Lacey, it sure is going to make for a tough Saturday to decide where to soak up free tunes (or just split your time like a pro). [PO]
TRIATHALON w/ BODY ORIGAMI, LEAN
@ The End | 7pm | $8 | 18+
If you’re looking for an alternative to Live on the Green, Savannah, GA rockers Triathlon are heading up a show at The End that definitely marks one of the weekend’s best under the radar happenings. Combining r&b, soul, indie rock, and pop, the band are joined by two local groups and longtime favorites of ours, Body Origami (formerly Nest), whose raw, emo-tinged flavor of alt/indie punk makes them one of Nashville’s most underrated acts, and eclectic, dreamy, indie punks Lean (formerly Slowtalker). Seriously, this show is going to rule. [PO]
GINA SICILIA (RECORD RELEASE PARTY) w/ SCISSORMEN
@ The Family Wash | 9pm | FREE | All Ages
Head on over to The Family Wash for some kickass grub on the cheap, plus a free show from blues/roots performer Gina Sicilia and juke joint blues band Scissormen. It’s Gina’s official record release party for her new EP Sunset Avenue, so grab a copy while you’re there, and enjoyed the laid back night of sweet tunes in AC. [JR]
BOB LOG III w/ THE BAD SIGNS, KEVIN DOWLING FITNESS HOUR
@ Exit/In | 9pm | $10 | 18+
If you are unfamiliar with Bob Log III, then brace yourself for a spectacle. The slide guitar one-man band, who plays some of the most blistering blues punk around, is as well known for his music as he is for his live show. He typically takes the stage decked out in a full body human cannonball suit and a motorcycle helmet fitted with a telephone receiver microphone, and then proceeds to demolish crowds with his often lewd, yet well executed, songs. You can get a taste of what this 20 year veteran is all about below, and make sure you get there early to catch blues rockers The Bad Signs and quirky entertainer The Kevin Dowling Fitness Hour open things up. No matter what you think of the subject matter, it will, without a doubt, be a night you won’t soon forget. [MH]
THE JACK PEARSON BAND
@ 3rd and Lindsley | 9:30pm | $15 | All Ages
Former member of The Allman Brothers Band and A-list guitarist Jack Pearson is a Nashville native with near royalty status amongst the guitar nerds in Music City. You can check out a full list of his collaborators on his FB page, because frankly there are too many to list here. Just know this: he’s one of the very best players in town, and you can see him perform with his own hand-picked band for just $15, so don’t miss it! [JR]
SUNDAY
MARSHALL ALLEN + JAMES HARRAR’S SOLORIENS NATIVE UNITY TETRAD
@ American Legion Post 82 | 9pm | $20 | 21+
Lately, we have been super stoked on the great happenings going on over at American Legion Post 82, and this Sunday is no exception. During this long holiday weekend in Nashville, Marshall Allen, a longtime member and now leader of avant garde outfit Sun Ra Arkestra, will be appearing along side longtime collaborator James Harrar in what will truly be one of the most unique shows of the weekend. Aside from being a talented saxophonist (amongst a litany of other eccentric instruments), Harrar is also a talented visual artist, who has been crafting densely lyrical film-poems for several decades now. This special engagement will feature Allen and Harrar, teaming up with a rhythm section at the Post on Sunday night to perform improvisational pieces to accompany some of Harrar’s film work. Check out a video of the two performing together below and don’t miss this one of a kind opportunity in one of our favorite East Nashville hideouts. [JC]
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[JC] Julian Ciany
[MH] Matt Hall
[MW] Meagan Whitney
[OL] Olivia Ladd
[PO] Philip Obenschain