TWiN | This Weekend in Nashville | May 19-21

With warm weather and an abundance of spring tours, outdoor events, day fests, and celebrations, it’s another typically busy weekend in Nashville- lucky for you, we’ve rundown the best of what’s happening. Whether you’re looking for free or low cost way to catch some local favorites, a huge rockabilly and country fest, punk, pop, soul, burlesque, indie rock, hardcore, and more, there are plenty of shows at just about every price point and genre you could ask for. Dive into your weekend plans with This Weekend in Nashville!

FRIDAY

DADDY ISSUES w/ SAD BAXTER, DREAM WAVE
@ The East Room | 8pm | $5 | 18+

Celebrating the release of their phenomenal full-length debut, Deep Dream, local grunge pop trio Daddy Issues seem to drumming up an endless stream of national attention, but they’re keeping it local with a $5 release show at The East Room with fellow Nashville faves Sad Baxter and Dream Wave. It’s been exciting to watch this ascent of this awesome band over the past few years, and if you haven’t seem them in action yet, this is a pretty fantastic time to jump on the bandwagon; regardless, this is without a doubt one of the best happenings of the entire weekend- read more here. [PO]

HUGH MASTERSON & BRIAN ELMQUIST (of The Lone Bellow) w/ JOSEPH ROBERT KRAUSS
@ The High Watt | 8pm (7pm doors) | $10 | 18+

Nashville based songwriter Hugh Masterson is gearing up for the release of his debut solo album, Lost + Found, on June 2, and he’s been gearing up for that release with a tour along with Brian Elmquist, who is best known for his guitar work with The Lone Bellow.  The duo will stop by The High Watt for what is sure to be a special night, and a perfect chance to see what’s to come on the new record.  Like-minded local Joseph Robert Krauss fills out this bill of exceptional songwriting. [MH]

MAYDAY PARADE w/ KNUCKLE PUCK, MILESTONES
@ Cannery Ballroom | 7:30pm (7pm doors) | Sold Out | All Ages

The second half of the first decade of the ’00s was a weird one for pop punk; something of a reactionary, overly pop-ificaiton of the subgenre after more conventionally punk-rooted acts found surprisingly huge mainstream success in the few years prior. While many of the mainstream-angled, neon donning bands of those years have either quit, pivoted (hello folk pop explosion), or faded into obscurity, Mayday Parade have managed not only to age gracefully, but to maintain a loyal, steady fanbase. It’s no surprise, then, that their 10th anniversary show to celebrate their fan-favorite debut, A Lesson in Romantics, long since sold out. With the addition of Knuckle Puck and Milestones, this is a stacked lineup. [PO]

KIEFER SUTHERLAND w/ RICK BRANTLEY
@ Exit/In | 9pm (8pm doors) | Sold Out | 18+

On the heels of Billy Bob Thornton’s The Boxmasters, and before Kevin Bacon’s The Bacon Brothers hit City Winery next month, Kiefer Sutherland is the latest (and newest) middle aged actor to hit Nashville to flex his lesser-known musical side. Celebrating last year’s debut, Down in a Hole, Sutherland adopts a pretty classic country and Americana vibe, so, along with Rick Brantley, he feels especially well-suited for a Music City stopover. Hope you got your tickets early, however, because this one is totally sold out. [PO]

MUSICIANS CORNER: LEYLA MCCALLA, NORA JANE STRUTHERS, MAYBE APRIL, PRATEEK KUHAD, BULLFROG REVUE
@ Centennial Park | 5pm | FREE | All Ages

If you don’t know cellist and singer Leyla McCalla, it’s time that you get her on your musical radar.  The Haitian born, New Orleans based artist creates some of the most interesting and beautiful folk music that you are going to find, as you can hear in her lovely “A Day For The Hunter, A Day For The Prey” below.  She’ll be joined for the Friday Acoustic Session by local Americana standout Nora Jane Struthers, twangy trio Maybe April, poppy Indian songwriter Prateek Kuhad, and Bullfrog Revue for, weather permitting, what appears to be a pretty perfect evening in the park. [MH]

NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS w/ ALVIN YOUNGBLOOD HART, REV SEKOU ft. DOMINIC DAVIS
@ Third Man Records | 8pm (7pm doors) | $25 | All Ages

Southern blues rockers North Mississippi Allstars are nearing legend status, as they tour in support of their nine-tenth release, Prayer For Peace, which is set for release June 2. Friday night they’ll be rolling through Nashville, to play a very special show in Third Man Records’ famous Blue Room. Add in eclectic cosmic blues performer Alvin Youngblood Hart, and Rev Sekou with former Jack White bassist Dominic Davis, and you the recipe for a once in a lifetime show that has the potential to fill up quickly. Act fast and snag tickets while you can. [JR]

NASHVILLE BOOGIE: “STRAY CAT” LEE ROCKER, WANDA JACKSON, NIKKI LANE, ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL, & MORE
@ Opryland & Nashville Palace | 10am | $60-135

The annual Nashville Boogie Vintage Weekender, a “celebration of Mid-Century American music, culture and style,” returns to the Opryland area this weekend, boasting “90 acts on 5 stages over 4 days at 3 venues.” Both single-day and weekend passes are available, and a few happenings are even free, scattered around the Grand Ole Opry, Opryland hotel, and Nashville Palace honky tonk. The whole event, which also includes a car show, is a blast if you’re into that scene, and Friday is looking especially stacked, with names like the the legendary Queen of Rockabilly herself Wanda Jackson, and incredible, local rising star Nikki Lane on the lineup. Find out everything you need to know right here. [PO]

CREAMER w/ LASSO SPELLS, KELLEN OF TROY
@ Mercy Lounge | 8:30pm (7:30pm doors) | $5 | 18+

Seven man power house Creamer packs a wallop, and the Texas transplants’ sound brings to mind Gold era Ryan Adams. With powerful pipes, raucous guitars, and the rock star swagger, we highly recommend you get hip to to this collective ASAP. They’ll be accompanied by friend’s of the blog Lasso Spells, plus buzzworthy folk rocker Kellen of Troy, and you get all this amazing local music for just five bones. You’d be heard pressed to find a better low dough show this weekend at such a great venue, so if you’re on a tight budget, consider this gig a top choice. [JR]

MUSIC CITY BURLESQUE ft. KIM LOGAN & THE HYDRAMATIC w/ GYASI, STEPHEN EL REY
@ Crying Wolf | 9pm | FREE | 21+

Holding down the music for a “Mystical Men and Black Magic Women” show, hosted at The Crying Wolf by Music City Burlesque, local psych-tinged blues rock singer Kim Logan is teaming up with Florida soul band The Hyrdamatic, with whom she just released a stellar collaborative r&b/soul EP called Fresh Juice, for a stacked, free performance (there were some VIP tables available, which have since sold out). Their combined talent (and this interesting new sound for Logan) alone makes this a worthwhile weekend option, but Gyasi and Stephen El Rey are the bill too, sweeting the deal. [PO]

FORLORN STRANGERS w/ LEAH BLEVINS, VELVET WAYNE
@ The Basement | 8pm (7pm doors) | $8-12 | 21+

Local folk/Americana outfit Forlorn Strangers will be playing an intimate show at the OG Basement and should probably be ready to shake your tail feather to their uptempo romps. Country fired singer songwriter Leah Blevins, and  Americana duo Velvet Wayne will open for a what promises to be a killer night of live tunes. At just $8 in advance at $12 at the door, it’s also not going to cost you an arm and a leg to get in, don’t miss it! [JR]

SATURDAY

JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD, MUSIC BAND, WESTERN MEDICATION, REALITY SOMETHING, BIG SURR
@ Fort Houston | 5pm | FREE | All Ages

In celebration of their fifth anniversary, Fort Houston, who just relocated to a massive new campus on Lindell Ave, are throwing a huge, all ages, free event this Saturday which rivals most anything else happening this weekend. Aside from a plethora of food trucks, art vendors, and more, you can catch free performances from an absolutely stacked lineup of local favorites: JEFF the Brotherhood, Music Band, Western Medication, Reality Something, and Big Surr, all bands who would be at the top of our weekend list on their own. Did we mention it’s FREE?? [PO]

MUSICIANS CORNER: MARGARET GLASPY, HUMMING HOUSE, EMILY WEST, VIVA MEXICO, & MORE
@ Centennial Park | 1:30pm (12pm gates) | FREE | All Ages

Keep an eye on the weather for this one, but hope the spring storms don’t cause any cancellations, because this is a zinger of a Musicians Corner event.  Rising singer-songwriter Margaret Glaspy has been touring incessantly in support of her stellar 2016 release Emotions And Math, and has seen her stock rise with numerous festival appearances including Bonnaroo last year.  Blog faves Humming House and Emily West are just a couple of what is a stand out music bill.  This free, family and pet friendly event really is a perfect way to spend a spring afternoon, so fingers crossed for good weather. [MH]

HOWLING GIANT, THE DEAD DEADS, SAVOY MOTEL, TIGER BEATS ft. PATRICK SWEANY, & MORE
@ Tennessee Brew Works | 12pm | $10 | 21+

Get ready to taste some stupendous suds at the Tennessee Brew Works Block Party. Activites will include a whole hog roast, special beer releases from TBW, plus ice cold flavors from other local breweries like New Heights, Jackalope, Czann, Rock Bottom, and Yazoo. Oh, and did we mention there will be music too? Tunes start at noon and will go past 9 p.m. (when a DJ takes over). Performers include power rock trio Howling Giant, cult followed party punks The Dead Deads, rockers Savoy Motel, Tiger Beats, and many more! You get all this awesome for just $10, so if you’re a beer lover, you really have no choice but to attend. [JR]

STELLE AMOR w/ MASHA, MATT LOVELL
@ Exit/In | 8:30pm (7:30pm doors) | $7-15 | 18+

Sultry soulful songwriter and No Country Presents alum Stelle Amor is gearing up for the release of her debut EP on Saturday night, and has already been turning heads with her take on “Soulternative.”  Need help with that self-described subgenre?  Just take one listen to the single “Spike’s Groove” below, and you’ll get the full picture.  She is joined on Saturday by rising local pop singer Masha and up and coming singer songwriter Matt Lovell. [MH]

 

NASHVILLE BOOGIE: THE SONICS, DEKE DICKERSON, JITTERY JACK, THE WOGGLES, & MORE
@ Opryland & Nashville Palace | 10am | $60-135

The Nashville Boogie Vintage Weekender continues on Saturday with some of the best names in rockabilly and vintage country, but there’s more to it than just the tunes.  An indoor car show, western fashion show, huge vintage vendor market, pinup contest, record convention, and more await you on what could be a nice indoor escape should the weather not behave. [MH]

SUNDAY

PERFUME GENIUS w/ SERPENTWITHFEET
@ Exit/In | 9pm (8pm doors) | $17-19 | 18+

On the heels of stunning new album No Shape, artsy, eclectic, genre-bending soul/indie/pop singer Perfume Genius, the live moniker of Mike Hadreas, is set to return to Nashville for the first time in nearly five years, for a performance with likeminded New York up and comer serpentwithfeet. Both moody, unabashedly queer, poignantly personal, and artistically unparalleled, the two artists serve as a perfect compliment, and will make for one of the coolest, most interesting shows of the weekend- better grab those tickets in advance though! [PO]

LP w/ JOSIAH & THE BONNEVILLES
@ 3rd and Lindsley | 8pm (6pm doors) | $15 | All Ages

Indie/pop rock singer-songwriter LP has an amazing voice, and uncanny knack for recreating the catchiness of mainstream pop music, while still being a little rough around the edges (in the best possible ways). She’s penned some gems, not just for herself, but for huge names like Cher, Rihanna, and Christina Aguilera. Her powerful voice, rebel chíc, and insanely infectious hooks have built her a sizable fanbase, so this one is in danger of selling out. Like minded rockers, Josiah & The Bonnevilles will be warming up the crowd, and, as with all Lightning 100 Nashville Sunday Night showcases, this one will be broadcast live over the airwaves if you miss out on tickets.  [JR]

SAVE FACE, SHORT LEASH, COLD SHOULDER, BEGINNING
@ Dad’s | 7pm | $5 | All Ages

Murfreesboro DIY space Dad’s Garage is hosting a pretty rad show to meet your punk and hardcore itch this Sunday, bringing together New Jersey emotionally resonant alt rockers Save Face, Michigan’s Short Leash and Toronto’s Cold Shoulder, both hardcore bands, and local emo outfit Beginning. Be sure to bring $5 to help out the touring bands, and ask a punk if need the address. [PO]

THE GRAHAMS w/ BETH GARNER, SEAN QUINN
@ The Basement | 8pm (7:30pm doors) | $5 | 21+

Local husband and wife duo The Grahams play the sort of timeless, Americana tinged folk music that mainstream country is missing, brandishing a western flair and personal, unabashed lyrical knack. Their 2015 LP Glory Bound is an essential listen, if you haven’t yet discovered, it, and, if you’re looking for a wallet-friendly show unlike some of the more punk and indie-geared offerings we’ve run down, their performance at The Basement with Beth Garner and Sean Quinn will satisfy any lover of legit Americana. [PO]

NASHVILLE BOOGIE: JERRY JEFF WALKER, BOBBY BARE, LARRY HAMILTON, JP HARRIS, & MORE
@ Opryland, Nashville Palace, Grand Ole Opry House | 10am | $17-47 / FREE

End your weekend with a bang as the Nashville Boogie Vintage Weekender wraps on Sunday.  You’ll get performances from some of the finest songwriters of our (or your parent’s) generation, and spend some time perusing the massive vintage market and other options at this family friendly event. [MH]

[JR] Jacob Ryan
[MH] Matt Hall
[PO] Philip Obenschain