As winter weather looms this weekend, we’re keeping an eye on possible cancellations (a few have already come in and we’ll update as we can, but check venue and artist social media for the latest), however with swings in temperature, there’s likely to still be plenty of opportunity to take in some live music (though we urge you to drive safely and be smart). The winter tour dry spell has yet to lift, but with a handful of promising touring acts and plenty of local happenings to fill in the gaps, you’re still likely to find something that piques your interest and fits your budget this weekend. Dig into our top picks below!
FRIDAY
HENRY ROLLINS [CANCELLED]
@ Marathon Music Works | 8:30pm (7pm doors) | $15-165 | All Ages
SNAKE CHENEY, MOCCASIN COWBOY, DIRT, SLUMBERS
@ The East Room | 9pm | $5 | 18+
What’s better than discovering new music? How about doing it on the east side, for just five bucks to boot? Our tastemaking pals at Cold Lunch Recordings are hosting “Discovery Nite” Friday at The East Room, boasting a bill with some names you might’ve seen on some other lineups, but probably not all together. Local genre-bending indie act Snake Cheney are a band you should definitely have an eye on; Knoxville’s Moccasin Cowboy bring a lo-fi, slacker style of indie; and rounding things out are locals Dirt and Emma from indie outfit Slumbers performing solo. [PO]
PATRICK DAMPHIER, MOLLY PARDEN, NEW MAN
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm | 21+
Patrick Damphier has quite the resume. He’s best known as a songwriter for his efforts with Field Days, he has production credits with The Arcs, Jessica Lea Mayfield, and Photo Ops to name just a few, and he has spent considerable time touring with the likes of The Mynabyrds, Mayfield, and more. He’s gearing up to release a new album as a solo artist later this year, and we’re looking forward to seeing what the talented musician is up to next. We don’t have a single to share yet, but you can get a sneak preview on Friday night when he performs along with fellow popsters Molly Parden and New Man. [MH]
APOLLO WILD, MONOCULTURE, FAUNA HALØ
@ The Cobra | 8pm | 21+
The Cobra boasts another fun snow day refuge, with a trio of acts headed up by local genre-bending alt rockers Apollo Wild. On the road from Dallas, Monoculture lend their flavor of psych rock and a chance to catch a cool group on the rise, and rounding things out is local favorite and chamber pop-tinged indie multi-instrumentalist fauna halø, making this a solid under the radar option. [PO]
HANDSOMEBEAST, JACKSON DREYER, AMERICAN ROOMMATES
@ The Crying Wolf | 8pm | $5 | 21+
Inexpensive DIY shows reign supreme this weekend, and The Crying Wolf has another solid one to consider, featuring a touring act and two locals. Hailing from Houston, Handsomebeast‘s American indie soul sound is sure to please if you’re craving something vibey and mellow. Singer-songwriter Jackson Dreyer and indie rockers American Roomates make sure you get more than your five dollar’s worth. [PO]
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FOREST FIRE GOSPEL CHOIR w/ KID FREUD, THE SATURNS, BENDIGO FLETCHER
@ The Basement | 9pm (8pm doors) | $7-10 | 21+
Rowdy roots inspired rockers Forest Fire Gospel Choir have been popping up on a lot of bills lately, and we can assure you any positive hype they’ve received is well deserved. With blog favorites Kid Freud, plus blue eyed soul rockers The Saturns, and folk performers Bendigo Fletcher on the undercard, this gig is sure to blow your socks off. Don’t let the possibility of inclement weather scare you off from seeing some great live music, get out there! [JR]
DAYLIGHT SINNERS w/ LOLA MONTEZ, MEG WILLIAMS
@ The End | 9pm (8pm doors) | $5 | 18+
Hailing from Chicago but now calling Nashville home, songwriter and talented guitarist Liam Kelley is now performing under the outfit Daylight Sinners. They’ve released a self-titled EP to date, with word of new music coming in the near future, and they are showing their rock chops by sprinkling in a variety of sub-genres including psych, blues, and reggae. You can get a taste of what they are all about in their recently released live video for “Seven Seas At Sheygirl” below. They’re joined by powerful rockers Lola Montez and the studly guitar work of Meg Williams. [MH]
AVENGED SEVENFOLD w/ BREAKING BENJAMIN, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
@ Bridgestone Arena | 6:25pm | $25-75 | All Ages
SoCal heavy metal outfit Avenged Sevenfold might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but their obvious affinity for ’80s metal, punk, and hardcore, coupled with their ability to seize on the nu metal and metalcore craze of the early ’00s helped catapult them to major success, and, 20 years in, they’re still going strong, as evidenced by a headlining spot at Bridgestone Arena this weekend in support of last year’s The Stage. Breaking Benjamin and Bullet for My Valentine support, and tickets are reasonably priced, so even if you procrastinated, this is as easy one to catch. [PO]
VAN SOEST, KATIE PRUITT, CHLOE KAT, EMMET DRUEDING
@ Family Wash | 9pm | $7 | 21+
Head to the cozy confines of Family Wash for a spectacular night of live music at a low price. Local alt rocker Van Soest earned top billing, but with help from rock oriented singer songwriter Katie Pruitt, indie pop performer Emmet Drueding, and blues/folk mavin Chloe Kat, it promises to a full slate of awesome. You get all four acts for just $7, so you’d be hard press to find more bang for your buck Friday night. [JR]
BLUE WATER HIGHWAY w/ LIZ LABELLE [CANCELLED]
@ The High Watt | 9pm (8pm doors) | $10-15 | 18+
SATURDAY
COLD LUNCH CARES ft. H.A.R.D., IAN FERGUSON, COCO REILLY, THAYER SARRANO, DIAMOND CARTER, GLEN MARTIAN BAND, HARI
@ HOME Event Space | 5pm | donations
The fine folks at Cold Lunch are hosting another weekend happening that should be on your radar, and this one’s for an especially good cause. The label partnered with Open Table Nashville, Inc., Room In The Inn, and Safe Haven Family Shelter, and have been collecting much-needed items to benefit the city’s homeless community. Saturday, they’ll throw at benefit show at Helping Our Music Evolve – HOME HQ, located at 615 Main St in East Nashville, with tacos, drinks, a liquid light show, and a stellar slate of musical performers: H.A.R.D., Ian Ferguson, Coco Reilly, Thayer Sararano, Diamond Carter, Glen Martin Band, and Hari. Donations go to benefit the aforementioned organizations, and for a list of needed items and drop off locations, which will be collected through tomorrow, head here. [PO]
THE EXOTIC ONES, THE ROCKY FOUR, BELUSHI SPEED BALL
@ The Cobra | 9pm | $5 | 21+
Here’s yet another, you guessed it, $5 DIY show worth your attention. Hailing from Murfreesboro, The Exotic Ones adopt an old school, ghoulish, garage tinged flavor of punk. They hit The Cobra Saturday night along with local rockers The Rocky Four, and, from Louisville, traditional thrash/hardcore metal outfit Belushi Speed Ball. [PO]
TREVOR NIKRANT w/ THE STYROFOAM WINOS, CRAVE ON, THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS
@ The End | 9pm (8pm doors) | $5 | 18+
Songwriter Trevor Nikrant caught our attention with the spaced out, ethereal, retro rock release, Living In The Kingdom, and will be celebrating the vinyl release of the record at The End on Saturday night. He’s enlisted an expanded lineup of The Styrofoam Winos as a backing band for his performance that night, and you’ll also get to check out the unique reimagined folk of Crave On and self-described “shaggy folk collective” The Cherry Blossoms. [MH]
THE GRAND MAGNOLIAS w/ SWEETHEART DEAL, LUCAS
@ The Basement | 9pm (8:30pm doors) | $10 | 21+
East Nashville based rock and rollers The Grand Magnolias are back after a bit of a hiatus, and we are throughly looking forward to seeing what new wares they are bring to the table when they put it down at the OG Basement. We’re also excited to check out a new local (via LA) duo, The Sweetheart Deal, and Lucas, all for only a ten spot. So be there in person to help welcome back some familiar faces, as well as meeting some new, and support the thriving local music scene while you do it. [JR]
SUNDAY
DANIEL ELLSWORTH & THE GREAT LAKES w/ THE DAYBREAKS, VICTORIA BIGELOW
@ 3rd and Lindsley | 7pm (6pm doors) | $10 | All Ages
We’ve been following the new wave of singles from the Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes camp for the past few months, as they are gearing up to release a new record in 2018. The full album, titled Fashion is due out in the fall, but the band are breaking up the release with Chapter One coming as an EP on Jan. 19, and Chapter Two expected in the spring. They are celebrating the first release with a special Nashville Sunday Night performance along with the sweet pop stylings of The Daybreaks and a touch of soul with Victoria Bigelow. If you want to see one of the best local bands on the scene, then you should definitely make it out to this one, and, as you can see in the video below, definitely bring your dancing shoes! [MH]
JACK HARLOW w/ THE HOMIES, BRIAN BROWN + YG TUT
@ Exit/In | 8pm (7pm doors) | $15 | 18+
Louisville, KY, based hip hop performer Jack Harlow is stopping in on Music City, and if underground rap is your forte, this is not-to-be-missed performance. A relatively fresh face on the scene, Jack is currently touring is support of his record Gazebo, which dropped just last month. A nice mix of smart lyrics and mellow beats, Harlow is ready to prove he’s a rising force in the regional rap game, and beyond, so catch him now in an intimate spot, because rooms will only get bigger as the hype grows. [JR]
BORN ANIMAL, JUICE, ROOKER, JENNA MCCLELLAND
@ The End | 8pm (7pm doors) | $5-8 | 18+
Local eclectic, blues-tinged indie rockers Born Animal head up a Sunday bill at The End that looks like a pretty solid and wallet-friendly way to end your weekend, and one of the few smaller shows without a garage, indie, or punk slant. For $5 in advance and $8 the day of the show, you’ll also get funk-tinged r&b rockers Juice, alt blues rocker Rooker, and singer-songwriter Jenna McClelland. [PO]
YEAR OF OCTOBER, THE HAZYTONES, NOISECULT
@ The Crying Wolf | 8:30pm | $10 | 21+
A longtime scene staple and site fave, Year of October‘s bluesy, soulful, psyched out, stoner primed style of indie rock sounds like a solid weekend finale, when they head up another cool local show with a touring act at The Crying Wolf Sunday night. For $10, you also get riffy, stoner rock trio The Hazytones, all the way from Montreal, and local metal/punk/funk outfit Noisecult. Can’t go wrong. [PO]
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[MH] Matt Hall
[PO] Philip Obenschain