TWiN | This Weekend in Nashville | Feb. 9-11

Our friends over at Cold Lunch are easily throwing the biggest party of the weekend with their third annual, three stage, 31 band Spewfest on Saturday, but your musical weekend shouldn’t stop there. We have a heavy slate of local performances, along with some top notch touring acts stopping in to make this a weekend to remember. Head below to see all of our staff picks in this week’s edition of TWiN!

FRIDAY

DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL
@ Grimey’s | 5pm | Sold Out | All Ages

Last year, now-local emo trailblazers Dashboard Confessional played a sold-out, very special five night residency at The Basement East and The Basement, featuring support from an exciting crop of up and coming local bands, the cap-off to an intimate club tour, before hitting the road for a larger summer run, which returned them to town for an Ascend Amphitheater show in August. Since then, the reunited group have plotted their long-awaited seventh album and first in almost a decade, Crooked Shadows, and announced a spring show at The Ryman. The record will drop this Friday via new label home Fueled By Ramen, and to celebrate Dashboard will stop by Grimey’s for an in-store performance and singing. Wristbands were distributed with pre-orders, however, and space is now totally full. For the lucky few who got in, this will be a amazing way to kick off the weekend. [PO]

JAY FARRAR DUO w/ ANDREW DUPLANTIS
@ 3rd and Lindsley | 8pm (6pm doors) | $20 | All Ages

Jay Farrar is best known for being a co-founder of seminal alt-country outfit Uncle Tupelo, along with Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, then subsequently for his rock leaning Son Volt, but he has also enjoyed a successful solo career as well, with the release of two records under his own name in the early ’00s. This show is sure to feature cuts from those albums, but also is sure to be chock full of Son Volt cuts, including those from their 2017 album Notes of Blue. [MH]

AIRPARK w/ MOTEL RADIO
@ The Basement | 7pm (6:30pm doors) | $5-7 | 21+

Formed by brothers Michael and Ben Ford following the untimely breakup of Apache Relay, Airpark have already started turning heads with the release of two EPs last year, which feature their minimalist, deconstructed approach to indie pop. They are joined by fellow New Orleans bred folk rockers Motel Radio for a Friday night early show at The Basement. The headliners have a solid potential to break out, and have already played much larger rooms in Nashville, so don’t miss your chance to see them in the intimate confines of The (original) Basement. [MH]

UNKNOWN HINSON w/ CLOWNVIS PRESLEY
@ Exit/In | 9pm (8pm doors) | $15 | 18+

The one and only raunchy, undead cowboy known as Unknown Hinson will be bringing his heathen flavored psychobilly meets crude Western stand-up comedy routine back to Exit/In this weekend. A legitimately talented musician, Stuart Daniel Baker dreamed up his alter-ego Hinson in the late ‘90s and NEVER breaks character (fake fangs, shoe polish eyebrows) when performing on tour. He is also just as widely known as the voice of Early Cuyler on the Adult Swim show Squidbillies, which has only added to his cult figure status. Look for a similarly character driven performance from opener Clownvis Presley, in what promises to be the weirdest and most hilarious bill of the weekend. [JR]

GRACE VANDERWAAL
@ Cannery Ballroom | 7pm (6pm doors) | Sold Out | All Ages

14 year old indie pop phenom Grace VanderWaal sprung to national attention after winning the 2016 season of America’s Got Talent, renowned for her impressive voice, whimsical, ukulele-backed style, and incredible ear for pop melody. She’s subsequently become a certifiable star, releasing her aptly-titled full-length debut, Just the Beginning, last fall. With a future so bright, it’s no surprise she sold out Cannery Ballroom in advance, but getting to see her on the rise in a smaller room will be an incredibly memorable experience for anyone who snagged tickets. [PO]

STACEY KENT QUINTET
@ Schermerhorn Symphany Center | 8pm | $34-129 | All Ages

Grammy nominated and platinum selling jazz vocalist Stacey Kent is brining her talents to the beautiful stage at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Friday. She’ll be accompanied by performers who round out her quintet: Jim Tomlinson (saxes, flutes), Art Hirahara (piano), Tom Hubbard (bass), and Anthony Pinciotti (drums). Together they will share their spectacular live performance with all in attendance, and for fans of more jazzy flavored fair, this is a must-see show. [JR]

SATURDAY

SPEWFEST 3 ft. THE JAG, DADDY ISSUES, KEEPS, REALITY SOMETHING REALLY NICE GUYS, IDLE BLOOM, LEGGY, FEVER BLUSH, SAD BAXTER, LASSO SPELLS, TWEN, & MORE
@ The East Room & The Cobra | 4pm | $12 | 18+ (East Room) 21+ (The Cobra)

Boasting easily the biggest local bill of the year so far (two venues, three stages, 31 bands), Cold Lunch Recordings is happy to bring Music City punk, garage, and indie fans their annual Spewfest 3! This is the third installment of the stacked out fest, and things seem to only be getting bigger and bigger with each passing year. Look for blog favorites like Daddy Issues, Reality Something, Lasso Spells, Sad Baxter, Fever Blush, Idle Bloom, and many, many more to melt skulls at The East Room and The Cobra for this massive all day event. There’s so much going on, we’re putting together a separate post to help break it all down, but for the shorthand, know there will be food by Taco Terry’s available, libations, and you get access to both venues and all the music for just $12! [JR]

STEVE EARLE w/ STACEY EARLE, MARK STUART
@ City Winery | 8pm (6pm doors) | $45-65 | All Ages

Looking to make it a family affair at the latest installment of his annual winter residency at City Winery, legendary outlaw country troubadour Steve Earle will be welcoming his sister, Stacey Earle, to join him on the bill. That’s two Earles for the price of one, plus singer-songwriter Mark Stuart in the opening spot, at one of the coziest performance spaces in the whole city. Fans of the local legend should jump on this one fast, because Steve’s been known to sell out shows during his residencies. [JR]

FUTUREBIRDS w/ BANDITOS, NEIGHBOR LADY
@ The Basement East | 9pm (8pm doors) | $12-$15 | 18+

Athens psych-infused country rock outfit Futurebirds have been a group we’ve loved keeping an eye on for years, growing from a buzzy hometown fixture to a band with international acclaim, who’ve logged countless tour dates, appeared at numerous top festivals, and, across three LPs, a live album, and four EPs, have consistently churned out well-received efforts, perfecting their eclectic sound and bridging genres. The band return to Nashville this weekend, for a performance at The Basement East with similarly-styled locals Banditos and Athens up and comers Neighbor Lady. It’s a stacked out bill and you don’t want to miss it! [PO]

MARCO BENEVENTO w/ PEOPLE’S BLUES OF RICHMOND
@ The High Watt | 9pm (8pm doors) | $10-12 | 18+

Quirky indie rocker Marco Benevento is closing out his two week residency at The High Watt this weekend as he is touring support of his latest release, Woodstock Sessions, which is a live followup to last year’s The Story of Fred Short. If you are a fan of synth driven, quirky, pop-styled indie rock, Benevento should be on your radar. Virginia based blues doused rockers People’s Blues of Richmond will be ramping things up quickly from the opening slot, making this a high energy show that’s not to be missed. [MH]

JUSTIN & THE COSMICS w/ CHLOE KAT, MACHETE
@ The Basement | 9pm (8:30pm doors) | $6-8 | 21+

Powerhouse rockers Justin & The Cosmics have been long time blog faves with their grungy, rockabilly flavored blend of music, and we’re eagerly awaiting a follow up to their 2015 release Schooly Dreams. They are taking us back a few years with an intimate performance at The Basement with songwriter Chloe Kat and local psych rockers Machete. [MH]

JOE PISAPIA
@ Grimey’s | 5pm | FREE | All Ages

Longtime local musician and multi-instrumentalist Joe Pisapia is gearing up to release his third solo record, titled Connection, and he is celebrating with a special in-store at Grimeys on Saturday.  An original rock scenester, Pisapia is also known for his work with Guster, k.d. lang, and Ben Folds, which has continued to shape his uniquely crafted pop rock. His reputation around town is unequaled, so get there early for what should be a packed live performance. [MH]

SUNDAY

TESSA VIOLET, SECRET MIDNIGHT PRESS w/ GIVE ME MOTION
@ The Basement East | 8pm (7pm doors) | $13-15 | 18+

Though she rose to fame as a vlogger, singer-songwriter Tessa Violet has cultivated a respectable solo music career as well, adopting an earnest, stylish, indie pop sound. Along with interestingly paired Secret Midnight Press, a publishing company and curiosity brand out of Columbus, Ohio founded by Ashley Dun and Jesse Cale, who perform live readings of their work and have something of a cult following, she’ll close out the weekend with a show at The Basement East. Give Me Motion will open. [PO]

WILLIE WATSON w/ ANNA TIVEL
@ 3rd and Lindsley | 8pm (6pm doors) | $15 | All Ages

Renowned singer songwriter, guitarist, banjo player and founding member of Old Crow Medicine Show Willie Watson has just begun to flex his muscles as a solo artist, with his 2014 debut, Folk Singer Vol. 1, and last year’s Folk Singer Vol. 2. See what he’s been working on for yourself live and in person, with like minded folk performer Anna Tivel in the warm up spot, Sunday at 3rd and Lindsley. As with all Lightning 100 sponsored Nashville Sunday Night events, if you can’t be there in person, you can catch it live on the radio, but seeing and hearing is always your best bet. [JR]

AUGUST BURNS RED w/ BORN OF OSIRIS, ERRA, OCEAN GROVE
@ Marathon Music Works | 7pm (6pm doors) | $23-25 | All Ages

Part of the metalcore explosion of the mid-’00s, Pennsylvania’s August Burns Red have remained a dependable staple in the scene now for a decade and a half, building in prestige enough to even earn Grammy nominations in recent years. The pseudo-Christian group are still riding high on the buzz from last year’s eighth album Phantom Anthem, as heavy yet melodic as ever, and they return to town this weekend with support from likeminded acts Born of Osiris, Erra, and Ocean Grove. If you’re looking for a heavy music fix, this is your best bet. [PO]

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