It’s hard to believe June is already coming to an end, but as we dive headfirst into summer, the wide spread of musical happenings is as cool and varied as ever. This weekend, you’ll find punk and hardcore festivals, free outdoor events, buzzworthy local reunions, classic rock, indie, alternative, Americana, multiple biker bashes, record release shows, and so much more. No matter your taste or your budget, plan your weekend with our latest installment of TWiN below!
FRIDAY
NAMELESS FEST IV: BLEARY, DICAPRIO, AMYGDALA, THIRDFACE, BAD EXAMPLE, JOYBOY, PEACHY
@ The East Room | 8:15pm (7pm doors) | $10 | 18+
Returning for a fourth year, DIY, punk-geared, underground affair Nameless Fest IV kicked off Thursday, and runs through Friday and Saturday with more than 20 local and national performers across four showcases at three venues, The End, The East Room, and Two Boots. Like Thursday, Friday night’s East Room showcase leans punk and hardcore with a dash of indie, post-punk, experimental, and shoegaze, and we have a full rundown on all of the bands and full festival details here. [PO]
FEVER BLUSH, RALES, TTOTALS, TELEFONES
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm (8pm doors) | FREE | 21+
Formerly known as Lean (and, for a brief time before that, Slowtalker), local up and comers Fever Blush are something of a Nashville DIY supergroup. Fusing dreamy, lo-fi, indie pop sensibilities with a clear love of shoegaze, punk, and alt rock, the band, who count members of local favorites Daddy Issues, Beer Head, and more among their ranks, function as a group of writers, crafting songs as a unit and spreading the weight evenly. Though they’ve been an active part of the underground live scene for a couple of years, frequenting houses, dives, and DIY spaces all over town, Fever Blush only recently released their debut EP, Remember, Forget, earlier this year, and a new 7″ last month. You can catch them for free Friday night at The 5 Spot thanks to Eastside Music Supply, joined by fellow local faves and likeminded acts Rales, Ttotals, and Telefones. This would be a top weekend pick regardless, but with no cover, it’s looking pretty essential. [PO]
HALA, BOYO w/ DREAM WAVE, SNAKE CHENEY
@ Two Boots Pizza | 8pm | $5 | All Ages
With all of the Nameless Fest stuff going on this weekend, it might be easy to let other DIY events get lost in the shuffle, but Friday night Two Boots boasts an excellent mix of local and touring acts for a wallet-friendly $5. Hailing from Detroit, Hala is the musical vehicle of young up and comer Ian Ruhala, who adopts a dreamy, bedroom pop style we can’t get enough of. He’s on the road with LA’s BOYO, who also boats a dreamy, lush indie pop style. Two rising national artists you should keep an eye on, the groups will be joined by likeminded local dream pop singer Dream Wave, as well as eclectic rockers Snake Cheney. [PO]
PONYCHASE
@ Grimey’s | 6pm | FREE | All Ages
Back in 2014, Jordan Caress and Beth Cameron collaborated to start one of Nashville’s most beloved early pop outfits, Ponychase. They released their 2014 full-length Parade of Youth to much fanfare, and seemed one of the brightest bands in the scene at the time. However, the band broke up shortly thereafter when Caress left Nashville to return to her native Massachusetts. Thankfully, the group are back with a new vinyl release of Parade of Youth, and will be reuniting to play a couple of shows in Nashville this weekend. ou’ll get your first shot to see them (and snag a vinyl copy of the record) with a free in-store at Grimey’s on Friday night, which is a pretty perfect way to kick off your weekend. [MH]
LIT PARTY: NATIVE + THIRD MAN BOOKS
@ Analog | 8pm | FREE | 18+
Hosted by our pals at Native and the fine folks at Third Man Books, Friday night’s “Lit Party” at swanky new space Analog sounds like a dream for book lovers. Featuring readings by Susannah Felts of the Porch, PUJOL’s Daniel Pujol, Caroline Williams, Leslie Garcia of Southern Word, and Dan Hoy, the free event also boasts music by Miyagi, DJ sets, drink specials, and more. Who says book parties can’t be cool? [PO]
HAMELL ON TRIAL, JACK EVAN JOHNSON, MK GANNON
@ Fond Object (Riverside) | 7pm | $7 | All Ages
His tagline may say the most about Hamell On Trail. “Picture an acoustic guitar and a bald sweaty fucker with a predilection for punk.”Ed Hamell started out like most musicians, playing in local bands in his hometown of Syracuse, NY, but shifted gears soon after to launch his one-man act. He is hard to ignore with often politically charged, anti-establishment message that is relayed through his spoken word and punk-informed style. You can get a taste of what that is all about below. As if this show was gearing up to be the eclectic choice of the night already, get there early to catch sets from songwriter Jack Evan Johnson, and beloved local comic MK Gannon. [MH]
WHITE BOY AND THE AVERAGE RAT BAND w/ SNAKEHIPS
@ The End | 9pm (8pm doors) | $5 | 18+
Formed in Virginia in 1979, White Boy and the Average Rat Band sprung onto the scene with their debut in 1981, only to break up soon after, while, for decades, remaining a weird, genre-bending underground favorite, navigating the waters of metal, punk, post-punk, proto-metal, and hard rock, and gaining a cult following posthumously from record collectors and hard rock fans. The band roared back to life a few years ago, and reissued their debut in 2016, riding the wave of renewed interest, which brings them to The End this weekend for a performance with Snakehips. This show is a shockingly cheap way to catch an obscure piece of musical history, so if you dig old school metal, we’d highly recommend it. [PO]
YOUNG MISTER w/ MELODY FEDERER
@ The Basement | 7pm (6:30pm doors) | $5-7 | 21+
The musical outlet of singer-songwriter Steven Fiore, who spent years as a songwriter and backing player before stepping out with his solo endeavor, Young Mister‘s eponymous 2016 debut was one of the most criminally underrated efforts of the last few years. With an accessible, melodic, slacker rock sound, the North Carolina native is regularly joined by a rotating group of backing players, and his stop at The Basement Friday night for an early show with Melody Federer is looking like a very cool way to start your weekend off with an inexpensive show off the beaten path. [PO]
MUSICIANS CORNER: WILLIE WATSON, DONNIE FRITTS, PRATEEK KUHAD, LATERAL BLUE, PRESTON JAMES
@ Centennial Park | 5pm | FREE | All Ages
We’ve said it nearly every weekend, but this season of Musician’s Corner has been a pretty mind-blowing affair, boasting the free, all ages event’s best lineups ever. For this week’s Acoustic Friday showcase, former Old Crow Medicine Show founding member Willie Watson heads things up, and with his folky, Americana style, he’s particularly well-suited for this setup. Donnie Fritts, Prateek Kuhad, and more round out the bill, and for the low, low cost of free.99, it’s always a solid way to get your musical weekend off to an excellent start. [PO]
BIRDTALKER w/ BRAISON CYRUS
@ The Basement East | 9pm (8pm doors) | $12-15 | 18+
Local alt folk performers Birdtalker are still riding high after the release of their first full-length record, One, just last Friday. To help celebrate the momentous occasion, they will be headlining at The BEast, before hitting the road in July. Enjoy the wares of Braison Cyrus (brother to Miley) in the warmup spot, and make it a Friday night to remember. [JR]
RICK SPRINGFIELD w/ THE NASHVILLE SYMPHONY
@ Schermerhorn Symphony Center | 8pm | $85 | All Ages
Grammy award winning Australian singer-songwriter Rick Springfield will be bringing his incredibly rich catalog of songs to perform a very special gig with The Nashville Symphony this weekend. True and casual fans alike should now miss this evening of spectacular performances. With a career spanning four decades, there will be no shortage of hits, and even some new material from his latest release, The Snake King, which dropped this past winter. Be there live and in person, for all the chills and thrills! [JR]
ERIN RAE
@ The Basement | 10pm (9:30pm doors) | $10 | 21+
In celebration of her brand new record, Putting on Airs, beloved local songwriter Erin Rae is celebrating with a pair of local shows this weekend. She’ll be on a solo bill (with a promise of special guests) at The Basement on Friday night for those of you that prefer your shows later in the evening. If you’re more of an early bird, fear not, there’s another chance to catch her on Saturday at an earlier time. Regardless of when you can make it to the show, you should definitely load up the new record immediately, because it is a piece of retro styled beauty that will likely wind up on a number of Best Local Release lists at the end of the year. [MH]
THE MIGHTY JABRONIS, NOWHERE SQUARES, THE RIP TAYLORS
@ The Cobra | 7pm | FREE | 21+
RILEY MOORE w/ RUSTY CLANTON
@ Radio Cafe | 7:30pm (7pm doors) | $10 | 21+
MUSIC CITY MOTORCYCLE RALLY: THE GUESS WHO, FOGHAT, MOLLY HATCHET
@ The Woods at Fontanel | 6pm | $35-65 | All Ages
SATURDAY
NAMELESS FEST IV: JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD, SHOW ME THE BODY, HUSBAND STITCH, DREAM WAVE
@ The End | 8:45pm (8pm doors) | $15 | 18+
As Nameless Fest IV comes to a close, Saturday night’s showcase at The End boasts a particularly stacked finale, headed up by local garage rock favorites JEFF the Brotherhood. This bill is a bit less hardcore than the rest of the fest, but Show Me the Body still feel that quotient, and Husband Stitch and Dream Wave bring further range, flexing artsy, weirdo punk and dreamy, bedroom pop restively. Like all of the shows, tickets are available a la carte if you didn’t pick up a weekend pass. Find out more right here. [PO]
NAMELESS FEST IV: WAXED, C.H.E.W., YUKONS, DONORS
@ Two Boots Pizza | 2:30pm | $5 | All Ages
Before Nameless Fest IV winds down at The End, be sure to hit up Two Boots for a cool, all ages afternoon event, with some solid local punk, post-punk, and hardcore in the form of Waxed, C.H.E.W., Yukons, and Donors. This is also where you’ll find local venders No Sabes, Reed Cavanagh, Kate Madeira, Chelsea Velaga, Abbye Law, and Walter Million. Find out more right here. [PO]
NAMELESS FEST IV AFTER PARTY: CIEL, DREAM CHAMBERS, ERIKA GLUCK, TRAM PLANET CREW
@ Secret Location | 10pm | $5 | 18+
For the second year in a row, the folks at TRAM Planet Records are hosting the official Nameless Fest afterparty, which boasts a headlining set from Toronto electronic artist Ciel. For just $5, the late night affair also offers a techno set from Dream Chambers, local techno artist Erika Gluck, DJ sets from the TRAM Planet Crew, and more. The secret location is only available by word of mouth, so we’d recommend doing some internet sleuthing, or hitting up the Nameless Fest showcase and asking around. Find out more right here. [PO]
THE EASY RIDER ROCK & ROLL PICTURE SHOW: BLACK VENUS, CLEAN MACHINE, VOLTAGEHAWK, ELECTRIC WARRIORS, MACHETE, CHARLIE & THE EVIL MOTHERS
@ Fond Object (Riverside) | 12pm | $5 ($3 w/ bike) | All Ages
Beloved neighborhood record store Fond Object are throwing a sweet daytime biker bash on Saturday, with performances from badass local rocker faves Black Venus, Clean Machine, Voltagehawk, Electric Warriors, Machete, and Charlie & The Evil Mothers. That lineup alone would be worth checking out, especially for the $5 price tag (or $3 if you show up on a bike), but with free beer and Rebel Yell Bourbon, ice cream, a “rock and roll barber,” and a double feature of Easy Rider and Rebel Without a Cause once the sun goes down and the bands are done, it’s looking like a rowdy, daydrunk good time. [PO]
PONYCHASE w/ ELLE MACHO, YON ORT
@ The 5 Spot | 9pm | 21+
The official vinyl release party for Ponychase‘s beloved Parade of Youth will be taking place at The 5 Spot on Saturday night, and this sweet lineup is definitely worth heading out for. Ponychase will reunite to perform, though with a slightly altered lineup (Laura Taylor will play drums along with original members Jordan Caress, Beth Cameron, and Alex Caress), and that’s a not to miss set. They’ll also be joined by local supergrounp Elle Macho, which features the musical talents of Butterfly Boucher, David Mead, and Lindsay Jamieson, and Yon Ort, the solo project of former Wild Cub keyboardist J. Eric Wilson. It’s like we’ve turned back the clock a few years to when Nashville was a little less hip, and arguably a little cooler. Don’t sleep on this one! [MH]
MUSICIANS CORNER: JOSEPH, LIZA ANNE, SUN SEEKER, KEEPS, JOSH GILLIGAN, SISTER KIT, GLEN MARTIN
@ Centennial Park | 1:30pm (12pm gates) | FREE | All Ages
The fact that every Saturday Musicians Corner bill seems to top the last is mind-boggling, but this week’s installment of the free event is looking stellar, and feels like a mandatory way to get your Saturday started right. Breakout Portland folk pop trio Joseph head things up, and local indie rocker Liza Anne, alt/indie faves Sun Seeker, and indie/psych group Keeps all rep some of the best of the local scene. [PO]
QUICHENIGHT w/ THE MINKS, GYASI, TIM HIGGINS
@ The High Watt | 8:30pm (8pm doors) | $8-10 | 18+
Local lo-fi, high-brow, weirdo art pop group Quichenight have become one of the coolest fixtures of the Nashville underground in recent years, and this Saturday night, they celebrate the excellent new LP Cooler Heads with a headlining show at The High Watt. Joined by a stacked local slate of The Minks, GYASI, and Tim Higgins, this is yet another stacked local happening that deserves your close attention. [PO]
WARPARK, AND THE BOYS, BEAU TURRENTINE, FULTON LEE
@ The Local | 5pm (4pm doors) | $5
Another inexpensive, under the radar, and early show to consider, New York groovy indie rock trio Warpark head up an interesting Saturday afternoon bill at The Local. Local slacker/garage rock up and comers And the Boys, soulful singer-songwriter Beau Turrentine, and retro soul/pop singer Fulton Lee bring a diverse array of sensibilities to the lineup. [PO]
DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES, TRAIN w/ KANDACE SPRINGS
@ Bridgestone Arena | 7pm | $45-125 | All Ages
With a career that spans nearly 50 years and has yielded countless hits over multiple decades, Daryl Hall & John Oates are a group whose massive singles are nearly impossible to avoid. No strangers to Nashville, Oates even calling Music City home, the soft rock titans seem to pass through semi-regularly, but their singalong-ready performance is never anything short of a good time. This time around, they co-headline with pop rockers Train, which, though they seem like a weird choice, probably help attract a broader crowd. Kandace Springs opens, and, honestly, if you’re opting to hit up a Hall & Oates show, you probably know exactly what to expect. [PO]
REVEREND HORTON HEAT w/ BIG SANDY, THE PSYCHO DEVILLES
@ Exit/In | 9pm (8pm doors) | $25-30 | 18+
The one, the only Reverend Horton Heat and company will be making what seems to be their nearly annual return to Music City to set the stage ablaze. Largely considered the creator of the psychobilly subgenre, The Rev has honed his live shows to a fine and fiery point over three decades, always leaving it all out there for his audiences. Expect some snazzy suits, some off-color jokes, and rapid fire strummin’ and sangin’. With help from the likeminded Big Sandy and The Psycho Devilles, it’s sure to be one of the rowdiest bills of the whole weekend. [JR]
SPACE CAPONE w/ J HUMAN
@ The Basement East | 9pm (8pm doors) | $10 | 21+
Local r&b, funky soul ensemble Space Capone will be rocking the crowd at The Basement East this week, and if you’re looking to get your dance on, this might just be the bill for you. The genre bending seven member collective have earned a great reputation around town with the jam band crowd, and anyone else who likes to shake their ass in time to live music really. With help from party rocking pop singer, and No Country presents alum, J Human, this one is guaranteed to keep you sweating AND begging for more! [JR]
ERIN RAE
@ The Basement | 7pm (6:30pm doors) | $10 | 21+
SUNDAY
SUNFLOWER BEAN w/ PUBLIC ACCESS T.V.
@ 3rd and Lindsley | 8pm (6pm doors) | $12 | All Ages
Formed only in 2013, out of the ashes of former projects Supercute! and Turnip King, Brooklyn’s Sunflower Bean have seen a swift and well-deserved rise, since first springing onto the national scene with their 2016 debut LP, Human Ceremony, and garnering further acclaim with this year’s followup, Twentytwo in Blue. With their psych-tinged, post-punk, indie, and alt rock stylings, the band have quickly become a critical and cult favorite, and though they make it to Nashville regularly, their Nashville Sunday Night headliner feels well-deserved. Sunflower Bean alone would be a top weekend pick, but with the addition of New York new wave and post-punk buzzy up and comers Public Access T.V., this is without a doubt one of the best shows of the entire weekend. [PO]
DAYS N’ DAZE, THE GODDAMN GALLOWS w/ GALLOWS BOUND
@ The Basement East | 7:30pm (6:30pm doors) | $15-20 | 18+
Texas folk punks Days N’ Daze have spent the last decade becoming a prolific, beloved underground act, touring endlessly and releasing an impressive string of records. It feels fitting that they’re on a co-headlining run with LA’s The Goddamn Gallows, whose own eclectic, punk-rooted sound has made them a buzzworthy fan favorite. The tour hits The Basement East this Sunday night, with support from Gallows Bound, and if you dig eclectic, oddball punk, it’s a cool way to end a busy weekend. [PO]
THE BLASTERS w/ CLOWNVIS PRESLEY
@ Exit/In | 9pm | $18-20 | 18+
The self described purveyors of “American Music” (think rockabilly meets blues rock, with a nice tasty Americana shell) since their inception in 1978, The Blasters were active in the ’80s, when they developed a bit of a cult following, and, now in the 2000s after an extended hiatus, they’re back to turn on a whole new generation. Be sure to get to this one on time as well, because you do not want to miss the dog and pony show that is Clownvis Presley in the opening spot. And yes, he does dress up as a clowned out Elvis, and it is a sight to see, we assure you. [JR]
THE DAYTONA MACHINES w/ TRASH CATS, CALIGULOVE, HALF WATT ASTRONAUT
@ The Cobra | 8:30pm | $5 | 21+
Celebrating the release of their new self-titled EP, grungy, noisy garage pop/art punk trio The Daytona Machines head up a Sunday night show at The Cobra that feels like the perfect way to end your weekend on a cheap, stellar local and regional note. Huntsville folk-tinged punk outfit Trash Cats, local grungy alt punks Caligulove, and rock/jazz fusion outfit Half Watt Astronaut round out the lineup. [PO]
THE BAYJACKS (feat. Tom Leadon of Mudcrutch) w/ RENO BO
@ The Basement| 8pm (7:30pm doors) | $5-7 | 21+
[JR] Jacob Ryan
[MH] Matt Hall
[PO] Philip Obenschain