Out in support of his critically acclaimed, chart-topping recent sophomore effort, Good Thing, breakout Texas neo soul singer Leon Bridges, no stranger to Music City, will return for his largest local headliner to date, tonight, Aug. 29 at Ascend Amphitheater with eclectic kindred spirit Maségo. A transcendent, unrivaled, and versatile legend in the making, Bridges has blown us away with each and every show in the past, and with some of his best new songs ever in tow, the young singer’s return is without a doubt one of our most-anticipated shows of the summer. Tickets are still available here, so grab yours now and read on for more about the show!
LEON BRIDGES
Hailing from Forth Worth, Texas and born Todd Michael Bridges, soul singer Leon Bridges grew up a son of the church, exposed early on to gospel, classic soul, r&b, and blues, which would all go on to shape his throwback sound. Not even 30, the singer spent a stint in college studying dance, which helped inform his classic appearance, forged in the trend of famed entertainers of eras past like Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire, as well as soul singers of the ’50s and ’60s. After finding early online attention for a handful of independent tracks, including what would become his breakout single and the title of his debut, “Coming Home,” Bridges caught the ears of White Denim’s Austin Jenkins and Joshua Block, who produced some early tunes which attracted radio play and label attention, eventually landing Leon a home at Columbia. His gold certified, Grammy nominated, chart-topping 2015 debut, Coming Home, became an instant classic, beloved by fans and critics alike for Bridges’ authentically retro stylings, earning comparisons to greats like Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, instantly landing worldwide touring opportunities and a place in the conversation with similarly nostalgic artists like Gary Clark Jr.
Following Coming Home‘s success, Leon collaborated on tunes for the likes of Macklemore, Kacey Musgraves, Nick Waterhouse, and Lecrae, and, ahead of this year’s incredible followup, Good Thing, recruited buzzy producer and co-writer Ricky Reed, best known for his work with trendy and modern pop, pop rock, and hip hop artists. Deliberate in its attempt not to pigeonhole Bridges as simply a “Sam Cooke reincarnate” type figure, Good Thing eschews the ’50s and ’60s soul for a broader range of influence, carrying Leon’s sound into ’70s and ’80s r&b territory, tethered to modern soul and pop, with even a bit of Texas twang. Every bit the masterpiece of his debut, Bridges has, definitively, proved worthy of his mantle of legend in the making, easily one of the most skilled, compelling, and interesting artists making soul music today. He’s absolutely spellbinding live, and whether you’ve seen him or not, Leon’s return to Nashville is one of the last essential shows of the summer.
MASÉGO
Having already collaborated with the likes of GoldLink, SPZRKT, and DJ Jazzy Jeff and shared the stage with none other than Chance The Rapper, Kehlani, and Ta-ku, Norfolk, VA up and comer Maségo is certainly an artist to keep an eye on. The self-taught saxophonist, pianist, singer, songwriter, and producer is only in his early 20s, but, after years of building up buzz and finding viral online success for his early efforts, he’s set to release his debut full-length, Lady Lady, next month. Born Micah Davis, the singer’s sound is soulful, emotional, and eclectic, and, while not as outwardly retro as Bridges, still pulls from decades of classic soul, jazz, and r&b to inform a unique and heartfelt sound. 2018 promises to be his biggest year yet, so show up early and say you heard Maségo first!
Leon Bridges and Maségo will perform tonight, Aug. 29 at Ascend Amphitheater. The show is all ages, begins at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are available to purchase for $39.50-82.
