Two words: David. Gray.

Well maybe just a few more words are necessary. David's playing at The Ryman on Sunday, April 11. Tickets go on sale tomorrow!

Free Music for the Holidays

Fans of Joshua Radin, Brandi Carlile, Brett Dennen, Katie Herzig, Greg Laswell, Meiko, and more: Rejoice! They are giving away some free tunes! Click here, offer up your email address, and voila, instant free downloads. The complete track list includes:

My Old Man by Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers
Dying Day by Brandi Carlile
One Of Those Days by Joshua Radin              
Wildfires (live in Ireland) by Josh Ritter
Won't Turn Back by Needtobreathe                
Your Ghost by Greg Laswell
Hiding by Meiko                                              
The Holidays Are Here (we're still at war) by Brett Dennen
That's How It Goes by Noise Addict                
It's Alright by Dar Williams
Romeo by Dawn Landes                                   
Santa Cruz by Erin McKeown
Dead End Kids by Joe Purdy                           
Dance in a Straight Line by Katie Herzig
Sweeping The Ashes by Serena Ryder            
U-N-Me by The Watson Twins

Here is some Joshua to listen to while you're downloading...

"I'd Rather Be With You" Official Video

Joshua Radin | MySpace Music Videos

Coming soon!

Word on the street is: Jamie Cullum is coming to Nashville in March (13); Brandi Carlile is coming to Nashville in February (16), and The Harlem Globetrotters are coming in April (18). (That last one was Ben's idea.) Also, check out these guys, The Virgins:

Dan Auerbach

Dan Auerbach

Yep. The guy from The Black Keys. Let out the stoner rocker inside of you and buzz your ears to some vintage guitar fuzzverb. Dont get me wrong, this isnt just rock...theres some solid songwriting check out "When The Night Comes".

November 21s at Cannery Ballroom
w/Justin Townes Earle and Jessica Lee Mayfield

Pico and the Gills

For fans of Pico vs. Island Trees, this one's for you. They will be playing at the Basement on Dec. 11 with The Gills, a Pensacola band, who according to today's rumor mill, is also very good. If you haven't checked out Pico just yet, here's another chance to hear them live. Such a fun show...singable, danceable...horns aplenty...energy out the wazoo...it'll put a smile on your face. :)

Surf's up - and free tunes are, too!

Fans of Jack Johnson, G. Love, Matt Costa, ALO, and Mason Jennings, I found some free downloads courtesy of Jack's label Brushfire Records. There are 9 songs total, each by a different artist. Click here, they're yours for the takin'!

 G. Love

ALO

 Matt Costa

Bridge over troubled water

Last night I was introduced to Jeremy, drummer for The Bridges, and well, I guess that's the complete story of how I discovered The Bridges. :) I love that they are a crew of cousins from the South. (Also makes me wonder if I should have spent my time with my cousins harmonizing and learning the guitar rather than just playing Battleship, but alas, there's no going back now, and I am really good at Battleship!) Check out The Bridges next Tuesday night, Nov. 3, at Mercy Lounge!

Brett Dennen

Every year at Bonnaroo, I "discover" several new artists I've never heard of but are awesome. Brett Dennen was one of those artists this year. I saw his regular set and then his acoustic set later on even. His tunes are just positive, singer/songwriter, happiness. And he has a really interesting voice you don't hear everyday.

Brett is playing Cannery Ballroom on Nov. 13th (just a few days after the MuteMath show that everyone needs to go to). Bonnaroo alum Grace Potter and the Nocturnals are opening for him. She is great too, a girl led jamband :)

For fans of Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson, Jon Foreman, and Animal Liberation Orchestra (ALO).

A Stacked Bill

As Tall As Lions & MUTEMATH

I dont think MuteMath needs an introduction with their part time home being Nashville. They're live show speaks for itself also, if youve seen it or caught one of their wild performances on Letterman or Kimmel.

I couldn't think of a more perfect band to open for them than As Tall As Lions, the real reason Im posting this. The talent, vocal range, unbelievable rhythm section, and passion that you can feel when you see them make them a perfect pair.

This show is for fans of Radiohead, DJ Shadow, Ours, exciting live entertainment.

November 8th at The War Memorial Nashville, Tennessee




POST SCRIPT:

I had to add this after seeing it!

Charlie and Marc

So my friend ran into Charlie Mars today on the streets of New York, which led to her asking me who Marc Broussard is, which led to me discovering they are both playing at The Rutledge on Oct. 22. Gotta love when happenstance turns into opportunities for good music!

Ferraby Lionheart

Hi Nashville, Im new here :)

Im offering up Ferraby Lionheart as a must see, worth your money, lets take a trip downtown and love music together kindof artist. With a name like Lionheart, you know you are in for a treat.

Playing The Rutledge October 19 and The Basement October 23.

For fans of Phantom Planet, Sean Lennon, and eclectic old timey good times.

Note for Tiffany: At about 2:45 into "Before We're Dead" get down with a New Orleans horn celebration.

Ferraby Lionheart - Small Planet

Ferraby Lionheart | MySpace Music Videos

http://www.myspace.com/ferrabylionheart

Pico de gallo and Next Big Nashville!

"Take it Witchu" has been stuck in my head ever since hearing Pico vs Island Trees play at The Rutledge last night as part of Next Big Nashville. Awesome festival, by the way. Jason, the guy in charge, is from a city 30 minutes from where I grew up and shares my alma mater, so gotta give a shout out! I can't find a video of "Take it Wichu," but this song is pretty catchy, too.

Pico vs Island Trees - Open Doors from Digital Bohemia on Vimeo.

Regina returns to the Ryman

The mesmerizing and inspiring Regina Spektor is making her way back to Nashville Nov. 16 for a night at the Ryman. I'm not kidding about her being inspiring - the last time I saw her, at the Ryman as a matter of fact - I woke up the next day and bought my first keyboard. Guess this is a gentle reminder that I should probably start to learn to play! Tickets go on sale Oct. 2 at 10 a.m. Gotta go, I can hear the Yamaha calling my name...

Americana Music Festival starts TOMORROW!

Surprised no one has mentioned this, but the Americana Music Festival starts tomorrow, and runs through the weekend. Below is a link and some of the artisits performing.

http://www.americanamusic.org/site.php?content=conference

* - Highlighted some of the good acts I know of

Amanda Shires
Amelia Curran
Among The Oak & Ash
Amy Cook
Amy Speace
Angaleena Presley
Angela Easterling
Annie & The Beekeepers
Antje Duvekot
Ashley Cleveland
Asleep at the Wheel
Band of Heathens
Baskery
Bearfoot
The Belleville Outfit
Ben Mallott
The Boston Boys
The Bottle Rockets
Brigid Kaelin
Buddy Miller
Casey Driessen
Charlie Pate & Dixie's Finest
Charlie Robison
Chip Taylor
Chuck Mead
Clarence Fountain, Sam Butler & The Boys
Come On Go With Us
Corb Lund
Cross Canadian Ragweed
DADDY
Dallas Wayne
Deadstring Brothers
Dexateens
Diana Jones
Elizabeth Cook
Elliott Brood
The Farewell Drifters
Gabriel Kelley & The Reins
Grayson Capps
The Greencards
Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs
Hot Club of Cowtown
JD Souther (wrote a bunch of the early Eagles songs)
Jason White
Jerry Douglas
Jim Lauderdale
Jim Rooney & The Irregulars
Joe Pug
Kara Grainger
Keith Sewell
Ken Will Morton
Love Trucker
The Lovell Sisters
Marty Stuart
Mary Gauthier
Matthew Ryan
Missy Raines
Nanci Griffith
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Otis Gibbs
Patrick Sweany
Radney Foster
Raul Malo
Reckless Kelly
Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers
The Rustlanders
Sam Bush
Samantha Crain & The Midnight Shivers
Sara Watkins
Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles
Sarah Jarosz
Sarah Siskind
Scott Miller & The Commonwealth
Seth James
Seth Walker
Shannon Whitworth
The Smart Brothers
Stone River Boys
The Tejas Brothers
Tenderhooks
The Travelin' McCourys & The Lee Boys
The Trishas
Theodore
Those Darlins
Tim Easton
W.P.A.
Webb Wilder
White Owls
Will Hoge
Yarn

A Fine Frenzy Drops a Bomb on Nashville

One of my all-time favorite artists A Fine Frenzy (aka Alison Sudol) is preparing to kick off her Fall tour, and she's stopping in Nashville Oct. 25th for a gig at 3rd and Lindsley! Her new single "Blow Away" off her new album Bomb in a Birdcage is much more upbeat than her previous material, but it's all fantastically sing-along worthy.

And to add the cherry on top, she's playing with Landon Pigg! Landon's new album The Boy Who Never is due out Sept. 29. Doors open at 6 p.m. - get your tickets here. Both Alison and Landon are giving away free downloads of their singles if you add your name to their e-mail lists - just visit Alison or Landon's sites for more information!

ThnkxGiving in Nashville with Joe Firstman

Joe is putting on a solo show for those hanging around Nashville for the Thanksgiving holidays. Wednesday, Nov. 25, at 3rd and Lindsley, 7 p.m. doors, Joe takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. He has also a new record out called El Porto, so check out the new material, then go sing along to the real thing! If you haven't had the pleasure of meeting Joe yet, check out this behind-the-scenes video and interview I did with him last year...he's a riot! :)




Joe Firstman

Live on the Green

It's free music in music city, and as if that wasn't good enough, it's outdoors, during the fall, when the weather is beginning to be a-maz-ing, in a plaza (which I'm assuming is similar to a park). Anyway, it's Live on the Green, and it starts next Thursday night!

Here's the line up:
Sept. 3 - Toadies, American Bang, Ten out of Tenn
Sept. 10 - Here Come the Mummies, Space Capone, H-Beam
Sept. 17 - Derek Trucks Band, TBA
Sept. 24 - TBA
Oct. 1 - Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Maureen Murphy and TBA
Oct. 8 - Citizen Cope, Ricky Young, Next Big Nashville

Location: Public Square Plaza, adjacent to the Courthouse

Andrew Bird coming to the Ryman!

Bird lovers unite! Whistling virtuoso Andrew Bird is coming to the Ryman Oct. 10. I'm going to dust off my binoculars for this one...it's been far too long.

Free downloads of The Revivalists

Rebirth had us forgetting all our worries as always, but the band before them was a nice little surprise. Having sprouted out of typical Nola fashion, it's no wonder The Revivalists left me feeling so footloose and fancy free. Zack, the guitarist, was riding his bike around the neighborhood when he discovered Shaw, the lead singer, jamming on the front porch. (Ah, if only there was some sweet tea and homemade gumbo brewing in the background to fully round out the Nola essence of this story...) But back to the topic at hand - free songs. They are giving away free downloads from a live concert at Tipitina's on their website - http://www.therevivalists.com.

The Revivalists Live @ Tips from Dorian Iribarren on Vimeo.

Easy, breezy Paolo

For those of you who missed Paolo a few weeks ago at the Cannery, he was awesome! His new album, Sunny Side Up, has a very New Orleans-vibe to it - check out "Coming Up Easy" below.

Diane Birch at Mercy tomorrow night!

Tomorrow night, discover piano-playing, bluesy-soul singing Diane Birch for yourselves at Mercy Lounge. 9 p.m. See you there!