Free Shows are the Best

Want to see an interesting cross section of people in Nashville? Free shows going on around town are the way to go to check out what's going on and who all is into it. Here's a rundown of some of the events that have been going on lately and also what's coming up in the (very) near future. :

1. Live on the Green Series

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings (photo by Lance Conzett)

Last week I got the chance to finally catch a Live on the Green show that featured the always fun and on it Dynamites featuring Charles Walker and the amazing fireball that is Sharon Jones, with the Dap Kings (who worked on Amy Winehouse's record and are buds with producer extraordinaire Mark Ronson).
The series takes place in front of city hall in downtown Nashville and has a green slant (hence the name) and booths, plus free bike parking and environmental tips that abound from the speakers (suggesting show goers carpool, etc.). The sets start early, with the headliner going on around 9, stage changes are prompt and it is one of the coolest things I've seen in Nashville, ever.
This Thursday (10/8), Courtney Jaye, Ricky Young and Citizen Cope are set to play the last event of the series. All I know is Lighting 100 and all the other sponsors are pretty awesome for getting this going and I can't wait to see who they get lined up for next year's series- I don't know if they can outdance Sharon Jones, but it's going to be fun seeing if they do.

2) Grimey's Rocktober Outdoor Concert Bash and Sale

Grimey's can never do wrong, in my eyes. This weekend proved the same, once again. Even though this fall's outdoor show and sale seemed to yield fewer people than Record Store day did in the spring, there was still a good crowd on hand when I arrived a little before 3 pm. I had missed the chance to see Brooke Waggoner and Oblio play earlier in the afternoon, but arrived in time to hear some metal tunes and Heavy Cream bust out a short set of their Infinity Cat garage jams about lava lamps (these ladies and gent play all over town and I suggest you see them atleast once).
Of course the vinyl and cds were flowing outside for $1 each and sales were upstairs too, so people walked away happy and with their musical thirsts quenched. As with most free shows, there was the interesting cross section of people represented, my favorite being the little boy wailing on a water bottle like a guitar.
At the close of the tunes, a mention was made of the next outdoor show on record store day in April, and that, dear friends, is when the muscles are really flexed. Regardless, the Grimey's folks know how to throw a party and how to get everybody there. And for that I love them.

3) Next Big Nashville FREE Shows

Yes, you read right- FREE shows at NBN this week! On Friday night, the festival is taking over some of the honky tonks downtown. There's no need for a wristband to get into these shows and they could very easily be some of the best entertainment of the whole festival. The line up for Tootsies alone is one you might want to show up early for: We Were The States, Black Diamond Heavies AND the Clutters. Follow that up with what I've heard is a great country artist, Willie Heath Neal and that's a good night with just those four bands. More info on Next Big Nashville can be found at their website and keep an eye out for a big post highlighting what I'm deeming the can't miss list in the next day or so. Starting resting up for it, though- Wednesday night the shows start!