Brett Barest on Upstate Live Music: The Show Must Go On

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Few things in life go according to plan, at least in my experience. Last week I told you I would be rolling out an interview and full feature on Will Griffith’s The Great Dying ahead of their in-store appearance with Aaron Burke at Horizon Records this Thursday evening. Sadly, a death in the family brought an abrupt end to the tour as Will’s place is at home with his people in their time of grief. So, instead of an interview I would simply like to offer my condolences to Will and his family and will wait to tell you his story when he returns to the Upstate, reportedly later this Spring.

For his part, Aaron Burke will still be performing at Horizon Thursday evening and that is plenty of reason to get out for a show by itself. You might know Burke from his local post-punk trio Glass but his solo work is a drastic departure from what we may have come to expect. His solo album Corvine: Columns & Verses is a much more subdued and experimental affair and is utterly captivating. The first track “The Angelus” is a meandering 20 plus minute affair that could have been an EP all its own but, instead, it serves as the perfect introduction to a uniquely interesting 11-track album that is at times both mystical and haunting in all the right ways.

Like all in-store shows at Horizon Records, this is a free show with food and drink available right next door at Bohemian Café. This promises to be an innately intimate affair and the perfect way to spend a Thursday evening. Stop in for a listen, pick up an album on your way out, and thank Gene for his never ending commitment to the local music scene.

Saturday evening, I would suggest celebrating the Leap Year at Quest Brewing Company with some of my favorite local indie rockers, The Excons. It might seem that they have been laying kind of low lately but that is simply because they have been hard at work on their third album, Winter of Love, which should arrive sometime this Spring. All of the songs are written and are just waiting to be recorded but, in the meantime, you can get a sneak peek at the new material live and in person this Saturday night. Two sets featuring tunes from all three records will make for a great evening of music courtesy of The Excons.

Upstate Music Awards Live Music Performances

Finally, don’t forget that the weekend closes with the inaugural Upstate Music Awards Sunday, hosted by yours truly. iOnGreenville is proud to be a sponsor of the event and Chris Bizzell, the brains behind this gloriously handy app, will be presenting the award for Album of the Year. Admission to the event is free with the pre-show kicking off at 5pm with four song sets each from Kylie Odetta, Howl in the Valley, and Phat Lip ahead of the 6pm ceremony start time. Horrible Girl & the Hot Mess, Brother Oliver, The Old Earthquake, and Skyland Flowers will each have mid-show performances and Salti Ray and Seven Year Witch will each close out the night with four song sets of their own after the last awards have been announced. All in all, this is going to be a very important moment for the Upstate music scene and I am honored to be a part of it. I hope to see you there!