
I often mention in this space that the iOnGreenville Concert Calendar lists somewhere around a hundred shows for your consideration in the weekend ahead. To be specific, I just counted 95 shows on the calendar from Thursday through Sunday alone… that feels like an absurd amount of music, if you ask me. That said, I can usually scan through a list that size and pick out one show that really intrigues me or even a small handful of shows that I can round up on this digital page. The problem this week is that there is simply too much to consider, even for a brief roundup, but, dang it, I am going to give it a shot anyway.
Friday is for Breweries
Where you should go Friday evening depends on what you want to drink as much as what you want to listen to. For an evening of good old fashioned rock & roll without any pretense, Italo & the Passions will be on stage at Birds Fly South as part of their Decorate the Silence series. I built that stage and have yet to see a band on it, so I feel like I should fix that ASAP. That said, my buddy Vilai Harrington will be on stage at Quest Brewing Co. that same evening performing songs off of his brand new EP Sandhill Shaman, so there is that. Now that I think of it, though, I might want to head Downtown for the evening, the wings at Yee-Haw Brewing are pretty tasty, and Mourning Dove will be performing there. Decisions, decisions…
Those are just the three shows that catch my eye the most. Glancing at the calendar, I see additional shows at Fireforge, New Groove, Golden Grove Farm & Brew, and other breweries around the Upstate. Wherever you end up, it looks likes finding a cold craft beer to kick off the weekend is going to be the easiest thing you could ask for.
Saturday
Brewery fun rolls right into Saturday with Quest’s inaugural Quest West Fest, a tribute to the iconic Filmore West. Local favorites will assume the identities of the stars that graced the Filmore stage with Jerry’s Nub as Grateful Dead, The Bad Popes as Creedence Clearwater Revival and Van Morrison, Marvin King Revue as The Allman Brothers, and Gville Funky Fam Band as Miles Davis and Sly & the Family Stone. Meanwhile, over at Eighth State Brewing, the Candy Coffins will bring their brand of post-punk/alternative rock up from Columbia along with Spartanburg’s Satori Tree. Eighth State continues to bring in exactly the type of bands that other venues might not consider and I cannot help but love that about them.
Additionally, The Radio Room has a solid night of music, which is exactly what I have come to expect from the venue week in and week out. Allen, Mack, Myers, & Moore is the headliner and features Zach Myers of Shinedown fame. Perhaps more intriguing to me is the fact that a young up-and-coming artist named Jake HaldenVang is also on the bill. I remember seeing HaldenVang when he was a 13 year old guitar prodigy playing a since-closed blues bar in Downtown Anderson just over a decade ago and was blown away by the talent of a mere child. Now, he just finished up a run on TV’s The Voice and is touring with someone of Myers fame and pedigree so it is fun for me to check out the lineup and remember seeing him getting started way back when.
Sunday Funday
Things do not get any easier when you look at the music calendar for Sunday. The biggest show of the day (and perhaps the whole weekend) is The Black Market Trust at The Spinning Jenny in Greer. The LA based five piece jazz band is equal parts Rat Pack and Django Reinhardt and they are simply fascinating to listen to. Reinhardt’s Gypsy Jazz influence along with that of the legendary American crooners fuse together magically and, in the Upstate’s largest true listening room, should make for a great show at The Spinning Jenny.
For some spectacular lo-fi indie rock, Brooklyn based Beach Fossils round out the weekend with a show at The Radio Room. Their most recent release, 2017’s Somersault, was received with serious critical acclaim and I find myself digging deeper into their Spotify feed wondering why I have not listened to them before. This show will sell out so get your tickets now so you do not get left out in the cold (okay, mid-50’s) come Sunday.
If a mellower singer/songwriter Sunday vibe is more what you are looking for, you have options there as well. Darby Wilcox will be right at home on stage at Quest while Swanson’s Warehouse is hosting a Songwriter Showcase of their own. More than a dozen local singer/songwriters have already signed up with room for a total of 30 slots available for a fun night of music with a competitive edge.
That all amounts to nine shows in three days, which sounds like a lot, right up until you consider how many more are on the calendar. Scroll through the app yourself and see who is calling your name and get out and enjoy a show this weekend!
Upstate Live Music Calendar
- Wednesday
03-03-2021
Paul Thorn at The Radio Room
7pm03-03-2021
Live Karaoke at Smileys
7:30pm03-03-2021
TJ Jeter at DRAY: Bar and Grill
5:30pm03-03-2021
Chris Wayne at The Tasting Room
6pm03-03-2021
Sly Sparrow at Powdersville Pub
8pm03-03-2021
Jason Davis at WineXpress
5-8pm03-03-2021
Brandi Colt at Mullens Irish Pub
7pm- Thursday
03-04-2021
Karaoke at Ollies Tavern
9pm03-04-2021
Open Mic at Moe Joe Coffee Clemson
7pm03-04-2021
Jason Davis at The Tasting Room
6pm03-04-2021
Grateful Dead Night at Pour Taproom: Greenville
8pm03-04-2021
Mark Humphries at DRAY: Bar and Grill
5:30pm03-04-2021
Live Jazz at Topsoil Kitchen and Market
6:30-8:30pm03-04-2021
Rob Seel at Warehouse at Vaughns
6:45pm03-04-2021
Chris Wayne at Slice Of Brooklyn Pizza Cafe
6:30pm03-04-2021
Karl Lauber at RJ Rockers Brewery
6:30pm03-04-2021
Blues Jam at Smileys
7:30pm03-04-2021
John Mullen at WineXpress
4:30-7:30pm03-04-2021
Johnny Crooks at The Depot
7:30pm03-04-2021
TJ Jeter at FR8 Yard
6pm03-04-2021
Jeff Edwards at Chicora Alley Fire House
6:45pm03-04-2021
Duncan Morrow at Tribbles Bar and Grill
8pm- Friday
03-05-2021
Russ Moore at Wandering Bard Meadery
6pm03-05-2021
Pinky Doodle Poodle at Fireforge Crafted Beer
7pm03-05-2021
Ryan Henry at Which Craft Taproom
8pm03-05-2021
Funky Waze at Craft and Barrel
8pm03-05-2021
Steve Nadeau at DRAY: Bar and Grill
6:30pm03-05-2021
Live Jazz at Topsoil Kitchen and Market
6:30-8:3003-05-2021
Andrew Wakefield at Quest Brewing Company
7pm03-05-2021
Alex Hunnicutt at Gather GVL
5:30pm03-05-2021
Sidecar at Eastside Bar and Grill
7pm03-05-2021
Sly Sparrow at Club 134
8:30pm03-05-2021
The Black River Rebels at Ground Zero
7pm03-05-2021
Larry Hager at What Ales You?
7pm03-05-2021
Shady Groove at The Station
9pm03-05-2021
Karl Lauber at Marriott Hotel Spartanburg
6:30pm03-05-2021
Widow Lake at The Pumphouse
8pm03-05-2021
Rachel Vanslyke at Smileys
5pm03-05-2021
Funcle at Smileys
7:30pm03-05-2021
Alyce Drive at Jocassee Valley Brewing Company
8pm03-05-2021
Parker Ford at Study Hall Clemson
9pm03-05-2021
A Joint Venture at Mullens Irish Pub
8:30pm03-05-2021
The Southern Standard Band at Electric City Brewing
5:30pm03-05-2021
Ricky Gunter at Dugout Sports Lounge
6pm03-05-2021
Carolina Kin Band at Dugout Sports Lounge
6pm03-05-2021
O Shields and Inman at FR8 Yard
6pm03-05-2021
Wyatt Edmondson at Macs Speed Shop
7pm03-05-2021
Funky Waze at Craft and Barrel
8pm03-05-2021
Johnny Crooks at Carolina Bauernhaus Ales
6pm03-05-2021
Tim Bethea at Growler Haus - Spartanburg
7:30pm03-05-2021
The Away Team at Luna Rosa Mauldin
6:30pm03-05-2021
Clay Johnson at Growler Haus Village of W Gvl
7:30pm03-05-2021
Modern Relic at Tribbles Bar and Grill
8:30pm03-05-2021
Friday Night Feature at Farmhouse Tacos
7pm03-05-2021
Fine Line at Tip It Back
8:30pm- Saturday
03-06-2021
Travis Smith at DRAY: Bar and Grill
6pm03-06-2021
Rutherford County Line at Reds Watering Hole
7:30pm03-06-2021
Live Jazz at Topsoil Kitchen and Market
6:30-8:30pm03-06-2021
The Black River Rebels at Gottrocks
8pm03-06-2021
Trey Stephens at Gather GVL
1:30pm03-06-2021
Randomonium at Halls Chophouse
6:30pm03-06-2021
Wyatt Edmondson at Fireforge Crafted Beer
6:30pm03-06-2021
Dr. Don and the Medicine Men at Carolina Bauernhaus Greenville
6pm03-06-2021
Chris Wayne at Bleu Voodoo
7pm03-06-2021
Karl Lauber at Charleston Sports Pub
7pm03-06-2021
Karl Lauber at Warehouse at Vaughns
1-4pm03-06-2021
Twin Sons at Maestros Bistro
6-9pm03-06-2021
Drew Horton at Smileys
5pm03-06-2021
The Away Team at Smileys
7:30pm03-06-2021
The Full Effect Soul Band at The Velo Fellow
8pm03-06-2021
Andrew Crocker at WineXpress
5-8pm03-06-2021
The Unexpected Duo at Ciclops Cyderi
7pm03-06-2021
Shoot To Thrill at Hogtails
7pm03-06-2021
Salti Ray at New Groove Artisan Brewery
8pm03-06-2021
David Edwards Band at Turn1 Sports and Spirits
9pm03-06-2021
Corey Stevenson at Steddy's Bar and Grill
8pm03-06-2021
Karaoke at The Depot
8pm03-06-2021
Alyce Drive at Silvermoon Sports Lounge
8pm03-06-2021
Blue Country Sky Band at Sams Country Club
9pm03-06-2021
Cantrell Brothers at Main Street Pub
7:30pm03-06-2021
Twisted Trail at Dugout Sports Lounge
7pm03-06-2021
Rutherford County Line at Reds Watering Hole
7:30pm03-06-2021
Mojo On Max at Southern Culture Kitchen and Bar
10:30-am-2pm03-06-2021
Matt Fassas at Pour Taproom: Greenville
8pm03-06-2021
My Girl, My Whiskey and Me at FR8 Yard
5pm03-06-2021
3 and Twenty at Wendells Dippin Branch
8pm03-06-2021
Pickens CreeK at Typsy Tavern Bar and Grill
7pm- Sunday
03-07-2021
Live Jazz at Topsoil Kitchen and Market
6:30-8:30pm03-07-2021
Brooks Dixon at Gather GVL
1:30pm03-07-2021
Alyce Drive at Stone Pizza
6pm03-07-2021
Vilai Harrington at Tetrad Brewing Co
3-6pm03-07-2021
Widow Lake at Deuces Bar
7pm03-07-2021
Mojo On Max at Smileys
6pm- Monday
03-08-2021
Open Mic at Growler Haus Fountain Inn
7:30pm03-08-2021
Open Mic at Carolina Bauernhaus Ales
6-9pm03-08-2021
Open Mic at Smileys
7pm
Upstate News Headlines
- Weekend Things to Do: Greenville South Carolina
- Greer man charged in connection with U.S. Capitol riot
- Law enforcement, first responders, and other frontline employees eligible to get vaccinated in NC We
- S.C. to begin Phase 1B of state’s vaccination plan on March 8
- Police: Neighbors asked to stay inside after man fires shots, barricades in home
- Electric chair, firing squad for executions in SC passes key vote in Senate
- SC DHEC Covid-19 Update: March 3rd
- Greenville PD: Manhunt underway for driver who fled from police in stolen car, now running on foot
- DHEC gives new details on Janssen vaccine availability as Phase 1B is set to begin Monday
- Big companies in Texas and Mississippi will still require masks as states end mandates
- 3 children abducted by mother in Hendersonville Co. tracked across two states, recovered by U.S. Marshals