
Looking over the local concert calendar, I could not help but notice that there are some pretty big names visiting the Upstate this weekend. The Bon Secours Wellness Arena (which will always be the Bi-Lo Center to me, at least when I am not still calling it Greenville Memorial Auditorium even though they blew that up 20+ years ago) is featuring The Avett Brothers Thursday night and Chris Stapleton Friday night. Not to be outdone, The Peace Center is bringing in local legend Edwin McCain for a special evening of singer songwriters.
All of this is very good for the Greenville music scene but it does not interest me to write about it. That is not because I do not care for the music but because if you do not know who The Avett Brothers and Chris Stapleton are and why they are packing out a venue the size of “The Well” then you probably do not read this column or listen to much music in general. Instead, I prefer to focus on the smaller venues and their commitment to the really unique shows that will enchant a more intimate listening room in the days ahead.
Friday night The Firmament features a double bill of The Mantras and Empire Strikes Brass for the night requiring the most comfortable dancing shoes. The Mantras are a five piece jam band hailing from Greensboro while Asheville’s Empire Strikes Brass is exactly what the name suggests – a full on funk rock experience with horns, horns, and more horns. This is the type of show where if you look around and see someone sitting still, call 911 because they have likely left this world or, at a minimum, need emergency medical attention. The “jamtronica” four piece Scrumptious adds local flavor as it is always nice to see our own Upstate artists have a place on the stage with these larger touring acts.
Saturday, Gottrocks brings the heat with the return of New York’s Sirsy to the Upstate. This high energy two piece has to be seen live to be fully appreciated as Melanie Kramer’s custom built stand up drum kit and lead singing duties showcase talent beyond comparison. Rich Lebutti matches her flair note for note on his vintage Rickenbacker guitar and pedal board that I would need an engineering degree to even have a basic understanding of. I have seen them here in the Upstate several times over the years and can assure you, Sirsy never delivers anything short of a show you never want to end. Local Babe (I’m not being sexist, that is exactly how she would want me to describe her) Darby Wilcox opens things up for the perfect complement to Sirsy’s energy and sass.
Sunday leaves listeners with a decision to make. Want to hear a California based all female Hispanic punk rock band that has been dazzling critics since the early 2000’s? Well, The Radio Room has Go Betty Go who is going to rock your Sunday night with just that very recipe. Over in Greer, The Spinning Jenny is pairing friends and frequent collaborators Donna the Buffalo and Jim Lauderdale for an incredible evening of music. Either of these artists would be worth the trip to Downtown Greer so seeing them on the same bill is tough to pass up for fans of folk, Americana, and just plain outstanding roots music.
This all amounts to a great weekend of music at the small venues to provide balance to the big shows coming through. If your focus is on the bigger shows, I should note that I have an interview with an Avett brother over on my website at BrettBarest.com from just a couple years ago (sarcasm, language, and general ridiculousness disclaimers apply here in full). Whatever you choose, have fun, enjoy the show, and thank you for supporting the Upstate music scene.
Weekend Concert Calendar
- 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- Tuesday
03-09-2021
Acoustic Jam Night at FR8 Yard
7pm03-09-2021
Tim Bethea at DRAY: Bar and Grill
5:30pm03-09-2021
Charles Hedgepath at Smileys
7:30pm
Upstate News Headlines
- Weekend Things to Do: Greenville South Carolina
- Jen Psaki discusses potential THREATS to U.S. Capitol on Thursday
- Palace: Prince Philip had a successful heart procedure
- 'Super rewarding': Lifelong friends help others find vaccine appointments in their spare time
- Warm and breezy Thursday
- The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2022
- US-China tensions threaten global climate change efforts
- South Carolina moves a step closer to allowing open carry laws for firearms
- Texas power grid CEO is fired following widespread outages during winter storms
- House passes sweeping voting rights bill over GOP opposition
- Southside Christian boys basketball team wins 1A state championship