Upstate Live Music Calendar Looking Great This Weekend

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Brett Barest

It is no secret that the iOnGreenville live music calendar has not looked itself throughout the pandemic and that makes total sense. Gatherings are frowned upon, touring artists are not eager to get out on the road, and venues and artists have to figure out how to simply make events worth it with half capacity shows. It is both frustrating and totally understandable at the same time and it cannot be over soon enough.

All of that being said, I type this while looking at an index card full of names that are worth our time and dime this weekend, from Thursday evening through Sunday afternoon. Music venues, breweries, and outdoor social spaces are all getting in on the action with both local and touring artists to look forward to. It is almost enough to make one feel like things are getting back to normal…

Thursday: Nikki Lane @ The Radio Room

If you are in the market for country music the way it ought to be done, look no further than the sheer force of sound that is Nashville star on the rise, Nikki Lane. I was looking forward to seeing her at the Albino Skunk Music Festival a few years back and can definitively say that she blew every expectation out of the water that night. A fantastic voice, stage presence, and songwriting talent make her the total musical package and she should not be missed anytime she visits her hometown of Greenville. I hear this is getting close to sold out so, if you have any doubts on what you are doing Thursday evening, go ahead and pull the trigger on this one and thank me later.

Friday: Ward Davis @ The Radio Room

Speaking of sold out shows, tickets to Ward Davis Friday night are long gone. As such, I will not dwell on the details and will simply tell those that have tickets that I am a little bit jealous.

Saturday: Salti Ray EP Release Show @ The Radio Room

This one is a long time coming… I have not seen indie rockers Salti Ray since being introduced to them at last year’s Upstate Music Awards when they absolutely blew me away as one half of the ceremony’s closing performance. They released the EP The Right Thing back in late September and I have to say that it is one of the best EP’s that I have listened to in recent memory. Unapologetically catchy with an in-your-face energy, this is a fabulous 16 minutes of music that you can listen to over and over (something I actually inadvertently did while I was perusing the music calendar this week and I did not mind at all). They will be joined by The Old Earthquake and J. Stephens for a spectacular showcase of local artists and the perfect Saturday evening of music. Preview the show!

Sunday: Rush Morgan @ Gather GVL and Vilai Harrington @ Tetrad Brewing Co.

Are all the best shows at Radio Room this weekend? Definitely not, thanks to two of the Upstate’s best singer songwriters, Rush Morgan and Vilai Harrington. Morgan takes the Gather GVL stage Sunday at 1:30 while Harrington returns to Tetrad at 3:00 which means you can make Sunday Funday all about local music while you get out and support them both. I saw Vilai at Tetrad a few weeks ago and good times were had by all, as I am sure will be the case at both of these venues Sunday afternoon.

Check out these shows and more at the iOnGreenville live music calendar. Mask up, socially distance, and support the artists and venues that make the local music scene one we can be proud of. Most importantly, stay safe out there, friends.