//Upstate Live Music: Looking Ahead To A Weekend of Great Local Talent
upstate live music calendar

Upstate Live Music: Looking Ahead To A Weekend of Great Local Talent

Brett Barest

Back when there were no shows to write about, we shifted the focus of this weekly column to an “Artists Picking Artists” series to keep the local music conversation going through strange, show-less times. It held a few surprises for me as it introduced me to new music week in and week out and, even if we could not go to a show, I was still finding fresh new music to listen to on a regular basis. I got away from that format once shows came back and I have to admit I kind of miss it. I am reminded of it, in fact, because I see a nice batch of names from the “Artists Picking Artists” series popping up on the calendar in the days ahead and there are some really good shows to consider between now and the weekend.

First up is Sesh and Time Trader at Fire Forge Thursday evening. Sesh’s Justin Sardinha gave me a great list during the summer and his band has been blaring from my speakers ever since I first gave them a listen back in the spring. Their brand of stripped down, vintage, psychedelic garage rock is just my cup of tea and I am excited to (hopefully) see their first show back since the pandemic hit. I say hopefully because my son’s JV football game might not end in time but I will be making a bee line to Fire Forge after the game with fingers crossed. Indie alternative rockers Time Trader opens things up at 7:00, making their live debut as a band after releasing their first EP this summer. Great beer and great music sounds like a perfect excuse to start the weekend early if you ask me.

Saturday sees another Artist Picking Artist alumni take the stage when my buddy Vilai Harrington plays an afternoon show at Tetrad Brewing Company. Finding about this one was music to my ears because if there is anything I like as much as Vilai’s music, it is seeing an afternoon show after working the farmers market all morning. The later the time gets on Saturday, the less likely I am to venture out into the world, but a 3:00 show suits me just fine and dandy. It has been too long since I have seen Viali’s unique brand of Americana live and in person and I look forward to putting an end to that sad streak.

Sandwiched in between these two shows is the second Gr8ful event of the month at The Radio Room. Gr8ful is promoted by Pauley Francisco, also known as 888Shiva when he takes the stage as an MC. Pauley opened my eyes to a wealth of talent on the Upstate hip hop scene earlier this year, and has assembled a great cast of characters for Friday night’s “The Wilds” presentation. The bill will feature local acts 888Shiva, Maxx Good$, Shyland Flowers, H3lix, and TMacWitDaHat along with Charleston’s DJ Dollamenu and Gastonia’s Betti Boof. Maxx Good$ and TMacWitDaHat were artists Pauley turned me on to previously and Shyland Flowers was on just about every “Artists Picking Artists” submitted to me, regardless of the selecting artists’ style or genre. It is for good reason as he is an immense talent with a live performance guaranteed to blow you away.

Three shows, all featuring an eclectic array of talent, are going down on some great Upstate stages over the next few days and that is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the list of shows happening in the days and weekend ahead. Keep up with all of it with the iOnGreenville music calendar and get out and see a show. Be safe, have fun, and don’t forget your masks, Friends.

Upstate Live Music Calendar

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