With Forecastle and HullabaLOU now history, the festival season may be over, but there's plenty of upcoming shows of note in Louisville to make the rest of your summer and the beginning of your fall pleasant and filled with song.
Keep in mind, this is not a comprehensive list and doesn't include the notable roster of acts performing at the Kentucky State Fair in late August nor the last two Waterfront Wednesdays of the season (August 25 and September 29). Also, October marks the opening of the KFC Yum! Center and with that some significant shows.
Bear In Heaven
Sunday August 1
Land of Tomorrow
Bear in Heaven, continues the trend of hip, young bands with the word "bear" in its name. Their song Lovesick Teenagers has a wonderfully moody feel to it. The venue, Land of Tomorrow, is a new collaborative art space located at 233 W. Broadway that will feature music and community events. Shedding will open this 21 and over show. It's free but donations are encouraged.
Hanson w/ Rooney
Monday August 2
Headliners Music Hall
Yes, it's that Hanson. The brothers are older now, yet you still won't admit somewhere along the way, you've hummed Mmm Bop. Recently Taylor Hanson has been part of the supergroup Tinted Windows with James Iha previously of The Smashing Pumpkins, bassist Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne and and Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick. Hanson's latest album Shout It Out was released in June had hit #30 on the Billboard Top 200, #15 on the Billboard Digital Albums chart, and #2 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart. L.A-based band Rooney, who nods to power pop and British rock, should be a fine opener.
The Black Keys
Wednesday August 11
Iroquois Amphitheater
The Akron, Ohio-based duo returns to town on the heels of their successful new release Brothers, which deuited at #3 on the Billboard 200. This blues-rock band has never been more popular, and their single Tighten Up has been one of the better singles this summer.
Janiva Magness
Friday August 13
The Vernon Club
Blues queen Magness is on tour supporting her critically acclaimed album The Devil is an Angel Too. She received the coveted 2009 Blues Music Awards for B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year (only the second woman to ever win this award, Koko Taylor being the first). Doors open at 7:30 for this 9:30 show. Tickets are $16 and $20.
Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears
Monday August 16
Zanzabar
The blues and soul fueled Honeybears will be playing material off their debut full-length CD Tell 'Em What Your Name Is, which was released last year and includes the infectious Sugarfoot, which I even heard played in the concourse of Great American Ballpark this May. If you're into throwback soul sounds, this should be a good show.
The Academy Is ..., The Envy, A Lion Named Roar, and Aim For The Skies
Sunday August 22
Club Oasis
After being the opening acts for KISS, The Academy Is... along with The Envy get to headline their own show.
Hoots & Hellmouth
Saturday September 4
Phoenix Hill
This folksy band from Philadelphia returns to town. They sound a great deal like Louisville's own danny flanigan and Rain Chorus and are supporting their latest release The Holy Open Secret. Opener Bawn In the Mash is from Paducah. Tickets are a deal at $10-$12.
Xavier Rudd
Wednesday September 8
Headliners Music Hall
Australian singer-songwriter will be playing his acoustic roots music and is sure to play new songs off Koonyum Sun but hopefully he will also perform the haunting Partnership off of 2004's Solace.
Blackberry Smoke
Friday September 10
The Vernon Club
This Atlanta-based southern rock quintet recently had the #1 video for Good One Comin' On on CMT's Pure Country. The show starts at 9:00; doors open at 8:00. Tickets are $15-$17. Note to Spinal Tap fans, on August 6, they will be playing Shank Hall in Milwaukee.
Crosby Stills and Nash
Saturday September 11
Louisville Palace
There's not a lot that hasn't been said about these masters of harmony and pop-folk. While they may not keep as high a profile as former band mate Neil Young, they still tour often. Hard to believe it's been forty years since the release of Déjà Vu. Last year, Demos was released, a collection of a dozen unreleased demos recorded between 1968-1971.
Todd Snider with Catherine Irwin
Saturday September 18th
Bomhard Theater
This all an ages show starts at 8:00 in the cozy Bomhard at the Center for the Arts. Sometimes folksy and sometimes alt country, Snider writes funny and biting songs and seems to like visiting Louisville. Hopefully he will do Beer Run. Tickets are $20. Louisville's own Catherin Irwin of Freakwater fame opens.
Jim Kweskin and Geoff Muldaur of the Kweskin Jug Band
Sixth Annual National Jug Band Jubilee
Saturday September 18
Brown-Foreman Amphitheater in Waterfront Park
This free, all-day music festival is dedicated to pre-World War II folk music. The recordings The Kweskin Jug Band made for Vanguard Records recordings were a catalyst for the ‘60s folk revival, and Kweskin and Muldaur are touring in support of the DVD release Chasin' Gus' Ghost, a documentary about the history of jug music. This year's festival will include artists from all over the country. Gates open at noon, and bands play from 1:00-11:00 P.M. The amphitheater is located east of Tumbleweed on River Road. No pets, coolers or outside alcohol are permitted inside the festival, and the event takes place rain or shine.
Randy Newman with the Louisville Orchestra
Saturday September 25
Whitney Hall
Before Randy Newman became a venerable film composer for movies like Toy Story and Sea Biscuit, he was writing caustic tales with Short People being his most famous. (I preferred Story of a Rock and Roll Band about ELO. Later, Jeff Lynne would go on to produce Newman). The show starts at 8:00. Here's wishing he does Something Special off Land of Dreams; it would sound great with the orchestra.
Wed 9/29 - Janelle Monae
Wednesday September 29
Kentucky Center
It seems like out of nowhere, Monae has found her way on local radio, the recent ESPY Awards, and even a Grammy nomination. She now arrives in Louisville to perform her style of pop, funk, soul, and art rock. She released her debut CD The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III) this May.
Pat Metheny
Saturday October 2
The W.L. Lyons Brown Theatre
Arguably underrated in the mainstream, Metheny is well appreciated by jazz and fusion fans and rightfully so. His guitar work is distinct and his musical range varied. Perhaps you heard his stellar score to A Map of the World. In the mid 80s, Metheny was a favorite on WFPK when the station played jazz, and his album Secret Story is certainly one to check out as well.
Trampled By Turtles
Saturday October 2
Headliners
This young bluegrass band from Minnesota recently opened for The Del McCoury Band at Headliners. Now they are the featured act. Opener Those Darlins are no relation to the Darling family that often appeared on The Andy Griffith Show. The show starts at 9:00, and tickets are only $12.
Stars
Sunday October 3
Headliners
The underrated Canadian band promotes their latest The Five Ghosts. Hopefully they will also perform songs from their excellent In Our Bedroom After the War. Vocalist Amy Millan rates right up there with Fiest and Sarah McLachlan as one of the Great White North's best active female vocalists. The show starts at 8:00, and tickets are a meager $15.
Band of Horses
Wednesday October 6
The W.L. Lyons Brown Theatre
Ben Bridwell's vocals may be likened to Jim James', but BOH is its own band. Infinite Arms, which was released this May, was a worldwide hit, peaking at #7 in the US. Oh, and any band that has a song named Detlef Schrempf is OK by me.
Drive By Truckers
Friday October 8
The W.L. Lyons Brown Theatre
The first Forecastle band to return to town, DBT will be featuring songs from their latest The Big To-Do, but perhaps they will sample some even newer songs from their forthcoming album that lead singer Patterson Hood calls "very different." This all ages show starts at 8:00 and costs $25.
Araya Duo (cellists)
Tuesday October 12.
Trinity United Methodist Church (2796 Charlestown Road, New Albany)
The Cincinnati-based Araya Duo is comprised of the husband and wife team of Arturo and Jennifer Araya, and their repertoire ranges from the Early Baroque to the contemporary. The show is part of The Trinity United Methodist Church Concert Series. There is no admission charge for these events, however, a free-will offering will be taken.
JJ Grey & Mofro
Friday October 15
Headliners
JJ Grey & Mofro will be supporting their new record Georgia Warhorse. Whatever you want to call the type of music they play - swamp rock, funk, jam, blues, soul - it doesn't matter. Fans swear by the electricity of their live shows. This is an 18 and over show. It starts at 9:00 and doors open at 8:00. Tickets are $16 in advance and $18 day of the show.
The Eagles
Saturday October 16
KFC Yum! Center
For a band that has only released one album of new material in the past thirty years, The Eagles usually still draw big crowds, and chances are they will do so at the new arena. These Rock and Roll hall of famers - Henley, Frey, Schmit, and Walsh - still can crank out their classics. The show starts at 8:00 and tickets are thousands of dollars. Just kidding, you can get the nosebleeds for $37.
Sarah Harmer
Saturday October 16
Zanzabar
Canadian folk-indie rocker Harmer, who has been nominated for both Juno Awards and the prestigious Polaris Music Prize, is touring in promotion of her latest CD Oh Little Fire, which was released in June. Her song Almost off her 2004 release All Of Our Names has been a favorite on WFPK since its release. The show starts at 9:00 and costs $14.
John Prine
Friday October 22
Louisville Palace
Prince is such a good storyteller you have to wonder if he read people's letters when he was a mailman. He'll bring a ton of classics like Sam Stone, Hello in There, Angel From Montgomery, The Glory of True Love, and All the Best with him and probably spin a few yarns as well. Oh and since he's in Kentucky, it's a good bet he'll perform Paradise ("and daddy won't you take me back to Muhlenberg County.")
Kim Richey, The Tim Krekel Orchestra, and Hannah Schneider
Saturday October 23
Vernon Club
Having written songs with Tim Krekel before (including Come Around), Richey seems like a fine stand-in for the beloved late local music icon. Richey has been making good records for years including Glimmer and Rise. The show starts at 8:00 and are only $11.
My Morning Jacket with the Louisville Youth Orchestra
Friday October 29
KFC Yum! Center
It sure seems like Louisville's own MMJ likes to play either hometown Halloween or Thanksgiving shows. This time, they will be backed by the Louisville Youth Orchestra. You can bet this show will break in the new arena and could go on for a duration of Springsteen-esque proportions. Wax Fang opens and is really a dynamic and headliner quality band in their own right. The show starts at 7:00 and costs $45.
