It is officially August. Kids (and teachers) are heading back to school and chances for warm weather freedom and fun are dwindling. Before things get rolling into fall, keep that summer feeling and carry it over for just a bit longer. For location, time and cost, click on the links for each event. Be sure to check back at livemusiclou.com [4] after for our full reviews!
Sunday (8/2) -
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band [5]
WFPK has been talking about this one for a while, even giving away premium tickets. It makes sense because Lyle Lovett is a fantastic musician. This will be quite the way to start off the week.
Monday (8/3) -
Shania Twain with Gavin Degraw [6]
Ms. Shania Twain has not been on a major tour in over eleven years, but she is making her way through Louisville. This tour is called "Rock This Country" and so far has had a lot of people talking about the return of one of the US’s favorite stars. Joining her is the always constant and relevant Gavin Degraw. The man has opened up for some of the biggest names in the biz and will always have our respect and love.
Wednesday (8/5) -
This weekly bluegrass jam sesh at Monkey Wrench is a great mid-week event to get you through to the weekend. With our summer winding down, it is hard not to take advantage of the rooftop at one of our favorite neighborhood joints, especially when it includes watching Dave Howard (23 String Band) play the hell out of the mandolin.
Thursday (8/6) -
Great Peacock [8]
Great Peacock’s unconventional folk combines pop rock with down home Americana. The Nashville-based, Deep South-raised duo are touring in support of their debut album Making Ghosts. Expect lots of guitar and sweet, sweet harmonies.
Patrick Sweany with Blackfoot Gypsies [9]
Patrick Sweany is an artist who is able to swing through multiple decades and genres to create a funky, bluesy, folky sound that’s uniquely his. Joining Sweany are the Blackfoot Gypsies, a band that will amplify whatever feeling you are having at the current moment, leaving you changed for good.
Friday (8/7) -
Bicentennial Park Summer Concert Series - Big Atomic [10]
If you haven’t made it out to a Bicentennial Park Summer Concert Series, put on by the city of New Albany, this is a good one to check out. Murray, KY’s Big Atomic will be in town and we hear the versatile group blurs genre lines and will meet the needs of just about any music fan.
Rocky Votolato, Dave Hause, Chris Farren [11]
You should know by now that we consider pretty much every show at Zbar to be worthwhile. Here’s another example of that. Chris Farren has toured with the likes of Gaslight Anthem, but recently he is into doing the solo songwriter gig, and that has people excited. Rocky Votolato is a god in the Seattle indie folk world, having just released his 8th solo album Hospital Handshakes with producer Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie).
If you’re interested in some young local talent, you should get out to Headliners. Hoosier (unsurprisingly) is a group of guys from New Albany and Jacob Resch is from just up the way in Floyds Knobs. We haven’t heard much from either act, but local talent on the rise has had a tendency to do pretty cool things.
Saturday (8/8) -
T. Hardy Morris, Roadkill Ghost Choir [13]
T. Hardy Morris was last in town for June’s Waterfront Wednesday, setting the stage for Pokey LaFarge, Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn. Clearly he impressed as he returns for an evening at Zanzabar.
Citizen Cope [14]
Citizen Cope returns to Louisville with his full band and this is something that will be hard to miss. Simple enough. Add to that a special contribution from your ticket sales going to help purchase musical instruments for middle schoolers on a Montana Indian Reserve and this is a pretty obvious choice.
Butchertown Get Down [15]
Who doesn’t love dance parties though? Join Sam Sneed at PLAY as he DJs along to Empire Records.
Friday–Saturday (8/7–8/8) -
Driftwood Fest [16]
Driftwood Fest is a second year festival held down at Turners on River Road. This year’s festivities includes 16 local bands (Lazy Sunday, Phourist, The Bad Times Band, Buffalo Rodeo to name a few), live spray painting and that food truck good-good that you crave.
Photo courtesy of Live Music Lou