Twangfest 25
8 p.m. Wednesday, June 7, through Saturday, June 10. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Avenue. $25 to $160. 314-498-6989.
One of St. Louis' most storied and beloved music festivals is officially a quarter-century old. Twangfest, St. Louis' annual homage to all things alt-country, Americana, soul, blues and rock & roll, turns 25 this week, with a lineup that's as of-the-moment and in-the-now as it is true to its origins. Kicking off on Wednesday, June 7, with performances by the Freedom Affair and Black Joe Lewis, the fest will fill Off Broadway each night through Saturday, June 10. Thursday's show features local favorites Graham Curry & the Missouri Fury as well as Robbie Fulks and James McCurtry; Friday will see the likes of BAJA, Amy LaVere & Will Sexton, and headliner Nadine hit the stage; and Saturday closes everything out with Town Cars, the Paranoid Style and the Waco Brothers. It's a special thing to be able to keep a fest this ambitious going for as long as its organizers have, and especially to keep it grounded in its roots so thoroughly, but when you experience the community and joy of a Twangfest show you have to admit it's no surprise.
Revolution Blues: The Waco Brothers' inclusion, in particular, represents a bit of a full-circle situation for Twangfest, as the band performed at the very first iteration of the event back in 1997. According to a recent Post-Dispatch interview with Roy Kasten, one of the organizers (and a former RFT contributor), that early set was certainly a wild one: "There was stage diving. There was tequila. There were punk-rock covers of George Jones and Johnny Cash. Back at the hotel, there were card and dice games till dawn. What happens at Twangfest stays at Twangfest — but it lives forever."
St. Louis Stands with Trans Benefit Show
7 p.m. Friday, June 9. The Heavy Anchor, 5226 Gravois Avenue. $10. 314-352-5226.
For those paying attention, the United States seems to be an increasingly scary place with each week that passes. As the right increasingly embraces culture warfare as the only thing it has to offer its adherents, its attacks on the fabric of society grow ever bolder, with some truly frightening ideas held by the fringe finding a pipeline into mainstream American thought through a conscienceless group of grifters and demagogues whose currency is outrage. Their latest target is literally Target, and also Bud Light and, improbably, Chick-Fil-A, all on the basis that each has gone unacceptably "woke," which is just to say "tolerant of lifestyles that aren't white, Christian and straight. And while we don't feel particularly compelled to shed too many tears for massive corporations over these chuds' backlash to their rainbow capitalism (especially when their cowardly CEOs opt to cave to the pressure rather than stand for what's right), it's truly appalling to see the effect this latest fixation is having on the most marginalized among us. That's why it's so heartening to see ordinary people having each other's backs, as is the case with the St. Louis Stands with Trans benefit show at the Heavy Anchor this week. A charitable affair for which all proceeds will go to the Metro Trans Umbrella Group, the show will feature seven St. Louis acts of various genres banding together to fight back against intolerance. It's just the light we need in a world that appears darker by the day, and the perfect antidote to the hopelessness that can sometimes pervade.
Beg Pardon: In our righteous outrage against the outrageous, we almost forgot to provide any details about the lineup, which is an excellent one that includes the UFOs, the Rose Court, Regina Miller, Amy Elizabeth Quinn, Blood Oath, Half Gallen & the Milk Jugs, and Young Animals. That's definitely worth the $10 suggested donation for admission — so much so that you'd be perfectly justified in plunking down more.
THURSDAY 8-Butch Moore: 4 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.
-Emily Wallace and Adam Maness: 7:30 p.m., $15. Blue Strawberry Showroom & Lounge, 364 N Boyle Ave, St. Louis, 314-256-1745.
-Jake Curtis Blues: 7 p.m., free. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.
-Nate Lowery: 3 p.m., free. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.
-Twangfest 25 Night 2: w/ James McMurtry, Robbie Fulks, Graham Curry & the Missouri Fury 8 p.m., $35. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989.
-Yard Eagle: 8 p.m., $15. Joe’s Cafe, 6014 Kingsbury Ave, St. Louis.
FRIDAY 9
-Billy Strings: 8 p.m., $42.50-$77.50. Chaifetz Arena, 1 S. Compton Ave., St. Louis, 314-977-5000.
-Boxcar: 7 p.m., free. Das Bevo Biergarten, 4749 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-224-5521.
-Bruiser Queen: w/ the Stars Go Out, Local Drags 8 p.m., $10. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309.
-Flying House: 7:30 p.m., $15. Blueberry Hill - The Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314-727-4444.
-Jeremiah Johnson Band: 5 p.m., $10. The Attic Music Bar, 4247 South Kingshighway Blvd., 2nd Floor, St. Louis, 3143765313.
-Knez Jakovac Quartet: 7:30 p.m., $20. Gaslight Theater, 358 N. Boyle Ave., St. Louis.
-Louis Tomlinson: 7 p.m., $39.50-$99.50. Centene Community Ice Center, 750 Casino Center Dr, Maryland Heights.
-Lucky Old Sons: 8 p.m., free. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.
-St Louis Stands With Trans Benefit Show: w/ The UFO’s, The Rose Court, Regina Miller, Amy Elizabeth Quinn, Blood Oath, Half Gallen & the Milk Jugs, Young Animals 7 p.m., $10. The Heavy Anchor, 5226 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-352-5226.
-Sweetie & the Toothaches: 7:30 p.m., free. The Frisco Barroom, 8110 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, 314-455-1090.
-Tree One Four: w/ Crucial Rootz 10 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.
-The Twangadours: 7:30 p.m., $15. Blue Strawberry Showroom & Lounge, 364 N Boyle Ave, St. Louis, 314-256-1745.
-Twangfest 25 Night 3: w/ Nadine, Amy LaVere & Will Sexton, BAJA 8 p.m., $25. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989.
-Tyler Childers: w/ Marcus King 7 p.m., $40.50-$100.50. Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, I-70 & Earth City Expwy., Maryland Heights, 314-298-9944.
-Who Run It: 8 p.m., $10. Pop’s Nightclub, 401 Monsanto Ave., East St. Louis, 618-274-6720.
-Young Buck: 8 p.m., $25. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161.
SATURDAY10
-5 Star Roscoe: 5 p.m., $10. The Attic Music Bar, 4247 South Kingshighway Blvd., 2nd Floor, St. Louis, 3143765313.
-Alligator Wine: 10 p.m., $11. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.
-Beloved Benefit: w/ Mo Egeston All-Stars, AhSa-Ti Nu, DOUG, Jay-Marie is Holy 7 p.m., $20. Blueberry Hill - The Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314-727-4444.
-Boxcar: w/ Adam Gaffney, Tommy Goodroad, Car Microwave 8 p.m., $10. San Loo, 3211 Cherokee St., St. Louis, 314-696-2888. Bywater Call: 8 p.m., $22. City Winery St. Louis, 3730 Foundry Way, Suite 158, St. Louis, 314-678-5060.
-Cemetery Gatez: w/ Conquest 7:30 p.m., $15. Pop’s Nightclub, 401 Monsanto Ave., East St. Louis, 618-274-6720.
-Collab STL: w/ DJ Crimdollacray, Josh Levi, 18 & Counting, Jessee Crane, Dannie Fuller, Meredith Hopping 7 p.m., $10. The Heavy Anchor, 5226 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-352-5226.
-Eugene & Company: 8 p.m., free. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.
-The Gaslight Squares: 7:30 p.m., free. The Frisco Barroom, 8110 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, 314-455-1090.
-Hunter Peebles Band: 7 p.m., free. Das Bevo Biergarten, 4749 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-224-5521.
-Neil Byrne: 7:30 p.m., $45-$100. The Gaslight Theater, 360 N. Boyle Avenue, St Louis.
-Rockin Rascals: 3 p.m., free. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.
-Tchami: 10 p.m., $20-$500. RYSE Nightclub, One Ameristar Blvd, St. Charles.
-Thrice: 8 p.m., $44. Red Flag, 3040 Locust Street, St. Louis, 314-289-9050.
-Trace Adkins: 7 p.m., $50. Cedar Lake Cellars, 11008 Schreckengast Road, Wright City, 636-745-9500.
-Twangfest 25 Night 4: w/ Waco Brothers, The Paranoid Style, Town Cars 8 p.m., $25. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989.
-Yissy Garcia: 8 p.m., $20. Joe’s Cafe, 6014 Kingsbury Ave, St. Louis.
SUNDAY 11
-Adult Fur: w/ Christopher Douthitt, Florent Ghys 8 p.m., $10. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989.
-The Arch Ensemble: 4 p.m., $15. The Arch Ensemble, 364 N Boyle Ave, St. Louis, 314-256-1745.
-Big Wreck: 8 p.m., $25. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161.
-The Deal: noon, free. Das Bevo Biergarten, 4749 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-224-5521.
-Eric Lysaght: 9 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.
-Erik Brooks: 8 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.
-Ethan Jones & Friends: 4 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.
-Nickel Creek: 7 p.m., $39.50-$69.50. The Factory, 17105 N Outer 40 Rd, Chesterfield, 314-423-8500.
-Rich McDonough & the Rhythm Renegades: 3 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.
-Tink & Friends: 7:30 p.m. Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St, St. Louis, 314-499-7600.
-Zero Function: w/ Pucker Up, Socket, Burning Question 7 p.m., $10. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309.
MONDAY 12
-Keepin’ It Real: 6 p.m., free. Heman Park, 1028 Midland Blvd, University City.
-Monday Night Review: w/ Tim, Danny and Randy 7 p.m., free. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.
-Planning For Burial: w/ Janet, Heavy Pauses, Dour 8 p.m., $10. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309.
-Soulard Blues Band: 9 p.m., $8. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.
TUESDAY 13
-Andrew Dahle: 9 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.
-Colt Ball: 4:30 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.
-Ethan Leinwand: 7 p.m., free. Yaqui’s on Cherokee, 2728 Cherokee St, St. Louis, 314-400-7712.
-Naked Mike: 7 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.
-Ondara: w/ Kiely Connell 8 p.m., $30. City Winery St. Louis, 3730 Foundry Way, Suite 158, St. Louis, 314-678-5060.
-Quinn XCII: 7:30 p.m., $29.50-$49.50. St. Louis Music Park, 750 Casino Center Dr., Maryland Heights, 314-451-2244.
-Spike Pit: w/ Lizard Breath, Satan’s God 8 p.m., $10. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309.
-University City Summer Band: 7 p.m., free. Heman Park, 1028 Midland Blvd, University City.
WEDNESDAY 14
-Dikembe: w/ Glazed, Family Medicine, Young Animals 7:30 p.m., $12-$15. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309.
-The Flaming Lips: 8:30 p.m., $34.50-$65. St. Louis Music Park, 750 Casino Center Dr., Maryland Heights, 314-451-2244.
-John McVey Band: 8 p.m., free. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.
-Margaret & Friends: 3 p.m., free. Hammerstone’s, 2028 S. 9th St., St. Louis, 314-773-5565.
Rival Sons: 7 p.m., $34.50. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161.
-Voodoo Dave Matthews Band: 9 p.m., $14. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.
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