Music of the Civil Rights Movement ♦ Saturday, 18th

Many people dismiss the notion that music can be a force for social change, but never was that notion more evident than during the early days of the civil rights movement, when marchers and workers rallied around traditional spirituals and anthems of protest. “We Shall Overcome,” the song that’s most closely associated with movement, still resonates with those involved in battling oppression today. As testimony to this glorious tradition of marrying music and social change, the Main Public Library at 615 Church St. is sponsoring a program called “Music of the Civil Rights Movement.” Guy Carawan, who was a teacher at the Highlander Folk School in East Tennessee during the early ’60s, will be one of the activists attending this event. Carawan taught freedom songs to civil rights workers throughout the South in the late ’50s and early ’60s, and met his wife Candie, then an exchange student at Fisk University, while participating in the sins of 1960. They’ll be discussing and performing freedom songs with members of the Nashville Quartet, a group of American Baptist College students initially formed during the movement as well. Founding members of the quartet James Bevel and Bernard Lafayette will also perform. The event, which begins at 3 p.m., is free and open to the public. First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill, a congregation that played a crucial role in the civil rights movement, is sponsoring a free reception 2 p.m. at the Main Library as well.

—R.W.

This week’s picks by Todd Anderson, Martin Brady, David Cantwell, Jonathan Flax, Paul Griffith, MiChelle Jones, Mark Mays, Noel Murray, Margaret Renkl, Jim Ridley, Jack Silverman, Marcel Smith, Jon Weisberger, Angela Wibking and Ron Wynn.

Thursday, 16th

The Robert Bowlin Band/Aubrey Haynie A former fiddle player for Bill Monroe who now plays guitar with the Osborne Brothers, the underappreciated Bowlin brings ace studio fiddler Aubrey Haynie, bassist Dennis Crouch and percussionist Kenny Malone to The Station Inn for an evening of bluegrass-based but free-ranging acoustic music. Matt King, an excellent hard country singer, will join them for a few numbers, and so will Lisa Shaffer, a young Kentuckian newly arrived in town and already turning heads.

—J.W.

Suzy Bogguss Bogguss’ achievements include winning the Academy of Country Music Top Female Vocalist honors in 1989 and the CMA Horizon Award in 1992. She’s now operating her own record label, for which she recently issued a fine Christmas album. Her latest move involves the forthcoming release of a Western swing-styled disc. Bogguss will demonstrate her affinity for jazz-influenced swing material, pre-rock pop and torch tunes at Café 123.

—R.W.

Jim Ballard Using keyboard, Tibetan bells, drums and conch shell, Ballard performs a concert at Art & Soul, a creative center on 12th Avenue South offering an array of art classes and musical events. Ballard’s music lifts the spirits and opens the heart and mind; his two-hour performance, which also includes individual sound portraits and audience participation, starts promptly at 7 p.m. For information, call 460-1161.

—A.W.

Doug Hoekstra Combo Hoekstra has two major new productions: his upcoming 17-song CD Waiting, on which he performed every instrument; and a baby son, Jude Aaron Hoekstra, born Nov. 4. Where better to toast the blessed events than East Nashville’s homey Family Wash, where the Hoekstra Combo play at 9:30 p.m.

Friday, 17th

John Hiatt Over 25 years and 16 albums, Hiatt has chiseled out for himself a reputation as a creator of melodies and song-stories that have spanned various genres—from rock, acoustic and folk to new wave and Delta blues. Artists such as Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop, The Neville Brothers, Bonnie Raitt, Ronnie Milsap and B.B. King have covered his tunes. Hiatt will be the featured guest for the Blair School of Music’s “Conversations Series,” 8 p.m. in Blair’s Ingram Hall, free and open to the public; call 322-7651 to confirm seating availability.

—M.B.

Amelia White & The Blue Souvenirs/Sarah Siskind After having done time in the New England folk and Seattle alternative scenes, White moved to Nashville six months ago to focus on her songwriting. Her latest album, Blue Souvenirs is atmospheric, well crafted and aware, a fetching mix of her regional influences. White’s show at The Family Wash is part of a monthlong residency at the East Nashville pub. Sharing the bill is Siskind, who also has ties to Boston’s folk-rock infrastructure: Jennifer Kimball (of The Story) and jazz guitarist Bill Frisell make guest appearances on Covered, her aching, intelligent full-length debut.

—P.G.

2nd Chair Allstars In a honeycomb of international intrigue, a band called The Bees UK are releasing an album in North America, so the Nashville group The Bees have had to change the name to The Bees U.S. The buzzing American strain join the cream of Nashville’s indie-pop scene—including Josh Rouse, Joe Pisapia and David Mead—for a sort of song-pulling supergroup. This one-night wonder promises two back-to-back shows at 12th & Porter: an all-ages show at 7:30 p.m., followed by one for the old folks at 10.