If you’re finding yourself tired of the canned country and post-mortem pop singer-songwriters Nashville has so readily available this weekend, take yourself down to The Basement for Canon Blue, with Brooke Waggoner and Empires. Multiple worlds will collide in a mash-up of orchestral folk nuances, juxtaposed with the driving pulse of Midwestern dive-bar rock. While Brooke Waggoner was honing her craft in the halls of Louisiana State University, Daniel James was culling what would become known as Canon Blue. His sophomore effort,
Rumspringa, is chock full of ear-turning orchestrations, buoying up his smart melodies and soulful lyrics. Waggoner’s latest album,
Go Easy Little Doves, was released in 2009 to critical acclaim, adding weight to an already impressive résumé. Rounding out the evening is Chicago-based Empires, who will introduce Nashville to their new album,
Bang.
— Samantha Harlow