One of the least appreciated (legitimate) musical subcultures in Nashville is the group that flocks to old-time music. Keepers of the form that gave birth to bluegrass and country, they gather in East Nashville backyards or at the 5 Spot’s time honored Wednesday-night Old Time Jam to rehash the acoustic folk tunes of yesteryear … but really, who are these people? Does that guy playing the PBR-stained washboard compose his own … washboard music? How does one come to master the mouth harp or washtub bass? And who are The Skillet Lickers? These are fine questions, and no doubt ones that require some legwork to answer. A step in the right direction is attending a showcase for one of these old-time music sentinels — for instance, Bailey Cooke, who will soon release a Beau Stapleton-produced album that features the likes of Old Crow Medicine Show’s Gill Landry. Cooke’s authentic approach to this genre has a staggering ability to tug at your heartstrings. So venture on into Nashville’s old-time milieu and don’t forget to bring your spoons.
Wed., March 24, 9 p.m., 2010
