Billy Porter
June always brings the heat to Music City. This month boasts three weekends in a row jam-packed with music festivals: first CMA Fest, then Bonnaroo, and now this weekend’s Nashville Pride Festival caps it off. As always, organizers have brought together a diverse array of talented national and local musicians as part of the festival entertainment — which also includes tons of fantastic drag, both on the Equality Main Stage and the all-drag Stonewall Stage — on June 22 and 23.
Country music will be well-represented — especially on the Rainbow Stage curated by RNBW, though plenty of non-country songsmiths and bands will play there. But this is a great opportunity to explore far outside the country realm too. Beyond stage and screen icon Billy Porter and pop sensations Icona Pop (performing Sunday on the Equality Main Stage at 6:15 and 4:45 p.m., respectively), we’ve rounded up five more can’t-miss musical acts performing at Nashville Pride this weekend. There’s much more for you to see as well, so check out the festival’s official schedule before you head down to Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park.
Tinashe
Tinashe
R&B and pop artist Tinashe is one of the heaviest hitters on this year’s bill, bringing her deep catalog of moody, danceable bops to the festival’s main stage. The Lexington, Ky.-born star isn’t afraid to get weird, bringing a spacey vibe to last year’s BB/ANG3L, which pulls together woozy synths, slinky vocals and progressive, unorthodox production. In April, Tinashe announced plans to release Quantum Baby — billed as the second installment in a trilogy — due later this year, so look for new tunes like viral hit “Nasty” mixed in with older favorites like “2 On” and “Needs.”
Tinashe performs 8 p.m. Saturday on the Equality Main Stage.
Denitia
Denitia
Denitia is one of country music’s most exciting up-and-comers, already tapped for CMT’s Next Women of Country Class of 2024 and slated to make her Grand Ole Opry debut June 29. The Texas-born singer-songwriter pairs a traditional country sound with story-driven lyrics, like on standout single “All the Sweet Tea.” She’ll release her next album Sunset Drive on Sept. 6, and her set this weekend should be a great preview of what that record will bring — if you missed her at CMA Fest, don’t let this opportunity slip by.
Denitia performs 12:45 p.m. Saturday on the Equality Main Stage.
Angie K
Angie K
Angie K has kept busy in June, performing at CMA Fest on the heels of her single “Red Dirt on Mars,” a gritty and clever ballad about heartbreak and small-town life. The bilingual singer-songwriter, who was born in El Salvador and grew up in Georgia, finds her own intersection between her Latin roots and no-frills country. She’s built a rabid — and growing — fan base through touring and word of mouth.
Angie K performs 2:20 p.m. Sunday on the Equality Main Stage.
Jimiencio
Jimmy Martinez, better known by his stage name Jimencio, is part of an exciting, growing group of artists showcasing the many connection points between country and Mexican music. Born in Colorado, Jimencio first moved to Texas to pursue his country music dreams but now calls Nashville home. Born into a musical family, Jimencio has been singing and performing since he was 8 years old, and the exceptionally gifted singer — watch his clips of mariachi covers and try not to tear up — is someone you’d regret missing this weekend.
Jimencio performs 12:30 p.m. Sunday on the Rainbow Stage.
Together Breakfast
Together Breakfast
Power trio Together Breakfast balances out the Pride Fest equation with their playful take on instrumental “queer math rock.” Their name comes from a meal too good to eat alone in beloved animated series Steven Universe. Not unlike the show’s Gems, each member brings their own special power to the party: Drummer Ian Strobino works mainly in pop and soul, bassist Zach Goforth is mostly in country and Americana, and guitarist Marshall Biever is primarily in the folk singer-songwriter realm. They’re working on a new EP, Lunch With Your Friends, Dinner With Your Ancestors, so prepare yourself for some new material.
Together Breakfast performs 2:30 p.m. Sunday on the Rainbow Stage.
Meeting this year’s Pride Parade grand marshals, highlighting the best of the Nashville Pride Festival and more
