Critic's Pick: Todd Snider Way Block Party

It’s been nearly 11 months since alt-country singer-songwriter and unofficial Mayor of East Nashville, Todd Snider, died. The world hasn’t gotten less absurd since then, and his observations and wit about said absurdities have been missed. We don’t get him back, of course, but on Oct. 11, which would have been his 60th birthday, we get to celebrate him. The Todd Snider Way Block Party will feature live music (of course); the release of his new posthumous album, My Second Rodeo; birthday shenanigans; and the city honorarily naming 11th Street as Todd Snider Way. You can hear “Freewheelin’ (Every Day at a Time),” the album’s pitch-perfect single, online. The day’s musical lineup is as remarkable as you can imagine. Hosted by WMOT’s Jessie Scott, it includes: The Eastside Bulldogs (Snider’s side project with Elizabeth Cook), Audley Freed, Jen Gunderman, Hayes Carll, Otis Gibbs, Allen Thompson, Lilly Winwood, Jon Latham and many others. The block party, held at and in front of his iconic The Purple Building, is free. There will be vendors with food, drink and assorted merch for purchase. In honor of Todd, shoes are optional.

4-8 p.m. at The Purple Building

107 N. 11th St. (aka Todd Snider Way)