From the Department of Planning Ahead: This year's Muddy Roots Music Festival is still a few weeks off (bringing the Del McCoury Band, the Melvins and a bunch more to Cookeville Sept. 2-5), but its annual Music City corollary, the Nashville Boogie Vintage Weekender, has already dropped the first half of its lineup. The announcement is only half the bill, and includes selections from the undercard only — headliners will be announced at a later date TBA — but it's already a doozy.
Topping the undercard are archetypal Tacoma, Wash. garage-rock/proto-punk icons The Sonics. Their two mid-sixties albums Here Are the Sonics and Boom constitute the bulk of their output, but they've been profoundly influential nonetheless, with the raucous R&B-influenced sound of "The Witch," "Have Love, Will Travel" and "Strychnine" filtering down through The Cramps, Nirvana, The White Stripes, Japandroids and many, many more. Though founding guitarist Larry Parypa and vocalist Gerry Roslie have retired from touring with the group, it's an opportunity to pay homage to a building block of rock 'n' roll history.
Also appearing will be rockabilly revival champ Robert Gordon, Stray Cats bassman Lee Rocker, local legends The Planet Rockers, Bakersfield country queen Kay Adams, twin-neck guitar wizard Deke Dickerson and lots more — check out the full initial lineup below.
The 2017 Weekender takes over the Opryland Hotel, the Grand Ole Opry House and the Nashville Palace from May 18-21, offering concerts, vintage fashion, a car show featuring pre-1972 rides and more (2016's event coincided with the inaugural Music City Record Convention, which we hear drew high praise from vintage vinyl dealers and collectors — another installment is set for Oct. 9, and hopefully it'll come back next May, as well). Early bird tickets for the Weekender start at $100 plus tax and are on sale now.
Nashville Boogie Vintage Weekender 2017 Initial Lineup
- The Sonics
- Robert Gordon
- Lee Rocker
- The Planet Rockers
- Hillbilly Casino
- Kay Adams
- Deke Dickerson
- Country Side of Harmonica Slim
- Charlie Hightone
- Jittery Jack
- Johnny Powers
- Art Adams
- WS "Fluke" Holland
- Krank Daddies
- Crystal Dawn and the Runnin' Wild
- Billy Harlan
- Sonny Burgess and the Pacers
- Ike Johnson
- DJ Julea (WFMU's Ichiban)
- The Sabres
- Delta Bombers
- DJ Bob Irwin (Sundazed Records)
- Jane Rose
- The Starjays
- Psycho Devilles
- The Margraves
- Cowpokes
- DJ NASCAR
- Kyle Eldridge and the Rhythm Rounders
- The Royal Hounds
- The Rhythm Shakers
- Garnet Hearts
- Roy Kay Trio
- Charles Phoenix Western Slide Show
- Western Round-Up Fashion Show by Riley Reed Nashville
- Pinup Pageant
- Pre-'72 Indoor Car Show
