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MONDAY
BLUES/COUNTRY/FOLKCorey Harper, XYLO, Gavin Haley
Up-and-coming Portland singer-songwriter Corey Harper brings his youthful blend of acoustic folk and Americana back to Seattle with support sets by alt-pop duo XYLO and solo pop artist Gavin Haley.
TUESDAY
JAZZSquirrel Nut Zippers
Squirrel Nut Zippers' âHellâ is one of the greatest, most underrated calypso-jumping swing-jazz songs ever, nestled amid a repertoire of classy, blithe, and fun tunes. The North Carolina ensemble build on their swinging roots with many different stylesâgypsy, klezmer, blues, exotica, etc.âand they call on a panoply of instruments to get to their lush, jumping, or slinking sound: guitar, banjo, fiddle, horns, keys, upright bass, percussion, and drums paired with male and female vocals that drip with â30s period appeal. Though they just put out their first album in nine years, Beasts of Burgundy, weâre also edging in on the holidays, and they just released a new single, âMardi Gras for Christmas,â and the squirrel on the festive green invite is wearing a Santa Claus hat so⊠expect some seasonal sounds. LEILANI POLK
TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY
BLUES/COUNTRY/FOLKOver the Rhine with Mary Gauthier
Ohio-based husband-and-wife folk duo Over the Rhine bring their autumnal Americana cheer to Seattle for a two-night super-set of seasonal classics and darker contemporary tales with folk singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier.
Whitney Mongé and Naomi Wachira
Talented local soul/pop singer-songwriter and former busker Whitney Mongé will celebrate the release of her new EP with support from local folk artist Naomi Wachira.
WEDNESDAY
ROCK/POPAvery Leigh's Night Palace, iji, Lake
Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Avery Leigh Draut, who made her debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, will come to Seattle with her band Avery Leighâs Night Palace.
THURSDAY
HIPOHOP/RAPDom Kennedy
Dom Kennedyâs grind puts many other contemporary rappers to shame: Independently releasing a slew of good-to-great West Coast-repping mix tapes since the mid-'00s, starting his own record label, and dropping the scene-defining âMy Type of Partyâ in 2012. Since 2013âs Get Home Safely, Domâs been pretty quiet, apart from guest features and the seemingly inevitable major-label drama that comes with being an independent hiphop artist these days; itâll be interesting to see if heâs got some new material for his hungry fans tonight. KYLE FLECK
Guayaba, Michete, Reverend Dollars, Guests
Rainy Dawg Radio and the Queer Student Commission present University of Washington's first-ever local QTPOC hiphop showcase with excellent talents Guayaba, Michete, and Reverend Dollars. Local artists will also sell their wares.
Kweku Collins, Joseph Chilliams
Twenty-one-year-old Illinois-based rapper Kweku Collins (of Chicago's indie rap outfit Closed Sessions) will come to Seattle with support from fellow solo hiphop artist Joseph Chilliams.Â
Echo & the Bunnymen, Strings & Things, Enation
Thereâs a goth club we used to go to in Tampa called the Castleâwell, itâs not as goth as it used to be. But back in the day, when youâd go for Dark Wave Monday nights, if the DJ working the booth was feeling generous, you could request Echo & the BunnymenââLips Like Sugar,â âThe Cutter,â âThe Killing Moonââand he just might play it. I still have a soft spot for the English post-punk band that had their big come-up in the 1980s. Sure, theyâve put out lots of material since thenâtheir 13th and latest The Stars, the Oceans & the Moon, is likely what has them on the road. But, face it, youâre going to hear those old hits. You want to feel young again. LEILANI POLK
Neko Case, Destroyer
A lot has changed since Neko Case was slinging hash at Hattie's Hat and go-go dancing at Girl Trouble shows. Since 1997, sheâs released seven studio albums, seven more with the New Pornographers, and one joint effort with k.d. lang and Laura Veirs. Sheâs also moved from Chicago to Tucson to Vermont, but sheâs never abandoned Kelly Hogan and Carl Newman, who both appear on Hell-On, her most affecting release since Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (tragically, her farm burned down while she was recording it in Sweden). Another longtime collaborator, Dan Bejar of Destroyer, makes for the ideal tourmate. KATHY FENNESSY
THURSDAY & SATURDAY
CLASSICALRachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2
If you like melting into a puddle of romantic feelings 14 times during the course of a single piece of music, then you'll love Rachmaninovâs Second Piano Concerto. Rach's piano ambles along, provoking waves of nostalgia, wistful amorousness, and general twitterpation from the orchestra. Young Georgian pianist Khatia Buniatishvili's powerful and passionate playing is the perfect conduit for this romantic classic. RICH SMITH
THURSDAY-SATURDAY
JAZZSteve Gadd Band with Kevin Hays, Jimmy Johnson, Michael Landau, and Walt Fowler
Legendary studio musician Steve Gadd is widely renowned for his skills as a drummer who can play across all styles. He's worked with Eric Clapton, James Taylor, Kate Bush, and Paul Simon, but this time, he'll be joined by Kevin Hays, Jimmy Johnson, Michael Landau, and Walt Fowler.
FRIDAY
CLASSICALRachmaninov Untuxed
Sink into the Seattle Symphony's take on Rachmaninov's shockingly intimate Second Piano Concerto during a special edition of "Untuxed," a low-key, no-intermission way to enjoy the Seattle Symphony without worrying about what the bourgeoisie will think of your hat and tails.
Roller Disko
Roller disco is a long-lost art form that still thrives in a hardcore subculture of skating dancers, mostly in the Midwest (and at San Franciscoâs divine Church of 8 Wheels). But the irresistible combo of movin' and groovin' while rolling on hardwood is having a minor 21st-century revival in hipper circles, too, and a motley crew of local DJs have cobbled together a rare roller disco pop-up at Southgate Roller Rink in White Center. Pro tip: Roller-skating rewards sobriety. Donât drink/drug and dance (if you are on wheels), though there will also be a regular olâ dance floor if you don't want to lace up those skates. GREG SCRUGGS
Deadbeats Seattle
Shove away the winter blues with a neon night of bass-heavy EDM at breakneck-beat speed thanks to live sets by Zeds Dead and additional guests.
6LACK, Summer Walker, Deante Hitchcock
Melodic heartbreak-heavy rapper and proud ATLien 6LACK (pronounced Black) first gained praise with his debut project, FREE 6LACK. He has since toured as support for the Weeknd on the Starboy Tour: Phase 1, and is now on his own headlining autumn tour.
An Evening with the Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Chris Robinson digs krautrock. No, really! I interviewed him in 2016, and he gushed: âI have been on a two-day record-buying high that is only understandable by people in complete dorkdom, like myself. I walked into a record store in Bloomington, Indiana, and found a Harmonia album on Brain Records, original pressingâonly to be even more astonished by finding Ash Ra Tempelâs Join Inn on Ohr Records. Blown away!â The Chris Robinson Brotherhoodâs new album, Barefoot in the Head, suggests that heâs applying krautrock repetition and distortion, in moderation, to boogie-choogle, giving us if not an Older America, at least a weirder lens through which to peer at the endless highway. ANDREW HAMLIN
Triathalon, The MarĂas
Burgeoning electro-R&B group Triathalon will hit up Seattle on a tour stop with band buds the MarĂas.
Meklit, Diana Gameros
Ethiopian American songwriter Meklit will join forces with Bay Area-based singer and guitarist Diana Gameros for two nights of music about migration.Â
FRIDAY-SATURDAY
ROCK/POPPickwick, SHT GHST
One of my new favorite Seattle-area outfits, Pickwick, push a super-heady blend of rock, garage, and R&B. Produced by Erik Blood, their 2017 sophomore full-length, Lovejoys, gets a 1970s vintage Shuggie Otisâflavored groove treatment, opening with the slinky bass lines and velvety, high-hitting vocals of âTurncoat.â Things turn even more greasy and gritty with the chugging, brass-farting funk of âAscension,â and get into more straightforward trippy, organ-driven cuts like âLying Awake in the Dark,â while Pickwick amp up the psychedelic soul on set-closer âAmmonia.â LEILANI POLK
SATURDAY
CLASSICALThe Snowman
This family concert with the Northwest Boychoir Apprentices and the Seattle Symphony will take you and your kids (ages six to 12) into the world of Raymond Briggsâs classic childrenâs film The Snowman, as a young boy builds a snowman that comes to life and takes him on an adventure to the North Pole.
Louis The Child, Big Wild, NoMBe, Wafia
Bombastic electronic duo Louis The Child (aka Freddy Kennett and Robby Hauldren) are big potatoes in the music industry thanks to their single collaboration with K.Flay, "It's Strange," and their âȘIcona Pop collaboration, âWeekend.â
Magic Sword, Crystal Ghost
Boise, Idahoâs Magic Sword slot comfortably into the au courant cold-blooded, horror-film-scoring synth revival spearheaded by acts like S U R V I V E, Pye Corner Audio, Perturbator, and Umberto. Lumbering rhythms, majestic synth washes, Brian Mayâlike guitar heroics, and doom-laden bass frequencies pervade their tracks. Itâs all very dramatic. Thereâs some old fantasy backstory to Magic Sword and photos of the duo show them in masks and hooded robes, making them look like a combo of Daft Punk and Sunn O))). Itâs a cool gimmick, and the music ainât bad, either. DAVE SEGAL
Jarboe, Father Murphy
Perhaps no other female singer-songwriter has had so much impact on the eldritch and occulted corner of popular music than Jarboe. Really, itâs her and Diamanda GalĂĄs, and thatâs it. As a member of New York no-wave/industrial/doom-metal pioneers Swans, she brought a delicate and haunted quality to the realm of extreme rock music. That band ended when she left and never returned (sorry, Michael Gira). Later solo work and collaborations with Oakland post-metal originators Neurosis further cemented Jarboeâs legacy. In spite of all this, she rarely tours. Her appearance at a venue so intimate as the Triple Door promises to be a treat. JOSEPH SCHAFER
Uniform, the Body, Author & Punisher, Street Sects
This tour features three of the most unique acts in aggressive underground music. At the top of the bill is New York Cityâbased duo Uniform, who play dirty, blown-out industrial heaviness with a snotty hardcore punk attitude, much like Ministry covering Minor Threat. Offering direct support is the Body, whoâve straddled the line between earth-crushing sludge metal and all-out noise on the 15-plus albums theyâve released since 2004. But itâs Tristan Shone, aka Author & Punisher, who could easily steal this show, as his personally engineered instruments are both visually astonishing and custom-built for punishing industrial audio terror. KEVIN DIERS
Zion I, Ayo Dot & the Uppercuts, B-Boy Fidget, Mr Hi-Def, Don Dishes
Berkeley-based rap duo Zion I, which met in Atlanta and formed in Oakland in 1996, have had a long and varied career. But MC Baba Zumbi and DJ/producer Amp Live, who infuses triphop in his hiphop beats, have arguably written the West Coast anthem of the 2010s. Just watch the video for âTech $,â a bitter paean to getting gentrified out of Oakland in 2016, and youâll want to show up in solidarity at the High Dive to sing along with your own tales of Amazonian woe. GREG SCRUGGS
Mavis Staples
You know the Staple Singers from their R&B, soul, funk, and gospel-fused hits (âRespect Yourself,â âI'll Take You Thereâ), so youâre already familiar with the youngest sibling of the family vocal group, Mavis Staples. Sheâs got that warm, deep, enveloping vocal quality that feels like a hug. Her sound has gotten some modern polish and bluesy amble over the last few four albums with Jeff Tweedy at the production helm and fruitful collabs with a cast list including Neko Case, Nick Cave, Valerie June, Merrill Garbus, and others. Last yearâs If All I Was Was Black was entirely written by Tweedy, whoâs admitted itâs a political album. âThere is something that feels complicit at this moment in time about not facing what is happening in this country head-on.â Although âWe Go Highâ feels a bit like a grooving lecture, the album is otherwise a breeze. LEILANI POLK
Apple Jam
Designated by writer Gillian Gaar as "the next best thing to a Beatles reunion," Apple Jam will bring you back to the golden age of the bowl cut with their spectacular tribute act. If you've ever wanted to see the Beatles, but you can't since half of them are dead, you should just go to this show.
John Maus
For an artist whose erudite reputation is both well-documented and well-deservedâhe holds a PhD in political philosophyâJohn Maus does well to balance his artsy proclivities and pure (if often kitschy) electropop. On last yearâs retro-leaning Screen Memories, he laces his tense, quasi-gothic music with his deadpan baritone vocals and some gorgeous synth work, in part the result of two years spent building his own modular synthesizer. Maus delivers an intense live show, this time amid some sad circumstances: The current tour is his first since brother and bandmate Joseph Maus died earlier this year. ANDREW GOSPE
SMooCH: Seattle Musicians for Children's Hospital
The charity circuit gets an indie-rock soundtrack as a pitch-perfect lineup including some of Sub Popâs brightest stars gathers to help raise funds for Seattle Childrenâs Hospital. Attendees will get the unique treat of pairing their five-star meals with live sets by Pacific Northwest favorites the Head and the Heart, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and Jenn Champion. NICK ZURKO
Terror/Cactus, Guayaba, Da Qween
Seattleâs Latinx community doesnât get enough credit for the taste and talent they bring to this ungrateful city, and this bill shows just a breath of whatâs out there to be enjoyed. In the simplest of genre labeling, Guayaba is an otherworldly goddess bestowing Afrofuturist soul and hiphop upon us, and Terror/Cactus are hypnotic, psychedelic electro-cumbia influenced by TropicĂĄlia and science fictionâthey are complex and engaging, and will keep you dancing and thinking about all the ways music can be a million amazing things at once.
KIM SELLING
SUNDAY
CLASSICAL(Im)migration: Music of Displaced Peoples
In this quarterly series that highlights music by composers affected by diasporas and migration, UW piano professor Robin McCabe will lead UW music students as they perform multiple works, with a pre-concert lecture by UW Music History faculty member Jon Hanford.
The Tenors
This Canadian vocal trio, who blend classical music with contemporary pop, have performed at the Diamond Jubilee for Queen Elizabeth II, as well as the 2010 Winter Olympics. Join them for a holiday concert to ring in the season.
Larry June, Guests
Thraxxhouse-affiliated rapper and Bay Area maverick Larry June has appeared on notable Mackned releases and a seven-part mixtape series of his own, and excels in locating a bombastic Atlanta-hewn sound that promotes individuality above all else. KIM SELLING
Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox
In a reimagining of contemporary pop hits in the styles of jazz, ragtime, and swing classics of the '20s though the '50s, Scott Bradleeâs Postmodern Jukebox busts genres with a rotating collective of musicians and vocalists who attempt to cross all musical boundaries and generations.
The Chocolate Watchband, the Young Fresh Fellows, Knights of Trash
The Chocolate Watchband threw down some peak psychedelic garage rock back on their first two LPs, No Way Out (1967) and The Inner Mystique (1968). These records sound at once utterly of their time and somehow vital as hell five decades later. Boasting the most on-point Mick Jagger imitator (David Aguilar, still in the fold) in a field crowded with same in the mid-to-late 1960s, the Chocolate Watchband could rock with soul and speedy adrenaline, or bliss out on the sitar- and flute-augmented tip, if they so desired. (Play the devastatingly beautiful âVoyage of the Triesteâ for proof of the latter.) Featuring three members from the groupâs heyday, the Watchband is 19 years into their comeback and surely grinding out the hits and deep cuts with pizzazz. DAVE SEGAL
