The month of April is chock-full of genre-busting, sing-a-long, symphonic goodness. It’s hard to contain our recommendations to a few bands. So, we’ve put together an alphabetized guide to your best bets over the next 30 days.
Appalachian Brewing Company
March 4th Marching Band, April 10
Think Village People meets local marching band meets Kiss. Dressed in kitschy band attire, this music carnival contains a section of horns, drums, electric guitarists, flag and fire dancers, stilt walkers and acrobats. The adult Barnum & Bailey has arrived. Their motto is “A Date. A Command. A Band.” Don’t forget it.
Mentionables: Start Making Sense on April 6, and The Dirty Sweet on April 13
FedLive
Brown Bird, April 10
Hailing from Portland, Maine, this 3-person-band fronted by Dave Lamb will bring out all the instrumental stops: fiddle, cello, ukulele, lap steel guitar, upright bass and a dobro. Don’t know what a dobro is? Come out and view this Americana trio that will treat you to blues, swing, country and folk tunes.
Mentionables: Wayne “The Train” Hancock on April 1, and Jenny Owens Young on April 20
HMAC Stage on Herr
The Woggles, April 25
The Woggles (not the Wiggles although they parodied them on “30 Rock” last year) draw their inspiration from rockabilly, a marriage of rock, country and rhythm and blues. If you like uptempo garage rock, and respect the following bands they’ve shared the stage with—Johnny Cash, the Strokes and the New York Dolls—then opt for The Woggles (again, not The Wiggles).
Mentionables: Tartufi w/ You You Dark Forest on April 2, and The Greatest Funeral Ever on April 20
TheMakeSpace
Barren Girls, April 25
The four-piece, all-female punk garage band was recently signed to the near-legendary indie label, Merge Records this winter. This high-energy, sweat-inducing show will justify this band’s rising profile in the music industry. Put on your boots for this one.
Mentionables: Jake Lewis/Widad on April 27, and Jack Grelle/The Johnson Family on April 30
Whitaker Center/The Forum
B.B. King, April 19
Does the 87-year-old virtuoso need an introduction? The blues master who made his start in the ‘60s, due to Sinatra’s backing, makes the word “tour de force” sound like a simple jog. He’s playing 18 shows in April alone from Michigan to Mississippi. You want to hear that one-note vibrato that defines this icon.
Mentionables: 2CELLOS on April 2, and Dave Mason Acoustic Duo on April 12 (both at Whitaker Center)
