COYOTE RODEO
SAT JUL 11 | 8 PM | BROUGHTON STREET BOWL & BREW
This Asheville, NC, quintet formed just last year, but they have made a regional splash with their specific version of bluegrass. That is, when they get around to it.
Their second single, Mariah, comes off like old-school country. The mellow tempo, steel guitar dripping like blood from a broken heart, and thoughtful picking on the rest of the strings are a ride on a hopped freight train to the sounds of the Old West. Once aboard, the other single Hellbent Train confirms that this is, in fact, a bluegrass band. It’s just one that makes room for styles that work in context.
The group self-references as an experimental bluegrass/jamgrass band. Their Appalachian string band sensibilities, combined with what they call “high-desert psychedelia,” make for a unique geographical connection. The wooded mountains of Appalachia and the sparse, expansive Mojave Desert may not have much in common, but Coyote Rodeo make music that fits in either locale.
With so many -grass bands trying to stand out for similar reasons, Coyote Rodeo pulls off the marriage of the traditional and the contemporary better than most.
GEORGIA HELLFEST III
SAT JUL 11 | 3 PM | COASTAL EMPIRE BEER CO.
Perhaps based on the knowledge that we all have shorter attention spans than just a few years ago, the Kublai Kanine promotion team is good at getting to the point. “Vendors, beer, homies, a hell of a good time,” is their short and sweet comment on the online posting for this seven-band heavy music extravaganza, their third local version of a Hellfest.
The namesake comes from the massive, multi-day, five-stage festival that has been raging for 20 years in France. Our own Black Tusk played it last month.
For the Savannah iteration, it’s one day, but it’s all day, and it’s loaded. Atlanta’s Buried Within combine raging metalcore with an interesting hybrid of corpsepaint and evil clown aesthetics, so it’s no wonder they’re scheduled to appear at next month’s Gathering of the Juggalos.
Hotlanta is sending a second metalcore act, Don’t Shoot The Messenger, to search and destroy any remnants of the poser menace. Goreleone, godfathers of the Valdosta, GA, metal scene, muscle in on Savannah territory to extort your hearing abilities with their modern metalcore racket.
Brunswick’s Mouthguard gets attention due to their very young drummer, but don’t sleep on their raw, old-school, CBGB-matinee hardcore.
Three known-quantity Savannah metal bands round out the lineup. Corrupted Empire cram heavy grooves and authentic anger into their metal and hardcore stew. Ars Goetia makes deathcore and sludge slightly more complicated with technical metal flourishes that are probably too brutal to be called flourishes.
Parts of Endera’s output can be described with such a pretty word, but don’t start the warm and fuzzy feels, because soon enough the metalcore shows up in a fit of fury.
On top of everything else, you get seven bands for ten bucks if you plan ahead. Perhaps the affordability crisis is ending?
ANY PORT IN A STORM – A TRIBUTE TO OISIN DALY
FRI JUL 10 | 5 PM | VICTORY NORTH
June of 2026 will not be fondly remembered by the Savannah local music scene. Three tragic deaths and a horrendous injury made it about as awful as it gets. While none of what happened can be undone, the response has been the silver lining.
The most recent example was the packed Tanner and Kristen Hamilton fundraiser show to help out with lost income and surprise medical bills. This one deserves to be just as full of generosity, love, and support for Oisin Daly’s widow, Vanessa.
The celebration of life includes music, art, raffles, and community. Xuluprophet will play, with guest musicians sitting in for their friend. During the week, a memorial service will be held on Wednesday, July 8, 1–3 pm, at Families First Funeral Home at 1328 Dean Forest Rd., Savannah. A gathering will follow at Sexton Irish Pub in Starland.
A few days after his benefit show, Tanner posted his intention to somehow “make it up” to all those who pitched in to help. Another perspective is that the people who make up our live music community are giving because we already feel indebted to them for their commitment to art and music, and for how it has made our lives better.
HOLYFIELD + CHARLIE’S POOL HOUSE + NICO! + RAPID TRANSIT
THU JUL 9 | 7 PM | THE PORTAL ARCADE
Sometimes you just need a wall of guitars ringing away, all broody and emotional, to get you through the championship rounds of life’s obstructions. Florida shoegaze act Holyfield get the job done in a style reminiscent of Failure and Swervedriver, with massive amplification, buried vocals, and a haze you can’t see through.
You will, however, hear it. Even a mile away. Savannah/Statesboro band Charlie’s Pool House also tend to stare at their footwear for long passages, but add a touch of indie rock, emo, and pop sensibility to the proceedings. They check a lot of boxes, so they play a lot of shows.
Atlanta’s Nico! call their stuff “glitchy, noisy pop.” Created with synths, samples, loops, and possibly some live instruments, it’s not as experimental as it may sound, but it’s not traditional song structures all the way, either.
It’s interesting when weird, makes your head bob when it grooves, and can be sweet and melodic enough to tie it all together. Like hearing a long explanation that seems to go off course multiple times before finally coming together and making sense. Seven-month-old local rock and roll band Rapid Transit open the show.
HOMEGROWN SUMMER JAM
SAT JUL 11 | 7:30 PM | VICTORY NORTH
While the Savannah scene is proving itself worthy with its response to recent tragedies, this show is an example of where the gratitude grows. For the nth time, we are lucky to have such a vibrant scene in a relatively small city. Showcases that give new and established artists the opportunity to entertain abound, but this one has a family angle.
Young musician Jack Bible, just 13 and the son of local guitarist Jason, rocks the Victory North courtyard, performing songs from his soon-to-be-released LP. How many teenagers do you know call English acoustic legend Nick Drake an influence? It’s probably zero.
Eric Britt and Family, led by the Homegrown Collective poobah, put more distance between Britt’s Athens alt-rock origins and his current Savannah roots rock. The Accomplices, who have been bending bluegrass for years in Savannah, make their own Lowcountry sound with the addition of folk, jam, and tons of swampy energy. Jack’s dad makes his presence known with The Train Wrecks, another foundational Savannah roots rock band loaded with talent. If the recent bad news has you down, here’s a prescription for refilling your joy tank.
By Frank Ricci