The days are getting shorter and the cold weather is starting to trickle into Nashville, so keep your mind off the looming winter by staying busy with one of the many events happening off campus and on.
FRIDAY 10/20
Homecoming festivities kickoff tonight with the annual Commodore Quake. This year's lineup features performances by Ludacris, Common and Shareefa. Pick up your tickets at Sarratt.
If Ludacris doesn't flip your switch, City Hall is playing host to a concert from country-rocker Shooter Jennings, son of legendary country artists Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter. The show starts at 8 p.m.
SATURDAY 10/21
Montgomery Bell State Park in Dickson is the site of this year's Americana Folk Festival, which is today from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Over 30 musical acts are scheduled to perform, with legendary singer-songwriter Patty Griffin headlining the event. The AFF also features an extensive crafts section with work from rural and folk artists. See americanfolkfestival.com for details.
If grassroots music isn't your thing, Nick Lachey is performing at the Ryman Auditorium tonight. The show starts at 8 p.m. See ryman.com for tickets.
SUNDAY 10/22
Canadian alternative indie super band Broken Social Scene is playing at City Hall tonight at 8 p.m. If you like Stars, Metric or Fiest, this is a show you won't want to miss because BSS is made of members of all these bands. Their music was also recently featured in the independent film "Half Nelson." See cityhallnashville.com or ticketmaster.com for details.
MONDAY 10/23
Tonight is Project Safe's Take Back the Night March. This rally against domestic and sexual violence features vocal performances, information and a speech by producer and director Byron Hurt. The march begins at Olin Lawn and ends at Centennial Park.
Mercy Lounge's weekly free music series "8 off 8th" is going on again tonight. Check out myspace.com/8off8th for more details.
TUESDAY 10/24
In honor of October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Fashion For A Cause has designated today as Vanderbilt's 1st Annual Passionately Pink Day. Show your support for breast cancer research and prevention by wearing pink.
For the 21+ crowd, The Basement is hosting its biweekly "New Faces" night. This is a free show featuring several different artists and $2 pints of Yazoo Dos Perros beer.
WEDNESDAY 10/25
Nashville natives, Myspace favorites and the "next big thing" in pop-punk-rock music, The Pink Spiders are playing two shows tonight at Mercy Lounge, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. See mercylounge.com for tickets and details.
For those of you interested in current and political affairs, Vanderbilt's Center for Latin American and Iberian Studies is showing the film "Fidel: The Untold Story" in Wilson 103 tonight from 7 to 9 p.m.
THURSDAY 10/26
Country singer Julie Roberts is performing tonight at the Wildhorse Saloon. Her set runs from 10 p.m. til close and there is a $10 cover charge. See wildhorsesaloon.com for more details.
It pays to be 21 this week, as Mercy Lounge is hosting another free night of music for the legal drinkers. The All the Rage Music Award nominees showcase is tonight, featuring local musicians David Mead and the Gabe Dixon Band. The show starts at 9 p.m. See mercylounge.com for details.
