The Nightfall Concert Series, produced by Chattanooga Presents, continues its 29th season this Friday at Miller Plaza with a headline performance by local band Nick Lutsko and the Gimmicks playing at 8 p.m., and High Meadows Communion Band to open.
At the conclusion of their Nightfall set, Nick Lutsko and The Gimmicks will lead a parade from Miller Plaza down Market Street to The Revelry Room, where they will perform a later set.
Opening this week’s Nightfall will be the local High Meadows Communion Band at 7 p.m. This Americana folk band was a finalist in the Road to Nightfall competition in both 2015 and 2016. As such, they also performed as an opening act in last summer’s Nightfall season. This five-piece band will perform a set of upbeat and melodic originals to kick off this week’s show.
Since this Friday is the first Friday of the month, Nightfall will again be partnering with the Bessie Smith Cultural Center to "Rock the Block." On these special Fridays, an extended road closure between Nightfall and The Bessie create a block party atmosphere with an early start time. Beginning at 5 p.m. this Friday on the lawn of the Bessie, enjoy local music by songstress Neshawn Calloway, followed by the 6th Street Band at 6 p.m.
Additional vendors, the CDM Stem Bus, Art Bikes from Art 120, and other fun will be in the streets connecting the venues, including a variety of vintage air-cooled VW Bugs, Things, Buses and Karmann Ghias from the Scenic City Volks Folks and Stateline Wagens on display on M.L.King between Georgia Avenue and Lindsey Street. The usual Nightfall schedule will kick in at 7 p.m-9:30pm. The Rock the Block street entertainment will vary on the remaining dates of, July 1 and Aug. 5 - each celebrating music and collaboration in the community.
Review of Nick Lutsko:
Describing the sound of Nick Lutsko’s music takes a lot of creative thought – Pop, energetic folk, psychedelia, indie-rock, funk and maybe a touch of blues. Whatever it is, it’s caught the attention of local music lovers and earned him and his band top spot in this year’s Road to Nightfall competition, where local bands compete for the chance to headline Nightfall. Over 30 bands participated in this year’s four-weekend competition, sponsored by TVFCU.
Lutsko has lived in Chattanooga since he was seven years old. He graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2012 with a Bachelor's Degree in Commercial Songwriting, then spent his time in Middle Tennessee writing, producing and performing music - including a writers' round at Nashville's world famous Bluebird Cafe. The songwriter has opened up for various national acts including Drive By Truckers, Tea Leaf Green and the Whigs. After performing solo across the country to support his 2014 release “Heart of Gold,” he released his sophomore CD “Etc.” one year ago, and then formed a full band to execute the songs in a live setting. His band, The Gimmicks, dress in homemade puppet costumes to deliver his style of original alternative rock with an unusual tinge of whimsy and humor.