The Jefferson was christened by former Trucker Jason Isbell, so it’s perhaps fitting that this set from the critically acclaimed Alabama band he splintered from is an epic two-night stand, likewise the first in the new venue’s history. Arguably the foremost contemporary alt-country outfit practicing today, the Truckers rose to prominence in 2001 and 2002 with the limited initial release and subsequent Lost Highway Records reissue of Southern Rock Opera, an ambitious double album which somewhat farcically used a fictionalized version of the career trajectory of fellow triple-guitar Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd as a metaphor for the development of the deep South. Songs like “The Southern Thing” simultaneously pay homage to its best music while looking starkly at the cultural baggage; in “Wallace,” for example, the infamous segregationist governor is welcomed to hell by Lucifer himself.

Punky country-rock; think Replacements, but from Texas instead of Minnesota. A little Springsteen influence lately, too, but then again it seems like everybody’s doing that these days. Glossary opens.

After pulling the plug on folky college jamband trio Dispatch in 2002, Chad Urmston went on to found this new band, heavier on both the rock elements (fine) and the faux-reggae (uh…), which has taken on an inordinate number of hippy-dippy social injustice causes in its scant four years while simultaneously outpedaling the group’s other alums (see also: Braddigan, Pete Francis) to a slot on the remarkable season-ending self-inflicted arson scene from Weeds a couple years back. And you know “Keepsake” isn’t half bad as pyromaniac anthems go, actually.

Widely acclaimed jamband-oriented folk-rock quintet which aims high with its lyrical content and then delivers it with rich three-way vocal harmonies.

Donna The Buffalo - Conscious Evolution

Split Lip Rayfield opens.

Reggae

At this price, that’s only half true.

Adventurous local rock trio that gets their drum parts from a box. As for the wonderfully-named Philly pop-rock outfit Sweatheart, who do the same, we tend to just run with it whenever bands send us testimonials directly attributable to Spank Rock, so according to Naeem Juwan: “If Sparks, The Bangles, and Blue Oyster Cult made a smoothie, it might smell a little like Sweatheart.”

Sweatheart - Baby Lynette
Manorlady - Boy and Flippers [demo]
Manorlady - Red Juice [demo]

Also featuring Bride of the Narwhal (Narwhal’s sweatheart?)

Jazz trio

Classic long-running C-ville Americana troupe.

Jazz with a badass trumpet in front

Three awesome things about this show: 1) free 2) midnight 3) Cinnamon Band. The latter, of course, is the popular Staunton guitar/drum duo which started touring alongside Wolf Parade guitarist Dan Boeckner’s Handsome Furs side project following a fortuitous Satellite Ballroom gig, which is perfectly sensible given their pounding but surprisingly nimble hooks, statistically equally likely to give you craft or fury at any given point. Hands down, if you are in Charlottesville tonight, you should be at the Southern at midnight. (Also applies to: Crozet, Batesville, Earlysville, Ruckersville, Gordonsville, and Palmyra.)

The Cinnamon Band - I’m Asking You

Jammy acoustic folk and bluegrass in the tradition of Yonder Mountain and Old Crow.

Second Draw - Water
Second Draw - The River
Second Draw - Take Me
Second Draw - So Many Dreams Of Love
Second Draw - Distant Star
Second Draw - Back To Me

Rootsy rock band in which VCU music students perform Americana tunes written by Richmond songwriter Doug Fuller.

Lighter set than usual from some of the Kings Of Belmont.

The Kings Of Belmont - The Jerk Store [demo]
The Kings Of Belmont - Git R Done
The Kings Of Belmont - South Bound
The Kings Of Belmont - Beg For More
The Kings Of Belmont - Sway
The Kings Of Belmont - Talking To Myself

Jamming rodents marsupialsfrom Waynesboro

Multi-instrumentalist traveling minstrel Chris Bell plays wobbly chamber-folk and alt-country tunes which you might not expect to include accordion, glockenspiel, piccolo, cornet, and loop recordings made from sampled violas. Then again, perhaps we should not be jumping to such conclusions in the first place with someone who starts touring via bike and canoe when gas prices get high.

Christopher Bell - Everyman A King
Christopher Bell - Are You Trying To Keep Me Running

Rootsy singer-songwriter plays blues and swing. With bebop pianist Hod O’Brien and bassist Bob Bowen.

Barbara Martin - Existential Blues [with Mac Walter]

Guitar, flute, and African percussion

Jamal Millner and Darrell Rose - Bell Hollow 77

Instrumental rock, blues, funk, and R&B from the local guitar wizard and drummin’ madman Will Coles.

Jamal Millner’s Comrades - Break Out

Rock-inflected Americana from the Harrisonburg guitarist.

Trent Wagler - Today

Monthly choral Evensong performances directed by UVA professor Paul Walker

Jazz ensemble

Hot gypsy jazz from the local guitar player.

Olivarez Trio - Choti
Olivarez Trio - Adieu, Bienville
Olivarez Trio - Chez Drennon
Olivarez Trio - Valse De Tchan Tchou

One more week with the longest-lived Americana band in town

This potty-mouthed duo makes fun of pretty much everything using a guitar and a cello.

Barling and Collins - (That’s Right) I’m Looking At Your Girlfriend