If you go
› What: ZZ Ward› Where: 6:30 p.m. tonight› When: Coke Stage
It’s opening night of Riverbend and there’s plenty of music on tap.
Fans of ’80s power rock should check out Aunt Betty, which happens to be fronted by a high school classmate of mine. Lots of hair (with accompanying spray), spandex and fun.
Country fans have local outlaw country singer/songwriter Peewee Moore at 7:30 p.m. on the Tennessee Valley Credit Union Stage or Thomas Rhett – who earned his sixth consecutive No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart on Monday – as the late-night headliner, but my pick is blues rocker ZZ Ward, who headlines the early Coke Stage slot at 6:30 p.m.
She – yes, ZZ is a woman – has got an Amy Winehouse rawness with a big Adele-type of voice and sense of melody. You can hear both on songs like “Put the Gun Down” and “Move Like U Stole It.” Her stuff is a little more heavily produced than what I normally like, but it works. You can check out what I mean on the song “Cryin’ Wolf,” recorded with rapper Kendrick Lamar.
Ward’s music has been featured on a dozen or so television shows, including “Justified,” “Pretty Little Liars” and “Veronica Mars,” and she has become a regular on the festival circuit, appearing at Shaky Knees last year and Bonnaroo and Coachella the year before. She also toured briefly with Eric Clapton.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.