Nashville December concerts: Maren Morris, Smokey Robinson, Jelly Roll and more
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It's a Christmas miracle — we found 12 standout shows happening in Nashville this month that aren't holiday concerts.
We've got the legendary Smokey Robinson making his Ryman debut, a Nashville rapper playing his biggest hometown show ever, and the closest thing to a Radiohead concert this town has seen in nearly 30 years. Here's what's on our wish list:
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Dec. 2: Maren Morris at Bridgestone Arena
The award-winning country/pop star is headlining Bridgestone for the first time in support of her Grammy-nominated 2022 album "Humble Quest," with special guests Ruston Kelly and Brittney Spencer.
Dec. 3: The Smile at Ryman Auditorium
A new, thrilling experimental rock trio featuring two members of Radiohead — frontman Thom Yorke and multi-instrumentalist Jonny Greenwood — is playing the Ryman on their first U.S. tour.
Dec. 9: Jelly Roll at Bridgestone Arena
Raised in Antioch, country and rock-influenced rapper Jason DeFord (a.k.a. Jelly Roll) is headlining Bridgestone one year after selling out the Ryman.
Dec. 9: The Allman Family Revival at Ryman Auditorium
The music of the late Gregg Allman — Nashville native and Allman Brothers Band co-founder — will be celebrated by a lineup that includes The Devon Allman Project (led by Allman's son), Duane Betts, G Love, Luther Dickinson, Donovan Frankenreiter, Cody Dickinson, Jimmy Hall, Maggie Rose and more.
Dec. 10: Rainbow Kitten Surprise at Nashville Municipal Auditorium
Southern-steered alt-rockers Rainbow Kitten Surprise step closer to arena status with a gig at the sizable Municipal Auditorium, with support from standout Nashville indie rockers Twen.
Dec. 15: Langhorne Slim at Basement East
Ahead of his latest album, 2021's "Strawberry Mansion," the folk-flavored Nashville artist got sober and endeavored to write a new song every day. He sounds as inspired as ever, on record and off: "It’s incredible to have done this for so long and yet to feel like it’s a brand new beginning," he wrote on Instagram between legs of his last tour.
Dec. 16: Smokey Robinson at Ryman Auditorium
The Motown legend will perform at country music's mother church on December 16, as part of his "Music & Memories" tour, and he's ready for Music City. Earlier this year, he performed for a massive crowd of country fans at the Stagecoach festival in Indio, Calif.
Dec. 17: Girl Talk at Marathon Music Works
Gregg Gillis is among the world's preeminent mashup artists — digitally stitching your favorite pop, rap, and rock recordings together into new, oddly catchy creations. One of his latest pairs the vocals of Taylor Swift's "Anti-Hero" with the backing instruments of the Motown classic "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," and it's well worth seeking out.
Dec. 30-31: Old Crow Medicine Show at Ryman Auditorium
For the 15th consecutive year, Nashville Americana stalwarts (and the band that brought you "Wagon Wheel") are ringing in the New Year at the Ryman. But make no mistake: this band loves to shake things up, and the proof is all over their re-inventive 2022 album, "Paint This Town."
Dec. 30-31: Widespread Panic at Bridgestone Arena
Remember when the jam band giants played a New Year's Eve concert at Bridgestone Arena in 2016? Well, they're back, and this time it's a double-header. The Georgia band features Nashville-based keyboardist John "JoJo Hermann.
Dec. 31: New Years Eve Live — Nashville’s Big Bash at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
Music City's official, massive and completely free New Year's celebration returns to Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park (and the CBS airwaves) with performers Kelsea Ballerini, Brooks & Dunn, Zac Brown Band and Little Big Town.
Dec. 31: Sierra Ferrell at Brooklyn Bowl Nashville
The West Virginia-raised, Nashville-based Ferrell was named Emerging Act of the Year at the Americana Honors & Awards last September — on the heels of her celebrated 2021 debut, “Long Time Coming."
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: December concerts in Nashville include Maren Morris, Jelly Roll