Photograph by David McClister, courtesy of the Peabody Opera House
April 7 | Dennis Stroughmatt: French Creole Music & Language from the Missouri Mines
Stroughmatt (whom staff writer Jeannette Cooperman profiled back in 2009) is almost single-handedly keeping Missouri French Creole music alive; he's also helping in the effort to preserve the culture and language of the Old Mines region in the Ozark foothills. For this concert, he'll weave together the music with the stories to give audiences a taste of Midwest French Creole culture. $10. 7:30 p.m. The Stage at KDHX, 3524 Washington, kdhx.org.
April 8 | Savages
Savages, a London-based, all-girl band, has just hit critical mass. (How do we know? Vogue went apoplectic over singer Jehnny Beth's hair after a recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.) That just means the world's woken up to the fact that Savages are playing some of the most feral, exciting post-punk going. Proof of that lies in just one spin of the band's new record, Silence Yourself. $22–$25. 8 p.m. The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester, thereadyroom.com.
April 8 | Lo-Fi Cherokee 2016
Filmmaker Bill Streeter is in the news right now because he's making a documentary about that most St. Louis of beverages, beer. But long before he was a long-form documentary filmmaker, Streeter was shooting local bands as part of the Lo-Fi St. Louis series. Over the past few years, the event has grown into a sprawling, multi-venue event on Cherokee, a "cross between a massive music video shoot and a music festival." This year's lineup includes Thelonius Kryptonite, Letter To Memphis, American Wrestlers, Dubb Nubb, Adult Fur, and more. The wrap party happens at Off Broadway with a show from nationally renowned Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear. Free; $10 for Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear at Off Broadway. 9 a.m.–7:30 p.m. Cherokee neighborhood, facebook.com/lofistl.
April 9 | Amy Goodman and Denis Moynihan: Democracy Now!: Twenty Years Covering the Movements Changing America
When Goodman started Democracy Now! in 1996, the political landscape was completely different. (A Donald Trump run probably would've been completely out of the question back then, for one thing.) But one thing never changes: There are always stories that don't make it into mainstream media for one reason or another, and reporting on them ensures the health of our democracy. Goodman visits the St. Louis Public Library in the CWE to talk about her new book, which chronicles her experiences behind the mic of America's leading alternative news program. Free, but RSVP required. Noon. St. Louis Public Library–Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid, left-bank.com.
April 9 | Willie Nelson & Family
To call Willie Nelson a "living legend" is anything but an overstatement; he has a staggering 200 records to his name, including classics like The Red-Headed Stranger (and that output doesn't even count all the songs he's written for other artists). Jamey Johnson and Ryan Bingham join him on stage for the show, which promises to be an extra somber, and extra poignant show, after the recent death of Nelson's longtime friend and collaborator, Merle Haggard, who joined him for a good leg of this tour before being hospitalized with double pneumonia in December. $56.50-$122. Peabody Opera House, 1400 Market, peabodyoperahouse.com.
