SJ McDonald

SJ McDonald plays 3rd and Lindsley on Saturday, October 17, at 12:30 PM. She's not alone on the bill; the lineup includes Aimee Mayo, Chris Lindsey, Summer Overstreet, and Julia Hutchinson, so it's a full afternoon of songwriters rather than a single headliner. The early start puts it in the midday slot, which is a bit different from the usual evening run of shows around town.

McDonald comes from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where she grew up working on her family's five-generation cattle and turkey farm. She started writing and performing when she was nine, fronted her own band through high school, and moved to Nashville at 18, where she landed weekly slots on Lower Broadway. That's a lot of stage time before most people even think about a career in music, and it's the kind of background that usually shows up in the way someone handles a room.

She released her debut EP, How To Live, in July 2021, and has since opened for Jon Pardi, Runaway June, and John Anderson. Between those bigger stages, she plays frequently around Nashville and appears on shows like RFD-TV, so she's a regular presence in the city's country and songwriting circles. This particular date brings her back to one of the city's most recognizable rooms.

With five names on the bill, the afternoon will move through a fair amount of ground. It's a Saturday matinee at 3rd and Lindsley, 818 3rd Ave S, starting at 12:30 PM.