We’re so happy to welcome the lovely & talented Joy Oladokun back to Grimey’s to celebrate her new record, Hope Is a Heavy Thing.! Please join us on Wednesday, October 7th at 4:00 PM for an intimate instore performance and album signing with Joy. At Joy’s request this special gathering will also be a time of giving—we’ll be collecting donations in support of the East Nashville Care Market (ENCM), a awesome organization working in our neighborhood to provide support to our East Nashville community. We hope you’ll support our efforts to raise awareness about ENCM and collect donations to support their efforts. (Check back here for a list of suggested donation items that we’ll be collecting at the event.)

While you’re here for our event with Joy be sure to snap a pic with our super cool new Hope Is a Heavy Thing mural painted by Kim Radford! If you post your mural photo to social media be sure to tag us so we can share it too.

Hope Is a Heavy Thing, Oladokun’s third full-length album, was self-produced with additional contributions from Nigerian producer Spellz and a feature from Nigerian artist Adekunle Gold. The album marks a bold new creative chapter, broadening her sound while continuing to explore questions of identity, resilience, and belonging with the emotional depth that has become her signature.The project further reflects Oladokun’s ability to draw from diverse influences while creating music that transcends genre and geography. A queer Black musician and daughter of Nigerian immigrants, Oladokun has become a vital cultural voice, writing songs that explore identity, faith, mental health, and social justice with honesty and restraint. Those themes remain at the heart of Hope Is A Heavy Thing.

Due out September 25th via Concord Music, Hope Is a Heavy Thing is available to preorder on vinyl and CD in the record store and on our site here. All who preorder the album in advance will receive a wristband for Joy’s post-performance signing. Wristbands are required to participate in the signing for all 13+. (Kids 12 & under don’t need a wristband if attending with a wristband-holding adult.) All who preorder in advance will also receive an email the day before our event detailing preorder pickup and run of event, as well as additional information about ENCM donations. Preorders + wristbands will be available for pickup in the shop starting when we open on Wednesday, October 7th, the date of our event with Joy Oladokun. Read more about Hope Is a Heavy Thing and lock in your preorder now. We can’t wait to see you here for this one, Nashville!