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for Fri., May 30
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  • Music

    No Idea Festival Day 2 w/ Ken Vandermark, more (10:00, 7:30, 5:00))

    Anchored by Chicago saxophonist Ken Vandermark and Austin native Mabel Kwan, Chris Cogburn’s No Idea Festival emerges from the shadows with the Vernacular Residency. Night one features a film screening of Vandermark doc Musician, a Vandermark/Kwan duo set, and a panel discussion. Night two includes a Vandermark master class, the Mabel Kwan/Juan García duo, the saxophonist’s Texas Ensemble (with various Young Mothers and former Sons of Hercules drummer Kory Cook), and a set of music by founding AACM member Fred Anderson and Dallas avant trumpet pioneer Dennis González, whose son Stefan co-leads the band with Vandermark. Heaven for musical improv junkies. – Michael Toland
    Fri., May 30
    Monks Jazz Club

  • Music

    Simple Minds, Modern English, Soft Cell

    The eternal popularity of Eighties hits “Alive and Kicking” and “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” means Scotland’s elegantly bombastic Simple Minds has maintained their lighter-waving popularity around the world. Nearly 50 years on, singer Jim Kerr, guitarist Charlie Burchill, and their comrades hit U.S. arenas for their most extensive North American tour in four decades. As displayed on superb new album Live in the City of Diamonds, Big Music standards like “Promised You a Miracle,” “Book of Brilliant Things,” and the peerless “Waterfront” still have the power to stir souls and lift hearts. – Michael Toland
    Fri., May 30, 7pm 
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    Moody Center

  • Music

    ILLfest Day 1 w/ Tape b2b Peekaboo, Late Night Radio, Deathpact, Smith., HOL!, more

    Back to test local seismographs, music and street art celebration iLLfest looks to rattle the Capitol. Producing big, brash dubstep with elements of jungle, trance, and trap, PEEKABOO arrives with anthems like “Babatunde” and his latest, “leaving (dont tell me).” Tape B brings heavy nostalgia, reimagining classic hip-hop into festival smashes. Wooli’s dark melodic bass is reminiscent of Flux Pavilion’s early work. In an interesting fusion, Dallas rapper BigXthaPlug (breakout hit “Mmhmm”) and Bay City lyricist That Mexican OT, best known for his 2023 Paul Wall-featured single “Johnny Dang,” will also perform. Belgian drum and bass producer/DJ Netsky comes as this year’s truly legendary figure. – Kahron Spearman
    Fri., May 30, 3pm 
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    Travis County Expo Center

  • Music

    Nakia (performance & record signing)

    Earlier this month, when Shinyribs serenaded Waterloo Records, emotions ran heavy in the knowledge of the group’s final live appearance at that location. Expect no less from Nakia. A semifinalist on The Voice and perennial Austin City Limits television show attendee, the South Austin soul man runs deep through the local scene lore. No surprise, then, that his swan song at Sixth and Lamar – Waterloo will relocate several blocks north this summer – services one of his finest recorded moments. Signal, inspired by Eighties synthpop, pulses his rich and deepening croon atop a lithe bed of electro delectables for maybe the best fit in decades, as aided by new band the Never Not Now. – Raoul Hernandez
    Fri., May 30, 5pm
    Waterloo Records
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