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While the Old Settler’s Music Festival sorts itself out with a planned 2025 return and sale of their current festival grounds, the 145-acre ranch in Dale hosts a slimmed-down Spring Pickin’ Party of local favorites. The three-day campout congregates around a single stage, with Friday celebrating the return of Uncle Lucius’ soulful country sound alongside Kalu & the Electric Joint and Hot Club of Cowtown. Saturday springs the eclectic grooves of songwriter Keller Williams and mighty Tomar & the FCs, as well as a reunion of the South Austin Jug Band, while Sunday wraps with new supergroup trio Wonder Women of Country. – Doug Freeman

Year two of this music-market extravaganza – presented by women and nonbinary-led bookers Howdy Gals and local screen printers Goody Bag – levels up from six artists to nine. Featuring Pelvis Wrestley’s shimmering queer pop, Never’s minimalist post-punk, and Alexalone’s dynamic noise-rock, plus Glaze, Ritual, Haha Laughing, S.P.A., Proun, and DJ Vonne, the sonic showcase presents a who’s-who of Austin alternative. Meanwhile, live screen printing, a vendor market, zine swap, and free tote bags (for early birds) lend an interactive flair. Goody! – Carys Anderson

Never know who you’ll run into at a homegrown touchstone like the Bullock’s yearly pachanga. A decade ago, as parents of a yearling, my wife and myself joined a sea of families from across the state rooting and hootin’ for Texas prodigies burning up temporary stages. Accordionists of all ages, shapes, and sizes squeeze – for free – inside and out of the massive history temple, this year with Rodrigo Gonzales, Jayden Bucio, Adiel Vazquez, Alyssa Villarreal, Ruby Acosta, and many more. That long-ago spring, we ran into the daughter of an exclusive bilingual daycare couple and our two-year wait turned to two months. – Raoul Hernandez

If my Spotify were “wrapped” today, the Point’s “Leaving” might chart as my most-played song of 2024. It’s a magical, two-chord, tropical soul groove where the Hammond organ of Joe Roddy and electric guitar of Jack Montesinos speak back-and-forth, taking turns blowing their tops, without ever abandoning the highlife riff. Another pre-album single, “Mrs. Kind Eyes,” lands a cupid arrow of dub with bedroom pop sensibilities. Together, they grip intrigue for the young trio’s new record Maldito Animal – crystallizing the raw live sound of 2022 standout Berto’s Banquet. The platter’s producer, Beto Martinez, joins release festivities with his Peruvian-inspired groove unit Money Chicha. – Kevin Curtin

As songwriting powerhouse and True Believers veteran Jon Dee Graham recovers from spinal surgery, a group of pals will convene to lend a hand at two separate benefits. Hole in the Wall Saturday slate is jam packed with Graham’s friends and longtime collaborators – Alejandro Escovedo, James McMurtry, Jack Ingram, and many more – from the afternoon til bar close. And a free show at Meanwhile Brewing Sunday has a bill of eight “mini-acts” including Matt Giles and Andrew Duplantis pulling double duty from the day before. Music heals, but friends and donations don’t hurt either. – Abby Johnston