photo by David Brendan Hall
March madness in Austin prompts more culture-altering installs than the World's Fair. Unknowingly to no particular segment of the Live Music Capital, perhaps, a game-changer arose on March 2 at Circuit of the Americas. Across 12 hours, seven dozen Hispanic acts rampaged on four stages for what could only be characterized as a Latin Lollapalooza. A time-warping cross section of vintage, traditional, and contemporary headliners played to a wholly brown demographic 55,000 strong – at no-poser prices. Behold a whole new music festival, one programmed for fans no longer in the minority. ATX paves the way forward: MX, TX, ALLX.
www.besamemuchofestival.com/austin
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It’s hard to overestimate the impact of Texas native Pooneh Ghana’s concert photography style on the Instagram era. On her saturated feed, she’s on tour with all-stars Noah Kahan and Olivia Rodrigo, then back in town for ACL Fest and killer Danny Brown portraits. Locals benefited big-time from her longtime between-Austin-and-L.A. status with the launch of Pooneh Presents, a concert series at Radio Coffee’s excellent second location, Radio/East. Her astute taste in of-the-moment rock, punk, and pop played out in two blowout spring break shows – packing Dry Cleaning, Omni, and Snõõper alongside locals Big Bill and Font – and continues monthly with colorful posters by Austin artist Cat Barrera.
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courtesy of Pooneh Ghana
courtesy of Community Garden
In its first year of wine-slinging, Community Garden has blossomed into a bona fide Eastside staple, wasting no time in curating ultra-cool weekly programming. Complemented by hanging pothos vines and a stellar vinyl sound system, recent schedule standouts include zine markets, poetry readings, and dinner pop-ups. Frequent CG Live music series lands on Thursdays, with past performances from pop experimenters Felt Out and atmospheric songwriter Schaefer Llana. Pair with an açaí bowl or natural wine for a perfect night.
Community Garden
1401 Cedar Ave. #2
512/330-4878
communitygardenaustin.com
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Reimagined by longtime Kerrville Folk Festival organizer Amy Sue Berlin, Welcome Home preserves the freewheeling spirit of its parent festival while drawing new attendees into the songwriter’s paradise. Compared to its behemoth 18-day sister fest, the intimate weekendlong event makes a point to recruit younger, queerer, and more diverse acts. Last October’s attendees camped under pristine skies and caught sets from folk-focused headliner Adrianne Lenker and R&B hellraisers Sir Woman. Come for the music, stay for the community: Campfire story-sharing and finger-picking sessions run late into the night.
www.kerrvillefolkfestival.org/welcome-home-fest
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via Facebook
In 1997, 78702 native NOOK Turner co-founded Jump On It as a teenager alongside civil rights activist Dorothy Turner (no relation) and his mother after the former called for more Black activity at Rosewood Park. The summertime extravaganza has experienced a multitude of changes throughout the years, but NOOK’s resilient vision for an Eastside hub fostering Black community keeps its heartbeat alive. His event’s current format features music, panels, youth-targeted workshops, and a celebrity basketball game. This year’s occasion occurred on June 2-9 and tapped raunchy rapper Sukihana as a headliner.
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On a friend’s Instagram story earlier this year, I immediately recognized a curly-haired, cowboy-hatted teen seated behind his vintage instrument. Wait, Pedal Steel Noah lives here?? Indeed, Instagram favorite Noah Faulkner – known for twangifying Eighties rock songs alongside his bassist brother Nate and their dog Kara – is from Austin. With deep roots in the country scene, he was taught piano by Bukka Allen, and later received his first and only pedal steel guitar lesson from Lloyd Maines. Faulkner self-educated from there, leading to his Texas Madness EP, which reworks Joy Division and the Cure. Austin industry catches up with 2024 appearances at SXSW and the Ameripolitan Awards, where he wore his signature patterned Crocs.
www.instagram.com/pedalsteelnoah
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photo by Holly Faulkner
photo by John Anderson
The iconic I Luv Video movie rental stores, the last of which closed in 2020, have been revived in the form of a nonprofit. We Luv Video in North Loop now holds the former business’ remarkable collection of DVDs and VHS tapes, preserving physical media and the experience of picking out what to watch in person. Even if you don’t have a DVD player, it’s a comfort to return to the tactile world, attend screenings, and meet other folks who love cinema. There’s ultimately no permanence in streaming, but a VHS tape of a weird sci-fi alien abduction film is forever.
We Luv Video
100 E. North Loop
www.weluvvideo.org
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In most art galleries, the standard is big white walls and framed art – classic but not necessarily transformative. What sets the Downtown-adjacent Goodluckhavefun gallery apart – other than its location within an Enfield Road garage – is how each exhibition that founders/curators Tim and Kira McCool put on completely reinvents the space to immerse the audience in an artist’s world. Viewers will find art spilling free from its frame to transform everyday objects like a garage-door pull cord into pieces themselves. No matter where you look in the GLHF space, you’ll find art.
Goodluckhavefun
1207-A Enfield
www.glhfgallery.com
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courtesy of Goodluckhavefun
via website
This independently run media library is located in someone’s living room. Since 2012, founder Michelle has shared her thoughtfully arranged collection of zines for free as a passion project. Every other Saturday she opens her home to visitors to flip through and borrow from thousands of DIY projects covering an array of topics like gardening, comedy, politics, literature, and more. A uniquely cozy experience, you’re welcome to sit and peruse through the creations while Twister the affectionate cat naps and plays beside you. Another perk: When you commence your membership, you’ll receive a darling laminated and personalized library card.
www.sherwoodforestzinelibrary.org
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There are a lot of great jams around town geared toward meeting other musicians and landing gigs, but few are able to thread the needle between inclusivity and professional opportunity quite like the Hideaway Jam. The sign-up sheet model might be part of what makes it so successful, but the not-so-secret ingredient in this mix is Jim Briggs. The host and guitarist radiates warmth. Like Briggs, many of the jam’s regulars are musical powerhouses, but they’re also sweethearts. That’s what makes the whole affair feel distinctly Austin. Some jams are centered around a genre. This one is centered around an attitude.
www.hellajimbriggs.com/the-hideaway-jam
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courtesy of the Hideaway Jam
photo by Aaron Sullivan
Just 30-or-so miles outside of Austin, the Bastrop Opera House has provided entertainment for Central Texans since 1889. The historic theatre took various forms in its history, including as a movie theatre and youth community center. Today, it hosts unique performances nearly every weekend. Earlier this year, the small-town theatre took home 13 of 20 BroadwayWorld Austin Awards, including Favorite Local Theatre, Best Play, and Best Direction of a Musical. But the Opera House isn't resting on its laurels: Upcoming productions Moon Over Buffalo, Treasure Island, and Young Frankenstein are all reasons to mull a trip to our neighbors to the east.
Bastrop Opera House
711 Spring St.
Bastrop
512/321-6283
www.bastropoperahouse.org
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Record stores, restaurants, and even full-on buildings (does the standalone “Hi, How Are You” wall make you more happy or sad?) disappear from the Drag at lightning speed these days, but somehow, Hole in the Wall has prevailed. The restaurant/arcade-turned-everyday music venue has officially reached its golden anniversary, and it’s continued to launch the careers of nationally celebrated acts without losing its character. The women’s bathroom? Still has two toilets! The drinks? Still cheap! Thanks to a 2023 check from the Iconic Venue Fund, the oft-endangered club secured its lease for another 20 years. Thank God some things never change.
Hole in the Wall
2538 Guadalupe
512/472-5599
www.theholeinthewallaustin.com
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