Home Events
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Sponsored Listing
Affordable Art Fair Austin
After a hugely successful first edition, Affordable Art Fair Austin returns May 15-18, 2025 at the Palmer Events Center, showcasing thousands of original contemporary artworks ranging between $100 to $10,000. Welcoming 55 local, national and international exhibitors, the second edition will be unmissable.May 15-18, 2025Palmer Events Center -
Sponsored Listing
The Juilliard String Quartet with pianist Anna Petrova
With unparalleled artistry and enduring vigor, the Juilliard String Quartet (JSQ) continues to inspire audiences around the world. Founded in 1946 and hailed by The Boston Globe as “the most important American quartet in history,” the ensemble draws on a deep and vital engagement to the classics, while embracing the mission of championing new works, a vibrant combination of the familiar and the daring.Sat. May 17, 7:30pmRiverbend Centre
Recommended
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Film
Special Screenings
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
They say this cine be too much for your poogly Baboochka, that they send the rozz-van and make you all purple-wurple with their shlaga. But she’ll find radosty and smeck you on the goober, guffing at this tale of the uilraviolence and the old in-out, in-out. Was Kubrick right, that it privodeet to you become a little prestoopnik? Yarbles, I says. – Richard WhittakerJan. 5-7 -
Qmmunity
Community
Austin International Drag Festival
I’m not your mom – although, LOL, imagine if I was and you were my gay child. I’d probably raise you to respect drag performers because any child of mine would need to be appreciative of the arts. We’d probably attend the Austin International Drag Festival together – when you were old enough, of course, to express interest in such matters. After enjoying performances from such luminaries as Dustin Schlong, Good Lucifer, Kurt Cumstain, etc. I’d bring you to one of the fest’s many panels. There, we’d learn side-by-side about empowering trans-masc performers, cosplay and drag’s intersections, and moving drag beyond just gay bars. Yes, yes: This might happen if I were your mom – but I’m not! So you’ll just have to make the choice to attend AIDF all on your silly little own. – James ScottDec. 5-8 -
Film
Special Screenings
Batman Returns (1992)
Forget Die Hard: Batman Returns is my ultimate Christmas movie. Yes, John McClane in the air ducts is great, but does he beat a gloriously grotesque Danny DeVito in the Gotham sewers? I don’t think so. Besides, in this season of charitable giving, Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman is truly GIVING. She’s everything. We don’t deserve her, but for two hours and six minutes you can pretend we do. There’s also Christopher Walken! Paul Reubens for a hot second! Michael Keaton’s Batman, developed like a full-bodied wine but deferring to scene-chewing co-stars! Treat yourself to this gift of a film that’s both darker and more heartwarming than you remember. – Cat McCarreyDec. 6, 9-10 -
Qmmunity
Arts & Culture
Bloodbath Studio Presents: METANOIA Fashion Show and Film
Love fashion, but struggle to see yourself represented among the vaulted leagues of haute couture? Enter Bloodbath Studios, a local upstart dedicated to industry inclusivity. In METANOIA, a phrase that itself means “profound transformation,” LGBTQ+ designers showcase crafty clothing from the most unlikely substances. There’s fabric, metal, and let’s say, more “organic” material in these fearless frocks. Grab your own slice of Fashion Week with a night of pure creative spectacle. – Cat McCarreyDec. 6-7 -
Film
Special Screenings
Female Trouble (1974)
Lucky me got to catch this in early 2024 when John Waters rolled through town to celebrate the Paramount Theatre’s 50th Summer Classic Film Series. His commentary on the piece was funny, but the actual movie cuts a comedy gash so deep I bled laughs all over my nosebleed balcony seat. Divine plays the beastly and beautiful Dawn Davenport – the heroine we deserve, whose melted-face fierceness will make you want to die for art. Yet the paprika in this ham sandwich is Mink Stole as Dawn’s childish daughter Taffy, who shrieks and stabs her way into your heart. Crime truly is beauty! – James ScottDec. 6 & 8 -
Music
Graham Reynolds
In the grand Christmas tradition of weird holiday music, composer, provocateur, and experimentalist Graham Reynolds has already savaged holiday music a half dozen times, taking your beloved favorites and turning them into moody, depression-triggering nightmares. He’s at it again for the seventh year, ready to curdle your eggnog, crumple your presents, and crack your candy canes. Reynolds usually ropes in guests from the Austin jazz scene to join the anti-fun; for this show, he’ll be accompanied by vibraphone sorceress Carolyn Trowbridge (Coke/Michel Sextet, the Azmaris). Watch one of Austin’s maverick geniuses jingle your bells in all the wrong ways. – Michael TolandFri., Dec. 6, 8pm -
Arts
Books
Nico Lang: American Teenager
Author Nico Lang chats with drag artist Brigitte Bandit about their new non-fiction book, which follows the lives of seven families of trans youth living across the US.Fri., Dec. 6 -
Film
Special Screenings
Shelley Duvall Tribute: Thieves Like Us, 3 Women, and History of Television: Faerie Tale Theatre
Misconceptions about Shelley Duvall’s mental illness and retirement from acting have threatened to paint her as a tragic figure. Thankfully, with unseen images and information from the actor herself, Austinite Sarah Lukowski’s popular social media fan page Shelley Duvall Archive has reminded folks in recent years that the Texan performer, who died in July, was indeed a talented, self-determined artist. This all-weekend tribute to Duvall further underscores her legacy: Friday and Saturday, AFS screens two of her Robert Altman best (Thieves Like Us, then 3 Women); Sunday, the cinema presents Faerie Tale Theatre, the show she created, produced, and sometimes starred in. – Carys AndersonDec. 6-8 -
Film
Special Screenings
The Cathedral of New Emotions
RIYL: Fantastic Planet and Belladonna of Sadness. This psychedelic 2D animated sci-fi has much of what those films offer – colorful, imaginative sets, erotic musings, sick soundtrack – but is much more character-driven, following a wacky Berlin commune of mostly androgynous stoners. Begun in 1974, finished in 2006, but never released in the U.S. until now, this new restoration follows our heroes as they’re flung out to space in a giant hand, smashing into random animals and cartoon characters, and looking for the enigmatic guy who convinced them to travel in the first place, Matthew Madson. Plus, it sits at a cool hour runtime, so you can get your surreal fix for the day and get out. – Lina FisherDec. 6-7 -
Film
Special Screenings
The Incredibly True Adventure of 2 Girls in Love (1995)
A partnership between HFC and Sapphic Singles bears remarkably gay fruit: In addition to showing this 1995 sapphic classic, there’ll be icebreakers and name tags to start cuffing season right.Fri., Dec. 6 -
Qmmunity
Nightlife & Parties
The Met Gala Ball
From House of Lepore and Vivent Health comes a World AIDS Day event featuring a red-carpet ball, live performances, a local community heroes award ceremony, and delicious eats from Fork Fantasies.Fri., Dec. 6 -
Music
Tomar & the FCs
A calendar such as C-Boy’s December run waits maybe all year for a month like this. Not because the South Congress speakeasy sister to the Continental Club doesn‘t curate modern roots year-round. Once the hustle & bustle of roadshows die down, locals finally reconnect with homegrown heavyweights including soul sovereigns Tomar & the FCs. Alt (and queer) icon Tina Schlieske the night prior to this two-night run and Strat champ Jimmie Vaughan on New Year’s bookend 2024’s exit here, but only Tomar Williams will evoke Otis Redding. Throaty grit from the frontman and brass-fed R&B from the FCs jolts particularly deep and pulpy during the holiday season. “Merry Christmas, Baby.” – Raoul HernandezFri., Dec. 6, 11:30pm. $15 cover (21+). -
Qmmunity
Arts & Culture
Twas the Night Before: An Austin Gay Men’s Chorus Holiday Concert
While being in any church gives me flashbacks to my first holy communion – they do not shell out for good wine at Catholic churches! – the Austin Gay Men’s Chorus will always class up the joint. This year, they’re revamping seasonal favorites with their signature choral flair and inviting you to “a night of musical storytelling that will guide you through the heart of winter while honoring the stories and experiences that make our community so vibrant.” Friday and Saturday feature a pre-show mixer with festive cock/mocktails & food, and Sunday promises the same but at a matinee hour. – James ScottDec. 6-8 -
Music
Wilco
At the end of a weird and difficult year comes a genuinely special balm: three straight nights of one of the few still-operational rock bands of their generation whose catalog could justify such a residency. Billed as “An Evening With Wilco,” these sets are precisely what their increasingly aged fan base craves: seats, no repeat songs from night to night, and no opener. Expect anything from their 1990s post-alt-country days to the Aughts-defining Yankee Hotel Foxtrot to jams off their most recent collections – their 13th album Cousin and the recent follow-up EP, an energetic six-songer called Hot Sun Cool Shroud. Expect tight songcraft, guitar pyrotechnics and head honcho Jeff Tweedy’s classic, bein’-there voice. – Joe GrossFri., Dec. 6, 8pm
All Events
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Arts
Visual Arts
"Native America: In Translation"
One thing I’ve loved about newer theatre or museums is the space given for land acknowledgement – statements about the ancestral roots of the space being used. Space that was not always ours, but taken. The Blanton’s latest exhibit tackles that question, but pushes the boundaries. It’s not just about what Native America was, but what it can be. Curator and lauded artist Wendy Red Star has assembled nine other Native artists to create a rich exploration of what life in America is today. Shown through a variety of mediums, something is guaranteed to resonate with the audience. Whether it’s the photos, paintings, videos, or multimedia works is up to you. – Cat McCarreyAug. 4-Jan.5 -
Community
Events
60th Annual Trail of Lights
Kicking off this Tuesday is a tradition Austinites always “light up” for. See dazzling electric light displays alongside loved ones – or maybe a person you’re trying to buddy up to so you can betray them later? Your choice, TBH. In addition to their illuminated offerings, the Trail of Lights Foundation and sponsor H-E-B also spotlight local musicians with a lineup including Tone Royal, Chief Cleopatra, Como Los Movies, and more. Attend on the free weekdays (Dec. 10-13, 16-18) or pay the weekend price ($8 for general admission, $25+ for the “platnium” tickies). Bonus: That blessed little train the Zilker Eagle will be running during special holiday hours. Toot-toot! – James ScottThrough Dec. 23 -
Arts
Theatre
A Christmas Carol
It’s a timeless story, but revisiting A Christmas Carol now seems especially timely, what with billionaires running roughshod as income inequality rises with no sign of relief. Dickens wrote the story while under financial pressure, and the story was intended to touch the hearts of the rich and powerful. It was a nice idea, and the fact it’s been adapted countless times is testament to its broad appeal, but some of the real Scrooges may just be beyond its reach. We’ll keep trying though! Zach brings its production back for a 10th year, with fresh songs and special extras like commemorative tickets and experiences. – Kat McNevinsNov. 20-Jan. 1 -
Music
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Music
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Music
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Music
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Arts
Visual Arts
Angel Hubris: “Shepherd Bells in Ballaban”
Catching a work mid-progress always excites me. New elements have been added to Albanian American artist Angel Hubris’ sonic art show since its premiere on Montez Press Radio, but still future manifestations tease: a photobook, a horror story, etc. What comes to us on Monday, Nov. 25, and sticks around through the new year is a multidisciplinary presentation where Hubris has collected audio samples from rural Albanian shepherds. Their bells ring out with myriad interpretations, according to Hubris, from divine to dangerous. “I tell my friends in New York that I’m going to Church when I travel to rural Albania,” the artist writes. “My intention for this sonic piece is to generate a gentle moment where the listener can daydream and ponder other possibilities.” – James ScottThrough Jan. 3 -
Music
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Arts
Visual Arts
Ashley Swarts: “Waiting for a Sign”
Ashley Swarts’ “Waiting for a Sign” debuted at Do Right Hall during Chinati Weekend in Marfa and will now have a more permanent showing at McLennon Pen Co.’s space next to Nixta Taqueria. It’s a fitting journey, seeing as Swarts lived in Marfa for seven years before moving to Austin to open Slowpoke, a hand-poke tattoo studio that she owns and works out of in East Austin. Swarts grew up in Las Vegas, and all three locales figure heavily in her show, which focuses on commercial signage in each city. Southwestern street art found in vintage light box and neon signs to painstakingly hand-painted typography is an aesthetic that fascinates Swarts, whose process involved collecting magazines and fitting cutouts into sign stencils layered into clear resin and suspended “like rare bugs under glass,” she writes. The opening reception is Thursday, November 21, from 6-9pm. – Lina FisherThrough Dec. 7 -
Music
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Community
Events
Austin International Folk Dancers
Join AIFD for an evening of dances from around the world with no experience or partner required.Fridays, 7-9:45pm. $5 (under 18, free). -
Arts
Visual Arts
“Ethica Naturalis”
A more thematically dedicated writer might have written this whole listing in wingdings or emojis as a way of conveying the connection between illustration-forward storytelling via this show’s subject – emblem books, aka a collection of allegorical images – but alas. Y’all got me instead. Local garage-based gallery GLHF hosts a collective art show featuring artists Eli Decker, Ario Elami, Christopher Miller, and Teppla taking inspiration from one particular emblem book: Ethica Naturalis, whose illustrations personify natural elements. Attend opening night this Friday, Nov. 8, and see these artists express the eternal power dynamic between man and nature. – James ScottThrough Dec. 14 -
Arts
Visual Arts
“First Impressions”
Flatbed Press has championed local printmakers for 35 years. Not to be outdone, Women & Their Work has been putting the work of Texas women on their walls for 45 years. For the next couple of months the two organizations will collaborate by gathering 30 artists (who not-coincidentally are women and printmakers) and showcasing the variety of the medium and the skills of the creators. Who doesn’t love a creative collab? – James RenovitchFridays-Sundays. Through Jan. 9 -
Arts
Visual Arts
“Soft Opening”
Out of the garage and into much fancier digs, community-minded art gallery DORF celebrates its new home at South Lamar’s Zilker Point with the cheekily named group show “Soft Opening.” Amble in before January 11 to see what insights participating artists Eepi Chaad, Michael Anthony Garciá, Nitashia Johnson, Bárbara Miñarro, Natalia Nakazawa, Rebeca Proctor, Libby Rosen, James Viscardi bring to the concept of softness, or get in on the ground floor at Friday’s opening reception, featuring a performance by Garciá and music by DJ Apanda. – Kimberley JonesThrough Jan. 11 -
Music