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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Music
Lucy Dacus, Katie Gavin, jasmine.4.t
On her first album post-boygenius breakthrough, Lucy Dacus builds a tension of new love. Fourth LP Forever Is a Feeling plays like an interior monologue of daydreams and anxieties with a poetic intimacy of vivid moments that spark and linger, but cast bittersweetly in the tentativeness of love’s uncertainty. Dacus is determined to hold that raw feeling even while guarding against its dissolution, her understated midtempo musings wafting a sadness amid the intoxicated passion. Saddest Factory Records provides the opening support with MUNA’s Katie Gavin dishing solo debut What a Relief, and breakout UK songwriter jasmine.4.t. – Doug FreemanSat., May 10, 7pm -
Music
All-Night Vigil w/ Conspirare Symphonic Choir
According to historical document Wikipedia, Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff’s non-secular choral opus All-Night Vigil is notable for being one of only two liturgical settings composed by a non-churchgoer. As someone not that partial to pews myself, I can understand why Rachmaninoff nevertheless was enamored with the sacred. Grammy-winning chorus Conspirare delivers two renditions of the composer’s masterpiece at St. Martin’s, although be warned that Thursday’s showing has sold out. Those hoping to commune with a higher power through the choral arts are advised to secure a Saturday ticket. – James ScottSat., May 10, 8pm. Sold-out. -
Arts
Theatre
Amaging!
As program coordinator/“co-queerator” of aging-with-grace org Family Eldercare’s LGBTQ division Rainbow Connections ATX, World Famous *BOB* speaks about growing older so tenderly. An example: “I often say that hanging out with older people is like getting a postcard from your future, and who wouldn’t want to read that?” There’ll be “postcards” a-plenty at this three-show series, which features five older qmmunity members (between the ages of 65 and 91) sharing their stories onstage – with *BOB* in the director’s chair. To hear cast members Rev. Babs Miller, Glenna “Sparkle” Williams, Masha-Leah, Richard Rollin Gartner, and Anna Nguyen speak about their lives is to understand the incredible stories we’re all connected by. – James ScottMay 8-10 -
Film
Special Screenings
An Army of Women (2024)
If you were a regular Chronicle reader in the late 2010s and early 2020s, then you already know about the city’s shameful rape kit backlog and the subsequent class action lawsuit filed by 15 rape survivors against the city, county, and criminal justice system. What director Julie Lunde Lillesæter and her team do so effectively is distill that yearslong process into a 84-minute documentary with an intimate lens on the survivors and lawyers at the heart of the case. Following Saturday’s screening will be a panel conversation with three of the plaintiffs and the head of APD’s Sex Crimes and Domestic Violence units. – Kimberley JonesMay 8 & 10-11 -
Arts
Visual Arts
Art-O-Rama
Collected through the artistic acumen of Dougherty Arts Center are a variety of unique creations from across mediums – all centered on a solarpunk theme. And you, dear sweet Chronicle reader, are invited to get in on the creative action: hands-on activities throughout the day include cyanotype printing, make-your-own-planters, a community-made stained-glass project, exhibits by the teen-centric Totally Cool Totally Art, and much more. Putting the fun in functional, DAC’s solarpunk shindig “envisions a sustainable future, built with creativity and cooperation.” – James ScottSat., May 10 -
Community
Events
Austin Fashion Week
Austin isn’t known as an especially fashionable city. We’re too attached to our flip-flops, tank-tops, and other hyphenated items that are really more about summer survival than looking fierce. This weekend, however, there’s a slate of stylish events to remind us how good we can look when we put our best people to the task. Highlights include a showcase of Austin Community College makers, a Black designer showcase, a show of upcycled looks courtesy of Goodwill, and more runway stylings to inspire future sartorial choices, preferably when you’re not worried about sweating through the couture. – James RenovitchMay 8-10 -
Arts
Visual Arts
“Meeting at the Edges: Testing Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Boundaries”
Why are the edges always the most difficult? Almost all textile arts suffer in relation to cleaning up those untidy ends. This month, Link & Pin Art Space invites viewers to embrace the unruly threads of life. To shamelessly pull from artist Sam Elkins’ Instagram post (@samelkinstextiles), join Saturday’s artist reception for some “edgy” conversation with the creators involved. Elkins’ weaving work will rest alongside the fibrous textures of Gary Anderson’s art and Diane Sandlin’s mixed media marvels. Ponder, and maybe even come to terms with, life’s bumps and whorls through these artists’ explored space. – Cat McCarreyThrough June 8 -
Arts
Dance
Ballet Austin’s Romeo & Juliet
Ballet Austin’s Romeo & Juliet? More like Stephen Mills’ Romeo & Juliet. Or rather, after 25 years of his tenure as the visionary behind the city’s premiere dance company, the two are in perfect harmony. Celebrate Mother’s Day and Sarah & Ernest Butler Family Fund Artistic Director Mills’ legacy with one of his signature works as a choreographer – the greatest tragic romance of all time – while Austin Symphony Orchestra fills the Long Center with the music of Sergei Prokofiev. – Richard WhittakerMay 9-11 -
Arts
Theatre
Dirty Gold Theatre Presents: Venus in Fur
A seductive reconsidering of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch’s original novella, David Ive’s play gets reimagined once more by local theatre company Dirty Gold, who describe their work as “dynamic, provocative, character-based theatre that comments on contemporary society and our shared humanity.” What comments can they generate via Venus’ discussion of sexual power plays? You’ll just have to step into the metaphorical boudoir to find out. Special bulletin for Austin’s theatre pros: Wednesday, May 14, is Industry Night with promised ticket discounts both for presale and door tix. – James ScottThrough May 17 -
Qmmunity
Community
Eagle Queer Market
Have you yet made the trek over to Austin’s own Eagle? Located outside the unofficial gay “district,” aka the three gay clubs on Fourth Street, the Cross Park Drive dive features not just weekly gear nights, kink bingos, and steak dinner specials, but also a monthly market filled with local LGBTQIA vendors. There may even be talented out-of-towners slinging their wares, so show up, shop small, and enjoy yourself under the Eagle’s wings. – James ScottEvery second Saturday -
Arts
Books
Fantasy Book Faire
Pray thee beautiful Chronicle reader: Have thine eyes betrayed you? Is there really going to be a book fair centered on the fantasy genre this weekend? ’Tis true! Writing workshop wizards Austin Bat Cave throw a fest filled with fantastical costumes, book giveaways, storytimes, music, and more for free. Local author Miguel Briones pops up, too, as do performers Mystica Fiora, Devin Alfather, and Kaytee Jones. ABC asks only that you bring a gently used book to donate, as they’d love to give that pre-loved lit a new home. – James ScottSat., May 10 -
Music
Gary Floyd retrospective w/ Jefferson Trout, Pocket FishRmen
A perennial Austin punk icon, Gary Floyd embodied glorious contradiction. A big-boned, openly gay Marxist fronting the ferocious, blues-based hardcore of the Dicks, Floyd’s howl and humor helped define the early scene. Following his passing last May at age 71, while hospitalized for congestive heart failure, a Gary-shaped hole gapes in the universe. Saturday, friends, fans, and admirers gather to celebrate the beloved provocateur with a retrospective art exhibit and musical performances from Pocket FishRmen and Jefferson Trout (featuring founding Dicks bassist Buxf Parrot). Expect tributes equal parts reverent and raucous, just as he’d have wanted. Proceeds benefit his widower.: – Tim StegallSat., May 10, 6pm -
Film
Special Screenings
Hereditary (2018)
Ari Aster’s directorial debut set off a reinvigoration of arthouse horror and catapulted A24 to fame as the most relevant production company of the last decade. It also gave me an entirely sleepless night upon first viewing. Toni Collette’s performance as both a terrifying and deeply sympathetic grieving mother steals the show, but Milly Shapiro and Alex Wolff as her creepy children anchor the real horror of this family drama-turned-supernatural nightmare. The sharp, cacophonous saxophone score will linger in your ear, and one chilling scene will have you checking the corners of your ceiling long after the film ends. A true modern horror classic, it deserves to be seen in the theatre for the collective shock it elicits from first-time viewers. – Lina FisherMay 9-14 -
Music
Howlin' Blues Dance Party w/ Eastside Kings
Civil Goat Coffee on Guadalupe is quickly becoming more than just a cafe for the laptop-working local, thanks to the efforts of their events coordinator, Lindsey Schlatter. She has so far put on pop-up art shows with her Quarters endeavor – now, she’s venturing into pop-up concerts, like this blues party. Featuring free beginner blues dancing lessons by Neon Two-Step from 8-9pm, you’ll need neither a partner nor prior experience to get down to the dulcet tones of Austin classics the Eastside Kings, who play from 9-11pm. Civil Goat’s venue is somewhat perfect for dancing, with a large outdoor patio separate from the skinny bar inside. If you’re looking for a change of pace from the honky-tonks and indie shows for your Saturday night, this might well be it. – Lina FisherSat., May 10, 9pm. Free.Civil Goat, 3423 Guadalupe -
Arts
Theatre
I Wanna Be a F*cking Princess
This show scores one point for an extremely cathartic title, one that seems ridiculously fun to scream across the room. It scores five more for tackling the emotional pressure cooker of bridal parties and – brace yourselves – bachelorettes. Let’s add 10 points for putting that within a fractured fairy-tale format. I’m picturing something as fiercely fanged as the recent gal pals in White Lotus, but maybe with literal wolves? And finally, heap on about a hundred points for integrating this into the peri/menopausal exploration of HOT: the Exhibit, adding a whimsical performance aspect to an already-informative examination of an overlooked ordeal. Let’s talk about the changes women go through! Whether literally transformative, or just emotionally so! – Cat McCarreyThrough May 24 -
Film
Special Screenings
Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)
Many were surprised at the 2022 Sight and Sound critics’ poll topper, which beat out Hitchcock’s blonde mindbender Vertigo and capitalist cautionary tale Citizen Kane to be crowned the “greatest film of all time.” Yet Belgian director Chantal Akerman’s film captures the cruel tedium of the misogynistic world without once letting up: presenting on film life exactly as it is. Yes, the world of widowed housewife Jeanne is one built from boredom – you’ve never seen so many potatoes cooked for such a spoiled adult son – but that is how women are expected to live, even now. Silent and constant, Jeanne moves through her life as less its owner than a worker in its machinery. She simmers in that sexist soup as the viewer does until, at last, neither you nor Jeanne can bear it any longer. – James ScottSat., May 10 -
Qmmunity
Arts & Culture
Justice Is Served
Bang the gavel, girlies, because court is in session, and you’re guilty – of being a slay queen! Just kidding, just kidding: I get ahead of myself here in Qmmunity headquarters (my bedroom/office). No, what’s in session for real is “thee” newest variety show/improvised play from queer art weirdos Thee Gay Agenda. Premiering this Thursday and running through Saturday is TGA’s Justice Is Served at CrashBox. Dress code is courtroom chic – your lapels ironed, heels sharp, and not a single hair out of order. - James ScottMay 8-10 -
Film
Special Screenings
No Other Land (2024)
The Israeli assault on Gaza didn’t start on Oct. 7, 2023. The brutal policy of forcing Palestinians off their own land has been ongoing for decades but was rarely shown on the screen. Palestinian activist Basel Adra had been gathering footage for years and teamed up with Israeli investigative journalist Yuval Abraham (as well as Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal and Israeli cinematographer Rachel Szor) to create this Oscar-winning documentary about the endless assaults upon the people of the tiny farming community of Masafer Yatta. But it’s also the story of their friendship, a beacon of hope in these terrible times. – Richard WhittakerMay 8 & 10 -
Community
Events
O. Henry Museum Pun-Off
Let me say up front that this chunk of text will be without any intentional puns. You should be resting your groaning and head-palming muscles for the Pun-Off anyway. It’s the 48th year for this celebration of wordplay, and you know there will be some phrasing with more than one entendre. The event features two contests: Punniest of Show (prepared routines) and PunSlingers (improvised). Live music and a silent auction round out the day’s events. Stick around and see who ends up being cock of the talk. Dammit! – James RenovitchSat., May 10 -
Music
RAZZFEST w/ Kassa Overall, Quelle Chris, Blakchyl, e.artifact, Henry Solomon & Devin Daniels, J Soulja, Takoda, Mockjaw, FreeBloo&theFreak [garage]; Flobama, YoursTruuly, more [control room]
For the first time in a century – literally since the Roaring Twenties – the word “jazz” once again dances on the lips of youth. Today, that ranges from yacht rock to R&B, soul, and yes, even America’s classical music. Lebanese rapper Free Hamze operates Sahar Studios locally and here teams with L.A. indie jazz imprint Minaret Records. Beat sets, film screenings inside, and live riches include: one-stop Seattle drummer/producer/MC Kassa Overall, Detroit counterpart Quelle Chris, local mic slayers Blakchyl and J Soulja, sax duo Henry Solomon & Devin Daniels, and more. Emails Hamze: “[We’re] exploring the dichotomy between two genres that have a much deeper relationship than people seem to understand.” – Raoul HernandezSat., May 10, 6pm. $10 advance, $15 day of show (all ages). -
Qmmunity
Community
Trans Texas Writing Workshop
KB Brookins leads this workshop on “writing and pitching op-eds for trans rights” presented by TENT. RSVP for this two-hour lesson via workshop.transtexas.org.Sat., May 10RSVP for location -
Qmmunity
Community
WNBA Game Watches
Lovers of basketball and good brews are welcome to take in three games within 1972’s confines: Fever vs. Dream, 2pm; Toyota Antelopes vs. Dallas Wings, 7; and Sky vs. Lynx, also at 7. Check this women-owned & centered pub’s website for more sporty screenings over the weekend.Sat., May 101972 Pub, 2530 Guadalupe St. -
Arts
Comedy
Woke Cowboy
Lasso yourself some laughs at this showcase of Austin’s diverse comic talents, this week featuring headliner Jeff Hiller.Sat., May 10, 8pm -
Community
Events
World Migratory Bird Day
Birdwatching is not just a fun hobby; it can be a lifestyle that takes you as far as the birds go themselves – all over the world. But Austinites are fortunate to have access to many of the world’s birds via the Hornsby Bend Center for Environmental Research, which began in the Fifties with a young birder who spotted some unlikely waterfowl in the area and phoned his friends to get more eyes on these rare birds. Get your own eyes on area birds at an outdoor day for everyone, with activities all day ranging from a beginners’ bird walk to a purple martin demo to a raptor show, and learn all about the fascinating feathered friends passing through the area. – Kat McNevinsSat., May 10
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