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The best way to make sure that the book you’re buying wasn’t churned out by AI is to buy it direct from the author, and you can do exactly that at this celebration of small press and independent authors. New civil rights icon Brigitte Bandit will be on hand for drag queen storytime, but if you prefer your makeup of the corpse-paint variety, check out death metal storytime. Plus, if you feel like evoking that salon life, there’ll be a cocktail social about local crime anthology Austin Noir. – Richard Whittaker

This year marks the event’s 30th anniversary (initially called the Bob Marley Reggae Festival) benefiting the Central Texas Food Bank. The lineup celebrates the music’s glorious past and its vibrant present and future. Friday’s headliner, the award-winning Ghanaian Afropop superstar Stonebwoy, has been called the king of dancehall in Africa. Saturday looks to the future with Jamaican singer-songwriter Lila Iké topping the bill that also includes Italian reggae ambassador Alborosie. Old-school roots royalty reigns Sunday night with the Legendary Wailers featuring Marley guitarist Junior Marvin and one of reggae’s greatest bands ever, the original Soul Syndicate, who will pay tribute to Peter Tosh. From the early Seventies, when they were reggae’s premier studio band, and well into the Eighties, Soul Syndicate backed virtually every Jamaican artist of note. As always, the irreplaceable Jah Ray will emcee. And don’t forget to check out Charlie’s Dub Corner. – Jay Trachtenberg

In a gear-up for Independent Bookstore Day on April 27, Bolm Arts offers up a new exhibit, “Ode to the Book.” Musicians Jade Parx, Jac Carson, Amir Neubach, Liz Emme, and Nico Little will play as visitors peruse a diverse collection of illustrations, letterpress prints, book shrine sculptures, art books, and art made from books. “Elevating them beyond their functional purpose, artists Stephen Dubov, Sandra C. Fernandez, Emily Mitchell, Kyle Schlesinger, Jennie Tudor Gray and Beckette Rivera have created their own unique tribute to books,” writes the gallery. For more bookworm content, check out a talk by author Eric Heisner, a Western-loving screenwriter, actor, and filmmaker who will speak on the Austin Book Trail April 27. – Lina Fisher

The best girls – and boys – will be pitting queen against king in this showdown drag show. On Team Selena are the lovely Amber Nicole Davenport and Beauty, representing the Queen of Tejano just after her birthday. Honoring Puerto Rican pretty boy rapper Bad Bunny is the handsome duo of Randy Lopez and Luiz Fatale. Side note: Did y’all know Bad Bunny wrestled for WWE? He took out Dolph Ziggler in a 2022 Royal Rumble! While that smackdown was pretty good, brawny beat-em-ups got nothing on the intensity of a drag brunch head-to-head. Show up early to grab a seat and marg; it’s gonna be a good show. – James Scott

Austin Creative Reuse has long provided a haven for Austin artists to transform discarded objects into creative projects. Now, they’re hosting a workshop on how to transform a cup of water into a thriving ecosystem. Taught by Austin Davenport – a community gardener, volunteer farmer, and aspiring agroecologist whose résumé includes tomato-growing workshops, mushroom cultivation, and planting for pollinators classes – the class will include the basics of setting up a hydroponic system, choosing the right plants, and maintaining a healthy growing environment. Plus, they’ll send you home with a Mason jar and a lettuce or basil plant to kick-start your water garden. – Lina Fisher

Vader invading Come & Take It Live earlier this year crisped the metal HQ‘s log cabin interior and thus sets the stage for another of Poland’s Big Three of death metal. Vogg and Vitek Kiełtyka formed Decapitated at ages 16 and 12, respectively, jackhammering out a furiously technical battering cut short by the latter sibling’s death in a tragic tour bus accident. No Organic Hallucinosis (2006), whose promo trek included a sweat-soaked visitation on the original Emo’s, 2022’s eighth full-length Cancer Culture blisters nonetheless, the surviving axe fiend and muffler larynx Rafal Piotrowski rippin’ & roarin’. Symphonic DM Greeks Septicflesh, Quebecois DM melodians Kataklysm, and symphonic-melodic DM Coloradoans Allegaeon support. – Raoul Hernandez

Oh my love, my darling, why not have your own Patrick Swayze/Demi Moore moment with the Clay Studio Tour? Try your hand at the wheel through pottery demos and workshops. Or just support those magical mud-makers and buy some art. So sorry, but you can’t use location as an excuse not to go – these tours are happening throughout the Austin area, from Pflugerville to Manchaca and everywhere in between. Get messy and make financial mistakes while witnessing some truly staggering claywork. – Cat McCarrey

Earth Month is nearing its end, and Earth Day is just around the corner: Have you done your part to go green? And speaking of green: 4/20 is also due to be celebrated. So head down to TLGS to check out what Eastside Pop Up and Redeemer Small Batch have concocted for their Green Market. They’ve promised over 20 Earth-conscious, canna-friendly, and plant-forward vendors, and have hinted at a tie-dye station. It’s free, all-ages, and even pet-friendly, being outdoors. Here’s hoping for a sunny Sunday! – Kat McNevins

Austin film buffs are fortunate to be situated in a town that hosts more than its fair share of film festivals, Indie Meme being one of them. The ninth annual iteration of this diverse fest brings over 30 of the best South Asian films from over a dozen countries to the U.S. Among the selections are international premieres, award-winning features, and even a local shorts showcase featuring Austin-based filmmakers Neha Aziz and Sarthwik Bollu. Badges run from $70 to $200, and individual tix can be snagged for only $15 a pop. A virtual badge grants access to all the films May 3-5. – Kat McNevins

Who’s ready for a bedtime story? Because there’s nothing like Stephen Sondheim’s grand unification theory of the Brothers Grimm’s collection of German fairy tales. All your childhood folklore favorites become tangled up in the search for the cow as white as milk, the cape as red as blood, the hair as yellow as corn, and the slipper as pure as gold. Underneath the toe-tappers and cunning one-liners, there’s a fable about the perils of getting what you wished for and not paying attention to what you have, a moral reiterated by a witch who’s not good, not nice; just right. – Richard Whittaker

La Mujer presents an overwhelming smorgasbord of options celebrating and caring for strong, sensitive women. Inside: art exhibits, keynote speakers, and a series of workshops on things like sound healing and somatic writing (these do require pre-registration, so plan ahead). Outside: open pitch for businesses, open mic for artists, kids’ activities, chamoy making, and an outdoor market by Frida Friday. Heal your mind and soul. – Cat McCarrey

More than a simple weekend fest, this smorgasbord of live ensembles lays out your April calendar with 10 days of free, family-friendly music at one beloved Austin patio: outside the Central Market on North Lamar. Presented by the Austin Civic Wind Ensemble since 2006, this event’s ethos is all in the no-stone-unturned names: Try Armadillo Swing Band, ACC Jazz Ensemble I, Girl Scout Harp Ensemble, Austin Banjo Club, Kat’s Porch Jam, the Skylarks, or Blowcomotion. Friday kicks off the 17th edition with a night of Austin blues under singer-songwriter Woot Talley’s band and the horn-fueled Rhythm Congress. – Rachel Rascoe

Last year’s inaugural Two Step Inn brought together indie country superstars and Nineties legends to find a sweet spot in the evolving country music landscape, and this year’s return replicates the formula. Cody Johnson and Turnpike Troubadours hold down the headlining slots, while Hank Williams Jr., Martina McBride, Lee Ann Womack, Clint Black, and John Anderson provide the classic soundtrack. Ryan Bingham teams with the Texas Gentlemen, and Colter Wall slings Little Songs in his low prairie croon – while Charley Crockett and Sierra Ferrell showcase new albums alongside rising songwriters like Wyatt Flores and Vincent Neil Emerson. – Doug Freeman