Smallpools
Friday 21, Antone’s
FIFA 14 fans adore “Dreaming” off indie-pop band Smallpools’ self-titled debut EP – so much so the track appeared on EA Sports’ Ultimate FIFA Soundtrack for FIFA 23, compiling the series’ top 100 songs. The group comes to Austin some 12 years after its debut single, with 2024 full-length Ghost Town Road in tow.
Playboi Carti
Sunday 23, Moody Center
After the cancellation of a 2021 show scheduled for the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park and a two-year-plus postponement of this trip to the Moody Center, rage rap innovator Playboi Carti (“Sky”) looks set to perform in Austin for the first time since the pandemic. The chameleonic Atlanta rapper tours in support of the 2025 release MUSIC, which arrived after several delays. Destroy Lonely, Ken Carson, and Homixide Gang – all of whom are signed to Carti’s Opium imprint – support.
JID
Monday 24, Stubb’s
JID remains unpredictable with his deep repertoire of flows, technical prowess, and varied lyricism. New, Grammy-nominated album God Does Like Ugly even sees the Atlanta MC briefly try his hand at Spanish (Jessie Reyez-assisted “No Boo”) before delivering a heartfelt closer in which he looks back at his journey (“For Keeps”). Arrive punctually for opener Young Nudy (“EA”).
This article appears in November 21 • 2025.
