Self Portraits, Carnivals, and Cannibalism in Our Recommended Events

The weekend in arts and culture

"...First debuted in 2014, Bottle Alley Theatre’s Self Portraits series has bounced around..."

March 28, 2025 Arts Feature by James Scott

35 Recommended SXSW Music Acts

From rock to new age to Irish traditional, these are the incoming artists to see

"...to convince you of every name’s merits, but all festival veterans know – there’s just too much to see...."

March 7, 2025 Music Feature by Carys Anderson

Ravyn Lenae, Spoon, the Magnetic Fields, and More Crucial Concerts

Plan your week in music with a little help from these recommendations

"...the release of a 10-year anniversary expanded edition of 2014’s glimmering They Want My Soul), Austin’s most famous indie..."

Oct. 18, 2024 Music Feature by Derek Udensi

Day Trips & Beyond: October Events Roundup

Catch up on Lone Star State news and plan some fall fun

"...Saturday, Oct. 12. The Saga debuted on June 13, 2014, on the Main Plaza in downtown San Antonio. Created..."

Oct. 4, 2024 Travel Post by Gerald E. McLeod

Hot Sauce Fest, Bat Fest, and More Crucial Concerts

Mitski, Childish Gambino, Lucinda Williams, and others worth hearing

"...country music. Having famously risen from street busking to festival stages, the tireless locally based troubadour continues to chart..."

Sept. 6, 2024 Music Feature by Cy White

Hey, Look! It’s the Crucial Concerts for This Week.

Cooling temperatures mean no reasons not to go out and see some music

"...Thursday 5, 3ten ACL Live..."

Aug. 30, 2024 Music Feature by Cy White

Culture, Arts, and More Recommended Weekend Events

Don't let the heat get you down

"...binary: It’s a family affair at this Supernatural fan fest, with the immediate Winchester brood holding court as well..."

Aug. 16, 2024 Arts Feature by James Scott

Hiromi Uehara, Caroline Rose, and Fests Galore in Our Crucial Concerts

Choose your fest: Psych, Death, or Blues

"...of domestic violence.   – Rachel Rascoe Austin Psych Fest..."

April 26, 2024 Music Feature by Rachel Rascoe

Recommended Austin Events

Highlights for your week in music, arts, community, and more

"...the 20th anniversary of the Austin Asian American Film Festival with a showcase revealing how the small film fest..."

Jan. 26, 2024 Column

Eight Lineups to See at Levitation This Halloween Weekend

Our picks at the venue-based festival, from Panda Bear to Flying Lotus

"...Alongside the April relaunch of joint event Austin Psych Fest, Levitation continues to hold down its Halloween weekend slot...."

Oct. 27, 2023 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

Lil Yachty’s Whiplash Catalog Run and More Highlights From Friday at ACL Fest

Maggie Rogers, Little Simz, and more kicked off at Zilker Park

"...The kickoff to Austin City Limits Music Festival sustained quite a few hits...."

Oct. 7, 2023 Music Post by Raoul Hernandez

ACL Interview: Family Band Bailen Talks Three-Part Harmonies and Sibling Shenanigans

“Being in a sibling band is a really weird social experiment”

"...Since forming in 2014, NYC folk-pop sibling trio Bailen has cemented lush vocal..."

Oct. 6, 2023 Music Feature by Kriss Conklin

Crucial Concerts for the Coming Week

Los Cogelones, PickleStock, Lady Dan, and more recommended Austin shows

"...me being a wanker with a two-day all ages festival [of] punk, hard core, thrash, and hip hop bands."..."

Aug. 11, 2023 Music Column by Kevin Curtin

Crosstalk: Miss Manners Retires From Hip Hop Hooray After 15 Years, and More Music News

DAWA Fund apps open May 15 and Lizzy McAlpine melts ACL Live

"...beginning in 2012 also grew into Weird City Hip-Hop Festival in 2014 and 2016. Jonathan "Chaka" Mahone of local..."

May 12, 2023 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

Your Field Guide to 80 Essential Acts at SXSW Music

Highlighting the best and buzziest at this year's Festival

"...ensembles, K-pop collectives – it’s all here for your Festival scheduling...."

March 10, 2023 Music Feature by The Music Staff

Pleasure Venom's Introspective Punk Road to Rebirth/Return

Revamped and fully realized Austin quartet breaks down debut

"...with Against Me! and Linda Perry, alongside a recent ACL Fest first...."

Dec. 9, 2022 Music Feature by Kriss Conklin

Crucial Concerts for the Coming Week

The Deer, Otoboke Beaver, Nikki Lane, BLK ODYSSY, and more recommended live shows

"...A Lucktoberfest cancellation couldn't keep kickass singer-songwriter Nikki Lane out of..."

Oct. 21, 2022 Music Column by Christina Garcia

Faster Than Sound: Nine Records That Inspired Austin Author Fernando A. Flores' Valleyesque

From Pauline Oliveros to Big Boys, sounds behind the surreal South Texas-rooted story collection

"...C3 Presents, concert promoter behind ACL Fest, expands its reach to a major light installation..."

June 3, 2022 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

Three Generations of Writers Reflect on ACL Fest 2021

Personal journals from a plague-era festival

"...Name: Raoul HernandezYears Attending ACL Fest: 19..."

Oct. 8, 2021 Music Feature by Kevin Curtin

ACL’s Hardest Decision: St. Vincent or Erykah Badu – Reviewed Side-by-Side

A novel persona and a paragon of realness in clashing set times

"...ACL Fest organizers tortured a certain segment of its audience..."

Oct. 4, 2021 Music Post by Rachel Rascoe

The Most Memorable Moments of Friday’s ACL Fest

Megan, Miley, Maidza, and one really long line

"...The first day of ACL Fest in two years, though truncated due to rain,..."

Oct. 2, 2021 Music Post by Kevin Curtin

Disko Cowboy Discusses the Cross-Cultural Vision of Vinyl Ranch

"It's kind of like a pop culture blender of analog culture and postmodern memes."

"...standing dead center in Zilker Park during Friday night’s ACL Fest, there’s a chance you’ll get an interesting sound-bleeding..."

Oct. 1, 2021 Music Feature by Doug Freeman

Faster Than Sound: Renovated Beerland Opens, Dozen Street on Its Way Out

Rounding up 2020 venue news plus all things Hi, How Are You Day

"...for hosting local acts on its guitar-shaped stage since 2014. An actor/director in Philadelphia prior to relocating to Austin,..."

Jan. 17, 2020 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

Blackillac's Phranchyze and Zeale Go From Frenemies to Brothers

ACL Fest all-stars cruise the beats

"...alongside his fellow Blackillac wordsmith at Fun Fun Fun Fest 2008 and finishing a Lucky Lounge residency, he rerouted..."

Oct. 11, 2019 Music Feature by Kahron Spearman

ACL Live Review: Tyler Childers

No honky-tonk masquerade this bracing, backwoods moonshine

"...Amid the flash and pop of ACL Fest 2019, Tyler Childers stands out by moving in..."

Oct. 5, 2019 Music Post by Doug Freeman

Saturday ACL Face-Off: The Cure vs. Childish Gambino

Second British noir-pop vs. “This Is America”

"...Last local show: ACL Fest 2014..."

Oct. 4, 2019 Music Feature by Kahron Spearman

Rancho Alegre Fights to Be the Cadillac of Conjunto Festivals

The music fest returns the native Texas genre Downtown where it once flourished

"...day three of the all-free Rancho Alegre Conjunto Music Festival, East Austin native Cuellar and his partner in the..."

May 3, 2019 Music Feature by César E. López Linares

Faster Than Sound: Austin Music Industry Awards Grow Into Emo’s

Berkshire Hounds back a piano-smashing good time, non-Spring Break SXSW needs more volunteers, and Bayonne brings his piano home

"...Afterparty performer/one-man marvel Mobley presented Best Music Festival with the concise rhetorical, "What can I say about..."

Feb. 22, 2019 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

Austin Terror Fest Drops the Big One

Third year comer triples down at Empire & Barracuda June 7-9

"...The Big Lebowski, Austin music abides – especially its festivals, as much as we love to bad mouth them...."

Jan. 23, 2019 Music Post by Raoul Hernandez

Sunday ACL Fest 2018 Picks

Saturday handicapping for ACL Fest weekend two

"...universe. This year's extended play, Black in Deep Red, 2014, traffics socially conscious protestations. – Kahron Spearman..."

Oct. 12, 2018 Music Feature

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