Music
Texas Heritage Songwriters’ Association’s Hall of Fame Awards Show
June 22, 7 p.m., ACL Live at The Moody Theater
To honor the best songwriters and musicians in the Lone Star State, the Texas Heritage Songwriters’ Association is throwing its annual awards show at the Moody Theater, celebrating musicians who represent the spirit of Texas and inducting them in to the TxHSA Hall of Fame. This year’s event honors the music of Buck Owens, Waylon Jennings and K.T. Oslin, featuring electrifying performances from Oslin, Shooter Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Jessi Colter, Lee Roy Parnell, Bonnie Bishop and more. Tickets range from $19 to $59 and are available at acl-live.com.
6/2 Neon Trees, Stubb’s
6/6 Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights, The Parish
6/6 Hugh Laurie with The Copper Bottom Band, The Paramount Theatre
6/7 Austin Classical Guitar presents Rene Izquierdo and Carlo Aonzo, St. John’s United Methodist Church
6/15 Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Emo’s
6/16 Andrew Bird and The Hands of Glory, Paramount Theatre
6/22 Yuna, Stubb’s
7/2 Devo, ACL Live at The Moody Theater
7/3 Ought, Holy Mountain
7/4 Fourth of July Fireworks and Symphony, The Long Center
7/11 Lindsey Stirling, Stubb’s
7/12 Austin Classical Guitar presents Cavatina Duo, Bates Recital Hall
7/26 Iron and Wine, Paramount Theatre
7/29 311, ACL Live at The Moody Theater
8/2 Austin Classical Guitar presents Mak Grgic and Martin Chalifour, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church
8/14 John Mayall, One World Theatre
8/23 Nickel Creek and Sarah Jarosz, ACL Live at The Moody Theater
8/23 Ricky Skaggs, One World Theatre
Food and Drink
The Big Chill
June 26, 6 to 9 p.m., Bullock Texas State History Museum Chill out with the Austin Food Blogger Alliance with an event benefiting Meals on Wheels. The Big Chill is the summer foodie event, serving cool foods, cold desserts and chilled drinks, along with silent-auction offerings. Vendors include The Carillon, Dolce Neve, NadaMoo, Noble Sandwich Co., Soup Peddler Real Food & Juice Bar, St. Philip, Thai Fresh and many more. General admission tickets are $65 and available at austinfoodbloggeralliance.eventbrite.com.
8/9: Austin Ice Cream Festival, Fiesta Gardens. You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream.
8/24: Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival, Fiesta Gardens. Burn your face off at the largest hot-sauce festival in the world.
Just Opened
Twisted Root Burger Co., 510 W. 26th St., Suite 110, 512.925.2161. A predominantly Texas chain, this chef-driven burger joint is known for its fresh and unique flavor combinations. Must-try dish: The Frito Bandito.
Kin & Comfort, 1700 W. Parmer Lane., 512.832.6606. Located in the Hana World Market, the Southern Asian fusion restaurant serves up panang mac and cheese, catfish fries and Thai meatloaf. Must-try dish: Home-fried chicken thigh.
Sushi Junai, 1612 Lavaca St., 512.322.2428. Close to the Capitol, Sushi Junai is a joint where $25 will get you all-you-can-eat sushi. Plus, they are BYOB, with Twin Liquors conveniently located next door. Must-try dish: Did we mention it’s all-you-can-eat sushi?
Oasis Texas Brewing Co., 6550 Comanche Trail, Suite 301, otxbc.com. Enjoy a brew and view from the newest brewing company in Austin. Hours vary Thursday through Sunday. No reservation required.
Get Outside
Float Fest
Aug. 31, Cool River Ranch For the first time in Central Texas, music and water lovers unite for this unique event. Taking place on the Southern banks of the San Marcos River, Float Fest offers tubing down the river to Cool River Ranch to catch headliners Grouplove and Portugal. The Man. Other acts include STRFKR, Bun B, Wild Child, Run DMT, Zeale, Ishi, Whiskey Shivers, Henry & Invisible and Roger Sellers. Once inside, enjoy the music as you sample from the array of food vendors and activities, and shuttle between several local tubing operations and concert grounds. Tickets are $30 for general admission, $100 for VIP. floatfest.net
6/7: The Boardwalk at Lady Bird Lake Grand Opening, Lakeshore Metro Park. Finally Austinites can run, walk or bike the entire loop, the Boardwalk closing a 1.1-mile gap on the Southeastern side of Lady Bird Lake.
6/9: Fifth Annual Tyler’s Dam That Cancer, Lake Austin and Hula Hut. Stand-up paddle boarders will race in a 21-mile course in efforts to raise money to provide therapeutic services to cancer patients.
6/28: Keep Austin Weird Festival & 5K, The Long Center. Embrace the weird with live music, family activities and vendors that reflect Austin’s creative nature, and the “wackiest 5K you’ll ever run, walk or slither.”
More Outdoor Summer Entertainment
The X Games
June 5 – 8, Circuit of the Americas
It’s so close we can almost smell the burnt rubber from here. For the first time ever, Austin will host the ESPN X Games, becoming one of six host cities on the Global Games Circuit. The four-day event has 200 athletes competing for the No. 1 spot in skateboarding, BMX, Moto X and four wheels. The games provide fierce competition, extreme stunts and a dose of adrenaline, an honor that has the city pumped with excitement. Spectators enter 1,500 acres of interactive activities, including kart racing, zip lining and even running inside a human-sized hamster wheel. This year’s games will also feature top musical acts such as Kanye West, The Flaming Lips and Mac Miller.
6/12 – 6/15: Republic of Texas Biker Rally, Travis County Expo Center and Sixth Street. The ROT Rally—the biggest motorcycle rally in Texas—returns, featuring a bike show, custom builders, stunt shows, comedians, nationally acclaimed bands, a tattoo expo, bikini contest, 300-plus vendors and more.
Now Playing
Thrills World War I Film Series
Through July, locations include Ransom Center, Paramount Theatre, Marchesa Hall & Theatre The Ransom Center, Paramount Theatre and Austin Film Society revisit the early 20th century’s history through motion pictures. Held in conjunction with the Ransom Center’s current exhibition, The World at War, 1914 – 1918, the World War I Film Series will include classic films from directors Charlie Chaplin, Stanley Kubrick and John Huston, along with All Quiet on the Western Front, Lawrence of Arabia and Paths of Glory. All films at the Ransom Center are free. Screenings for the Paramount can be purchased at the box office or at austintheatre.org. Tickets for Marchesa Hall can be purchased at the box office or at austinfilm.org. For more information, visit hrc.utexas.edu/wwifilms.
Also at the Paramount: Classic Film Series, running through December 2014. In 2015, the Paramount Theatre turns 100, so to prepare, the theater has played classic films since January that will continue through the end of the year. The summer months include films from the 1930s through the 1950s, with a special screening on Father’s Day. austintheatre.org
More Movie Mania
6/5 – 6/8: ATX Television Festival, various locations. TV has been as influential as film, and this festival aims to look back at its history, where it is now and where it’s headed.
6/12: Movies in the Park Presents: Monty Python and the Holy Grail, at 8:30 p.m. at Republic Square Park, brought to you by the Austin Parks Foundation and the Alamo Drafthouse. Visit austinparks.org/moviesinthepark for more free summer screenings.
6/18, 7/16, 7/30, 8/13, 8/27: Sound and Cinema, The Long Center. Featuring a live music tribute to the film, followed by its screening, this free event offers music, movies, food trucks and vendors for the perfect summer evening. thelongcenter.org
Don’t forget to check out Blue Starlite Drive-In, Eastside Movies in the Park and Ski Shores Café for more outdoor movie fun.
Newsmakers
International Waves for the Live Music Capital
On May 8, Mayor Lee Leffingwell announced the formal launch of the Austin-Toronto Music Alliance trade and export initiative, a public-private partnership comprised of City Council, City of Austin staff and private industry leaders. The Alliance aims to identify opportunities and concurrent activities that will assist in growing the music industry, as well as create new relationships for ongoing information exchange in both cities.
Politicians Shoptalk on The Trib
Ever wondered what was going on in the minds of politicians? If House of Cards isn’t proof enough of our fascination with the inner workings of politics, then TribTalk confirms it. The Texas Tribune launched the website TribTalk on May 13. It acts as a host for opinion and commentary columns produced and submitted by influential thought leaders throughout the political and policy spectrum. With the November election around the corner, aren’t you interested in hearing from gubernatorial candidates Wendy Davis and Greg Abbott? How about lieutenant governor candidates Leticia Van de Putte, David Dewhurst and Dan Patrick? It’s all there and more at tribtalk.com.
The Texas Icon That is Always on Our Mind
We know we can always pay homage to the redheaded stranger at the corner of Second and Lavaca streets, but now we can access a newly released Willie Nelson Collection at UT. In mid-May, the internationally famous singer-songwriter donated major portions of his correspondence, manuscripts, records and awards to the Briscoe Center for American History at UT. The collection provides students with a deeper understanding of Nelson’s career, relationships and creative process, and his influence on American culture as an artist, activist and philanthropist. This significant gift includes photographs and song manuscripts, posters, illustrations and portraits, platinum records, certificates and awards, signed books, screenplays and many personal items, including American Indian headdresses, dreamcatchers and numerous tributes from fans. Stay tuned for the upcoming exhibit at UT featuring the collection.
Groundbreaking Innovation
The University of Texas at Austin launched construction of the new Dell Medical School in late April. The building is located on campus at 15th and Red River streets, and will include research, educational and administrative facilities, as well as a medical office building and parking garage totaling 515,000 square feet. The first facilities are expected to be complete for the inaugural class of fall 2016.
Shooter Jennings photo courtesy of BCM Media. X Games photo by Mike Blabac/Red Bull Content Pool. UT photo courtesy of University of Texas at Austin.
