Here are our top live music options in the Austin area from May 12-18.
Thursday: Angélique Kidjo at the Bass Concert Hall
On her 2021 album “Mother Nature,” the 61-year-old Beninese Afropop artist delivers pointed observations on the climate crisis and global injustice with her powerful voice and wraps her calls for pan-African unity in rhythm and harmony. jubilant. Her fifth Grammy win makes her the most-awarded African musician of all time, and the cast of rising Afrobeat stars who contributed to “Mother Nature” cements her status as a living legend that helps shape the next generation. For this show, Kidjo will revisit his 2018 project “Remain in Light,” a recreation of the 1980 Talking Heads album. $10-$55. 7:30 p.m. texasperformingarts.org. —SSD
Friday: Old 97’s at the Far Out Lounge
Has it been 30 years since the Old 97’s started giving concerts in Dallas? Apparently yes. They were at the forefront of the alt-country uprising in the mid-1990s, but they’ve proven to be in it for the long haul — and they’re a rare example of a band that has lasted three decades with exactly the same composition. Join singer-songwriter Rhett Miller, lead guitarist Ken Bethea, bassist Murry Hammond and drummer Philip Peeples at one of Austin’s best outdoor venues. Opening for local folk-pop duo Dawn & Hawkes. $20 to $25. 8 p.m. doors. thefaroutaustin.com. —PB
Friday: Nori with Strings at Monks Jazz
Started as a jazz-focused concert series, Monks now has a brick-and-mortar venue, at 501 Pedernales St. in East Austin’s Pedernales Station complex. Featuring acclaimed vocalist Akina Adderley and trumpeter Erik Telford, the five-piece Nori Jazz/World Music Ensemble line-up will add violin, viola and cello for this special show. Seating is limited, but if you can’t be seated, the performance will also be streamed live via the venue’s website. $20. 7:30 p.m. monksjazz.com. —PB
More gigs:The Ultimate Guide to Experiencing Austin’s Music This Spring and Summer
Friday: ‘Spaceflight Fridays’ with SL Hauser at Scholz Garten
The historic beer garden has recently ramped up its live music bookings, taking advantage in part of its proximity to Waterloo Park’s new concert amphitheater and the new Moody Center arena at the University of Texas. Some concerts are booked as “pre-concert” shows at these venues, but this Friday series is all about local acts on the Spaceflight Records label. This week’s guest is SL Hauser, former frontman of indie band Lowin. The series continues through early June with performances by Slomo Drags (May 20), Billy King & the Bad Bad Bad (May 27), Sideshow Tragedy (June 3), and Jank Sinatra (June 10). Free. 5:30 p.m. scholzgarten.com. —PB
Saturday: H-Town Throwdown at the Round Rock Amp
Get ready to party like it’s 2001 and the world has just experienced the slowed down beats and hot rods of Houston’s famous rap scene. This all-star cast of H-Town heavyweights includes a pantheon of kingpins ranging from Geto Boys’ Scarface to UGK’s Bun B to People’s Champion Paul Wall. If that’s not enough for you, Slim Thug, Z-Ro, Lil’ Flip, Mike Jones, Lil’ Keke and DJ Michael 5000 Watts complete the line-up. $30 and up. 6 p.m. roundrockamp.com. —SSD
Saturday: Big Squeeze Accordion Competition at the Bullock Museum
With ties to traditional folk styles from Germany, Mexico, France and the Caribbean, the accordion figures prominently in our state’s blend of multiple musical cultures. Annual Texas Folklife Celebration celebrates the squeeze-box with a contest for young musicians that includes competitors in the conjunto, zydeco, cajun and polka genres. Conjunto gets two categories, one for 17-21 year olds and one for under 16s; Ricardo Cabrera, 14, of Austin, is this year’s finalist. The event, which will be held in the grand lobby of the museum’s first-floor rotunda, will also feature performances by polka star Alex Meixner and Dallas ensemble Los Morales. Free. 1 p.m. texasfolklife.org. —PB
Saturday: 90th Anniversary of Black’s Barbecue at Lockhart
Any business that’s been around for nearly a century deserves a big party. Black’s has been at the forefront of Texas barbecue for decades, and they celebrate by serving beef brisket, sausages, ribs and more in the restaurant and beer garden. Black’s pitmasters will do barbecue cooking demonstrations, and there’s plenty of live music, with full sets of Shinyribs (6 p.m.) and David Beck’s Tejano Weekend (3 p.m.), plus a “Best of Lockhart” acoustic segment. Music” at 1 p.m. with James McMurtry, Dustin Welch, HalleyAnna, Steven Collins, Jenn Hodges and more. The events will take place at the restaurant itself (215 N. Main St. in downtown Lockhart) and across the street in an outdoor park next to St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Pecan Street. Free entry. Noon to 8 p.m. blacksbbq.com/90th. —PB
Wednesday: ‘Texas Radio Live’ with Andrea Magee at Guero’s
Launched a decade ago by the late Larry Monroe, “Texas Radio Live” helps bring attention to local and regional artists with hour-long performances that also air live on Sun Radio. This week’s guest is Andrea Magee, who moved from Ireland to Austin with the Beat Root Revival duo eight years ago and has since expanded its local presence with bands Ulla and PAACK. For this show, she will present material from her upcoming solo album “Belfast Girl”. Suggested donation of $10. 7 p.m. sunradio.com. —PB
