Live music this week: 'Austin City Limits' Hall of Fame, Lucktoberfest, Reba and more
Here are our top picks for live music in the Austin area Oct. 27 through Nov. 2.
Thursday: 'Austin City Limits' Hall of Fame induction of Sheryl Crow and Joe Ely
Begun in 2014 to honor artists who have helped “Austin City Limits” become the longest-running music television program ever, this annual fundraiser for Austin PBS has become a reliable highlight of the city’s live music offerings. Superstar singer-songwriter Crow, subject of this year’s Showtime documentary “Sheryl,” and Texas troubadour Ely, one of the most important figures in Austin music for decades, share induction honors this year. Joining them to pay tribute with performances are Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, Lucius, Brittney Spencer, Rodney Crowell, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock and Marcia Ball. $103-$353. 7:30 p.m. acltv.com/hall-of-fame.
— P.B.
More:Sheryl Crow's big night at SXSW includes documentary screening, Antone's show
Thursday-Sunday: Levitation in Red River Cultural District and East Austin
Austin's annual celebration of psychedelic music and experimental noise returns for four nights of individually ticketed club shows in the Red River Cultural District and East Austin. Leading the lineup are Scottish retro-fuzz outfit Jesus and Mary Chain, Aussie acid rockers King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, perennial Levitation fave the Osees and legacy all-women punk act L7. The lineup also includes Brazilian rockers Os Mutantes, pioneering African Zamrock group W.I.T.C.H. and queercore outfit Hunx & His Punx. Local bands taking part include Pleasure Venom, A Giant Dog, Ringo Deathstarr and host band the Black Angels. Four-day passes are sold out, but single-show tickets for many shows are still available; check levitation.fm for ticket and the full schedule.
— D.S.S.
Friday-Sunday: Lucktoberfest at Luck Ranch
Initially booked as a 10-day event at Willie Nelson’s Luck Ranch just west of Austin, Lucktoberfest has been scaled back to three days, but there’s still plenty of good music in the mix. Friday features Los Lobos and Paul Cauthen’s Big Velvet Revue with guests David Ramirez, Kirby Brown, Ryan Quiet and the Kernal. Saturday’s “Outlaw Masquerade” includes headliners Orville Peck and Tanya Tucker plus Jonathan Terrell, burlesque troupe Jigglewatts, Vinyl Ranch’s Disko Cowboy and more. The festival wraps on Sunday with a more traditional “Octoberfest” German-music celebration featuring Alex Meixner plus Austin favorites Shinyribs and guests including Walt & Tina Wilkins and Sunny Sauceda. $35-$125. Gates open at 5 p.m. each day. lucktoberfest.com.
— P.B.
More:Willie Nelson's Luck Ranch becoming music hot spot near Austin
Friday: Reba McEntire at Moody Center
A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame who crossed over from music to TV with the early-2000s sitcom “Reba,” McEntire is playing Austin for the first time since a 2011 Erwin Center concert. Her most recent album, “Revived Remixed Revisited,” came out last year. Terri Clark opens. $50-$525. 7:30 p.m. moodycenteratx.com.
— P.B.
Saturday: Flor de Toloache at UT's McCullough Theatre
New York City’s world-renowned, all-women mariachi group started as a trio in 2008. Over the years, the group grew into a larger ensemble with members from diverse cultural backgrounds bringing a range of influences to their sound. Their 2019 collection of originals, “Indestructible,” included guest appearances from John Legend and Miguel and earned a Grammy nomination for the group. Earlier this year, they dropped “Florecita Rock-ERA,” a compilation of mariachi interpretations of rock classics. $10-$25. 7:30 p.m. texasperformingarts.org.
— D.S.S.
Saturday: Outside the City Limits at Vista Brewing
So many music entities in town sport the “Austin City Limits” brand these days (TV show, festival, downtown venue, radio station) that it seemed only a matter of time before the outskirts got in on the act. Thus the fourth annual Outside the City Limits music festival, which takes place at Vista Brewing in Driftwood. The event runs from 1 to 8 p.m., with live music on two outdoor stages from local acts Tender Things, Rock Bottom String Band, Briscoe, Shinglers, Sheverb and Southern Angels. $25-$30 ($105 VIP). vistabrewingtx.com.
— P.B.
Monday: Black Coffee at Concourse Project
This South African DJ is on a hot streak. After making history as the first African to take home the trophy for best dance/electronic album at the 2021 Grammys, he executive produced Drake’s surprise summer project, “Honestly, Nevermind,” infusing it with the laidback Afro-house vibes that have made him one of the most in-demand party rockers on the planet. He describes his sound as “true Afropolitan house: home-brewed but future-focused,” and if sweaty dance parties are your jam, there isn’t a better Halloween haunt. $45. 9 p.m. concourseproject.com.
— D.S.S.
Tuesday: Plains at Scoot Inn
Released this month, the debut album from Plains finds Waxahatchee's Katie Crutchfield and former Austinite Jess Williamson turning from indie-folk into country territory. "I Walked With You a Ways," recorded in North Carolina with ace producer Brad Cook and a band including Brad's brother Phil Cook and Jeff Tweedy's son Spencer Tweedy, features 10 songs that highlight the duo's sweet vocal harmonies. M.J. Lenderman opens. $30-$35. 6 p.m. doors. scootinnaustin.com.
— P.B.
Wednesday: Chloe Moriondo at Mohawk outdoor
A year ago, the “super cutie, fresh and fruity” 20-year-old pop breakout arrived in town to headline her first Austin show at Antone’s. At the time, she was sailing on the critical acclaim from her debut album, “Blood Bunny,” a spirited collection of bedroom pop with sparks of punky sass. Many million streaming spins later, she will play one of the largest venues in the Red River Cultural District, supporting her second album, “Suckerpunch,” which drops on Oct. 7. Dreamer Isioma opens. $22. 6:30 p.m. doors. mohawkaustin.com.
— D.S.S.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Live music in Austin: Sheryl Crow, Joe Ely, Reba McEntire and more
