Fall festival time

September 28-October 4, 2006

I walked outside on Monday morning and it smelled like fall, aahhhhh. I know it's just a teaser, but I also know it's leading up to something and I like it!

When I think about traditional fall festivals, I realize that in a climate like ours the meaning has probably evolved. Originally these festivals acknowledged that the hard work was at last finished, the harvest gathered, and it was time to have one more fling before winter set in. These events have now become, at least for me, a celebration that we survived another Texas summer and that now it's finally cool enough to go outside and play.

And festival season has started. Last week there were the Italian Festival and the Brazilian Festival. The Med Fest is coming up. Oktoberfest. Renaissance Festival. International Accordion Festival. All opportunities to finally crawl from under our air conditioned rocks and breathe the fresh air once again. And can you name me anything in the world that has a sweeter sound than live music wafting on crisp night air? It just doesn't get much better than that.

Yeah, we've still got some hot days ahead of us, but those days are numbered, baby, those days are numbered. I saw fourteen flocks of geese coming back from Houston on Sunday, and geese don't lie.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel; Austin Swing Syndicate / 8 pm

Chaparral
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189

Cerronato
Manual's / 10201 Jollyville Road; 345-1042

Glovertango
Cipollina / 1213 West Lynn; 477-5211 / 8-10 pm

DJd Milonga
Copa / 217 Congress Ave. / Austin, TX / 479-5002 / 10 pm

Aunt Ruby's Sweet Jazz Babies
Treehouse Italian Grill / 2201 College; 443-4200 / 7:30 pm

Cornell Hurd
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 8 pm (family)

Two Hoots & a Holler
Ego’s / 510 S. Congress; 474-7091 / 11 pm

THRU SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8

BAM
Various venues / various times
Wow, that's specific, isn't it! This is the Black Arts Movement festival of theater and dance sponsored by the ProArts Collective. Click on the link to get all the details. Some highlights include Dallas Black Dance, Robert Moses' Kin Dance Company, Zell Miller and lots more.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

Marcia Ball
The Oaks / 10206 FM 973 N, Manor; 278-8788 / $15

Albert and Gage
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)

Dale Watson
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189

Salsa Dance Festival
Texas Union Ballroom / 23rd at Guadalupe / 8 pm $10 (adv); $15 (door)
Come for the dance lesson at 8 and then stick around for live music by The Brew. You can register online through UT's Informal Classes. You want class no. 1405.301. Or you can pay at the door. Make it easy on yourself.

SATURDAY - SUNDAY, SEPT 30 - OCT 1

Pecan Street Festival
6th Street downtown / 11 am / free (family)
All the usual, of couse -- crafts, food on sticks, and lots and lots of live music by such folks as The Gulf Coast Playboys; Eric Hokkanen; The Bells of Joy; Poor Man's Fortune; Csardas; Oliver Rajamani; and more, more, more. A really good line-up this time. And the weather should be just about perfect.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

Chaski
Farmer's Market / Republic Square; 4th at Guadalupe / 10 am; free (family)
Yeah, it's early, but it is so worth it -- this fabulous Andean music will sit very nicely on the crisp cool morning air. And Chaski just doesn't play that often, so you really should make the effort.

Aunt Ruby's Sweet Jazz Babies
Treehouse Italian Grill / 2201 College; 443-4200 / 7:30 pm

The Eggmen
Jovita's / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 8 pm (family)
Come hear this fabulous Beatles tribute band at 8 -- or come earlier (7 pm) and hear Ouch! a RUTLES tribute band (hee hee).

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1

A Celebration of Don Walser's Life
Threadgill's / 301 W. Riverside; 472-9304 / 4 pm; $10 (family)
I don't know who all will be there, but I'm told that you will DEFINITELY get your $10 worth. And the cover charge goes straight into the Don Walser Memorial Fund, so come on out and celebrate the music and the memory of this wonderful man. He may have had hundreds of thousands of fans, but that doesn't translate into hundreds of thousands of dollars, so your support will help. And did you read the article in today's Chronicle? Beautiful. As were the tributes at his funeral on Monday. Here's a link to Howard Kalish's talk at Monday's service, which left a tear in every eye, as did Ray Benson's final song (Angel Flying too Close to the Ground). What a gift old Don was. How fortunate we were to have him here in Austin.

Rosie Ledet
The Oaks / 10206 FM 973 N, Manor; 278-8788 / 8 pm; $10

Monster Big Band
Ruta Maya / 3601 S. Congress; 707-9637 / 7 pm

Dale Watson
Ginny's Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813

Brave Combo
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 7 pm
I don't believe it! A Brave Combo show I can finally, finally, finally see! It's been waaaaaaaaaay too long! I've got it on my calendar in ink.

Texas Swing Kings
Artz Ribhouse / 2230 S. Lamar; 442-8283 / 6:30 pm (family)

The Brew
The Oasis / 6550 Comanche Trail 266-2442

Heybale!
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 10:30 pm

MONDAY, OCTOBER 2

Dale Watson
Continental Club /1315 S. Congress;441-2444 / $6; 10 pm

Bayou Cajun Band
Evangeline Cafe / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2586 / 6:30 pm (family)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3

Marc Devine & Denia Ridley
Reed's Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 6:30 pm

DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 9:45 / no cover
Free dance after Four on the Floor’s classes.

Erik Hokkanen's Laboratory
Flipnotics / 1601 Barton Springs; 322-9750 / 8:00 pm

Jelly Jar
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 8 pm (family)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4

Seth Walker
Jovita's / 1619 S. 1st; 447-7825 / 8 pm

Gulf Coast Playboys
La Palapa /Hwy 290 @ Cameron Road / 7:30 pm
This has turned into an every Wednesday night gig.

Alisdair Fraser
Cactus Cafe / Texas Union, UT campus, 23rd at Guadalupe, 475-6515 / 8:30 pm; $17
Catch this great Scottish fiddler while he's in town.

ROAD TRIPS

Eunice, LA
Saturday, September 30
Geno Dalafose Fan Appreciation Party
In the pavilion behind the Winn Dixie in Eunice, Louisiana. I think they get started around 11 am. Take a little drive and enjoy the weekend!

COMING SOON

Thursdays - Sundays, October 5 - November 5
Requiem
Intel Shell / 5th at San Antonio / 8 pm
If you did not get a chance to see this during the summer, then don't make the same mistake this fall. The work is stunningly beautiful. Tix are $20 and $30 and you can reserve yours by calling 512-474-8497.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY, OCT 6 & 7
Mediterranean Festival / St. Elias Eastern Orthodox Church / 408 E. 11th / 6pm-midnight (family)
This year will feature Zein al Jundi with the Saadi Mnawwar Band playing all your Arabic faves, and Ikon playing that fabulous Greek music everyone loves. And of course there's the food. And the activities for the kids. And the belly dancing. And the lovely Otober weather, ah.

FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS, OCT 6 & 7, 13 & 14
We Are Normal, Cha Cha Chaaa / Clear Spring Studio / 605 Copeland (just off S. 1st across the street from the School for the Deaf) / 8 pm
This is Yellowtape Construction Company's (the folks who brought you "I Love My Dead Gay Son: The Musical:) fall offering, billed as a 'dance epic' with tons of feathers and some kick-ass dancing. Make your reservations today by calling 512-466-5221 or e-mailing contact@yellowtape.org.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, OCT 13-15
International Accordion Festival / La Villita, San Antonio
Put this one on your calendars now. It is simply THE best.

See ya on the dance floor,

Chris

RIP Don Walser

September 21-27
I'm sure you've heard the news by now -- Don Walser passed away yesterday afternoon. Funeral arrangements are still pending, so keep your eyes and ears open.

I remember back in the early 90s a Danish friend was visiting and she wanted me to take her somewhere truly Texan, so I took her to Henry's on a night when Don was playing (remember Henry's?) What could be more Texan than that?

And I remember the time in 1993 when I was flying home from Europe on Swiss Air -- I picked up the listing of music channels and decided to plug into some Swiss folk music when I saw Don's name on the line-up. Huh? Yup, it was Don himself, singing the "Yodel Polka". There was an intro on the music channel that told about his ancestors coming to the US from Switzerland and how Don had continued the Swiss yodeling tradition but with a distinctly Texas flair. I gave Don the printed Swiss Air program one night at the Broken Spoke and it made him so proud. He must have shown it to at least a dozen folks that night during one of his "wee wee breaks."

I'm sure that many of you readers have your own stories about Don. I'd love it if you'd share them in the comments section down at the bottom of today's post. Just click on the link that says '# comments' and it will direct you to a place where you can share your stories.

Don was the real deal, and the Austin music scene lost a great man when he had to retire from the stage. Rest well, Don; you've certainly earned it.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21:

Bayou Cajun Band
Cypress Grill / 4404 W. William Cannon / 6:30 pm (family)

The Hummingbirds
Carousel Lounge / 1110 E. 52nd, 452-6790
I believe this is an early show, but you might want to call to confirm.

Fabulous Chevelles
Guero's / 1412 S. Congress; 447-7688 / 6:30 pm (family)
This music will put a nostalgic smile on your face for sure!

DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel; http://www.austinswingsyndicate.org/ 8pm

Chaparral
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189

Cerronato
Manual's / 10201 Jollyville Road; 345-1042

Glovertango
Cipollina / 1213 West Lynn; 477-5211 / 8-10 pm

Lucky Strikes
Treehouse Italian Grill / 2201 College; 443-4200 / 7:30 pm

Cornell Hurd
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 8 pm (family)

Two Hoots & a Holler
Ego’s / 510 S. Congress; 474-7091 / 11 pm

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22:

Polka Freak Out
Jovita's / 1619 S. 1st; 447-7825 / 8 pm
This is another of Bubba Hernandez' projects, so it's bound to be good.

Seth Walker
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm

Jim Stringer's AM Band
Brentwood Tavern / 6701 Burnet Road; 420-8118 / 6:30
And there's room to dance on the patio!

Two Tons of Steel
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189

Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie
Continental Club /1315 S. Congress;441-2444 / 10:00 pm

Lucky Strikes
Reed's Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 8:30 pm

Argentine Tango Evening
Texas Union Building (Quadrangle Room) / 24th at Guadalupe / 6:30 pm - 1 am
What an opportunity! For those of you who have been wanting to learn tango but find that most of the workshops are for intermediate dancers -- this is for you. There will be a class for absolute beginners from 6:30 - 8:00 followed by a DJd milonga from 8-1. Now's your chance! And there's plenty of room in this venue, so you'll actually have space to practice what you've learned!

Fabulous Chevelles
Aunt Tilly's Island Cafe and Bar / 16410 Stewart Rd; 266-0331
This is one of the coolest 60s cover bands anywhere!

FRIDAY - SUNDAY, SEPT 22- 24:

Land of the Feathered Serpent
Santa Cruz Center for Culture / 1805 E. 7th; 474-TIXS (family)
Final weekend for Aztlan Dance Company's fall performance. Shows are at 8 pm on Fri & Sat; 2 pm on Sun.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23:

Ridgetop Syncopators
Artz Ribhouse / 2230 S. Lamar; 442-8283 / 6 pm (family)

Will Taylor with Strings Attached
Nutty Brown /12225 Hwy 290 West; 301-4648
They're doing a repeat of their tremendously successful "White Album" performance. Click here for tickets. I got mine! See you there?

Hoedown II
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 6 pm (family)
This is a fundraiser for KOOP Radio to help them build their new studio. Lots of great music by folks like Twangzilla, The Piney Grove Ramblers, and more, more, more. Suggested donation is $5 and that is waaaaaaaaaaay cheap.

La Piazza Italiana (Italian Festival)
Wooldridge Park / 9th & Guadalupe / 11 am - 7 pm; free (family)
Food, music, art & bocce.

Brazilian Festival
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:00 pm (family)
Music, dancing, food, capoeira, fun.

Albert & Gage Band
Donn's Depot / 1600 W. 5th; 478-0336

White Ghost Shivers
Continental Club /1315 S. Congress;441-2444 / midnight

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24:

Santiago Jimenez, Jr.
Fiesta Gardens / 2101 Bergman / 5 pm (family)
Aaaaaaaaggggghhhh! I am soooooo bummed! When's the last time Santiago played in Austin? So long ago that I don't even remember. And now he's going to be here for a Sunday tardeada and I'll be out of town. Not fair, not fair, not fair!!!!!!! Enjoy it for me.

The Brew
The Oasis / 6550 Comanche Trail 266-2442

Heybale!
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 10:30 pm

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25:

Paris 49
Continental Club /1315 S. Congress;441-2444 / 6:30 pm

Bayou Cajun Band
Evangeline Cafe / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2586 / 6:30 pm(family)

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26:

Marc Devine & Denia Ridley
Reed's Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 6:30 pm

DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 9:45 / no cover
Free dance after Four on the Floor’s classes. http://www.fouronthefloor.com

Erik Hokkanen's Laboratory
Flipnotics / 1601 Barton Springs; 322-9750 / 8:00 pm

Cerronato
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 8 pm (family)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27:

Seth Walker
Jovita's / 1619 S. 1st; 447-7825 / 8 pm

Gulf Coast Playboys
La Palapa /Hwy 290 @ Cameron Road / 7:30 pm
Don't know if there's a dance floor, but the music certainly demands it!

Cella Blue
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189

ROAD TRIPS:

Lakehills, TX
SATURDAY, SEPT 23:
Medina Lake Cajun Festival / Lakehills Civic Center / 11:30am - 10pm
Lots of good food, of course, and live music by Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys; Rodney Thibodeaux & Tout les Soir; T-Salé; Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie
and the Band-Aids Jazz Band.

Serbin, TX
SUNDAY, SEPT 24:
Wendish Festival / St. Paul's Lutheran Church
Polka and noodles, mmm. And sausage. And desserts. Music by the Kovanda Czech Band. Serbin is really close to Giddings, in case you were wondering.

COMING SOON:

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1:
Brave Combo / Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 7 pm
I don't believe it! A Brave Combo show I can finally, finally, finally see! It's been waaaaaaaaaay too long! I've got it on my calendar in ink.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY, OCT 6 & 7:
Mediterranean Festival / St. Elias Eastern Orthodox Church / 408 E. 11th / 6pm-midnight (family)
This year will feature Zein al Jundi with the Saadi Mnawwar Band playing all your Arabic faves and Ikon playing Greek music. And of course there's the food. And the activities for the kids. And the belly dancing. And the lovely Otober weather, ah.

FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS, OCT 6 & 7, 13 & 14:
We Are Normal, Cha Cha Chaaa / Clear Spring Studio / 605 Copeland (just off S. 1st across the street from the School for the Deaf) / 8 pm
This is Yellowtape Construction Company's (the folks who brought you "I Love My Dead Gay Son: The Musical:) fall offering, billed as a 'dance epic' with tons of feathers and some kick-ass dancing. Make your reservations today by calling 512.466.5221 or e-mailing contact@yellowtape.org.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, OCT 13-15:
International Accordion Festival / La Villita, San Antonio
Put this one on your calendars now. It is simply THE best.

See ya on the dance floor,

Chris

PS. Don't forget to share your Don Walser memories in the comments section.

I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!

SEPTEMBER 14-20

Hi there boys and girls! You thought you'd seen the last of me, but.....I'm BACK!!!! And in a new format which I hope you will find readable and useful. I appreciate your patience while I was away doing Puppet Government (and which you can read about by clicking on the link). It was an adventure from start to finish, and I'm really, really, really glad we did it. Now I'm really, really, really glad to not be doing it.

The pinnacle of the trip for me was on my last morning in New York. The puppets and the puppeteers had already come back to Texas and I had taken a few days to myself to decompress (which is, by the way, damn near impossible in Manhattan). I had gone back to the Imagine mosaic and was sitting there writing in my journal, trying to find answers to all the questions that were racing around in my mind: did we accomplish what we came here to do? what did we come here to do? how would I do it differently? what's next? and on and on and on. Restless thoughts rattling around in an anxious mind, thoughts that had been plaguing me since before we ever left Austin and which would not let me rest. Then, giving credence to the magic I always expect when I visit this place, a man across the mosaic from me picked up his guitar and started to play and sing. The song was Let It Be. There was my answer. And for the first time during that entire trip, I finally relaxed.

I'm home now, and at the moment I am relatively (though not entirely, of course) project-less, so I hope to be out on the dance floor again a little more frequently, yee haw! Are you guys ready to have some fun? I sure am!

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14:

DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel; http://www.austinswingsyndicate.org/ 8pm

Chaparral
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189

Cerronato
Manual's / 10201 Jollyville Road; 345-1042

Glovertango
Cipollina / 1213 West Lynn; 477-5211 / 8-10 pm

Cornell Hurd
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 8 pm (family)

Ed Miller CD Release Party
Cactus Cafe / 23rd at Guadalupe; 475-6515 / 8:30 pm

Two Hoots & a Holler
Ego’s / 510 S. Congress; 474-7091 / 11 pm

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15:

Donn & the Stationmasters
Donn's Depot / 1600 W. 5th; 478-0336

Oliver Mtukudzi & The Black Spirit
Threadgill's / 301 W. Riverside; 472-9304 / 11 PM; $16 adv; $20 door

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, SEPT 15 & 16:

EarthDance
Nia Space / 3212 S. Congress / 443-3013
Live music, dancing, drum circle. This is a benefit for Ravens Grove Foundation, an organization that helps vets with post traumatic stress disorder, something I expect we'll be seeing a lot more of. Suggested donation $15 for one day; $25 for two.

FRIDAY - SUNDAY, SEPT 15 - 16:

ACL Freebies
Waterloo Records / 6th & Lamar; 474-2500
We all know that the ACL Festival is this weekend. Many of you probably have tickets but just as many (or more) don't. Not to worry. There will be a steady stream of performers at Waterloo Records starting at 12:45 each day. Folks like Nickel Creek; Oliver Mtukudzi; Los Lobos; Matisyahu and more. Click here for the full line-up.

Land of the Feathered Serpent
Santa Cruz Center for Cuylture / 1805 E. 7th; 474-TIXS (family)
Aztlan Dance Company's fall performance looks intriguing. Shows are at 8 pm on Fri & Sat; 2 pm on Sun

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16:

Oliver Rajamani
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)

Aunt Ruby's Sweet Jazz Babies or Lucky Strikes
Treehouse Italian Grill / 2201 College Ave; 443-4200 / 7:30 pm
Hmmm. Both these bands have this date and time on their website. Might be worth a phone call. Or just show up because either one of them would be great.

Dale Watson
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189

Jim Stringer
Ginny's Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Rd; 458-1813

Cornell Hurd Band
Nutty Brown /12225 Hwy 290 West; 301-4648

Augustine Ramirez
The Oaks / 10206 FM 973 N, Manor; 278-8788 / 8 pm; $10
Tejano hall of famer.

Third Saturday Contradance
St. Paul Lutheran Church / 3501 Red River / 7:30 pm; $8
Live music this month by the Young Family Strings.

Two Hoots & a Holler
Beerland / 711 1/2 Red River; 479-7625 / 10:30 pm

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17:

Monster Big Band
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)

The Brew
The Oasis / 6550 Comanche Trail 266-2442

Heybale!
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 10 pm

Dale Watson
Ginny's Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Rd; 458-1813

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18:

Paris 49
Continental Club /1315 S. Congress;441-2444 / 6:30 pm

Dale Watson
Continental Club /1315 S. Congress;441-2444 / 10:00 pm
He's back in his old slots, but you guys probably already knew that, right?

Bayou Cajun Band
Evangeline Cafe / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2586 / 6:30 pm

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19:

Marc Devine & Denia Ridley
Reed's Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 6:30 pm

DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 9:45 / no cover
Free dance after Four on the Floor’s classes. http://www.fouronthefloor.com

Erik Hokkanen's Laboratory
Flipnotics / 1601 Barton Springs; 322-9750 / 8:00 pm

Druha Trava
Cactus Cafe / 23rd at Guadalupe; 475-6515 / 8:30 pm; $10
Everybody’s favorite bluegrass band from the Czech Republic!

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20:

Cella Blue
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189

Seth Walker
Jovita's / 1619 S. 1st; 447-7825 / 8 pm

ROAD TRIPS:

Gruene, TX
SATURDAY, SEPT 15:
Seth Walker
Gruene Hall / 1281 Gruene; 830-606-1281 / 8 pm; no cover

Granger, TX
SATURDAY, SEPT 15:
Ricky Calmbach
Cotton Club / 212 E. Davilla (the main street in Granger) / 9 pm; $10

COMING SOON:

FRIDAY, SEPT 22:
Polka Freak Out
Jovita's / 1619 S. 1st; 447-7825 / 8 pm
This is another of Bubba Hernandez' projects, so it's bound to be good.

SATURDAY, SEPT 23:
Will Taylor with Strings Attached
Nutty Brown /12225 Hwy 290 West; 301-4648
They're doing a repeat of their tremendously successful "White Album" performance. Click here for tickets. I got mine! See you there?

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, OCT 13-15:
International Accordion Festival / La Villita, San Antonio
Put this one on your calendars now. It is simply the best.

See ya on the dance floor

Chris

PS. RIP Ann Richards