It's all over but the sleeping

April 26-May 3

I took a workshop recently and one of the things we were told was: Earn your downtime and then take it. Zzzzzzzzzzzz. I have slept...and slept...and slept... this past week. All my deadlines and commitments for the past three months have been met, and I have slept. Nine hours in the night time. Two or so hours in the naptime. I had no idea I was so tired. But I was. I have earned my downtime, baby, and I have been taking it! Not that there aren't projects in the works. Of course there are! But no immediate deadlines, yee haw! It's time to play.

And play we did last Saturday night at the Moose Lodge. What a party! Thanks to all of you who came with birthday wishes for Mr. Ben. Was that a good time, or what! And there's good news -- there will be another fabulous dance there next month. Make plans now to come on out and see how much fun you can have.

Thursday, April 26

Solas
Cactus Café / Texas Union, UT campus, 23rd at Guadalupe, 475-6515 /$23 advance; $25 at door
Don't miss this rare treat to hear a truly fine Irish(American) band. Call 477-6060 or click here for tix.

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

DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24^th at San Gabriel / 8 pm
Read all about the Austin Swing Syndicate and their activities.

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

Marc Devine & Denia Ridley
Reed's Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 8:00 pm

Johnny Gimble
Guero's / 1412 S. Congress; 851-7688

DJd Milonga
Copa / 217 Congress / 9 pm; $5
Don't know how to tango? Come at 8 for a free introductory lesson.

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


Friday, April 27

DJd Milonga
Texas Union / Quadrangle Room; 23rd at Guadalupe / 9 pm
Another opportunity for a free introductory lesson (at 8).

Dale Watson
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / midnight; $10
Stay up late & celebrate the release of Dale's newest CD.

Lucky Strikes
Tree House Italian Grill / 2201 College Ave; 443-4200 / 7:30 pm

Cornell Hurd
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 9 pm

The Eggmen
Jovita's / 1619 S. 1st; 447-7825 / 8 pm (family)
Ouch! opens at 6 pm (Ouch! being, like, the world's only Ruttles cover band.)

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


Friday & Saturday, April 27 & 28

Austin Lounge Lizards
Cactus Cafe / Texas Union Bldg; 23rd at Guadalupe; 475-6515 / 8:30 pm; $16
The lizards are celebrating 27 years of musical satire.


Saturday, April 28

Texas Swing Kings
Patsy's Cowgirl Cafe / 5501 E. Ben White; 444-2020 / 7:30 pm

Hand Me Down
Flipnotics / 1601 Barton Springs; 322-9750 / 7 pm; $5
Show up at 7 and then stick around for the Double Eagle String Band at 9, followed by Lonesome Heroes at 11. That's a lotta music!

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


Sunday, April 29

The Brew
The Oasis / 6550 Comanche Trail; 266-442
For all you salsa dancers on the list, these summer Sunday salsa soirees have started again.

Heybale!
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 10 pm; $6

Bayou Cajun Band
The Oaks / 10206 FM 973 (Manor); 278-8788 / 4 pm; free (family)
Man, what a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon! Fiddler Alvin Crow will be sitting in with the band; and yes, there's a dance floor.

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

Damien Green Band
Momo's / 618 W. 6th / 9:30 pm; $5


Monday, April 30

Paris 49; Dale Watson
Continental Club /1315 S. Congress;441-2444 / 6:30 pm; 10 pm ($5 for DW)

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

Paco Pena Flamenco Dance Company
One World Theatre / 7701 Bee Caves; 32-WORLD / 7 and 9:30 pm


Tuesday, May 1

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

Tuesday - Sunday, May 1-6

Stomp
Paramount / 713 Congress / 8 pm (T-F); 5 & 9 pm (Sat); 3 & 7 pm (Sun)

Wednesday, May 2

The Brew
Speakeasy / 412 Congress; 476-8017

Mr. Fabulous & Casino Royale
The Belmont / 305 W. 6th; 457-0300 / 6 pm
This is an every Wednesday happy hour.

ROAD TRIPS

Turkey, Tx
Friday & Saturday, April 27 & 28
Bob Wills Day(s)
Bob Wills Center / one block west of HWY 70
This annual event celebrates the timeless music of the amazing Bob Wills. Plenty of fiddling and dancing!

Gruene, TX
Saturday, April 29
The Derailers
Gruene Hall / 1281 Gruene; 830-606-1281 / 9 pm; $10
This might be a good alternative if you don't want to drive all the way to Turkey.

Houston, TX
Saturday & Sunday, April 28 & 29
Houston International Festival
Downtown Houston
This year the focus is on China, but that doesn't mean there's not lots of great other stuff going on as well. It is, after all, an INTERNATIONAL festival.


COMING SOON

Friday & Saturday, May 11 & 12
Classical Mystery Tour
Palmer Events Center / Riverside at S. 1st; 476-6064 / 8 pm (family)

Sunday, May 27
Gulf Coast Playboys; Mingo Saldivar
Moose Lodge / 2103 EM Franklin / 9 pm; $10 ($5 for members)
Last weekend was so much fun -- and so successful -- that they're doing it again. This is a wonderful place to hang out, dance, sit on the porch, whatever. And every dollar you spend is one dollar closer to saving the lodge from urban development.


see ya on the dance floor,

chris

It's Mr. Ben's birthday, and you're invited!!!!!!

April 19 - April 25

We did our final performance of Sycorax on Sunday, then the cast and crew went to the Crown and Anchor for a little ritual unwinding. When I got home, I suddenly felt as if I was emerging from a cave after a long captivity (I told Mr. Ben I needed to hang some stalactites from the ceiling of my studio). I had a strong, compelling urge to go outside. And take a walk. For pleasure! I had an even stronger urge to take a nap. So I did.

As much as I love the creative life (and believe me, I wouldn't live it any other way), there is a certain withdrawal from the world which accompanies it, a degree of focus and utter commitment which is required, a level of unrelenting intensity that only lets up once the lights go down that last time. As much as I love that life, the re-emergence into the light is a lovely thing, too, especially when it's spring and my jasmine is blooming and the bluebonnets have taken over the world and Mr. Ben has a birthday and we've got some serious dancing to do in honor of the occasion.

Please come to the dance. Come help Mr. Ben celebrate a milestone. I'll even share him with anyone who wants to dance with him (and you know what a fabulous dancer he is). It's this Saturday at the Moose Lodge. More details on the poster here and down below in Saturday's listing. I'll bring the cake; you bring your dancing shoes.

Thursday, April 12

Aretha Franklin
Bass Concert Hall / UT campus / 8 pm
There are still some tickets left, so click here for yours.

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

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

Marc Devine & Denia Ridley
Reed's Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 8:00 pm

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

Ted Roddy
Ginny's Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Rd; 458-8313

Damien Green
Cypress Grill / 4404 W. William Cannon / 6:30 pm (family)

The Fabs
Guero’s / 1412 S. Congress; 447-7688 / 6:30 pm (family)

Roger Wallace
Patsy's Cowgirl Cafe / 5001 E. Ben White / 444-2020
I actually dreamed about this new venue the other night. Gotta check it out and see how close I was to reality.

Thursday - Sunday, April 19-22

Old Settlers Music Festival
Salt Lick BBQ Pavilion and Camp Ben McCulloch
As usual, there's an amazing line-up including (but not limited to) Peter Rowan, Iris Dement, Mary Gauthier, Grupo Fantasma, Red Stick Ramblers (reason enough to buy tickets!) Click on the link for ALL the details.

Friday, April 20

Sankara
Texas School for the Blind / 1100 W. 45th; 918-1351/ 7:30 pm; $10-15 (family)
This instrumental ensemble will be presenting music of India. Should be most wonderful.

White Ghost Shivers; MarchFourth
Red's Scoot Inn / 1308 E. 4th; 320-0004 / 9 pm
You may not have heard MarchFourth. All I can tell you is they're a 35 piece (that's right -- thirty five) marching band. And, of course you know WGS.

Erik Hokkanen
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)
Well, folks, I led you astray last week. Erik and his band are on THIS Friday, not last. Sorry.

DJd Swing Dance
Go Dance / Northcross Mall / 8 pm

Dale Watson
Threadgill’s / 301 W. Riverside; 472-9304 / 9 pm

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

The Eggmen
Nutty Brown / 12225 Highway 290 West; 301-4648 /7:30 pm; $5 (family)
Assuming the weather behaves itself (a little iffy these days), this should be a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful evening. (Oh my god, I sound like Lawrence Welk!)

Kat's Meow
Lambert's / 401 W. 2nd / 6:30 pm
Relatively new band in a relatively new venue.


Saturday, April 21 -- MR. BEN'S BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!! Mr. Ben's Birthday Party !!!!!!!!
Moose Lodge / 2103 EM Franklin (between MLK & Manor) / 9 pm; $10
How often does this happen: a birthday -- a significant one ending in a zero -- falls on a Saturday when there's a great party just waiting for the birthday boy? I would so love to take credit for the planning of this one, but I have to admit I simply got lucky. Mr. Ben is having a ('significant') birthday on April 21, and Bradley Jaye Williams just so happens to be hosting the perfect party. So...This is your invitation to come out and celebrate with Mr. Ben and to help Bradley and friends do what they can to save the Moose Lodge that is in danger of being 'developed', since it's so near the old airport and is in a prime urban development location. This will, undoubtedly, be THE party of the century featuring live music by JOHNNY DEGOLLADO, CHENCO FLORES, CHON MARTINEZ, ISIDRO SAMILPA, and special guest FLACO JIMENIZ. Now THAT's what I call a birthday party!!!! BE THERE OR TOTALLY BE, LIKE, SQUARE!!!!

Third Saturday Contra Dance (x2)
1. Republic Square Park / 4th & Guadalupe / 10 am
Live music by MC^2. This will be a demo and an invitation for you to learn to dance contra.
2. St. Paul Lutheran Fellowship Hall / 3501 Red River / 8 pm; $6-8
This is the monthly dance which I'm sure you'll want to attend after having learned it on Saturday morning in the park. Live music the Perfect 5th. 453-8936 or croth@austin.rr.com for more info.

Jim Stringer's AM Band
Patsy's Cowgirl Cafe / 5001 E. Been White; 444-2020 / 8 pm
This is a new family friendly venue, operated by the folks at Esther's Follies so you know it will be fun. Apparently the food is good AND there's a dance floor. Who could ask for more? Check it out!

Cienfuegos
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)
Again... my bad. This ended up on last week's list, but it belong on this week's. Sorry. There will be a salsa dance contest, so put on your dancing shoes!

Dale Watson
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 9 pm

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

Earth Day Solar Jam
Republic Square Park / 4th & Guadalupe / 4 - 9 pm (family)
Ooh, lots of good music (in order, on the hour, starting at 4 pm): Mundi; Guy Forsyth; South Austin Jug Band; Rokkatone; MarchFourth

Roger Wallace w/Teri Joyce & the Tagalongs
Brentwood Tavern / 6701 Burnet Road; 420-8118

Okkervil River
Hogg Auditorium / 24th at Whitis / 8 pm; $10
They're bringing their string & horn sections for this performance. Click for tix.

The Studebakers
Arts Ribhouse / 2230 S. Lamar; 442-8283 / 7:30 pm (family)

Damien Green
Lambert's / 401 W. 2nd / 6:30 pm

Sunday, Apr 22

Heybale!
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 10 pm; $6

White Ghost Shivers;MarchFourth
Antone's / 213 W. Fifth; 474-5314 / 10 pm

The Brew
The Oasis / 6550 Comanche Trail; 266-442
For all you salsa dancers on the list, these summer Sunday salsa soirees have started again.

Monday, Apr 23

Paris 49; Dale Watson
Continental Club /1315 S. Congress;441-2444 / 6:30 pm; 10 pm ($5 for DW)

Bayou Cajun Band
Evangeline Café / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2586 / 6:30 pm
With special guest Erik Hokkanen.

Tuesday, Apr 24

Lucky Strikes
The Belmont / 305 W. 6th; 457-0300 / 5:30 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


Wednesday, Apr 25

The Brew
Speakeasy / 412 Congress; 476-8017

Mr. Fabulous & Casino Royale
The Belmont / 305 W. 6th; 457-0300 / 6 pm
This is an every Wednesday happy hour.


ROAD TRIPS

Llano, TX
Friday & Saturday, April 20 & 21
Llano Crawfish Open
Llano Golf Club and County Park / 14492 Old Bandera Road; 210-695-8827
Golf, crawfish and live music. Sweet. They'll finish up with a big dance on Saturday night with Asleep at the Wheel.

Houston, TX
Saturday & Sunday, April 21 & 22, 28 & 29
Houston International Festival

Downtown Houston
I don't often suggest that people voluntarily go to Houston, but the International Festival really is a good one. Click the link for all the details (and I hope they've got the link fixed by now).

Helotes, TX
Saturday, April 21
Nickel Creek
Floores Country Store / 14492 Old Bandera Road; 210-695-8827
Oh what a treat!

Luckenbach, TX
Sunday, April 22
Lubbock to Luckenbach
Luckenbach Dance Hall / 888-311-8990 / 4 pm; $5
Come out and help the Texana Dames celebrate the music of Tommy and Connie Hancock in this historic dance hall. http://www.luckenbachtexas.com/ for full details.

COMING SOON

Thursday, April 26

Solas
Cactus Café / Texas Union, UT campus, 23rd at Guadalupe, 475-6515 /$23 advance; $25 at door
Don't miss this rare treat to hear a truly fine Irish(American) band. Call 477-6060 or click here for tix.

chris

See ya on the dance floor,

Another opening night

April 12 - April 18

My taxes are done and my hedges are trimmed (we've been having to fight our way with machetes to the front door after all this rain, sheesh! I kept expecting a leech to drop down my collar. Or at least a tsetse fly). And now -- Sycorax opens tonight.

This is a very short run -- this weekend only -- and then, aaaaaaahhhhh. Some down time. I'm really, really, really, I mean REALLY looking forward to it. (Which is not to say that I'm not looking forward to this weekend's shows. Actually, I guess I pretty much look forward to dang near everything [except root canals]).

But I've been moving at warp speed since the first of the year. Between I am not Tartuffe, Sycorax, the class I've been teaching and the class I've been taking (which meets at 7 AM once a week and which just ended yesterday, aaaah), -- oh yeah, and returning half time to my day job -- there hasn't been much time for anything else. Now there will be, and I'm happy happy.

Sometimes people actually tell me they want to be like me. It's easy. All you gotta do is just pick out six or eight of these stunning events and over-extend yourself! Starting...

...NOW. GO!

Thursday, April 12

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

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

Marc Devine & Denia Ridley
Reed's Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 8:00 pm

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

Cluan
Cactus Café / Texas Union, UT campus, 23rd at Guadalupe, 475-6515 /8:30 pm
This is billed as a farewell concert. So sad.

South Austin Jug Band
Threadgill’s / 301 W. Riverside; 472-9304 / 9 pm

Ted Roddy
Ginny's Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Rd; 458-8313

Thursday - Sunday, April 12-15

Sycorax
UT Dept. of Theater and Dance / WIN 2.180 (Winship Bldg) / Th 8 pm; Fri 2:30 pm; Sun 11 am; FREE
This is part of the Cohen New Works Festival, where you will see new works (many still in progress) in dance, theater, music, film and various combinations thereof. 'Sycorax' is April 12, 13 and 15, and I'd love to see you in the audience so you can see and hear what I've been working on so hard the past two months. Click the Festival link for full details and schedule.

Friday, April 13


Pablo Zeigler and the Quintet for New Tango
Hogg Auditorium / 24th at Guadalupe / 8 pm
This ensemble is soooooooooooooo amazing. Tix are $26-$42 and can be ordered by clicking here.

DJd Milonga
La Tazza Fresca / 519 W. 37th / 10 pm
After you've been inspired by the music of Pablo Zeigler, head over to La Tazza Fresca for tango dancing your own self.

Zein al-Jundi and the Saadi M'nawwar Band
Sky Lounge (upstairs) / 416 Congress / 8 pm; $18 in advance; $23 at door
Zein is throwing another Arabic Hafleh (party). Ticket costs includes food, mmmmm. There will be belly dancing, henna tattoos, a sheesha cafe, and of course great music (for dancing, of course) by Zein and the band. AND... Zein has offered two free passes to her party to the first person who goes to the comment section of this posting and tells me what character from what famous children's book smoked a sheesha (aka hookah).

Mickey and the Motorcars
Threadgill’s / 301 W. Riverside; 472-9304 / 10 pm

Roger Wallace; Teri Joyce & the Tagalongs
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813

Erik Hokkanen
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)
Appropos of nothing whatsoever, except that Hokkanen is a Finnish name, which actually has nothing to do with the Norwegians except that it's sort of in the same corner of the globe...I'm reading 'Grendel.' Have any of you read it? What's that bullshit with the dragon in chapter 5 (or maybe it's 6)? Did that make any sense to you?

The Weary Boys
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 9:30 pm


Saturday, April 14

Boggy Creek Farm Strawberry Festival
Boggy Creek Farm / 3414 Lyons Road; 926-4650 / 9 am (family)
This will be a family friendly event where you can pick your own fresh organic strawberries (mmmmmm) and listen to live bluegrass/gospel/singer-songwriter music by Hand Me Down. Click here for a map.

Chaparral
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444
Come out and help one of Austin's favorite rockabilly bands celebrate its 20th birthday!

The Eggmen
The Oasis / 6550 Comanche Trail 266-2442 / 7 pm (family)
It's that time of year when the Oasis opens up its decks for live music and dancing under the stars, aaah.

Cienfuegos
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)
There will be a salsa dance contest, so put on your dancing shoes!

Hill Country Crawfish Festival
Camp Ben McCullough / 12:30 pm - ??? (family)
There will be live music by the Bayou Cajun Band and by Ponty Bone & the Squeezetones. The interesting thing about the website is that they have the date wrong. But I have it on good authority that it is indeed this Saturday.

The Recliners
Donn’s Depot / 1600 W. 5th, 478-0336 / 9 pm

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

Saturday & Sunday, April 14 & 15

Austin Fine Arts Festival
Republic Square Park / 4th & Guadalupe / Sat 10-5; Sun 11-6; $8 (family)
This one always appeals to me because Brave Combo always plays (they'll be on at 4 on Sunday). Art and nukular polka. Can you think of a better combination? Click on the link to see a full schedule of bands and activities (like, for example, the White Ghost Shivers at 7:30 on Saturday).


Sunday, Apr 15

Damian Green Band
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 /12:30 - 3 pm (family)

Gulf Coast Playboys
Guero’s / 1412 S. Congress; 447-7688 / 3 pm (family)

The Weary Boys
The Oaks / 10206 FM 973 / 7 pm (family)

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

Heybale!
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 10 pm; $6


Monday, Apr 16

Paris 49; Dale Watson
Continental Club /1315 S. Congress;441-2444 / 6:30 pm; 10 pm ($5 for DW)

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


Tuesday, Apr 17

Lucky Strikes
The Belmont / 305 W. 6th; 457-0300 / 5:30 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


Wednesday, Apr 18

The Brew
Speakeasy / 412 Congress; 476-8017

Mr. Fabulous & Casino Royale
The Belmont / 305 W. 6th; 457-0300 / 6 pm
This is an every Wednesday happy hour.

Jimmy Crowley and Mairtain Cogain
Cactus Café / Texas Union, UT campus, 23rd at Guadalupe, 475-6515 / 8:30 pm
Direct from County Cork, Ireland; also featuring Austin's own Tea Merchants.


ROAD TRIPS:

Coupland, TX
Friday, April 13
Two Tons of Steel
Coupland Dance Hall / 101 Hoxie (don't you love the name of that street?); 512-856-2226 / 9 pm; $10

Gruene, TX
Friday, April 13
Dale Watson
Gruene Hall / 1281 Gruene; 830-606-1281 / 8 pm; $10

San Antonio, TX
Friday, April 13
Rosie Ledet
Sam's Burger Joint / 330 E. Grayson; 210-223-2830 / 8 pm

Wimberley, TX
Saturday, April 14
Crawfish Festival
Cypress Creek Cafe / on the square, downtown Wimberley
As (nearly) always, Wayne Toups will be the featured performer at this annual festival.

New Braunfels, TX
Sunday, April 15
Crossroads Americana Music Party
Landa Park /2pm - 7 pm (family)
This family friendly event raises money for local children's charities; and food and drink sales benefit the New Braunfels Parks Dept. Look for Two Tons of Steel, Reckless Kelly. and Band of Heathens to provide plenty of top notch entertainment.

Elgin, TX
Sunday, April 15
Vrazels Polka Band
Elgin SPJST Hall / 702 Hwy 95 in Elgin; 512-285-3100

Nothing like a little polka dancing to celebrate getting the taxes turned in, eh?

COMING SOON:

Thursday-Sunday, April 19-22
Old Settlers Music Festival
Salt Lick BBQ Pavilion and Camp Ben McCulloch
As usual, there's an amazing line-up including (but not limited to) Peter Rowan, Iris Dement, Mary Gauthier, Grupo Fantasma, Red Stick Ramblers (reason enough to buy tickets!) Click on the link for ALL the details.

Saturday, April 21
!!!!!!! Mr. Ben's Birthday Party !!!!!!!!
Moose Lodge / 2103 EM Franklin (between MLK & Manor) / 9 pm; $10
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!!!! I would so love to take credit for the planning of this one, but I have to admit I simply got lucky. Mr. Ben is having a ('significant') birthday on April 21, and Bradley Jaye Williams just so happens to be hosting the perfect party. So...This is your invitation to come out and celebrate with Mr. Ben and to help Bradley and friends do what they can to save the Moose Lodge that is in danger of being 'developed', since it's so near the old airport and is in a prime urban development location. This will, undoubtedly, be THE party of the century!

See ya on the dance floor,

chris

Trees good, pollen bad

April 5 - April 11

I love trees. A lot.

But why is it that when trees make whoopie I get sick? After a week and a half of losing my voice, being unable to sleep, coughing up stuff that looks like it came from a swamp in hell, and having all my food taste like it came out of that same swamp, I finally cried 'uncle' and hauled myself in to see the doctor, got on some antibiotics and am rejoining the human race. It's nice to be (almost) back.

I made it through the final weekend of I am not Tartuffe, but just barely (the show must go on, you know; and about half the cast was in the same condition as me). Now I'm focusing all my attention and energy to finishing the music for Sycorax, and at the risk of sounding immodest, I must say I have outdone myself. Holy moly! The show goes up a week from tonight, and it is going to R.O.C.K. If you don't get to see it this time, I'm sure that it will show up in a theater near you eventually. This is a most extraordinary play, and I feel very very pleased to be a part of it. Wow.

It occurred to me that after April 15, I won't have any deadlines hanging over my head. I've got some time off from theater, and I am so ready to hit the dance floor. YAY!!!!!!!!! And it just so happens that Mr. Ben's birthday is shortly after the 15th, and there will be a HUGE dance party, to which you're all invited (see 'coming soon' section).


Thursday, April 5

Heybale!
Cedar Street / 208 West 4th, 495-9669 / 9:30 pm
This is a relatively new first-Thursday-of-the-month gig. Open air dancing, yay!

DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel; http://www.austinswingsyndicate.org/ 8pm
Always room to dance here!

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

Marc Devine & Denia Ridley
Reed's Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 8:00 pm

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

Elizabeth McQueen and Jason Roberts
Threadgill’s / 301 W. Riverside; 472-9304 / 8 pm (family)

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


Friday, April 6

Clandestine
Cactus Café / Texas Union, UT campus, 23rd at Guadalupe, 475-6515 / 9 pm; $12

B Scene
Blanton Art Museum / MLK at Speedway / 6 pm; $5 members; $10 non-members
This will be a great evening as the Blanton spotlights Argentina. There will be a DJd milonga AND live tango music by Glover Gill. What a wonderful, wonderful venue for tango!
First Friday Contradance
Carpenter's Hall / 400 Josephine / 8 pm; $8
There's a newcomer's session at 7:30, so if you've never contradanced before, you don't have to be afraid to try. Live music by Jerry Hagin & Friends. sealantsby5@aol.com or 512-970-4919 for more info.

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

White Ghost Shivers
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)

Mr. Fabulous and Casino Royale
Reed’s Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 8:30 pm

Seth Walker
The Oaks / 10206 FM 973 N, Manor; 278-8788 / 8 pm; $7

Marshall Ford Swing Band
Boathouse Grill / 6812 FM 620; 249-5200
I'm thinking this may be an early show, so call before you make your plans.

Friday - Sunday, April 6 - 8

Ballet Austin: The Taming of the Shrew
Bass Concert Hall / UT campus / 8 pm Fri & Sat; 3 pm Sun; $20-$64 (family)
This is supposed to be really funny -- not a word you often use in the same sentence with 'ballet'. Click here for tix.


Saturday, April 7

Hand Me Down
Waterloo Ice House / 1106 W. 38th / 8 pm (family)
Austin's newest acoustic/bluegrass/gospel/singer-songwriter group will ALSO be at Boggy Creek Farm for the Easter Strawberry festival on Saturday morning at 9 am.

Silver Thistle Pipes & Drums
Scholz Garden / 1607 San Jacinto, 474-1958; 6 pm
Come celebrate National Tartan Day! (I remember when Mr. Ben and I first met, he described the Johnston family tartan as 'dark and gloomy with a streak of yellow'. Fourteen years later, it's still funny!)

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

Marshall Ford Swing Band
Lambert's / 401 W. 2nd / 6:30 pm
This is a newish venue with a small dance floor.

Seth Walker
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 9:30 pm

Nash Hernandez Orchestra
Donn’s Depot / 1600 W. 5th, 478-0336 / 9 pm

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


Sunday, Apr 8

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

Heybale!
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 10 pm; $6


Monday, Apr 9

Paris 49; Dale Watson
Continental Club /1315 S. Congress;441-2444 / 6:30 pm; 10 pm ($5 for DW)

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


Tuesday, Apr 10

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

Glovertango
Cactus Café / Texas Union, UT campus, 23rd at Guadalupe, 475-6515 / 8:30 pm; $10


Wednesday, Apr 11

The Brew
Speakeasy / 412 Congress; 476-8017


ROAD TRIPS:

I'm sure there are some great road trips out there this weekend, but I didn't find any. Shoot, just get in the car and drive out to see the wildflowers. As a matter of fact, Amanda W, a faithful reader of this list, sent me a link that will show you the wildflower hot spots. Take the camera!


COMING SOON

Thursday - Sunday, April 12-15
Sycorax
UT Dept. of Theater and Dance / WIN 2.180 (Winship Bldg) / Th 8 pm; Fri 2:30 pm; Sun 11 am; FREE
This is part of the Cohen New Works Festival, where you will see new works (many still in progress) in dance, theater, music, film and various combinations thereof. 'Sycorax' is April 12, 13 and 15, and I'd love to see you in the audience so you can see and hear what I've been working on so hard the past two months. Click the Festival link for full details and schedule.

Saturday & Sunday, April 14 & 15
Austin Fine Arts Festival
Republic Square Park / 4th & Guadalupe / Sat 10-5; Sun 11-6; $8 (family)
This one always appeals to me because Brave Combo always plays. Art and nukular polka. Can you think of a better combination?

Saturday, April 21
Mr. Ben's Birthday Party
Moose Lodge / 2103 EM Franklin (between MLK & Manor) / 9 pm; $10
I would so love to take credit for the planning of this one, but I have to admit I simply got lucky. Mr. Ben is having a ('significant') birthday on April 21, and Bradley Jaye Williams just so happens to be hosting the perfect party. So...This is your invitation to come out and celebrate with Mr. Ben and to help Bradley and friends do what they can to save the Moose Lodge that is in danger of being 'developed', since it's so near the old airport and is in a prime urban development location. This will, undoubtedly, be THE party of the century!

See ya on the dance floor,

chris