This is the week that is!

March 13 - 19

Aw man. I had this wonderful dream that I was walking through the Texas Union, and Willie Nelson was there giving a (free) concert. There were still a few seats available, but they were in the back, so I just sort of walked up front and parked myself right next to the stage. There was a little kitchen just off to the right, so I started unloading the dishwasher, and Willie came over and helped me and chatted for a while. What a nice dream.

Since I can't exactly show you my dream, I'll just share a clip of my hands-down number one favorite song ever recorded by Willie ever . Even though this clip is 28 years old, it simply just doesn't get better than this.


As you probably know (and if you don't then you've been living in a hole somewhere), this is THE week for music in Austin. We've got SXSW and all its alternative spin-offs; AND we've got St. Patrick's Day. Holy moly. An embarrassment of riches, and an annoyance of parking.

Kudos to John Conquest for compiling the closest-to-comprehensive list of NON-SXSW events I've been able to find. Rather than re-do all his typing, I'll just tell you to pick up a copy of 3rd Coast Music and follow it religiously. Or just throw the dice and pick a venue -- all of these are hosting non-SXSW events.

Antone's Record Shop
Artz Rib House
Central Market North
Counter Cafe
Evangeline Cafe
Flipnotics (Barton Springs AND Triangle locations)
Freddie's Place
Ginger Man
Hole in the Wall
Joe's Bar & Grill
Jovita's
Leeann's Barn
Maria's Taco Xpress
Mother Egan's Irish Pub
The Oaks
Opal Devine's (W. 6th AND Penn Field locations)
Patsy's Cowgirl Cafe
Roadhouse Rags
Room 710
Sam's Town Point
Saxon Pub
Threadgill's (Riverside location)
Torchy's Taco's
Typewriter Museum
Waterloo Ice House (6th at Lamar AND W. 38th locations)
Waterloo Records
Yard Dog Folk Art Gallery
Zax

(John, if you're reading this, thanks a million!)



Thursday, March 13

Geno Delafose
Tesoro's / Congress at 2nd / 5 pm (FREE)
Probably not a lot of room to dance, but hey, it's a free show, and it's Gino!!!! (BTW, he'll be doing a SXSW show tonight at midnight at Momo's where there is a dance floor)

Cerronato
El Sol y La Luna / 1224 S. Congress; 444-7770 / 7:30 pm

Cornell Hurd Band
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st; 447-7825 / 8 pm

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

Jesse Dayton
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 9 pm

The Brew
Copa / 217 Congress Ave. / Austin, TX / 479-5002 / 10 pm

Dale Watson
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813 / 9 pm

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


Thru March 16:

Art Outside
Enchanted Forest / 1412 W. Oltorf / doors open 2 pm / $5 during the day, $10 at night, kids free (family)
Sorry I failed to get this in last week, since that's when it started. Nevertheless, there's still lots to do and see, including (but not limited to) a special reading of Vagina Monologues with writer Eve Ensler on hand to discuss the project (which starts at 6 pm on the 14th and will cost $15 -- and is also a benefit performance for the Katrina Warriors, a group that helps women and girls who are rebuilding the gulf coast area). Music, art, puppets, theatre, all kind of stuff going on in this festival. Check it out!


Friday, March 14

SWLA at SXSW
Roadhouse Rags / 1600 Fort View; 762-8797 / 2-8 pm
With crawfish and beer, of course, and live music by Bandryland; Jeffrey Broussard & The Creole Cowboys; The Lost Bayou Ramblers; & The Bluerunners. Despite the title, this does not appear to be a SXSW sanctioned event, woo hoo.

DJd Milonga
La Tazza Fresca / 37th at Guadalupe / 9 pm (no cover)

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


Friday & Saturday, March 14 & 15

Willie Nelson
The Backyard / 13101 Hwy 71 West / 7 pm; $47 (standing); $52 (seated)
Click here for tix.

Saturday, March 15

St. Patrick's Day Celebration
Things Celtic / 1806 W. 35th / 11am-5 pm; free (family)
11 AM - Beginning Irish Language Lesson with the Austin Gaelic League Noon -Abby Green 1 PM - The Bedlam Bards 2 PM - Silver Thistle Pipes & Drums 3 PM - SJ Tucker 4 PM - Doc Grauzer

Russian Folk and Rock Concert
Unity Church of the Hills / 9905 Anderson Mill Road; 459-1449 / 7 pm; $20 This event, sponsored by the Russian Speakers Society, will feature live music by Kalinka, Flying Balalaika Brothers, and the Russian dance troupe Uzori.

Mojo's Mayhem
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 10am-6 pm (no cover)
Ok. This is where things start to get a little complicated. The Continental Club is a SXSW venue. BUT... during the day on Saturday, you don't need no stinkin' wristband to enjoy a number of very fine bands, including Brave Combo at 4 pm.

The Eggmen
Ego's / 510 S. Congress; 474-7091
I'm not sure of the starting time, so give 'em a call.

Third Saturday Contra Dance
St. Paul's Lutheran Fellowship Hall / 3501 Red River / 8 pm; $5-$8.
Featuring live music by Josephine's Secret. All dances taught; no partners needed. croth@austin.rr.com for more info.

The Derailers
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 9 pm


Sunday, March 16

Fabulous Polkasonics
Mother Egan's / 715 W. 6th / noon

Dale Watson
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813 / 4 pm


Monday, March 17

St. Patrick's Day Street Fest
In front of BD Riley's / 200 Block of E. 6th / 3pm-midnight
3:00pm The Tea Merchants 4:45pm Gilmer and Moore 6:00pm Clickety Cloggers 6:30pm Irish Dance Center 7:15pm Andy M. Stewart & Gerry O'Beirne 8:30pm Tommy Sands & His Irish Band 9:45pm South Austin Jug Band 11:00pm Silver Thistle Pipes & Drums

South St. Patrick's Day Festival Opal Divine's (Penn Field) / 3601 South Congress; 707-0237 / noon-10 pm noon: Andy White 2:00 pm: Spot 4:00 pm: Silver Thistle Pipes & Drums 5:00 pm: Rich Brotherton & Ed Miller 6:50pm: Black Irish 8:40 pm: Green Mountain Grass


Opal's St. Patrick's Day Festival Opal Divine's (Marina) /12709 Mopac at Parmer Lane; 733-5353 / noon-10 pm noon: Silver Thistle Pipes & Drums 2:00on: Rich Brotherton & Ed Miller 4:00 on: Green Mountain Grass 6:00 pm: Spot 7:40 pm: Silver Thistle Pipes & Drums 8:30 pm: Andy White


Saint Patrick's Day Party The Dog & Duck Pub /406 West 17th Street @ Guadalupe / 11 am - 10 pm 11 am Tea Merchants Noon: Capitol City Highlanders 1 pmL Poor Man's Fortune 3 pm: The Black Irish 4 pm: Johnny Hootrock 5 pm: Silver Thistle Pipes & Drums 6 pm: Floating Crowbar 7:30 pm: Ed Miller & Rich Brotherton 9 pm: Ian McLagan and The Bump Band

Join the Green Party Fado Irish Pub / 214 W 4th St.; 457-0172 / 12:15 pm - 11 pm 4th Street stage schedule: 12:15 pm: Tea Merchants 3 pm: The Eggmen (Beatles cover band) 6 pm: Mysterious Ways (U2 cover band) 8 pm: Traveler 10 pm: Blaggards Patio schedule: 1 pm: The Black Irish 3 pm: Floating Crowbar 5 pm: Traveler 7 pm: Blaggards 10 pm: Mysterious Ways

Uptown Swingsters; Dale Watson
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / US 6:30 (no cover); DW 10:30 pm $5


Tuesday, March 18

Jitterbug Vipers
Lambert’s / 401 W. 2nd; 494-1500 / 6:30 pm

Dale Watson
The Belmont / 305 W. 6th; 457-0300 / 7 pm

Planet Casper
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 6:30 pm


Wednesday, March 19

The Brew
Speakeasy / 412 Congress; 476-8017 / 9:30 pm

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

Roger Wallace
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Rd; 458-1813 / 9 pm

Road Trips

Theon, TX
Saturday & Sunday, March 15 & 16
Grand Opening of Possum Creek Dance Hall
Possum Creek Dance Hall / 7705 FM 1105; 512-863-9633 / 3 pm-1 am Sat; noon-10 pm Sun
This is actually the re-opening of an old dance hall, recently purchased by a couple of dance regulars at the Broken Spoke. Beer & wine are on the house (TABC license pending). Kitchen will be open so you can buy a burger. Since this is their first weekend open, they would appreciate an RSVP so they can plan accordingly. Don't know who the bands are, but frankly, I don't think it matters. What's important is that an old dance hall is living and breathing again. (Theon, btw, is up IH 35 just a little north of Georgetown).


Coming Soon

Friday, March 21
Nowruz (Persian New Year)
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar / 6:30 pm (family)
Featuring live music by Atash, 1001 Nights; and Bereket.
See ya on the dance floor,

chris