Free Week is Here: Part the Fifth

There are still a few days left in the longest Free Week in the history of Austin music. Yesterday I gave you recommendations for Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. In those post, I'll give you my highlights for the final three days of Free Week. I'm going to warn you right now that there are lots of great shows at lots of great venues so you could end up running all over town. On the other hand, Free Week is all about local bands so, just keep track of who you missed and catch them later in the year. Alright, so let's get down to business. My top recommendation for Thursday night is that you catch Major Major Major at Hotel Vegas. They are playing the headlining set so expect them to start late in the evening.



Other Thursday night highlights include:

• Cheap Curls, The Sour Notes and Holy Wave at Red 7
• Frank Smith, Lean Hounds and Missions at Mohawk
• The Couch and The Pons at Club DeVille
• Guns of Navarone, Wiretree and Whiskey Shivers at Holy Mountain
• Equals and My Education at Beauty Ballroom

Friday night doesn't have as many highlights as Thursday night but there is still some great music worth checking out. My top recommandation features many of the bands who were playing at different venues on Thursday night all performing in one space. Head on over to Rainey St. for Frank Smith, The Sour Notes, Grand Child, and Black Books at The Black Heart

Other Friday night highlights include:

• The Laughing at Red 7
• Zorch, The Boxing Lesson, Boyfrndz, Blackstone Rangers, Residual Kid at Holy Mountain
• Riverboat Gamblers and East Cameron Folkcore at Mohawk
• The Midgetmen and The Gary at Club DeVille

Saturday is the final day of Free Week 2013 and it also features my highest recommendation. Red 7's inside stage features some of my favorite Austin indie-pop acts all performing on one stage. Arrive early because Tiger Waves are kicking things off and they are not to be missed. Also, sharing the bill on the inside stage will be, Hundred Visions, Oh No Oh My and TV Torso.

If for some reason you're not planning to attend the inside show at Red 7 on Saturday my second pick for the night is the Mohawk's inside showcase featuring performances from The Sour Notes, The Couch, Shivery Shakes, Letting Up Despite Great Faults, The Plastic Habit

So, there it is my top picks for the end of Free Week 2013. I hope you had a chance to hear some of your favorite local artists and maybe discovered some new favorites.

Free Week is Here: Part the Fourth

Well, Free Week is still rolling on, in spite of the fact that it's been more than a week. Are you complaining because I'm certainly not. The next few days are going to be soggy but that certainly won't stop the music and there are still lots of great shows for you to attend. My top recommendation for tonight is the showcase over at Holy Mountain featuring Gentlemen Rogues, Broken Gold, Shivery Shakes, Golden Boys and Grape St..

I must say that Holy Mountain has really been the star of Free Week thus far. They have had a solid line-up most every night of 2013. I watched Grape St. at Cheer-Up Charlie's last week and they put on a good show. I must admit that I only loved about 65% of their set but I really LOVED what I loved. They are certainly worth seeing and with Golden Boys playing right before you'll definitely want to end your evening at Holy Mountain regardless of where you start it.


Golden Boys - Dirty Fingernails video via YouTube

Wednesday Night:

Tomorrow night is all about Shakey Graves at the Parish. He's been very popular around town lately so if you want in on this event you better show up early. Shakey Graves has been on his grind for many years now but for whatever reason he has really clicked with an Austin audience within the past year or so. He hasn't changed his sound or performance style in any sort of drastic way, he just waited until the audience came around to him and it worked. The fact that he's playing a free headlining set in Austin's best sounding room should make this the most popular showcase Wednesday evening. If you can't make it out to this Free Week Shakey Graves show at the Parish, don't worry, he'll be playing every Wednesday in January.


Shakey Graves - Late July video via YouTube