Weekend Music Preview: ATX Converge @ The Mohawk [Saturday]

The memories of Fun Fun Fun Fest remain vivid and fresh, and after that amazing yet exhausting weekend, surely we could be excused for a taking a deserved break to recharge our bodies. No such luck in our beloved city which refuses to rest on its laurels. Yes, just a week after that immense gathering of music, comedy, and arts, Massive Beacon, Reversal Films, and The Dark Agency present the second annual ATX Converge at The Mohawk.

So what exactly is ATX Converge? We caught up with Massive Beacon’s Geoff Earle earlier this week and learned that the event, along with the ATX Emerge, is resolutely focused on nurturing Austin’s creative talent pool. Per Earle, “Converge is a locals-only deal, where we book some of the more established groups, and Emerge is a chance for Austin bands that may not have broken yet to get some exposure. Converge started last year, and the whole thing was meticulously filmed by Reversal. It was the starting point for their documentary about the music scene and Austin's rapid expansion, called Echotone (which is going to be released this winter).”

Elaborating on ATX Converge’s impressive mantra (create. cultivate. converge), Earle added, “Each year we cultivate more talent and work with more people and creative-based companies. Then we get a chance to show off how much better we've gotten, and how much we've learned. I think a specific example is the band The White White Lights. When they played Emerge in March, they were brand new and mostly unknown. Now they've matured, gotten tighter as a band, and they're in a headlining slot this year. It's almost as though Emerge was the springboard that really got them going.” As for ‘the next big thing,’ Earle’s got a prediction or two -- “I would look for this year's Converge to do the same thing for Butcher Bear & Charlie, and Missions. You never know though. Anyone could shine. Also, KVRX is being heavily showcased this year, as they are going to be broadcasting the show on 91.7 FM, live.”

Enjoy the fruits of Earle and co.’s labor tomorrow night at the 'hawk -- follow the jump for the full line-up. If you’re jonesing for some authentic alt-country fare, head over to Antone’s and spend the evening with Jay Farrar and his post-Uncle Tupelo outfit Son Volt. The band is touring in support of its new album American Central Dust. Get your tickets here or enter your information in the form below for a chance to go for free!