Kickstarter is thick with Austin-centric projects currently. Of special note - the Hand and Wing anthology from Austin Bat Cave is so close to being funded, as is Aimee Bobruk's hopefully forthcoming album, which she'll be working on with icon Brian Beattie. Also worth noting is a project by "Steampunk Romance," author Olivia Gray, who is trying to raise funds to bring her young adult book The Zombies of Mesmer into print, as well as an anthology of her work she's going to call Caught in the Cogs. more ›

The artwork on Smith’s latest album and the name alone, Songs for a Sinking Ship, should be enough to entice Decemberists fans to give it a listen. But, it’s the lounge pop-meets-bold singer/songwriter music within is what will keep you. And, right now, you can preview the entire record on Spinner.com. This latest, self-released album of hers was made possible with help from the online fund raising platform Kickstarter. Now, Smith and her Great Picture Show are using piano, accordion, ukulele and even some melodic a to dredge up pop arrangements from the 30s and 40s and mix them with strongly worded folk tunes to create something both pleasing and invigorating. more ›

TUESDAY [6] books • Utter Reading Series with Frances Schenkkan and Lori Aurelia at BookPeople (7:00pm) books • Poetry Reading with Dana Gioia, Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts at Harry Ransom Center (7:00pm) books • Nate Blakeslee presents Tulia: Race, Concaine, and Corruption in a Small Texas Town at Austin History Center (7:00pm) film • For the Love of Dolly at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown film • AFS Essential screens Turtles Can... more ›

MONDAY [5] art • Opening Reception for Sarah Canright and Melissa W. Miller: Measured Strokes at The Sarofim School of Fine Arts, Fine Arts Gallery (6-7:30pm) benefit/music • Heather Love Fest Benefit with Dan Dyer & Friends, John Pointer, Govinda, DJ Chicken George, BIGFACE, DJ Mahealani, DJ Chris, DJ Trey Lopez,DJ Orian, Performance by the Super Sonic Soul Squad, Complimentary Appetizers and TONS of Raffle and Silent Auction Prizes at Saba, Cedar Street, and... more ›

TUESDAY [20] books • Melissa "Melicious" Joulwan presents Rollergirl: Totally True Tales From The Track at BookPeople (7:00pm) film • TMNT 2: Secret of the Ooze Pizza Party at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown film • Polyester at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown film • AFS Essential: Iron Island at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar music • The Roots with Lupe Fiasco at Stubb's (Early, Sold Out) music • Kodo Drummers at The Paramount Theatre music • Hilary York... more ›

MONDAY [19] books • Terry McAuliffe presents What A Party at BookPeople (7:00pm) film • Eddie Murphy: RAW at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown film • Liquid Vinyl at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown music • JT Van Zandt and Friends at Scoot Inn... more ›