There is no better way to kickoff Thanksgiving week than to fill up your belly over at the Empty Bowl Project Sunday afternoon and then head on over to The Parish to catch a once-in-a-lifetime chance to hear the African Children’s Choir sing in Austin....

The Health Alliance For Austin Musicians (or HAAM) provides local artists with low-cost health care and other related services. This year’s HAAM Benefit Day is here (today), and the organization is presenting numerous shows all over town this evening, along with a Telethon on ME Television. One can offer their assistance in funds by donating online as well. The HAAM Benefit Day is presented with support from a number of entities, including Whole Foods......

National Poetry Slam returns with a full schedule of stuff happening all over town this week, culminating in Friday and Saturday's final matches at the Paramount HBMG Foundation presents the 2007 ArtSpark Festival Visual Art Showcase at the Off Center Mayor Will Wynn and director Turk Pipkin screen "Nobelity" and "An Inconvenient Truth" at the Paramount Willie Nelson headlines the Austin Freedom Fest 2007, joined by the likes of Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling......

FRIDAY [19] film • AFS presents a new 35mm print of The Rules of the Game at Dobie Theatre film • Spike & Mike's Sick & Twisted Festival 2007 at Alamo Downtown (7pm, 9:30pm, 11:58pm) Most events are probably back on schedule, but call ahead just to be sure. music • The Weird Weeds, W-S Burn, Brian Sookram, Jonathan Horne at The Peacock ($3, 9pm) art • Two Mongolian Artists From Two Generations: D.......

MONDAY [8] film • Celebrate Elvis' Birthday with Viva Las Vegas at Alamo Downtown (7pm) film • Holy Mountain at Austin Java (9pm, Free) film • Music Monday: Lost Vegas: The Lounge Era at Alamo Downtown (9:45pm, $2) music • The Onlys, Ghost of the Russian Empire, Midgetmen at Emo's music • Elvis Birthday Tribute with Dale Watson, Ray Benson, Wayne Hancock, Derailers, Carolyn Wonderland, and lots more at Continental Club......

FRIDAY [8] music • Centro-Matic, Those Peabodys, Pink Nasty at Emo's (Inside) music • Anagen, Two Guy Trio at Stubb's music • The Midgetmen, The Boxing Lesson, Sounds Under Radio, Label Me This at Red Eyed Fly music • Fireside Creative Showcase with Shrapnel, Lone Star Porn Star, Nooner, Hundred Year Storm, Bayta Darell, and a chance to win a Gibson guitar autographed by (huh?) Chuck Norris at The Parish Room music • Rescue......

TUESDAY [3] music • Viva Voce, Silversun Pickups, The Kingdom (Inside) at Emo's ® music • Sparta, Soundteam, Lola Ray (Outside) at Emo's ® music • Alice in Chains, Hurt at Stubb's music • HAAM Benefit Concert with Carolyn Wonderland at The Parish Room music • Citizen Cope at Waterloo Records music • HAAM Benefit Day - 5% of store proceeds go to the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians - at Waterloo Records music......

WEDNESDAY [27] books • Texas Monthly Author Series presents John Burnett, author of Uncivilized Beasts and Shameless Hellions at BookPeople (7pm) benefit/music/food • Celebration of Choice 2006, a benefit with Genevieve Van Cleve, Carolyn Wonderland, The Texas Sapphires; live & silent auction; light fare buffer; at Antone's (5:30pm, $35/advance, $50/door, $20/music only) ® party • Hot Dog Hump Day: The Peacock Celebrates Its First Birthday! at The Peacock (4:30pm-7pm, Free) music • Bitter Tongues,......

FRIDAY [1] music • Tacks, The Boy Disaster w. The Channel, Golden Bear at The Parish Room ® books • Jacqueline Winspear presents Messenger of Truth at BookPeople (7pm) film • Chuck Norris Martial Arts Movie Mania with Chuck Norris in Person: Sidekicks at Alamo Downtown (6pm, $10) film • Lawrence of Arabia at Paramount Theatre (7:30pm) film • Chuck Norris Martial Arts Movie Mania with Chuck Norris in Person: Code of Silence at......

[music] Asleep at the Wheel at Antone’s (8pm, $10) link [music] Paris ‘49 at Continental Club (6:30pm) link [music] Dale Watson at Continental Club (10pm, $6) link [music] Michael Mordecai’s Jazz Jam at Elephant Room (9:30pm, Free) link [music] The Silence Kills, Here Comes Trouble, Iron Age and Righteous Jams at Emo’s (10:00pm) link [music] Brilliant Red Lights, Cocker Spaniels and The Dimes at Flamingo Cantina (9:00pm, $7) link [music] Cheryl Bliss at Flipnotics (10:00pm)......

WEDNESDAY [26] [film] AFS 20th Anniversary: Eric Rohmer's Summer at Alamo Downtown (7pm) LINK [party] Sidebar's turning two, and they're rockin' it out with a full BBQ spread, raffle, commemorative tees, guest DJs, slushy shots, a keg of Lone Star, cake, and (hopefully) Antonio, our favorite door guy in Austin. At Sidebar (7pm) LINK [books] Texas Monthly BookGroup presents Will Clarke, author of The Worthy at BookPeople (7pm) LINK [film] Adam's Rib at Paramount Theatre......

MONDAY [10] [music] Rancid, Street Dogs, Complete Control at Emo's (link) [music/party] End of an Ear and XL Recordings presents a special midnight sale and listening party for Thom Yorke’s The Eraser, with loads of giveaways! Plus, hear new albums from Peaches, Sufjan Stevens and others at Emo's Lounge (Free, 10pm-1am) (link) [music] Girls' Tribute to Clifford Antone with Marcia Ball, Angela Strehil, Lou Ann Barton, Toni Price, Carolyn Wonderland, and Eve Monsee at Antone's......

John Lennon still gives Jesus a run for his money. According to a volunteer at the University Baptist Church last Friday, only one or two religious services have similarly packed the pews. By the time Austinist arrived, music worshippers were lined up around the block to catch a live performance of the Beatles' White Album of 1968, whose songs around 30 local vocalists and musicians had been invited to cover. The seating was shoulder-to-shoulder, with......

SXSW.com released an updated lineup for this year's SXSW Music Festival earlier today, and it's one hell of a list. The SXSW committee hastens to note that "This is a partial list of performers confirmed to appear at the 2006 SXSW Music Festival. This list is current as of 1/13/06. All of this information is subject to change." International acts include: Masahiro Nitta, DMBQ, Ellegarden, Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re, PE'Z, The Emeralds (Japan)......

Come out and support the Texas Observer this Sunday at the 5th Annual Rabble Rouser Roundup and Fat Cat Schmoozefest! It's a hot musical line-up and a great cause. The event will be hosted by Molly Ivins and Jim Hightower with musical entertainment from The Marcia Ball Band, Grupo Fantasma and Carolyn Wonderland. Events: 6-7pm The Fat Cat Schmoozefest and Silent Auction 7-10pm Rabble Rouser Roundup (Silent Auction continues) Sunday, January 15, 2006 La......

: : FRIDAY : : [music] The Zippo Hot Tour Semi-Finals featuring Fractious, 9pm @ The Backroom - FREE! [film] A Bunch of New Movies Open! @ your local theater [film] QT6, 7pm & 9:30pm @ Drafthouse Downtown: Grindhouse Triple Feature also Saturday [music] Mike Graff, 8pm @ End of an Ear [dance] Refraction Arts presents "Shish-ka-bob! An Inventory of Works by Amy Cone," 8pm @ The Blue Theatre [music] Palaxy Tracks, The Glass......

Tired of Barton Springs? Spend this Sunday, April 3, at Pokejo's BBQ on W. 5th St. for the Choose Austin First .2K Run. This charity event benefits the SIMS Foundation, which according to their website, "...is a non-profit organization that provides access to low-cost mental health services for Austin musicians and their immediate families." Tickets can be purchased through Front Gate Tickets for $10, or $15 at the door. So, for the price of going......