Classic Rock, Classic Country: As per usual, Willie Nelson will play two nights at The Backyard for both locals avoiding SXSW and tourists willing to skip one night of showcases to see Austin's most enduring music legend. Willie's shows are tentatively scheduled for 3/14 and 3/15, and will go on sale sometime in February. In another move designed to access some tourist dollars, Direct Events has announced a relatively intimate show with Van Morrison at the Austin Music Hall on Tuesday, March 11. Van the Man apparently hasn't heard about the looming recession, as tickets are priced from $102 to a whopping $257. ...

After SXSW trashes our fair town, Coachella layers the California desert with dusty beer cans, and Wall of Sound leaves Fort Worth a city ... well, much the same, we're probably heading over to Sasquatch, the annual Pacific Northwest festival at Washingon State's scenic Gorge Amphitheatre. Scheduled to perform during the three-day Memorial Weekend blitz are Austinites Trail of Dead and Iron & Wine, plus a salivatory stew of sweet, sweet bands: FRIDAY, MAY 26......

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)......

Check the IST List to find out when these artists will be playing in town. Peel Moxy Blues [mp3] Xiu Xiu Songs from La Foret [stream] Kingsbury Manx Over the Waves [mp3] My Shaky Hand [mp3] Grape to Grain [mp3] Pelz Komet [mp3] Porchlight [mp3] Cross Your Eyes [mp3] The Heavenly States Look and Listen [real audio stream] Pretty Life [real audio stream] Black Comet [real audio stream] Borderline [real audio stream] Song in......

The Kingsbury Manx have had a hard row the past few years. While touring in support of 2003’s Aztec Discipline, a psych-pop romp that shared sonic territory with fans and contemporaries the Shins, the band got in a car accident that left the majority of their gear destroyed. Shortly thereafter, singer/guitarist Kenneth Thompson parted with the band on friendly terms. Two years later, the Manx have returned in phoenixlike fashion with The Fast Rise......

M O N D A Y [ 2 8 ] film · End of an Ear hosts a free screening of Lee Ranaldo and Leah Singer's "Drift" at the Alamo South Lamar (Free, 10pm) [link] music · The Kingsbury Manx, The Standard and The Heavenly States at Emo's film · KOOP Radio's Monthly Film Benefit at MonkeyWrench Books - Gillo Pontecorvo's “The Battle of Algiers”, about the French occupation of 1950s Algeria. (Inc. Beer and......