FRIDAY [21] [music] Sons of Hercules and The Bad Rackets at Woody's South (link) [music] Those Peabodys, Grand Champeen, Birds of Avalon (ex-Cherry Valence), Man Eaters of Tsavo at Emo's (link) [music] The Radiators at The Parish (link) [music] Blue October w/ People In Planes and Bril at Stubb's (link) [music] The Shells CD Release at End of an Ear (Free, 6pm) (link) [lecture] The Texas Observer presents David Sirota, author of Hostile Takeover: How... more ›

The Old Settler’s Music Festival sure has a line up. Why, they have more roots music than you could shake a roots-music-shaking stick at. This weekend marks the 19th year for the event, held at the Salt Lick BBQ Pavillion right out in Driftwood. The line up includes Keller Williams, Kinky Friedman, Chip Taylor and Carrie Rodriguez, Terri Hendrix, Todd Snyder, the Lonestar Bluegrass Band and a heap of other talented folks. They’re additionally... more ›

MONDAY [17][music] The High Flyers at Continental Club (10pm) (link) [lecture] Josh Rushing, future host of a show on Al Jazeera International and "accidental media star" in "Control Room," speaks at UT LBJ Auditorium (7pm) (link) [art] Opening Reception for Michael Schliefke's newest works, "What If We Could Get It All Back?" at bolm Studios (6pm-11pm) (link) [film] Oscar-Nominated Documentary shorts at Alamo Downtown (7pm) (link) [film] Anime Movie Monday at Ventana del Sol (7:30pm)... more ›

FRIDAY [fun] Austinist contributors Katie Spence & Reed Becker will be wandering around Austin's "financial district" wearing Ken Lay masks in support of the new documentary film, "Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room" - 2ish this afternoon [art] Tex-Mex Casserole Opening Party at Flux (new collaborative work from Dennis Hodges & Brandon Petree. 6-10) [music] Crack Pipes Record Release party at Beerland (with John Schooley & His One-man Band) [music] True Penny at El... more ›

The 18th Annual Old Settler’s Music Festival kicks off today out at the Salt Lick Pavilion and Camp Ben McCullough, just south of town. The festival features one of the best bluegrass, folk and Americana lineups of any fest in the country, with more than two dozen bands set to perform. For those of you who have not attended, the weekend is a truly unique experience. The ambience of the pecan tree-lined Onion Creek provides a rustic setting for campers and festival goers alike, as the weekend takes on the feel of a time gone-by, one resplendent with campfire singing and outdoor cooking under the lgihts of the Hill Country stars. more ›