We all knew that Bon Iver was a special project when singer/songwriter Justin Vernon, crafted his heart-torn 2007 debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago, in a cabin in Wisconsin’s wilderness. With that he captured all that cold, barren isolation and poured that sentiment into stripped down acoustic melodies and yearning falsettos that set chills up our spines as we listened along. What we may not have realized is that Bon Iver’s self-titled sophomore release set the stage for Vernon to return a new man, bold and brave and ready for a new venture of his creation. more ›

On Thursday, The Long Center presents Tango Buenos Aires, a renowned dance troupe known for putting on quite a show. We don't know much about tango that we haven't learned from the movies (Moulin Rouge and Strictly Ballroom both give entertaining nods to this dramatic Argentinian dance), so the chance to check out a professional troupe seems too great an opportunity to miss. more ›

As usual, December’s events calendar is overflowing with festive possibility, so the time has come to pick and choose your diversions carefully. Ballet Austin’s The Nutcracker, taking place at The Long Center for the second year in a row, clearly ranks as one of the more classic and sure-to-please options available; we caught the show last weekend and found it a fun beginning to the next few weeks of holiday shenanigans. more ›

Last night, Rare Magazine celebrated at the Long Center with local bands, food and beverages from local vendors, and fireworks. Harlem, White Denim and Grupo Fantasma were on hand, as well as DJ Manny. All photos courtesy Pooneh Ghana. more ›

Rare Magazine’s 2nd annual “Rarest of Them All” awards will be held this Wednesday, June 3rd at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, from 6-10 p.m. The “Rarest of them All” issue, on stands now, highlights Austin’s favorite local businesses and people. The awards ceremony for the winners will be brimming with complimentary booze, food, music, and even fireworks after dark hosted by Wolf Stuntworks. In addition to performances by DJ Manny, Harlem, White Denim and headliner Grupo Fantasma, local reader’s choice vendors will host interactive booths to keep everyone entertained and out of trouble. more ›

The Austin Symphony Orchestra will kick off their seventh season of "Hartman Foundation Concerts in the Park" this Sunday, May 31 at 7:30pm. The free, hour-long concert series runs Sunday evenings throughout the summer (until August 23). You are invited to bring a blanket, lawn chair and a picnic to Hartman Concert Park at the Long Center [directions]. The ASO's Large String Ensemble's show this weekend will focus on Classical music; there is a good mix of ensembles and music genres in the summer schedule. [Austin Symphony Orchestra] more ›

Audio Inversions is an organization dedicated to presenting concerts that showcase new compositions by contemporary composers and they're holding their season finale this evening at the Long Center. The program is entitled “Meditations and Homage," and includes a piece by the winner of their composition competition, Baljinder Singh Sekhon, entitled "Lou" which was written for cello and percussion orchestra. more ›

Debutantes and Vagabonds' Are You Alive?, billed as "a collection of macabre theatre", and featuring a series of short plays interspersed with performances from various notable local bands—White Ghost Shivers, The Georgian Company, or Scott H. Biram, depending on the night—turned out to be a compelling concept that, in practice, had little reason to exist. more ›

The performance series, spread over three nights, splices together a series of short plays from local playwrights Aimee Gonzalez, Fred Jones IV, Greg Romero, and Sarah Saltwick, with live music from notable Austin bands—White Ghost Shivers on night one, Georgian Company on night two, and Scott H. Biram closing things down. Each play is punctuated with a song or two from the musical guest, creating a sort-of variety show effect that offers a few different takes on what makes the live arts so vital. more ›

Kicking off in early October with American novelist and general literary badass Elizabeth Gilbert, the Paramount will play host to a variety of big productions (Of Mice and Men, Cirque Shanghai, Stomp), musicians (Rufus Wainwright, Wynton Marsalis, Woody Allen and his New Orleans Jazz Band), and heroes of public radio (David Sedaris, Sarah Vowell) through next May. Other notable surprises among the schedule include John Waters' doubtlessly over-the-top 'Holiday Show', the adorably rascally Don Rickles, and actress Diane Keaton. more ›

If the "sip and stroll" food event is your thing, there is no higher level to this experience than Stars Across Texas. It's always one of the top nights of the year for foodies, and many of the wine and restaurant industry's top talents will be on hand to show off their latest creations. Adding to this year's intrigue is a relocation from the Hilton downtown to the more dramatic environs of The Long Center. more ›

When reviewing Wilde, as when reviewing Shakespeare, there is an overwhelming desire by the reviewer to seem as brilliant, poetic, and insightful. This is, of course, impossible, so at the risk of sound oh so trite, we will begin by simply stating that An Ideal Husband as produced by Austin Shakespeare is ideal in many respects. more ›