There is absolutely no reason to stay in on Friday evening. Whether it's DJ Shadow at La Zona Rosa or Future Clouds and Radar at The Parish, downtown offers you a wide variety of music to kick off your weekend....

The holiday season can slow things down in town but it cannot keep you from yearning for some good, live music and busting out your new, Santa provided wardrobe. If you have not had your mistletoe and Kringle fix, Emo’s steps in with a Christmas special (literally) on Friday. Christmas Special (featuring members of Voxtrot) provide Holiday cheer and Christmas carols with support from The Black and Red Leaves....

Still from The Public Enemy The Public Enemy w/ White Ghost Shivers LiveWednesday, December 05Alamo Drafthouse Downtown (320 E 6th Street)9:30pm, $12, 21+[info] | [tickets]Calling all boozehounds! December 5th is your day to party 1930s style, as we celebrate the ratification of the 21st amendment to the U.S. constitution. You know--the end of prohibition! On December 5th 1933, the Twenty-first amendment was officially ratified, out-amending the sucky, unpopular 18th amendment which outlawed the sale of......

photo from refractionarts.org The Assumption Junktion Funktion!Saturday, November 17Scoot Inn (1308 E. Fourth)Doors at 9pm[info]As we recently reported, Refraction Arts' The Assumption is making a return this holiday season. "By riotous demand," the show will play for three weeks, starting December 7th. To celebrate the return of this theatre event, the cast and crew are throwing a hell- fund-raising hootenanny at Scoot Inn, tomorrow night. Entertainers and fellow revelers will include the house band, Fast......

The Austin Music Foundation presents the third installment of its ever popular She Rocks Calendar Series this month. Created by Ricardo Acevedo and In The RA Studios, the calendar first debuted in 2006, and has since seen notable local female rockers such as Amber Dickerson of Full Stride, Margaret Myrick of Blackholicus, Cella Blue of White Ghost Shivers, and Stella Maxwell of Cruiserweight grace its pages. The first edition’s proceeds were collected for New Orleans......

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......

Old music lovers need to shake a leg - to cut a rug - this Sunday at the Second Sunday Sockhop – a monthly dance party at Longbranch Inn (featuring rare, popular and totally danceable) songs from the ‘50s, ’60s and ’70s. This upcoming Sunday is the one year anniversary. Expect to see records hanging from the ceiling and free mixed CDs, says Westen Borghesi, aka “Shorty Stump.” Weston and the other three DJs (Jim......

THURSDAY [31] music • Scion Live Metro presents GZA, Fyre Department at The Parish Room (FREE, RSVP before 5pm!) art • Opening Reception: George Krause: The Elizabeth Portraits & Other Works at d berman gallery, 1701 Guadalupe St (6-8pm) books • Douglas Brinkley presents The Reagan Diaries at BookPeople (7:00pm) comedy • Russ Nagel, "America's Funniest Biker," with Trey Galyon at Cap City Comedy Club film • "Notorious" at The Paramount Theatre film •......

FRIDAY [20] benefit/music • Ashera-Blare-A IV with All In the Golden Afternoon, The Heirs, The Minderchucks, and The Otters at Club DeVille beer/party • Black Star Co-op's Craft Beer Celebration with Pong, Opposite Day, The Second Line Social, and fine craft beer from around the country at Fiesta Gardens (8pm-Midnight, $10) comedy • Punchline, open mic stand up comedy at ColdTowne Theater (10pm) dance • Room, part of Refraction Arts' Fuse Box Festival at The......

The 57th Annual Austin Fine Arts Festival is set to showcase the creative powerhouse of Austin artistry Saturday and Sunday, April 14 and 15 at Republic Square Park. The festival will shine a light on the work of more than 220 visual artists as well as Grammy award winning musicians. The event will also feature artist demos, local food, and art activities. Tickets are $8, kids 12 and under get in free. Saturday's festivities run......

Heads up! The Idiots are having a party this Saturday! The fun and friendly folks at St Idiot Collective have put together quite a bash to celebrate their second birthday. Why...they're just babes, aren't they? Check out this action: The go-go famous Aubrey Edwards will be running a photobooth -- get yer pic snapped! The Idiots have erected a private karaoke booth -- croon on, good reader, croon on. Somewhere amongst all the fun......

The White Ghost Shivers gave an amazing, energetic performance at the EFF fundraiser last night. More shots after the jump.......

Mad scientists with Victorian flair, lend us your ears: next week is your week to sail your rocketships to the moon -- or at least dock them at a SXSW steampunk party. And for the rest of you who don't regularly don goggles and ride penny-farthings: about steampunk. ">Steampunk refers to a brand of creative science fiction that weds modern technophilia with the sweet trappings of railroads, air balloons, top hats and all-around steam engine-ness,......

WEDNESDAY [14] music • White Ghost Shivers Valetine's Day Party at Scoot Inn music • Bigwood, Street Light Suzie, Sedium, The Ivory Class at Emo's Lounge music • The Stags, Future Clouds and Radar, Radar Radar, The Strange Boys at Emo's music • Kitty Kitty Bang Bang Valentine's Day Party at Stubb's music • Anti-Valentines Day Second Halloween Party at Beerland music • Jimmie Dale Gilmore at Cactus Café (8:30pm) music • People Skills,......

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.......

Last week we brought you Unlock Austin’s Red River Pass. This week, Unlock Austin brings us its first “Lose Your Resolution” Party featuring IV Thieves, White Ghost Shivers, and Seth Walker. The schedule includes a fashion show, with outfits designed by the participating bands to be modeled by none other than former Mayoral candidate and always entertaining Leslie Cochran. The event is co-sponsored by Soundcheck Magazine, Austin Music Foundation, and Steaz. A true believer in......

Unlock Austin offers readers tools to monitor their favorite band's shows, and in turn recommends music based on your preferences. Created to open new avenues for fans and musicians alike, the site promotes networking while allowing anyone to write frank and honest reviews. Unlock Austin kicks off true to form in January with a number of interesting projects. Besides hosting their upcoming “Lose Your Resolution Party” featuring IV Thieves, White Ghost Shivers, and Seth Walker......

THURSDAY [14] art • Ethan Azarian's Art Show 2006: Alien Abduction series, Fruit in the City, Eight Foot Cows (First Night 05), and more at In House Gallery (2514 East 17th Street, 5-10pm) music • Shapes & Sizes, Weird Weeds, Lovely Sparrows, Benko at Emo's music • OHN, Lila's Medicine at Flamingo Cantina music • Ruthie Foster at Cactus Café music • Balmorhea, Low Line Caller, Sthil at The Mohawk music • White Ghost......

THURSDAY [16] wine • Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé! at Various music • Peter and the Wolf, The Interest Kills at The Mohawk music • The Elected (Members of Rilo Kiley), Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos, Whispertown 2000 at Emo's Lounge music • Jack Ingram & Reckless Kelly at Stubb's music • The Pretenders, Operation:Awesome at Austin Music Hall music • White Ghost Shivers, Dewayn Bros at Beerland music • St. Lawrence......

The White Ghost Shivers know how to a throw a party, and for Halloween they'll be taking over the Oaks in Manor for an evening of variety-show mayhem. If the country-swing-ragtime attack of the Shivers was not enough, St. Idiot Collective’s vaudeville act joins the festivities featuring some of the Austin’s most talented stage actors. Having recently wrapped up their first production, Vaudeville Vanya, the Idiots are planning another night of artistic innovation at......

Good day to you, music fans! If you weren’t enjoying last night’s music and festivities at the Austinist’s high-energy pre-ACL party, Local Music Is Sexy 2, I regret to inform you that you missed one hell of a great time. I was honored to serve as emcee of this year’s event (although I had to remind myself to shut up and keep it short at the mic), and the evening served as inspiration for the playlist I’m assembling for this evening’s Laurie Show on KUT 90.5. ...

Only one more week and I'll be waking up in Austin, ready to put on an entire bottle of sunscreen and head out to Zilker Park for my favorite music festival in the world. I know you guys may have thought I forgot about you - but I've been hard at work on my Austin City Limits Festival Preview Page, trying to wrap up the project before the festival actually starts. From today through......

KUT's Laurie Gallardo dishes about local bands...

We've asked KUT's Laurie Gallardo, host of Before the Break and a new local music program on Friday evenings, to join our staff as a guest contributor. She'll be sharing with us the many Austin- and Texas-based bands that she's been listening to. Enjoy! -- The Editors First and foremost, I must express my undying gratitude to all the peeps, including the Austinist, who’ve provided their support, and for promoting my new on-air gig.......

[The following is editorial content by contributor Kristina Barnett and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Austinist staff. --The Editors] Austinist has covered the burgeoning improv scene before, but this edition of Audio Austinist is a story about how doing something like improv changes people's perspectives. Improv is about taking risks and learning to fail. It's about overcoming your fears and just plain old having a good time. Know anyone who needs a......

Beerland, Red River bastion of vintage arcade machines, loud rock shows, and the occasional Tonewheel Collective, turns five this week. To celebrate, they're booking four solid days of Austin-based acts: Wednesday, June 21st White Ghost Shivers, Jungle Rockers, Mr. Lewis and the Funeral Five, Caroine Casey Thursday, June 22nd My Education Friday, June 23rd Those Peabodies, Strange Boys, When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth, Human Being Lawnmower Saturday, June 24th This Damn Town, Brimstone Howl, Golden......

MONDAY [19] [film] Tickets on Sale Now for Superman Returns, opening June 27th @ Alamo at Alamo South (Multiple Shows, $8) (more) [sports] World Cup Matches at Alamo Village (Daily, Various) (more) [film] State vs. Reed (funds from screening benefit Rodney Reed's family) at Alamo Downtown (7pm) (more) [film] Casino at Austin Java (8pm, FREE) (more) [film] The Fearless Freaks at Café Mundi (8pm, FREE) (more) [film] Fela Kuti: Music is the Weapon at Alamo......

If you're looking forward to another Sunday night of red hot laptop surfin', work email checkin' and Netflix queue updatin', we suggest you shake off that modern coil and head down to the first annual OoBenanny Fundraiser and Auction. Inspired by old-fashioned folk hootenannies, the OoBenanny fundraiser and auction is being thrown by Gnap! Theatre Projects to raise money for the 2006 Out of Bounds Comedy Festival and Miniature Golf Tournament. Last year's festival......