Today it was announced that Willie Nelson and "very special guests" will perform the venue's final celebration concert on Sunday, October 26, after sixteen years of operating near the intersection of FM-2244 and Highway 71....

Obama "outraged" by ex-pastor's "ridiculous propositions" US troop deaths hit 7-month high in Iraq What recession? Economy grows slightly in first quarter Albert Hofmann, father of drug LSD, dies in Switzerland Happy 75th birthday, Willie Nelson Paula Abdul gets confused on "American Idol" Spurs eliminate Suns to advance in NBA playoffs......

In less than a week, the patron saint of Outlaw Country - Mr. Willie Nelson himself – turns seventy-five years old. And to celebrate the man and his career, the Texas Music Matters show on local NPR affiliate KUT has produced an hour-long documentary about the redheaded stranger entitled “Amazing Grace: The Story of Willie Nelson.” ...

If you were there to see the many downright amazing clips featured in “You’re Looking at Country,” a Music Mondays presentation at the Drafthouse a few weeks ago hosted by Dallas Wayne, among live performances by Faron Young, Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn and more was The Man in Black himself, Johnny Cash, pickin’ his big hit “Get Rhythm.” ...

Though wholly deserved, it was a little surprising to find our favorite bedroom nerd-rockers Hot Chip on the cusp of huge fame last year. Their album The Warning went gold in the UK, a Mercury Music Prize nomination followed, and sold-out shows across the US and Europe became the norm. This from fellows who record in a London bedsit and look like they walked out of the Dell engineer's cafeteria. As a sold-out crowd at Antone's last May attested to, the group's unique mix of electronics, blue-eyed soul, club bangers, and indie-rock captivated many worldwide searching for a new voice. Hot Chip have always claimed that they loved lots of music, but that nobody made the exact music that they wanted to listen to. And their pastiche of their influences backed the statement up - critics weren't sure what to compare them to. But they sure loved them....

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. ...

Here in Austin, we're all about the environment and stuff. Right? Damn right! So this year's AFF Green Cinema Showcase should go over especially well with all you envirothusiasts out there. This year's program will feature three films that explore topical environmental issues like global warming, industrial hemp production and renewable fuel sources. Oh hey--if you're interested in these films, you might also want to check out Gimme Green, a short documentary exploring America's obsession......

From his beginnings in youth flicks like Explorers and Dead Poets Society to his modern-day gigs with Rick Linklater and Sidney Lumet, Austin native Ethan Hawke has done his fair share of acting. Now he's jumped behind the camera to direct an adaptation of his novel The Hottest State, a story most believe is based on Hawke's 90's fling with singer Lisa Loeb. Regardless of the truth of that rumor, the story centers around......

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......

One of the cornerstone events put on by the Texas Cultural Trust -- which also runs the fledgling young professional arts group, StrataTX -- is the biannual Texas Medal of Arts Awards. Since 2001, the Medal of Arts have recognized "outstanding contributions" by standout Texans, notable past winners of which include Tommy Lee Jones (film), Willie Nelson (music), Phylicia Rashad (TV/theatre) and Joe and Teresa Long (for arts patronage). A slew of events are planned......

One of the cornerstone events put on by the Texas Cultural Trust -- which also runs the fledgling young professional arts group, StrataTX -- is the biannual Texas Medal of Arts Awards. Since 2001, the Medal of Arts have recognized "outstanding contributions" by standout Texans, notable past winners of which include Tommy Lee Jones (film), Willie Nelson (music), Phylicia Rashad (TV/theatre) and Joe and Teresa Long (for arts patronage). A slew of events are......

The Wildhearts have had a fluctuating career marked by numerous peaks and valleys. The English band formed towards the end of the “hair metal” era, released their debut full-length (Earth Vs The Wildhearts) in 1993, and re-formed last year with plans for a new album, due in April of this year. However, their mainstay has always been straight up rock n’ roll, highlighted by the talent, and antics of lead singer, Ginger. Formerly of......

Now that we're in mid-January, club bookings for winter and spring shows are beginning to emerge. While much internet browsing has already been done looking for the SXSW 2007 lineup, there are also plenty of great touring shows dropping in outside of those dates (thankfully). New shows from The Roots, Explosions In The Sky, Midlake, and a Willie Nelson/Merle Haggard double bill top the new additions, but there is plenty here for all musical......

Django Reinhardt’s life might have only spanned the early part of the 20th century, but his renowned compositions inspired a generous collection of musicians like Willie Nelson, Jerry Garcia, Santana, B.B. King, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. The members of Paris 49, galvanized by Reinhardt’s jazz guitar genius, are no different. The band, which includes some of Austin’s own local icons Olivier Giraud and David Chenu, continues its residency at the Continental Club this, and every......

Tonight you might think that Dan Rather's jelly, because chances are he’s gonna be on a roll. Or something. The venerable newsman, and Wharton, Texas native, will be live on set tonight to analyze election results. But he won’t be working with Bob Schieffer or any other straight news reporters from around the nation, as he has done for the last 44 years. Tonight he saddles up alongside Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert on Comedy......

Have an opinion? We think it would be lots of fun to watch you express it while you're going through airport securty. That's it, Coach! Kick 'em while they're down! Perhaps the team members would excel at something else... If these officers can get all those lap dances to investigate liquor laws, we'd like to change our career, sit down with Willie Nelson and investigate some marijuana laws. A prostitute took the high road......

Independent gubernatorial candidate Carole Cougar Keeton Strayhorn thinks Perry should stop taking money from lobbyists, but apparently it's okay to take money from tax consultants. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Bell has officially launched his ad campaign and we hope it is larger-then-life. Independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman sees no reason to apologize for a racist remark made during a stand-up act he gave 26 years ago. Finally the Democrats are pissed; unfortunately it is......

Today Everyday should be take your daughter dog to work day. In cyberspace, Horny men are just as vulnerable as 14-year old girls. Wal-Mart's inventory of cheap, plastic crap will soon include cheap, generic drugs. The philanthropists are coming out of the woodwork! Jesus is showing his face on the floor in an empty house in Conroe. Maybe not the best place for a religious idol to effectively influence our deteriorating society... You people......

The more things change, the more they stay the same. And in some senses, that's a good thing. Louisiana state troopers, notorious for being overzealous in their pursuit of people travelling with drugs, busted Texas legend Willie Nelson and four others with mushrooms and weed. Law enforcement officials issued citations for the men after an early morning commercial vehicle inspection on I-10. "When the door was opened and the trooper began to speak to the......

I can't believe that one week from today, it will all be over - and I'll be waking up and getting ready to fly home to Nashville. But I guess I should just focus on getting through the next four days... and it's going to be hard, because something tells me I'm going to distracted to the point of being completely useless this week at work. Anyway, here's your Monday morning dose of ACL......

Bob Dylan - Modern Times (Columbia): From the opening notes of Modern Times, you can't help but feel that Dylan has been strongly influenced by his recent tours with Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. 'Spirit On The Water' and 'When The Deal Goes Down' each sound like Stardust-era Willie, while several other numbers channel vintage blues stomps and rockabilly in the vein of Haggard's 'Workin' Man Blues' with surprising freshness. The operative word for......

Over the past 40 years, the voice of Willie Nelson has come to represent everything Texan and Western. And now he is using that significant voice to speak out against the abuse of another symbol of the American West, wild horses. The Abbott, Texas native has joined in the fight to help protect wild horses from being slaughtered and used as Happy Meals overseas. On September 7th, Congress will convene to argue over HR......

As gas prices skyrocket seemingly without end, and as air pollution becomes more and more of a health concern these days, the prospect of cheaper & cleaner renewable energy sources is becoming a serious issue with many Texans. The state now stands at a crossroads where it has to make a choice: Do we continue with the present energy policies, or do we seek out new solutions? Whomever we elect as governor this November will, to a large extent, determine our energy fate. So don’t waste your vote, good citizen! Inform thyself! ...

Total annual budget for University of Texas system: $10 billion Number of cell phones confiscated from three "Texas citizens of Pakistani descent," which police alleged could be used in setting off explosives or making meth: 1,000 Cost of renovating Carl's Corner truck stop on I-35 to include a hotel, saloon, and possible golf course, rebadged as Willie's Place in honor of investor Willie Nelson: $5 million Length of sentencing, in years, that 35-year old......

Elsewhere in the Ist-averse [08.05 in Special] Out the Other's ACL Previews: Son Volt, Willie Nelson, The Long Winters and More [08.05 in ACL] Keep Keith Away From The Trees: Stones Confirm Zilker Details [08.04 in Music] Political Tidbits & Outlawing Cleavage [08.04 in Politics] It's Not What You Think! [08.04 in News] Walker, Hungarian Ranger [08.04 in News] Extremely Rare: Free Concert Worth Attending [08.04 in Music] Project Runway #1 In Our Hearts......

Another week, another batch of ACL bands from my Austin City Limits Festival Artist Previews Page. Here's the latest: Son Volt - After seven years and four solo albums, Jay Farrar returned to the studio with Son Volt and emerged last year with Okemah and the Melody of Riot, and proof that his group is still one of the best country-influenced rock bands out there. (full preview) The Long Winters - After about four......

When Atlantic decided to open its Nashville division, the label shipped Jerry Wexler out to scout talent. While in Tennessee, Wexler went to a guitar-pickers’ party where a few old hands were taking turns playing and singing. At some point in the night, however, the guitar stopped in the hands of Willie Nelson. Nelson played through a cycle of songs, a meditation on divorce that later became Phases and Stages, likely the first concept album in country....

Much like their mentor Willie Nelson, the former Saxon Pub regulars Los Lonely Boys can't seem to avoid getting caught with the weed. On Saturday, Austin police responded to complaints at The Omni and arrested Boys' bassist JoJo Garza for marijuana possession... and for allegedly assaulting his fiancee Carina Lyn. While a publicist for the band has called the whole matter "a misunderstanding" and chalked the incident up to noisy partying, the Austin Police......

SmileyWorld, a corporation based in London, is accusing Wal-Mart of stealing their- you guessed it, smiley-faced logo. Wal-Mart may unfortunately have the upper hand in this one. Willie Nelson: Musician, tax evader, potsmoker and...church owner? A true Rennaisance Man. Mosquitos are adapting to pollution. In the over-populated Greece, the annoying insects are mutating to even resist insect repellents. We don't need that raise to be happy. Despite the "jolly" associations with Santa Claus, being......

Willie Nelson, one of the greatest treasures in Texas history, appears on Fresh Air today at 3pm with Terry Gross. Willie's visit coincides with the new book he co-authored with Turk Pipkin, "The Tao of Willie: A Guide to the Happiness in Your Heart." Nelson discusses his new book, his craft, biodiesel and his outstanding recording career that has spanned over 50 years and includes 250 albums. Nelson also discusses a heart-warming story, at the......