The 21st season of KGSR's Blues on the Green concert series continued Wednesday night with a pair of joint return visits from Nakia and Marcia Ball on a hot night in Zilker Park. more ›

Last week ended the 20th run of Blues on the Green - the free outdoor concert series sponsored by radio station KGSR. more ›

In 2006, Ghostland Observatory was meticulously plying its trade on the club scene when one afternoon performance at the Austin City Limits Music Festival changed the duo’s career trajectory drastically. Fast forward to 2010. This time around, effervescent soul outfit T Bird and the Breaks seems destined for glory come October. A quick glance at the crowd at any of its shows offers evidence of the band’s draw among all demographics. It’s hardly surprising given the universal appeal of the troupe’s savvy soul sound. The band may have gained a decent amount of recognition and played a few choice concerts in town already, but it’s that ever prestigious spot at ACL Fest that could well be the ticket to the big time. more ›

Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, better known in the world of songs and mud-flinging as M.I.A., is two things for sure: 1. a dance music whirlwind capable of throwing down some of the catchiest fire-starting political statements, and 2. a proven lightning rod for criticism. It's not just in her over-the-top public persona, complete with multiple and potentially narcissistic variations on her name, but her willingness to engage in back and forth shit-talking via twitter, that makes her a compelling character. Some fallout: after being a critical darling since her debut in 2005, her newest album, /\/\ /\ Y /\ (a statement on the joys of creative typography only a postmodern e.e. cummings could love), has been panned in all the right places despite the fact that a few of its tracks are among the year's most infectious. See "XXXO" and "Born Free" for proof she's still got it. more ›

By the time U.K.’s FOALS take the stage for their ACL Fest set at Zilker Park on Sunday, they may well be the winners of the prestigious Mercury Prize for 2010. They are going up against luminaries like Paul Weller and peers such as The xx so this is no sure thing, but just the nomination itself speaks volumes about their undoubted talent. more ›

The thrill of the early hours of day one at the Austin City Limits Music Festival is nearly upon you. Yeah, you know the feeling. Your mind is eagerly processing the promise of three days of continuous live music, inevitable good times, and relentless shenanigans. The positive vibes have enveloped your very being even as you enter the largely vacant Zilker Park almost impatiently before noon, looking for an initial burst of euphony to send you on your way. Your first stop should most certainly be the Lady Bird Lake Stage, where GIVERS’ sunny-side-up pop tunes are sure to magnify all that optimism. The band members evoke passion from the moment they take the stage; their enticing melodies and tantalizing rhythms will have you dancing with joy in no time. Heck, you’ll probably be wishing you could bottle their irrepressible zeal for quick little boosts of energy at regular intervals throughout the weekend. more ›

L.A.-based Local Natives seem to have come from nowhere, but a little digging into the group’s past proves that they’ve been paying dues for quite some time. Their debut full-length, Gorilla Manor, was first only released in the U.K. and hardly made a blip in the U.S., but their time spent in obscurity didn’t last very long. more ›

This year's Austin City Limits festival headliners have been announced, and the list includes Muse, The Eagles, Phish, The Flaming Lips, M.I.A., and The Strokes. The festival takes place from October 8th through the 10th at Zilker Park. more ›

Efforts to "rehabilitate" the sod were stymied by the rain, which has created several small wading pools throughout the park—Austin Parks and Recreation asks that visitors avoid those areas. more ›

Michael Corcoran over at Austin360 managed to get his hands on the contract that C3 made with the city, revealing that the festival producers pay a little under an estimated $100k annually to rent out part of Zilker Park. more ›

Austin 360 is reporting that next year's ACL Festival will take place Oct. 8-10 at Zilker Park. more ›

With much of Zilker Park largely submerged under composted sewage sludge and yard trimmings, the city parks department has declared the Great Lawn off-limits through the rest of the month. more ›

It was quite the change from years past. The dusty fields replaced by a lush green meadow and now, the insistent rain to ensure that heat exhaustion was no longer an issue. A wet day two at the 2009 Austin City Limits Music Festival was never going to dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd, already enjoying Flogging Molly at the AMD Stage despite the relentless downpour during the late afternoon hours. En route to the Xbox 360 Stage for …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead’s set at 5 p.m., we couldn’t help but admire the assorted rain gear, casting color below the grey sky. …Trail of Dead has been around for over a decade, starting out with just Conrad Keely and Jason Reece in the mid-90’s and plying their trade as a six-piece of late. Their catalogue encompasses a few different genres but the underlying aspect is that these guys just plain rock out. Be it ethereal soundscapes, punk thrashers, epic prog-rock, or the occasional tender ballad, …Trail of Dead deliver an amazing live show, two drummers and all. The locals kicked off with “Will You Smile Again?” and what followed was a 50 minute blitzkrieg consisting of choice tracks from the band’s extensive discography. Reece and Keely swapped vocal duties at times, each showcasing his distinct style via “Days Of Being Wild” and “How Near, How Far” respectively. While Keely seemed content swaying side to side, Reece pranced all over the stage like a man possessed, pounding his drums, picking up the guitar when needed, jumping down to the photo pit to sing to his audience, and even playing cheerleader occasionally. The highlight had to be the raucous “A Perfect Teenhood” although we were pleased that fellow Madonna selection “Clair De Lune” was included. All in all the band was in fine form and it is heartening to see them get some love from their hometown. They deserve it. more ›

There was a definite buzz in the air. And the excitement was palpable. You don’t get too many opportunities to witness legends from bands like The Beatles, The Doors, or in this case Led Zeppelin, live in concert and it wasn’t surprising that the eager crowd included a good chunk of our city’s media personnel. Plus there were a handful of local luminaries in attendance -- Spoon’s Jim Eno sat directly behind us while Lance Armstrong, in the section to our left, seemed to enjoy himself throughout. But the star power tonight was undoubtedly on stage. more ›

After an extensive renovation project , the Great Lawn at Zilker Park is reopening to the public today. The 46-acre north section of Zilker has been fenced off since January, as it underwent the final phase of its first major improvement project since it was original developed in the 1930s. more ›

This year, volunteers at ACL will need to pay a fee to participate. The fee ($10) will go toward enhancements to the volunteer program. more ›

Last week, sometime during the night, a 23-inch pecan tree (#NT033) snapped off about five feet above ground and fell near the stone pillars above the pool's parking lot. No one was hurt. It was originally scheduled to be removed, but the determination was later changed (see "Tree Maintenance Table", June 18th) as a result of the public meetings to: "PARD will prune to eliminate dead wood and broken limbs." When called for a comment, Don Gardner, an independent arborist who evaluated some of the trees around Barton Springs, said, "I did not inspect that tree as part of my evaluation. I do remember glancing at the tree during my walk and thinking it should be removed." According to Victor Ovalle, PARD spokesman, the failure has not been analyzed. Three trees have been cut down around the playground area, but the trimming of dead wood in the trees to be preserved has not yet begun. more ›

Amidst a massive budget shortfall, City of Austin is considering whether or not to cancel this year's Trail of Lights at Zilker Park. more ›

Beginning this Thursday, Austin Shakespeare offers up the latest twist on the young romantics, as the 24th annual FREE Shakespeare in Zilker Park season opens and runs through June 7th, playing at the Sheffield Hillside Theatre (across the parking lot from Barton Springs). This bicultural interpretation, directed by Ann Ciccolella, is set in Central Texas in the 1940’s and looks at the story through a Mexican-American lens, including some dialogue delivered in Spanish. more ›

The 8th annual Austin City Limits music festival will take place October 2-4 at Zilker Park. Tickets will be available starting April 7, and the full lineup is due for release April 28. more ›

• Wild Fire Cafe among many losses in major Bastrop County blaze.
• Nearly necked men coming to a La Bare at Lincoln Village!
• If these bills pass the lege, teen sex-ed in Texas could change. Then maybe we won't have the third-highest rate of teen pregnancy in the U.S.

• Unseasonably warm weather today, but a cold front is coming!
• Soft toilet paper makes polar bears cry.
• City of Austin to take, dole out fed funding.

Cornyn wins a second term in the US Senate. Seriously. Will Craddick keep his gavel? Governor's mansion is ready for restoration now. Tomorrow the city is expected to settle the lawsuit with Kevin Brown's family. Some drivers are crossing the CapMetro picket line. It's that time of year again: city workers today began setting up the Zilker Tree of Lights. Improvements to Zilker Park begin in January. more ›

Stick with Austinist all weekend for set reviews, photos and interviews from the festival. Things are already underway, and we'll be there to give you the inside scoop on your favorite performers like Stars, Yeasayer, White Denim, the Strange Boys, Jamie Lidell and much more. more ›

From Gypsy punk to singer/songwriter to world musician to Talking Head, the AT&T Stage on Friday, September 26th at this year’s Austin City Limits will host a wide range of talent. The music begins later in the morning, but the final act, Manu Chao, closes out the evening as the night’s final band at 8:30 p.m. As a stage reserved for some of the bigger acts, you’ve most likely heard these guys, or at least heard of them. If neither, well then maybe you should bring a blanket and a smile and plant yourself up front for the duration for some aural edification. more ›

This year, ACL Fest is hosting quite a few official after parties and shows, featuring the talents of Gnarls Barkley, Manu Chao, the Butthole Surfers, Conor Oberst, Bill Callahan and Jose Gonzalez just to name a few. more ›

Man (and a couple of cars) crushed by falling pecan tree limb at parking lot near Zilker Hillside Theatre. Austin school board to choose new name for Johnston High today. The Florence fire flared up -- yet again -- on Sunday evening, causing more evacuations. After the deadly bus accident on Friday, Sen. Hutchison is calling for tougher charter bus regulation. FTC re-opening hearings on Whole Foods. more ›

Snapshots from Sunday's Zilker Kite Festival more ›

This Sunday, grab a friend, grab a kite and head down to Zilker Park for a local tradition that is over 50 years older than SXSW and over 70 years older than ACL Fest. If we're talking about true Austin, the Zilker Park Kite Festival can't be beat. more ›

Looks like ACL Fest organizers have chosen Groundhog Day to release their mildly discounted multi-passes. 3-day passes priced at $150 including service charges are on sale now at ACLFest.com. more ›