Music Archives - NowPlayingAustin.com

A Cappella Texas

A Cappella Texas entertains audiences with world-class a cappella harmony featuring new and challenging contemporary a cappella, doo-wop, gospel music, as well as traditional barbershop arrangements. Since 1961, Austin has been home to a chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS). In the past six decades the Austin Chapter and our quartets have brought people together in harmony and fellowship to enrich lives through singing. Hundreds of local singers and schools have joined in the fun as we have encouraged and preserved the uniquely American a cappella art form known as barbershop music.

A Live One

Music

A Live One is Austin’s premiere Phish tribute band, bringing the magic of Phish to central Texas.

A-Player Media

Festivals ; Music ; Special Events ; Visual Art

We’re master producers who believe in only working with the most influential brands and talented creatives. We help build compelling brand stories, produce exceptional events, and connect artists with the resources they need to showcase their passions.

ACL-Live

Music ; Special Events

Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater is a state-of-the-art, 2,700 + person capacity live music venue that will also serve as the new home of the KLRU-TV produced PBS program Austin City Limits, the longest running music series in American television history. The venue will host 60-100 concerts a year, in addition to the nights the Austin City Limits show will tape. Commitment to green building standards qualify us to apply for LEED® certification, the highest standard for sustainable development.

allgo

Classes ; Educational ; Free Events ; Meetings ; Music ; Nonprofit ; Special Events

allgo is a queer people of color organization and we envision a just and equitable society that celebrates and nurtures vibrant people of color queer cultures. This project is funded and supported in part by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and in part by the City of Austin Economic Development Department/Cultural Arts Division believing an investment in the Arts is an investment in Austin’s future. Visit Austin at NowPlayingAustin.com.

Alliance Francaise of Austin

Classes ; Culinary ; Educational ; Fashion ; Festivals ; Free Events ; Kids & Families ; Museums ; Music ; Poetry & Literature ; Visual Art

Alliance Française of Austin (AFA) is part of the Alliance Française network founded in Paris in 1883. There are over 800 Alliance Française chapters around the world that serve 500,000+ members and students. The Alliance Française network is recognized around the world as the leader and gold-standard in providing superb French language instruction and enriching French-themed cultural events and bridge-building cross-cultural programs. The mission of Alliance Française of Austin is to encourage the study and appreciation of French language and Francophone cultures, and to promote connection and friendship among the peoples of the world. Alliance Française of Austin offers a comprehensive school program with French language classes for adults and children at all levels, monthly French film screenings through the AF Ciné-Club, bi-monthly Pétanque matches, monthly Conversation groups and French Book Club discussions. Membership in Alliance Française d’Austin offers the benefits of engaging with people from other cultures, knowledge of French language and Francophone cultures, and an active social and cultural calendar.

American Listeners Theatre

Music ; Special Events ; Theatre

American Listeners Theatre is delighting Listening Audiences with an eclectic Narrators Grail Quest through the Treasure Trove of Americana Story Legend and Lore from THE MAYPOLE OF MERRYMOUNT at our very beginning to A VISIT WITH JOHN HENRY and MESSAGES FROM THE GREENMAN in the Spacious Now. It is indeed a pleasure to expand our Listening Possibilities in that same Spacious Now and welcome Tom Paine’s COMMON SENSE, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow with PAUL REVERE’S RIDE and THE BUILDING OF THE SHIP, some Twilight Tales from Ambrose Bierce and the merry antics of O. Henry’s GENTLE GRAFTERS to the Critically Acclaimed Performance Bill of Fare.

Amphion Youth Choir

Music

Amphion Youth Choir is Austin’s newest choral community for ages 15 – 23. This summer choir is dedicated toward high-energy vocal performance through the works of innovative new composers, world music, and contemporary acappella. Founded and directed by Steve White, this group comprises over 40 college and high school aged singers based in the Central Texas area.

Andrea Ariel Dance Theatre

Classes ; Dance ; Educational ; Film & Video ; Free Events ; Kids & Families ; Music ; Nonprofit ; Special Events ; Theatre

Our Mission Andrea Ariel Dance Theatre creates original, multi-disciplinary dance-based performances centered at the heart of our human experiences. Inspired by the poetic and everyday elements of life, the company engages in a collaborative, ensemble-based process to explore personal, social, political, and environmental issues with inquisitiveness and imagination. We cultivate inclusive creative opportunities for diverse audiences and participants through performances, community projects, classes, workshops, and educational and training residencies. Company History Over the last thirty years, Andrea Ariel Dance Theatre has presented bold and energetic performances that celebrate the spirit of human nature and grow from asking timely questions about our experiences in contemporary society. Andrea Ariel, Artistic Director, founded the company in 1990 to develop and promote artistic projects that cultivate an inter-relationship between artistic creation and the community. Based in Austin, Texas, AADT has presented over 50 new works, hosted countless community and educational programs with youth and adults, and has provided opportunities for the development and presentation of hundreds of artists from diverse disciplines. Praised as exhilarating, sophisticated, and beautiful to watch, AADT exhibits a distinct movement style that brings together contemporary dance and devised physical theater with original, live music and multimedia. Driven by a passion to confound form between disciplines, the company engages in collaborative projects of the highest caliber involving composers, musicians, singers, actors, writers, visual and media artists as well as members of the community. Our work has included original scores by the boundary pushing talents of line upon line percussion, Graham Reynolds, Peter Stopschinski, world-class opera singer Cheryl Parrish, singer/songwriter Patricia Pike, The Golden Hornet Project as a six-piece orchestra with operatic voices, and NYC composer/conductor Walter Thompson with an 18-member orchestra of dancers, singers, actors and musicians. Recent works include Rally, Locked-in, and The Bowie Project: A Rock & Roll Soundpainting bringing together a twelve-member ensemble collaboration between AADT, Austin’s Bowie tribute band Super Creeps and NYC’s Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble for a one of a kind production that takes audiences on a dance, theatre and rock n’ roll journey through Bowie’s life and music in an exploration of identity (produced in 2014, 2015, and 2017). As a Certified Multi-disciplinary Soundpainter & Educator, Andrea Ariel is well respected for her innovations with this unique sign language for live composition using structured improvisation. She has worked with originator, Walter Thompson, since 1998 and has attended two International Think Tanks (Milan, Italy and Girona, Spain). AADT is the only company practicing and promoting Soundpainting in this region, which is now practiced widely across Europe in both professional and educational circles. AADT was recently selected as a 2019 Creative Ambassador for Dance by the City of Austin and represented Austin in Spain during her travels to the International Soundpainting Think Tank in Madrid. Since the company’s inception, AADT has gained renown for large-scale, thematic works brought to life in specially tailored, on-site locations including historic downtown buildings, an abandoned warehouse, a former car-dealership showroom, city parks, and inside homes (empty and occupied). We have danced on twenty-foot ropes with fifty-gallon steel drums suspended from them, in dresses fashioned out of plastic amid a set of plastic trash, and beneath an overhead metal sculpture. We have achieved new heights with video design including the use of seven state of the art projectors for FLUSH in 2009. LUMEN (2016), a site-specific performance installation in the historic McKean-Eilers building in downtown Austin, brought inspiration from the work of minimalist artist Dan Flavin in a collaboration with line upon line percussion to explore the characteristics of light and space through movement and sound to create a dynamic relationship between all four elements in a unified sensory experience of perception. In 2017 Andrea Ariel and AADT were honored with a special citation from the Austin Critics Table, The Sound and Vision Award, for accomplishments in the realm of dance, and a commitment to visionary cross-discipline work. In 2016 the company received the Site for Sore Eyes and Ears Award for invigorating collaborations of dance and music in site-specific performance. The company has also received twelve nominations and four awards for our work including LUMEN (2016), HEART (2014) and The Bowie Project: A Rock and Roll Soundpainting (2014, 2015, 2017) also named #2 of the Top Nine Big Bang Dance Concerts of 2015. AADT is an Arts Partner with Austin ISD through our ARTSPLUS, arts-in-education program. This program has been held for over 16 years at Austin elementary schools including Brentwood, Barbara Jordon, Metz, Lee, Brooke, Decker, and Rawson Saunders. Our youth programs have included collaborations with the University YWCA as part of The Self-Portrait Project for at-risk youth at low-income housing communities at Fairway Village Apts. and Oak Creek Village Apts., and for women in recovery at the Austin Family House, Legacy Program. Other programs include Rosedale Community School for youth with severe special needs; Lake Travis, McCallum and Plugerville High Schools; Austin Theater for Youth; and St. Andrews Episcopal School. In 2006, Community Voices was formed to cultivate a unique contribution to Austin’s cultural arts and community by initiating innovative ways to interact with the public at large. The program invites community members to participate in free workshops that offer an opportunity for people to come together and be creative, share stories, have a dialogue, and meet new people in their community.

Aquarium Bar

Culinary ; Foundation ; Music

If you’re looking for a place that doesn’t charge extra for great atmosphere, with an excellent combination of interesting people, cocktails, and music that you just don’t see anywhere else. Come sample our fully stocked bar with your favorite imported and domestic beverages, and the best ladies’ rooms on 6th Street!

Armadillo Christmas Bazaar

Festivals ; Foundation ; Music ; Special Events ; Visual Art

The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is a 12 day fine art, shopping destination featuring national and local award-winning artists, live music, and two full bars in a festive, lively atmosphere.

Artisan String Quartet

Music

Four world class professionals make up the Artisan Quartet: Richard Kilmer and Paula E. Bird (violins), Bruce Williams (viola), and Douglas Harvey (cello). Between these four musicians, they have performed on six continents and half the United States. Members of the Austin Symphony and other various organizations in Central Texas, the Artisan members bring a wealth of experience and variety to their music making. QUARTET BIOGRAPHY In it’s brief history, The Artisan Quartet has already performed many concerts around central Texas including at the Victoria Bach Festival, the Incarnate Word University in San Antonio, the Blanco Performing Arts Association Series, the Twilight Series (Jonestown/Lago Vista), the Santa Cecilia Series (Austin), Texas State University (San Marcos), and the Salon Concert Series (San Antonio). The Artisan’s also offer future performances in Austin through the Fall of 2012 with their own "Genius at Play" Series, featuring the complete string quartets of Beethoven. The Quartet is presently in talks with the Austin Symphony to host a chamber music series through the ASO starting in the 2012-2013 season. MidAmerica Productions, Inc. has invited the Artisan Quartet to make its Carnegie Hall debut performing on the Carnegie Hall Weil Recital Hall Chamber Music Series March 22, 2012. The Artisan received a very generous gift from the Classical Artist Development Foundation, Ben Gomez, Co-Founder and Director, to help fund the trip to New York. The group also recently recorded part of the film score soundtrack for the documentary about Barbara Conrad Smith, the legendary Metropolitan Opera singer. The film, entitled "When I Rise" premiered to a standing ovation at its premiere during the SxSW film festival in Austin in March 2010 and aired February 2011 on PBS’s "Independent Lens" series. The Artisan is very proud of its participation in this event. The film was excellent, and it was a pleasure to put the film score together with the director Mat Hames and the composer David Hamburger. The film DVD is available for purchase from www.shoppbs.org.

Artistic Education Company

Classes ; Dance ; Educational ; Fashion ; Festivals ; Free Events ; Kids & Families ; Meetings ; Music ; Nonprofit ; Special Events ; Theatre ; Visual Art

Artistic Education Company mission is to increase access to high quality performing and fine arts education with local efforts to reduce the cost barriers to Texas school districts and Families at no cost. The Austin Jazz Glitz & Glam Concerts, partially funded by the City of Austin Economic Development Cultural Arts Division and sponsored by the Austin Creative Alliance, bring together musicians, dancers, and visual artists in support of our efforts to advance the arts with children at an early age. We believe arts exposure to children at an early age is essential, important, and relevant for a complete education. Join our mission and work towards, “Empowering Children for a More Creative World.”

Artly World

Classes ; Dance ; Educational ; Free Events ; Kids & Families ; Music ; Nonprofit ; Visual Art

Artly World provides exciting arts and music learning programs as part of our larger initiative to empower children, families, and communities with the skills and support systems needed for them to be successful in their personal and professional lives. We provide afterschool programs free and onsite to children in Austin’s underserved communities and free family events at various locations across the city. We want to ensure that meaningful arts and music experiences are accessible to the entire Austin community.

Arts on Alexander

Music ; Nonprofit

Arts on Alexander (AoA) is a nonprofit organization in the heart of East Austin that builds on Austin’s rich artistic history by supporting artists and audiences in their pursuit of the arts. AoA provides local, regional, and international artists and musicians with the opportunity to share their work and develops community by providing a place where art in Austin may be performed, experienced, and enjoyed.

Auditorium Shores

Festivals ; Government ; Music ; Park

Auditorium Shores is an outdoor concert venue overlooking Town Lake Shores, also serving as a popular picnic area with hiking trails.

Austerity Measures

Music

Loud indie rock band featuring primarily original material.

Austin Area Jazz Festival

Festivals ; Music

The Austin Area Jazz Festival is a celebration of music, culture, diversity, and the arts. We provide opportunities to experience jazz throughout the year with music performances, cultural activities, and community events.

Austin Baroque Orchestra & Chorus

Educational ; Music ; Nonprofit

Embarking upon its seventh full concert season, the Austin Baroque Orchestra & Chorus is a Central Texas-based ensemble that presents historically informed performances of music from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries using replicas of instruments from the 16th, 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries. Through innovative and carefully curated programming, the ensemble’s mission is to promote early music in Central Texas, particularly in Austin and San Antonio. Each season features a series of five diverse concerts of orchestral, choral-orchestral, and chamber works. These programs consist of a varied repertoire, from a cappella Renaissance motets to large-scale Baroque cantatas, and from Classic-era chamber music to larger orchestral works such as symphonies and concerti. A particular specialization for the ensemble is the music of colonial Latin America. Preceding each concert is an informal and informative talk about the music led by founder and artistic director, Billy Traylor. Highlights of the ensemble’s recent seasons include “Native Tongues,” a concert of sacred music from 16th- and 17th-century Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, and Spain, with texts mostly in indigenous or Creole languages. This performance, at San Antonio’s historic Mission Concepción, was the ensemble’s fifth performance at the UNESCO World Heritage Site. In March 2017, the ensemble mounted its first performance of Bach’s monumental St. John Passion, and in 2015 the ensemble performed the first known Texas performance of the larger, 1732 version of Handel’s first oratorio, Esther. ABO has been invited to perform at a number of conferences and meetings, most notably a 2012 performance in Mexico at the Cathedral-Basilica of Durango as part of the third annual Festival of Viceregal Music; that concert consisted of works composed for the cathedral in the eighteenth century and currently preserved in its archives. Other similar performances include the upcoming Lozano Long Conference (University of Texas at Austin, 2018) and the International Conference on Historical Linguistics (University of Texas at San Antonio, 2017), as well as the American Choral Directors’ Association Second Symposium on Latin American Music (Austin, 2015), and the American Guild of Organists Regional Conference (Austin, 2013). ABO began in May, 2011, as a chamber ensemble called Ensemble Settecento. Today, the combined orchestra and choir is made up of over thirty musicians with advanced training in historically informed performance who perform using period instruments and historic diction.

Austin Cabaret Theatre

Dance ; Educational ; Free Events ; Music ; Nonprofit ; Special Events ; Theatre ; Visual Art

The Austin Cabaret Theatre is a non-profit organization founded by Stuart Moultan in 2001. Stuart was a new Austinite by way of California who was thrilled to find Austin’s vibrant art scene, but disappointed to discover that cabaret performances were missing. With his background in performing, directing, and producing, Stuart established the Austin Cabaret Theatre with a roster that has included Ann Hampton Callaway, Steve Ross, Jason Graae, Charo Sam Harris, and many others.

Austin Camerata

Festivals ; Music

Austin Camerata is a festival that reimagines chamber music and reaches new audiences through unconventional concerts, artistic collaborations, and community engagements. We believe that engaging with all members of the audience is one of the reasons that chamber music is so special. Wherever the performance takes place, we aim to create a connection with every person who listens to our concerts.

Austin Camerata

Dance ; Educational ; Festivals ; Free Events ; Kids & Families ; Music ; Poetry & Literature ; Theatre ; Visual Art

Austin Camerata’s mission is to enrich communities, both familiar and unfamiliar to the world of classical chamber music, through creative concerts, artistic collaborations, and community outreach. The result: entertaining, educating, and inspiring performances, which transcend the barriers of age, race, and economic standings.

Austin Chamber Ensemble

Music

The Austin Chamber Ensemble was formed in 1981 as a wind quintet. It has gradually branched out to include all instrumental and vocal combinations in its concerts. The ensemble has given concerts, master classes and school concerts in many Texas cities as part of the Texas Commission on the Arts touring program. Incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1985, the Austin Chamber Ensemble has always had major goals for creative programming, performing new works, artist exchanges and educational presentations. PRICE: Adults: $25 at the door, $20 pre-sale reservations; Students with I.D.: $10; Ages 5-17 FREE This project is funded and supported in part by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and in part by the City of Austin Economic Development Department/Cultural Arts Division believing an investment in the Arts is an investment in Austin’s future. Visit Austin at NowPlayingAustin.com.

Austin Chamber Ensemble

Educational ; Kids & Families ; Music ; Nonprofit

The Austin Chamber Ensemble was formed in 1981 as a wind quintet. It began with a series of six concerts in 1985 as a tribute to the Texas Sesquicentennial with the Six Flags Over Texas concerts featuring composers from France, Spain, Texas, Mexico, the Confederacy, and the US. These were performed in the Elizabeth Ney Museum and included Austin Chamber Ensemble members and guest artists. Although the Austin Chamber Ensemble initially had a wind quintet as its core ensemble, it has gradually branched out to include all instrumental and vocal combinations in its concerts. Some of the more successful concerts have included chamber orchestra with two pianos and narrator in The Carnival of the Animals, Christmas concert with the Southwestern University Chorale, composers series including concerts featuring women composers and concerts of works by well-known composers Robert Starer and Emma Lou Diemer, who was in residence for the concert., and cabaret concerts featuring lighter works such as the Bolling Suite for jazz flute. Works have been commissioned from composers Donald Grantham, Noel Alford, and Emma Lou Diemer. A unique program was given November 7, 1997, Chamber Music Goes to the Movies, in which chamber music by film composers was featured. This was the first concert of its kind in Austin. In addition to the Austin series, the ensemble has given concerts, master classes and school concerts in many Texas cities as part of the Texas Commission on the Arts touring program. In December of 1993 the ACE Wind Quintet was honored to be selected out of 300 groups to perform for the New Year’s Fest in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and in June of 1994 for the Birmingham, Alabama City Stages Festival. The Austin Chamber Ensemble has traveled three times to Europe to perform concerts in Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, and The Netherlands as part of its exchange program, and has also sponsored artists from Germany and France as well as other American states in Austin concerts. Some other events have included a five-course dinner with wines at the Belgian Restaurant with chamber music interspersed between the courses. The owner, Jean Louis Dehoux, donated the entire proceeds of the event toward the Armonico Chamber Music Series. Incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1985, the Austin Chamber Ensemble has always had the major goals of creative programming, performing new works, artist exchanges and educational presentations.

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