Miles Bloxson and Elizabeth McQueen

One Year Later

We talked to people from across the spectrum of the Austin music ecosystem around the 1-year anniversary of the cancellation of SXSW. In this episode, you’ll hear how they’ve coped, pivoted, evolved, gained new perspectives and dealt with trauma during the last 12 months.

You’ll hear from singer, songwriter and guitar player Jackie Venson, songwriter, producer and activist Mobley, Stephanie Bergara who fronts the band Bidi Bidi Banda, Maggie Lea co-owner of Cheer-Up Charlies, musician and founder of Austin Texas Musicians Nakia, singer, songwriter and podcaster Walker Lukens,  live-event coordinator, screenwriter and co-founder of The Amplified Sound Coalition, Jeannette Gregor, executive director of the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, Reenie Collins, and executive director of Austin Texas Musicians, Pat Buchta.

We have a survey and we’d love to hear what you think! Go ahead! Take the survey here! 

Pause/Play Season 2 Episode 1

Links:

Listen to Jackie Venson’s music

Check out Mobley’s new record “Young and Dying in the Occident Supreme”

Listen to Nakia’s new single “It’s Never Too Late.”

The Amplified Sound Coalition

Austin Texas Musicians

The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians

 

 

 

 

The Return of Live Music Part 2

Hear from people across the spectrum of the Austin music scene talk about their live music experiences during the pandemic.

In the first segment you’ll hear Pedro Carvalho and Lawrence Boone from the venue The Far Out Lounge talk about how they’ve managed to stay open and have consistent live music. Then KUT reporter Andrew Weber takes you to a show that’s also a Dumpster Fire. Matt Ott from the Austin non-profit Black Fret brings you perspectives from an indoor show at ACL live. And Miles Bloxson talks to three fans about their risk tolerances and relationships with live music during COVID.

Listen to this episode of Pause/Play

Open Enrollment for the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians is open through December 15th. Find out more here: https://www.myhaam.org/become-a-member

Pause/Play: Episode 6

Some Austin Music Venues Won’t Get COVID Relief Money Until Next Year. They Say They’re Running Out Of Time. by Andrew Weber

Austin City Council Takes Steps Toward Relief For Live Music Venues And ‘Legacy’ Business by Andrew Weber

This song was featured in this episode of Pause/Play

Listen on The Apple Podcasts AppSpotify

 

The Return of Live Music Part 1

Live Music has returned to Austin, even as COVID cases continue to surge in Texas. Hear about three live music experiences from the perspective of a fan, three musicians and a promoter.

Listen to this episode of Pause/Play

In this episode you’ll hear from:
host Elizabeth McQueen stepping into the role of a fan
Greg Gonzalez, bass player for Money Chicha & Grupo Fantasma
Tomar Williams from Tomar and the FC’s
Geoff Earle from Stiletto Feels
Walker Lukens from Walker Lukens and the Sidearms. He’s also the co-host of the Song Confessional Podcast

Love and Lightstream
Antones
Central Machine Works 

Pause-Play: Episode 5

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Listen to Songs from this Episode

Jackie Venson Artist Feature

For the first 50 days of quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic, Austin musician Jackie Venson live-streamed hours of musical performances from her home. She awoke at the end of the meditative marathon to a new normal for Austin musicians: no touring, no in-person shows, and no idea of what would come next. But in her calmed state of mind, Venson focused on her practice and her music, and used her platform to stand for Black musicians and Black lives. Last month, she received the honor of playing her first ACL Live performance – a culmination of her patience and perseverance in this uncertain year.

Video by Julia Reihs.

Jackie Venson and Austin City Limits

Follow Austin musician Jackie Venson as she makes her debut on the iconic Austin City Limit’s TV show. You’ll hear how Jackie has been pivoting during the pandemic, and find out how Austin City Limits has been adapting to taping shows without a live audience.

Listen to this episode of Pause/Play

Listen on The Apple Podcasts AppSpotify

Pause-Play Episode 4
Show Notes Links:

Follow Jackie Venson on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tik Tok

Follow Austin City Limits on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

This Song Episode featuring Jackie Venson

ACL Radio announces ‘Blues on the Screen’ event curated by Jackie Venson – Article by Deborah Sengupta Stith

Watch The Jackie Venson’s curated Blues on the Screen

Check out Jackie Venson’s Vintage Machine Album

ACL Live Show on November 20th

Austin City Limit’s Television Show

 

 

The Venues

In this episode, you’ll hear from the owners two Austin venues. Brodie Elkins tells the story of Scratchouse which closed due to the pandemic. Then Maggie Lea and Tamara Hoover talk about how they’ve kept their venue, Cheer Up Charlies, afloat and explain what it’s been like to get ready to reopen.

Listen on The Apple Podcasts App, Spotify

Follow Cheer Up Charlies: Instagram and Twitter

Resources:

Music Venue Alliance Austin

Red River Cultural District

National Independent Venue Alliance

Amplified Sound Coalition

Austin Texas Musicians

Pause/Play: Episode 3

Prepared for the Worst: Being a Musician During COVID-19

From finances to healthcare access, being a musician during a pandemic isn’t easy – even in the Live Music Capital of the World. In episode two of Pause//Play, the new podcast from KUT/KUTX Studios, Austin musicians Mobley and TEDDYTHELEGACY tell their stories of survival and creativity. Video by Julia Riehs

The Musicians

In this episode you’ll hear the pandemic stories of two Austin Musicians — Mobley and Teddythelegacy. You’ll find out how their ability to access financial help has impacted their lives, what creative projects they’ve been working on and hear their perspectives on the uprisings for racial justice.

Listen to this Episode of Pause/Play

 

Listen on The Apple Podcasts AppSpotify

Unemployment Resources:

Velissa Chapa: Texas Workforce Commission Employer
Gwen Seale
Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts
Austin Texas Musicians

Other Austin Grants
The DAWA Fund 
Banding Together

Health Resources
The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians aka  HAAM

Mental Health Resources
The SIMS Foundation: Mental Health and Substance Use Recovery for Musicians, Music Industry and their Families

Check out Mobley’s curated reading list for the Austin Public Library — James Crow, a Songwriters Reader

Listen to the music featured in Episode Two of Pause/Play

 


Pause Play Episode 2

The Pause

What happened to Austin’s live music scene after the shutdown of SXSW?

On March 6th, 2020 the Austin City government canceled SXSW.  That decision had an economic ripple effect throughout the city. It also marked the true beginning of the COVID-19 crisis for Austin. In this episode, hosts Miles Bloxson and Elizabeth McQueen explore why Austin calls itself the Live Music Capital of the World.  They’ll look at the effect that the cancellation of SXSW and the subsequent shut down of the bars had on Austin through the experiences of some of the musicians, venue owners, venue staff, and music non-profits who make up this live music ecosystem.

Listen on The Apple Podcasts App, Spotify

Pause-Play Episode 1

Trailer: Pause/Play on the Austin music scene

“Pause/Play” will tell the pandemic stories of artists, venues, venue staff, festivals, sound technicians, music non-profits and more. What has the shutdown been like for them so far? What help have they received in order to survive? What adaptations have they been making, and what do they see as the future for Austin Music?