Bonus Tracks: ¡Vamos Verde! hosts Jimmy Maas and Juan Garcia taped an interview on the Bonus Tracks stage at the 2nd weekend of Austin City Limits Festival with Brad Stuver. Also, hear from Nick Canedo from We Are Blood about their upcoming blood drive at Q2 Stadium.
ACL
KUT Morning Newscast for October 16, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 16, 2024. Republican U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and his Democratic challenger, Congressman Colin Allred, squared off in a debate last night, listen to the details. Travis County is asking voters to approve a tax rate hike this November to expand access to childcare for low- and middle-income families. The median sales price of homes in the Austin area fell last month, but that was not the case inside the city limits. Austin had the highest temperature ever recorded in October.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 11, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 11, 2024. Five new parks will be added to parts of Austin with less access to green space. The city department that oversees new construction in Austin will begin using artificial intelligence. Austin’s 32nd annual Art from the Streets event returns this weekend. ACL’s second weekend kicks off today.
The Beaches: “Blame Brett” (KUTX Pop-Up at ACL Fest)
The second Friday of October is upon us, and Austin City Limits Music Fest is about to be in full effect once again. And in the interim that is this Thursday, we got a twofer for ya: a reflection on last weekend and a hint on what to expect for this next one.
So although it’s finally starting to feel a little more like Fall around here, there’s really no bad season to get behind The Beaches. These masters of fashion have been at it for a decade straight now, solidifying the soundtrack to a generation and proving proficiency (sans predictability) in the indie pop rock realm with each release. And after snagging the Juno Award for Breakthrough Group of the year in 2018 and the Juno Award for Rock Album of the Year in 2022, this past March the quartet scored another milestone in winning the Juno Awards for both Group of the Year and Rock Album of the Year.
The Beaches are back at it bringing a bit of The Six down to ATX twice over the next couple days with a completely sold out show 6:30PM tonight at Scoot Inn for Backline’s World Mental Health Day Event followed by a return to the T-Mobile stage 3:20PM this Saturday at ACL Fest, so you may want to give a single day pass a second consideration before The Beaches blow up even more. Because they’re only getting better, y’all. Like, looking back at last Saturday, the Ontario sisterhood rocked it (shades donned and sass intact) on their highest-charting single to date and the album opener off last September’s Blame My Ex, “Blame Brett”with a semi-acoustic rendition that undeniably takes on a new character while keeping the spiteful spark of its anthemic studio counterpart in place. Sorry, Brett; this one ain’t for you. But it sure does slam even with that sole egg shaker keeping the beat.
Mon Rovîa: “crooked the road.” (KUTX Pop-Up at ACL Fest)
When it comes to exposure for international acts here in Austin, you typically think of SXSW. But time and time again, ACL Fest has shown great global flavors, even if the artists in question are quartered stateside.
A perfect example? Mon Rovîa. Songwriter Andrew Lowe was lucky enough to escape his moniker’s namesake in the midst of the Liberian Civil War, and given the Appalachian atmosphere of his current home base, Mon Rovîa’s forged a really fascinating fusion of Afro influences and American folk, shaking up whatever expectations you have surrounding the “Tennessee sound”. Since hitting streaming early on in the pandemic, that formula’s found a strong listenership that only grows with Mon Rovîa’s ongoing streak of about five-to-six singles a year, alongside the three-act EP progression that began with last Summer’s Act 1: The Wandering and culminated in this April’s Act 3: The Dying of Self.
As the BMI Stage’s inaugural act, Mon Rovîa (and his backing band) had the honor of expressing gratitude, championing peace, and setting a pensive mood for ACL’s first weekend with a slew of tunes. And that extended to a pop-up performance of “crooked the road.”, which still feels fresh after debuting just over a month ago. It’s gorgeous. It’s heartwarming. It’s the most tasteful pairing of ukulele and vocal harmonies you’ll hear all week.
Chaparelle: “Bleeding Hearts” (KUTX Pop-Up at ACL Fest)
Ask anyone about their favorite ACL Fest performance and there’s no telling what answers you’ll get. But we’re willing to wager that if you ask anyone below the age of thirty, “did you catch Chap-“, there’s a good chance your interviewee will enthusiastically finish your question with, “Chappell Roan?! She was awesome!” Yeah, there’s no doubt Chappell Roan’s among those leading the charge of younger fest attendees this year, but if you’re less in search of the Pink Pony Club and more keen on something to successfully serenade both you, your parents, and their hoss, there’s another “Chap” that was well worth checking out during Weekend One.
And that’s Chaparelle, the Southern supergroup of Zella Day, Jesse Woods, and prolific producer-composer-multi-instrumentalist Beau Bedford. Between the three? A lifetime of country music experience that, when combined, authentically encapsulates the classic midcentury sound that so many of us miss hearing on the airwaves. Based on the level of polish we’ve heard, we already see Chaparelle as a champion of twang made in and for the Lone Star State. And we’re bettin’ they’re gonna go a lot further than that after the release of their debut LP next Spring.
But in the world of country, (at least the real stuff that can’t be wrangled into Top 40 pop), high production values can only take a subpar performance so far…and Chaparelle sure ain’t a case of that. Because while the studio version of Chaparelle’s debut single from this June “Bleeding Hearts” recalls the iconic comfort of prime Patsy Cline recordings, the stripped-down acoustic-electric-vocal arrangement the trio treated us to last Friday at ACL is intimate, unadulterated talent. And like the title suggests, “Bleeding Hearts” isn’t a two-steppin’ barn-burner; it’s a surefire recipe for tears in your beer that’ll have you holding onto your Stetson for emotional support…lest you’ve got a requited love to corral.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for October 3, 2024
Central Texas top stories for October 3, 2024. The Texas Secretary of State expresses confidence in the state’s election system. A new study finds an overwhelming majority of Texans support increasing state funding for public schools. Travis County is set to launch its mental health diversion program on Monday. Higher than normal temperatures expected for ACL weekend one. Drought has returned to the Austin area. You can hear from the contenders running to be Austin’s mayor in a panel tonight at city hall.
KUT Morning Newscast for September 30, 2024
Central Texas top stories for September 30, 2024. The Austin City Council rejects a proposed rate increase for customers of Texas Gas Service. Lane closures ahead of the first of two Austin City Limits Music Festival weekends. Hays County voters will decide this fall whether to pass a major bond for road improvements. The University of Texas at Austin is getting more than $50 million in grants to help low-income students in Texas prepare for college. The Texas Longhorn football team dropped a spot in the AP top 25 rankings after a messy win over Mississippi State.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for September 19, 2024
Central Texas top stories for September 19, 2024. Schools in Central Texas and throughout the U.S. have been seeing an uptick in threats of violence. Concerns about ballot secrecy swept Texas earlier this year. In Texas, deaths among pregnant women and new moms increased dramatically in the most recent years for which we have that data. School districts across the state are struggling to comply with a safety law more than a year after it went into effect. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff will be in Texas next week for campaign events with the Texas Democratic Party. Austin City Limits money will help improve local parks.
Bonus Episode: HT Jazz Collective
In this bonus episode, Lisa and Rich catch-up with the Huston-Tillotson Jazz Collective after their performance at ACL. They share how Huston-Tillotson has cultivated a space that makes them feel at home, what playing jazz means to them, and what inspires them.
Music Festivals
With temperatures (finally) cooling down, music festival season is ramping up across Texas. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 6, 2023
Central Texas top stories for October 6, 2023. ACL road closures. Austin offers neighborhood guides in Spanish. Special session for school vouchers. Red River Rivalry resumes this weekend.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 5, 2023
Central Texas top stories for October 5, 2023. Rain comes to Central Texas with flood advisories. New police oversight chief has questions from Austin City Council. Narcan will be distributed at Austin City Limits.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for October 4, 2023
Central Texas top stories for October 4, 2023. Rain, cooler-than-normal weather on the way. City of Austin concerned about aging Barton Springs Rd bridge. Mayor Watson on city response to disaster. Texas advocacy groups are urging superintendents statewide to refrain from removing books from schools. Austin Public Library Banned Book Week events. Fine arts wing named for beloved educator. Busy month of weekends ahead for Austin.
KUT Morning Newscast for May 17, 2023
Central Texas top stories for May 17, 2023. NBA number one pick goes to the Spurs. ACL tickets drop. Options for Austin Energy customers with life threatening situations.
Who is ‘Moody,’ and why is everything in Austin named after them?
There’s the Moody College of Communication at UT, the Moody Rooftop at the Contemporary Austin, Moody Hall at St. Edwards University, Moody Bank, the Moody Pavilions at Laguna Gloria, ACL Live at the Moody Theater, the Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park, and Moody Center. It can be a little confusing.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for October 14, 2022
Central Texas top stories for October 14, 2022. ACL weekend 2. ACL weather. Hairy Man festival. Longhorn Volleyball. Longhorn Football. Austin FC.
KUT Morning Newscast for October 7, 2022
Central Texas top stories for October 7, 2022. APD cameras. Austin aquifer storage. Staying healthy at ACL. Kyle quinceañera expo. Red river showdown. Austin FC.
How to Run a Modern Day Taqueria
Learn from two Chingonas making it in the taco world including Lis Mariscal, Veracruz All Natural and Victoria Elizondo, Chef/Owner of Cochinita & co. Moderated by Taco Journalist, Mando Rayo. Recorded live on the podcast stage at Austin City Limits Festival 2021.
Building a Taco Empire
Learn from Taco Journalist, Mando Rayo and Director Dennis Burnett on how they’re building platforms for people of color, from the tacos of Texas Podcast, United Tacos of America tv show and cooking shows, Tex-Mex Queen and ATE (ah-teh). Recorded live on the podcast stage at Austin City Limits Festival 2021.