We all know and love Austin’s Money Chicha. The Grupo Fantasma offshoot centers their boogie in the Peruvian psychedelic Cumbia style known as Chicha, and you can get your Chicha on tomorrow night at C-Boy’s, and we’re getting you in the weekend mood at lunch time courtesy of this one from our archives. The group plays at 10PM.
austin music
Grandmaster: “Feel It Coming” [Live In Studio 1A]
Descending from the Galacian Web once again to spoil us with their presence and intergalactic teachings is Austin’s Grandmaster, and I think if we put Golden Dawn Arkestra and Grandmaster in a room together, we’d almost have an OG episode of Star Trek. Funk energy with a vintage flair is the group’s MO, and their latest trip to Studio 1A to share new songs from their second album Grandmaster II adds a little bit of disco to the mix. Maybe transmissions from Earth to the Galacian Web don’t take as long as we think.
Grandmaster II is out now.
Early voting begins for the 2026 primaries
It’s the first day of early voting in the Texas primaries and there are many statewide races for consideration: comptroller, lieutenant governor, governor, as well as lots of eyes on the Democratic and Republican races for U.S. Senate.
We’ll have an overview, plus plenty more on the ballots in Travis, Hays and Williamson counties, as well.
Also, the Austin-raised college student who was deported while trying to visit family last Thanksgiving could soon be headed back to the U.S. We’ll have the latest from a judge’s order and from the attorney representing the student, Any López Belloza.
And we mark the start of the Lunar New Year by hearing what the occasion means to some Austinites.
Plus, we have a conversation with a legendary music maker turned mental health advocate at the SIMS Foundation.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Hayes Carll: “Live” [The Hole Story]
The Hole Story is a new series from KUTX. Taped live on the front stage of Hole in the Wall – we’ve invited artists to not just perform, but also share the inspiration, meaning, or backstory behind each one.
Opened in 1974, Hole in the Wall is one of Austin’s most legendary dive bars. It continues to be a launchpad for generations of Texas songwriters — from Blaze Foley and Doug Sahm to Spoon, Shakey Graves, and Gary Clark Jr. It also happens to be right across the street from the KUT/X Studios.
Our latest installment of the Hole Story finds us in a full-circle moment. 25 years after moving to Austin, and after spending years in Nashville and New York City, Hayes Carll announced his return to Austin on the heels of his tenth album, We’re Only Human. Known for his folk-leaning songs permeated with poetry and steeped in humor, Carll shared many stories last August at the Hole In the Wall, and we thought we’d leave one in for ya. Listen below as Hayes shares a little bit about his songwriting process, specifically for the violin-forward tune “High.”
Austin’s $25 million Long Center contract draws scrutiny
A $25 million contract between the City of Austin and the Long Center is under scrutiny over how the public money is being spent. The contracts and the fees inside it are tied to the city’ cultural arts grants program, raising questions about transparency and oversight. We’ll dig into the details of the contract and the future between the two sides.
Texas Republicans have revived anti-Muslim messaging in races across the state as early voting begins tomorrow. It’s a change in messaging from elections over the past decade or so. We’ll look at why that’s the case and what it could mean for elections in Texas.
Real love means working through the good, the bad, and the funny. It’s all explored in the mockumentary “Tying Knots” from an Austin filmmaker that’s premiering this week.
Lovers & Friends
It’s our Valentine’s Day episode! We talk about our favorite rap songs about love and we also talk about two people who hate each other, 50 Cent and Ja Rule. Hip-Hop facts include facts about Boyz 2 Men, T.I., Paula Patton and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion is about podcasting not hurting the reputations of New York rap artists.
UT Austin consolidates ethnic and gender studies departments
The University of Texas at Austin is restructuring departments in the College of Liberal Arts. The decision was announced today, but it’s a move that students and staff have been worried about for months. We’ll hear more about the departments affected.
Police in Austin are still using license plate reader data months after city council ended using the technology on grounds of privacy concerns. We’ll dig into how and when APD says they’re using the data and the tech’s future use here in Austin.
Today, we’re learning more about a life insurance salesman and former college football player who become a chronicler of Black Austin life.
Plus, over 30,000 people are gearing up for this weekend’s Austin Marathon. It will be an especially big deal for one man who was left paralyzed after a snowboarding accident. We’ll hear his story.
Redbud: “Soul Work” [Recorded Live In Studio 1A]
Charming noodling with bright hooks, introspective lyrics, and joyful energy exude from Ausitn’s Redbud, Fronted by Katie Claghorn, the indie pop group has been around since Claghorn picked-up a guitar during the pandemic, and they’ve played on nearly every Austin stage since they hit the ground running: touring the country and being one more than one SXSW lineup. They brought their infectious energy to Studio 1A in 2023 ahead of their debut EP release, so we’re earthing this from our archives ahead of their show tonight at Radio/East with Lyla George, Noa Jamir, and Whalerider.
Travis Heights housing project scale draws some concerns
An affordable housing complex planned for the Travis Heights neighborhood is one step closer to becoming a reality. Neighbors around the proposed site say they aren’t opposed to the idea – more so the scale of it. We’ll hear more about the complex and the neighborhood it could be built in.
The Austin Independent School District is looking to save money and exit some contracts for schools that are slated to close. We’ll dig into how much money they’re looking to save, and how they could do it.
We’ll also hear the story of Dr. James Polk – not the president, but the Austin music legend.
And with the Olympics in full swing, we’ll tell you about an opportunity to get in on the action yourself.
Grace Sorenson: “Cologne” (The Hole Story)
he Hole Story is a new series from KUTX. Taped live on the little front stage of Hole in the Wall – we’ve invited artists to not just perform, but also share the inspiration, meaning, or backstory behind each one.
Opened in 1974, Hole in the Wall is one of Austin’s most legendary dive bars. It continues to be launchpad for generations of Texas songwriters — from Blaze Foley and Doug Sahm to Spoon, Shakey Graves, and Gary Clark Jr. It also happens to be right across the street from the KUT/X Studios.
Much ado is made about the changing Austin live music scene, but its impact is felt in its younger class of musicians – including R&B/soul songstress, Grace Sorenson. Born and raised here in Austin, Sorenson credits the city’s live music scene for her focus on overall craftsmanship in her work rather than chasing flashy or trendy instrumentation. In the final song of her episode of The Hole Story, Sorenson demonstrates this approach in a stripped-down version of “Cologne,” a song she quips is a “KUTX fave.” Even with just a guitar and a vocal, “Cologne”‘s message about that empowered feeling of getting ready to go out, whether you’re getting ready for a morning at church or a night out at the club, carries through loud and clear.
You can hear the “hole” episode tonight on KUTX at 10 o’clock.
Born and raised in the Austin area, Grace Sorensen is an R&B singer/songwriter whose work often lives in richly produced, collaborative spaces.
Releasing music since 2020 – Collaborations and featured vocals with BLK ODYSSY and Magna Carda, and an EP release, landed her a spot at ACL Fest in 2023.
In February of 2025, the debut album, Blueprint, marked a major step forward. A month later, with a five piece band in tow, Grace delivered a stellar performance at KUTX’s early morning broadcast during SXSW.
For this episode of The Hole Story – we wanted to hear these songs at their core – in a way that lets the lyrics and vocals come forward. With her longtime guitarist, Matt Muehling, Grace joined us at Hole in the Wall during her reign as KUTX Artist of the Month in August of 2025.
Parents of missing Austinite file lawsuit against Camp Mystic
The parents of an 8-year-old Austinite still missing after last July’s flooding in Texas have filed a lawsuit against Camp Mystic. It’s the fifth such lawsuit against the camp in the Hill Country where campers and counselors drowned in the floodwaters. We’ll have more about that lawsuit.
Early voting in the primaries gets going next week and folks in southeast Travis County will elect a new leader for the first time in decades. We’ll hear about the candidates running for Precinct 4 commissioner.
It’s Black History Month all February long, and our sister station KUTX has been highlighting Black music history in Austin. We’ll hear about a historic music venue on the East side of town that dates back to World War II.
The fight to protect Austin’s first Black cemetery: We’ll delve into the history at the heart of Bethany Cemetery.
Plus, an update on the future of Austin’s Convention Center.
RIP Michael “5000” Watts
On this episode we celebrate the life of DJ Michael “5000” Watts who was huge pioneer in Houston music. We also recap the Grammy’s and see if our predictions are correct. Hip-Hop facts this week include facts about Tag Team, Prince, 50 Cent, and many more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion is that Donell Jones song “U Know What’s Up” with Left Eye of TLC, is an overrated song.
APD, councilmembers hear from public about ICE enforcement in tense meeting
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis and members of the Austin City Council met with community members this week to talk about local Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations and the city and police’s role in them. The meeting was billed as a conversation but turned into a shouting match that laid bare the community tensions around ICE enforcement in the Austin area and around the country. We’ll talk more about that meeting, and we’ll hear from some of the voices who were there.
Construction is happening on a new convention center in downtown Austin. Even so, a judge could rule any day on an effort to stop anything new from being built.
The new “wishbone” pedestrian bridge is opening this weekend on the eastern end of Lady Bird Lake. We’ll hear more about it.
Steven Skybell speaks about playing Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof playing at the Austin Opera House tonight and this weekend. We’ll hear more about it.
Some students and teachers see benefits from cell phone ban
Teachers and students in the Round Rock school district say they’re seeing benefits from a statewide ban on cell phones in public school classrooms. The ban went into effect at the beginning of this school year, and some students say they feel more engaged inside the classroom and outside of it, too. We’ll have more from Williamson County.
Elon Musk’s Tesla stands to lose millions in tax rebates unless they meet Travis County requirements. Another Musk-owned business is looking for the same deal, except with state funds. Why critics are questioning whether the potential tax incentives are an efficient use of state tax dollars.
Texas prisons without air conditioning routinely reach 90 degrees in the summer heat, with some even topping the triple-digit mark. Such temperatures would routinely violate state standards for other types of lockups, like county jails. We’ve got more data and more about that story on today’s show.
Plus, this week in Texas music history, Willie Nelson finishes up a pair of classic albums. Can you guess which ones? Listen in to find out.
Texas GOP reexamines ICE messaging amid crackdown controversies
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has said Immigration and Customs Enforcement needs to “recalibrate” its tactics, and he isn’t the only member of the Texas GOP to comment on the operations and the rhetoric around it. The messaging comes a few weeks before early voting begins in the Texas primaries ahead of the midterms. We’ll have more about that on today’s show.
Former Austin police chief Art Acevedo says ICE agents are deploying tactics that show they’re either insufficiently trained or poorly supervised. He says when trust collapses, criminals win. We’ll hear more from that conversation.
The Austin City Council has postponed a vote on a contract for AI-powered surveillance cameras. We’ll look at why the vote was pushed back and what happens now.
And, the deadline is approaching to enter this year’s Tiny Desk Concert. We’ll chat with one of the the judges for the competition. And we’ve got another Black Austin music profile from our sister station KUTX.
J’cuuzi: “Advance/Decline”
Our July 2025 Artist of the Month J’cuuzi hit the ground running with their frenetic debut EP Big Machine. Refusing to rest on their laurels, the duo is pushing the envelope with their new single “Advance/Decline,” sonically detailing the perseverance we sometimes struggle to manifest, but we do anyway, somehow, because we, especially women, have to for survival. Gorge Bones channels her full vocal power while Trey Razzledazzle goes full Dust Brothers-meets-Bjork on the band’s heaviest song yet.
“Advance/Decline” is out now.
Austin Needs Hip-Hop
On this episode we talk about how when the city of Austin embraces hip-hop, it’s relevancy, and pockets, increase. We also discuss Kanye’s recent apology and if we believe him or not. Hip-hop facts include facts about Destiny’s Child, J. Cole, The Notorious B.I.G. and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion is that New York rappers benefit more from standing new to rappers from other coasts than the opposite being true.
Nonprofit starts new Austin music industry fund
There are about 43,000 people experiencing homelessness in Texas, and more than 3,000 of them are Austinites. We’ll take a look at the programs and services helping people get back on their feet here in the city. https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/esperanza-community-austin-ged-classes-adult-education-texas/
Most people have gone down a one-way street before – and downtown Austin is full of them. But it wasn’t always that way, and soon, we could be heading back to our old ways of two-way streets if a city commission recommendation moves forward. https://austincurrent.org/2026/01/26/austin-roads-traffic-downtown/
A local nonprofit supporting the Austin music industry has created a new fund. We’ll hear about why it was launched and what it means for venue staff working in the music scene. https://www.kut.org/health/2026-01-05/sims-foundation-austin-tx-dick-chalmers-music-venue-program-mental-health-fund
Plus, new Austin music that you might’ve missed in the first month of 2026. https://kutx.org/
Annabelle Chairlegs: “Shoo Fly” [Live In Studio 1A]
As January closes, we’re shining the spotlight once more on our Artist of the Month Annabelle Chairlegs. Fronted by Linsday Mackin, the band returns after a brief hiatus with new members Nolan Potter, Simone Maresh, and Nick Coretti. And the new album Waking Up is produced by psych rock powerhouse Ty Segall. As gritty and earwormy as ever, the band stopped by Studio 1A with their raucous, infectious energy ahead of their album release show Friday, February 13th at Mohawk.
Gov. Abbott targets new H-1B visa applications at state universities, agencies
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement operations have been happening in Austin and Central Texas in recent week. During the past weekend’s weather event, local officials had to dispel rumors fueled by the operation. The lack of information and communication around these operations is causing panic and anxiety that can boil beyond social media.
Gov. Greg Abbott is freezing new H-1B visa applications until 2027, with some exceptions. The move is the latest in the administration’s scrutiny of foreign workers employed at taxpayer-funded institutions.
We’re less than a month away from the start of the new Austin FC season. We’ll take a look at some of the team’s offseason moves.