MAY 6 ☛ JOE ELY BAND

From his early-1970s beginnings with seminal country band the Flatlanders, Joe Ely has seen substantial critical acclaim but only moderate commercial success. His music is often described as a bridge between early-'70s country-rock and '90s "New Country." It's full of integrity and equipped with a certain timeless quality that marks only the finest rock songwriters. Ely is an acclaimed live performer as well. His style and approach may never produce hits, but his music speaks strongly for itself.

MAY 13 ☛ GUY FORSYTH

With opening act: Shakey Graves

It’s been a long and dusty, winding road for Austin singer/songwriter Guy Forsyth that’s lead to a recent surge in praise over his dazzling live shows and his rich Americana roots sound. Forsyth (vocals, acoustic, electric, & slide guitar, harmonica, ukulele, singing saw), along with Will Landin (bass/tuba) and Rob Hooper (drums/Cajon), bring a unique mixture of styles such as folk, rock, country, and Tin Pan Alley to create a sound that’s as heterogeneous, raw and compelling as America itself. You’ll hear powerhouse vocals deliver energetic yarns about love, the government and the apocalypse, to name a few, as Forsyth and company squeeze everything they have into each song and rarely come up for air.

MAY 20 ☛ DEL CASTILLO

With opening act: Este Vato

Del Castillo began as a CD project for family back in the winter of 2000 and has become a symbol of the cross-cultural power of music with their eclectic blend of Flamenco, Rock, Latin, Blues, and World music. Between the release of their first CD, Brothers of the Castle back in 2001, to their 2006 release, Brotherhood, Del Castillo has received an astonishing 18 awards including SXSW/Austin Music “Album of the Year” Awards for Vida (2002) and Brotherhood (2006), “Band of the Year (2003)”, ASCAP’S “Best Independent Group of the Year (2005)”, and Austin Music Pundits “Best Live Act (2004)”. The band continues to tour throughout the country, thriving on performing live and building new audiences, and songwriting and recording are a priority during breaks in their tour schedule.

MAY 27 ☛ CAROLYN WONDERLAND

With opening act: The Sweet Nuthin

Carolyn Wonderland has the goods. A triple threat with her diverse songwriting, soulful vocals, and guitar goddess status - all featured on over twenty CDs, six of which are her releases - she has a pedigree in this business that's hard to match. A bit of a renegade, she likes to incorporate elements of Blues, Country, Swing, Zydeco, Surf, Gospel, Soul, and some nights, maybe even a Cumbia into the musical mix. Recent years have seen her stretching out musically working some expert whistling and scat singing into her shows. In addition to her trusty guitar, "Patty," Carolyn has been regularly playing her trumpet, and even occasionally the accordion, mandolin, or keys...she is threatening to take up nose flute if someone doesn’t stop her...

JUNE 3 ☛ SONS OF FATHERS

With opening act: Guns of Navarone

Trends and styles may change in music, but there are just some things that are timeless…like songwriting from the heart with ear-catching melodies and rich harmony vocals. The team of David Beck (a stage name as his real name is David Whitbeck) and Paul Cauthen has created Sons of Fathers, a band with a soaring, original sound that belies their young age. They have been compared to the Avett Brothers, The Byrds, and The Everly Brothers, albeit with an infusion of Texas grease. Beck and Cauthen came together when each was working on a solo project in San Marcos, Texas. Though the two had met casually, a chance encounter at Thompson’s Island in a park on the Blanco River led them to join forces. Paul remembers, “I was walking in with my guitar and my writing notebook and Dave was walking out with his guitar and book.” As soon as the Texans starting writing and singing together, they realized that they had found something special.

JUNE 10 ☛ WARREN HOOD

With opening act: Wood and Wire

I love the rare feeling of people in a room being connected without having to share any ideology or belief system or style or walk of life or class or anything "where they can all just melt in to something magical," says Charlie Mars. Mars sets everything to a groove, so listening to his music can mean disappearing inside the music and following the ride. Mars' next album, Blueberry Light releases August 14th.

JUNE 17 ☛ THE DUNWELLS

With opening act: TBA

All five members of The Dunwells hail from the same part of Leeds, earning their musical stripes in local pubs and clubs before uniting as a band. Brothers David and Joseph Dunwell grew up in a home full of music. Weaned on such artists as The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac and countless other classic musical acts from the 1960s onward, both began playing guitar at an early age, inspired by their father, a talented classical acoustic player. David and Joseph both started writing songs and individually made their initial marks at open mic nights, playing in and around Leeds. When a booking agent suggested that they unite as an act, it made perfect sense. Bassist Rob Clayton and David Dunwell spent many hours in their youth listening to music together, while guitarist Dave Hanson heard Joseph Dunwell singing in a pub and, duly impressed, started playing shows with him. “We all made music for a living before we became a group,” notes Hanson. “It’s not just a band that formed. It’s organic and it comes from sharing the same roots, and everybody growing up listening to and learning music together.” Once they united as The Dunwells, they all knew that something special was brewing.

JUNE 24 ☛ CHARLIE MARS

With opening act: TBA

I love the rare feeling of people in a room being connected without having to share any ideology or belief system or style or walk of life or class or anything "where they can all just melt in to something magical," says Charlie Mars. Mars sets everything to a groove, so listening to his music can mean disappearing inside the music and following the ride. Mars' next album, Blueberry Light releases August 14th.

JULY 1 ☛ AKINA ADDERLEY & THE VINTAGE PLAYBOYS

With opening act: Peterson Brothers

Akina Adderley & The Vintage Playboys is an Austin soul band whose unique sound blends elements of rock, funk, and old-school R&B. Front woman, vocalist, songwriter and band leader Akina Adderley lights up the stage as 'the little woman with the big voice.' Her powerful presence is irresistible, and KUT 90.5FM declared her "phenomenal vocals call to mind the sounds of classic soul and R&B."Granddaughter of jazz trumpeter Nat Adderley, grandniece of jazz saxophonist "Cannonball" Adderley, and daughter of Nat Adderley, Jr. (producer/pianist/band leader for Luther Vandross), Akina brings a distinguished musical pedigree to the Vintage Playboys, who are a tight group of players from an eclectic musical background. AAVP's fan base continues to grow and excitement surrounding their live performances is steadily increasing.

JULY 8 ☛ T BIRD AND
THE BREAKS

T Bird and the Breaks are one of those gangs of people who could have easily banded together to steal hubcaps or hustle you out of your last dollar in a game of street craps. Lucky for all involved, they chose to make music. The core of this band of musical miscreants consists of Tim Crane on vocals and piano and an unstoppable rhythm section consisting of longtime partner in crime Sammy Patlove on drums and Cody Furr on bass. Johnny “Too Bad” Allison and Sasha Ortiz, on guitar and vocals, add the icing on the red velvet cake. With a sound that pulls from the origins of hip hop, the alleyways of the Crescent City, the grease and grime of an old-school soul review, and all seven of the deadly sins, the Breaks have developed into a locomotive; slowly pumping across America, leaving crowds drenched with sweat and walking funny the next morning.

JULY 15 ☛ SPEAK

With opening act: The Sour Notes

SPEAK are unabashed in their pursuit of innovative pop. Proud natives of Austin, TX, the band is steeped in its sound and culture, while deriving influences from favorites around the world. Forever questing for evolution, SPEAK invoke timeless melodies in energetic, synth-laden anthems.

JULY 22 ☛ JAMES McMURTRY

The son of acclaimed author Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove, Terms of Endearment), James McMurtry grew up on a steady diet of Johnny Cash and Roy Acuff records. In February 2011, two of McMurtry's most popular albums, Childish Things and Live in Aught-Three were reissued by Lightning Rod Records.

JULY 29 ☛ DALE WATSON

With opening act: George Taylor

Dale Watson is the champion of old school country and Americana music. His name is high on the list of prominent Austin musicians and this city has been a favorite haunt and home of his. Watson has been playing his particular brand of folky tunes for years now and has no intention of slowing down.

AUG 5 ☛ WHISKY SISTERS

Teal Collins (The Mother Truckers) and Barbara Nesbitt (Tim Flannery & The Lunatic Fringe) met in Austin and decided to get together to sing a song or two. By the time they reached the first chorus harmonies they knew it was going to be a good thing. And the rest is history. The Whiskey Sisters, who refer to themselves as a co-chick fronted rock/blues/country band, produce a sound like nothing else you’ve heard.

AUG 12 ☛ JON DEE GRAHAM

Jon Dee Graham is a legend on the Austin music scene. He’s been inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame three times, in 2000 as a solo artist, in 2008 as a member of the Skunks, and in 2009 as a member of the True Believers. His latest album, It’s Not As Bad As It Looks, (his fourth with Freedom Records) was recorded at Austin’s Wire Recording with Stuart Sullivan at the helm.