Calendar

Austin Chamber Music Festival

Unwind and relive the moment a toddler’s sock sent Monstropolis into a frenzy as Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. takes over the State Theatre as part of the Paramount Summer Classic Film Series, bringing Sulley, Mike Wazowski, and Boo back for a trip down memory lane. Whether you’re revisiting a childhood favorite or introducing it to a new generation, this family-friendly screening is the perfect excuse to trade a night of streaming for a dose of big-screen Pixar nostalgia. Just remember: No screaming required. – Trinity Orosco 512/472-5470

June 19 - July 26

Various Locations

Various Locations, Austin Greater Austin

Classical Music

Our Austin Chamber Music Center highlights the local, international, and emerging world of chamber music artists with concerts throughout the summer – keeping the historic medium alive and cool even in our hottest season.

Fear & Loathing (Hunter S. Thompson tribute) w/ DAIISTAR, Lauren Lakis, Haight Ashbury Medical Clinic

Sat., July 18, 7 p.m.

Hotel Vegas

1502 E. Sixth, Austin Lower East

No cover (21+)

Rosie Clements and Peter McRury: “Surface Tension”

We were somewhere around Hotel Vegas on the edge of East Sixth Street when the feedback began to take hold. How in the holy goddamned fuck do you pay musical tribute to Hunter S. Thompson, fearless chronicler of America's beautiful decay and scourge of Dick Nixon and Jann Wenner alike? It's not like Kentucky's greatest son was known for his ripping lead guitar. Then again, maybe that's the wrong question. Come celebrate Dr. Gonzo’s 89th birthday with glorious sensory overload, psychedelic guitars, tropical cocktails, and enough beautiful weirdness to blur the line between concert and hallucination. Maybe the old ghost… 512/524-1584

Through July 26

McLennon Pen Co. Gallery

1114 W 5th St, Suite 202, Austin Downtown

Visual Arts

Yeah, you’re lookin’ at the art hung on the gallery walls, but like: Do you really see it? This confusion of sight concerns much of artists Rosie Clements and Peter McRury’s work, whose joint exhibition opens this Saturday, June 20. Their creations consider “the distance that develops between an image, its subject, and the surfaces through which it is experienced,” writes host gallery McLennon Pen Co. about Clement’s UV photographic prints and McRury’s distorted airbrushed acrylic paintings. Come witness their reflected images in person and discover what you see. – James Scott 512/240-2273

“Monsters”

Through August 16

West Chelsea Contemporary

1009 W. Sixth, Austin Old West Austin

Visual Arts

There’s nothing to fear in the weird and wondrous world of monsters at WCC’s summer exhibit featuring strange creatures that spark curiosity. Five artists – Bibi Lei, Gabriela Noelle Gonzalez, Mr. B Baby, Adam Handler, and Tony Pharo – showcase unique twists on oddities. Among others, get lost in the twisting Technicolor of Lei’s mythical vignettes or follow Pharo’s strangely familiar scribbles and scratches of figures from childhood cartoons made sinister, like age corrodes the innocence of youth. Monsters get to be angry or strange or enchanting, all dialed to extremes – the same type of freedom people don’t allow… 512/478-4440

Purple Rain

Sun., July 19

State Theatre

719 Congress, Austin Downtown

If you’re anything like me, you’ve been moved to tears on more than one occasion by the “Purple Rain” guitar solo. But according to the trailer for Purple Rain the movie, before Prince created the greatest film soundtrack ever made, he lived every bit of it. Witness the semiautobiographical story of The Kid (played by The Artist), a rising Minneapolis musician fighting inner demons and rivals through music, at the State Theatre – required reading for Prince acolytes. Pull up in a little red Corvette early for Prince karaoke an hour before the show. – Adam Elayan 512/472-5470

The NeverEnding Story

July 19 and 22

Galaxy Highland 10

6700 Middle Fiskville, N. I-35 & Middle Fiskville, Austin Midtown

Wolfgang Petersen followed up his claustrophobic debut, the submarine-set Das Boot, with this soaring fantasy epic. In it, a young boy stumbles onto a dusty old book that’s something of a portal to a place called Fantasia, which is under threat from a spreading menace known as The Nothing. Released in 1984, The NeverEnding Story is marvelously handmade, a creature feature that relies on models and puppets and animatronics to transport viewers to a land of rock biters, racing snails, and luck dragons. But it’s not just mere spectacle – there’s a moving lesson here about the power of imagination… 512/467-7305

The Lady Eve

July 14 and 19

AFS Cinema

6406 N. I-35 Ste. 3100, Austin Midtown

Pamela Ellen Ferguson: From Hell to Health: Journeys Through PTSD/PTSI

Greatest screwball comedy ever? It’s certainly in the running. Austin Film Society’s Preston Sturges series continues with this 1941 delight about a sharp-eyed scam artist (Barbara Stanwyck, never better, or sexier) who cons Henry Fonda’s beer heir twice: first in a shipboard romance, then as the titular Lady Eve. There’s sophisticated wordplay, pratfalls aplenty, and Sturges’ signature cynicism. And yet, despite centering his film around an affair that begins as a grift, then shifts into vengeful fury, Sturges arrives at the uncynical conclusion that love is a worthy leap of faith. And should that leap land you overboard? Well... come… 512/322-0145

Sun., July 19

BookWoman

5501 N. Lamar #105, Austin Midtown

Books

PTSD is a pretty familiar acronym, standing for post-traumatic stress disorder, and PTSI refers to the same set of symptoms but with the “I” standing for “injury.” It’s a condition experienced by around 5% of us and can be caused by a wide range of stressors like disasters, military combat, violence, abuse, and accidents. This new book co-edited by Randall Burks Sexton and Pamela Ellen Ferguson trots the globe to illuminate the condition through the stories of survivors from a dozen countries, offering a fresh look at therapies that might inspire practitioners, counselors, and patients. Ferguson will be present for… 512/472-2785

Auntie Got Her Groove Back

Sun., July 19

Pershing Hall

2415C E. Fifth, Austin Lower East

Ruben Ramos (album release), Carrie Rodriguez, los Texmaniacs

Forget the club – the cookout is calling. Auntie Got Her Groove Back transforms the Pershing into the ultimate family-reunion-inspired kickback, complete with DJs, food, cocktails, games, and local vendors. This edition doubles as a flag party, so come reppin’ your city, your heritage, or anywhere else you call home. Hit the dance floor and whine to the rhythm as DJs keep the cookout vibes going long after the sun goes down. Consider this your excuse to trade your couch for Auntie’s House. – Trinity Orosco 512/953-5045

Sun., July 19, 7 p.m.

Antone's Nightclub

305 E. Fifth, Austin Downtown

Hands-on Computer Basics With Austin Free-Net

Remember the Buena Vista Social Club, the clutch of 20th century Cuban crooners who enchanted all of musicdom following Wim Wenders’ 1999 documentary? Consider East Austin’s Ruben Ramos the live music capital’s Ibrahim Ferrer. Now 86, the three-time Grammy winner – most notably with Austin supergroup Los Super Seven – constituted a homegrown Latin scene decades before modern crucible Grupo Fantasma. On May’s Los Días de Calor (the days of heat), his bilingual croon wafts immaculately preserved, a duet with L.A.’s Gaby Moreno, “El Año Viejo,” spellcasting just like Ferrer and Omara Portuondo. Opening MVP Carrie Rodriguez contributes three caressing… 512/814-0361

Mon., July 20

Southeast Branch Library

5803 Nuckols Crossing, Austin South

Summer Stock Austin Season Sneak Peek

It seems that the older I get, the more basic computer instruction I need – shouldn’t I be getting better at this stuff? These newfangled machines are especially intimidating for the uninitiated. Thankfully, Austin Free-Net is on hand to help with a weekly 101. This class is super beginner-friendly and taught in English and Spanish, covering smartphone and computer basics for folks with little to no experience. With our world increasingly relying on apps, it’s important to have the skills to pay the bills – or order a pizza or make a doctor’s appointment. – Kat McNevins 512/974-8840

Mon., July 20

McCullough Theatre

2375 Robert Dedman, Austin Campus

Homecoming: Return of the Mothership

The calendar of Impact Art’s Summer Stock theatre program is long – too long to understand just by lookin’ online. One must experience what’s to come from these stage players through their “live-action trailer.” With 75 of the company’s current members as well as alumni guest artists, present-day audiences gaze into Summer Stock’s future with numbers from upcoming shows like Disney’s Newsies, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and close to 20 other musicals on their soon-to-produce wish list. All that jazz and in only 90 minutes? Dance your way over to McCullough and catch this sneak peek quick. – James Scott 512/471-1444

Mon., July 20

The Vortex

2307 Manor Rd., Austin East

Recent Best of Austin® winner every.Word Poetry – an offshoot of verse advocates the Poet House – celebrates their second year hosting open mics with an out-of-this-world benefit bonanza. Aiming to fund a five-poet pilgrimage to the Blackberry Peach National Poetry Slam, their anniversary event offers not just the usual stage for poetry sign-ups but also a mini slam, a live-painting auction, and music. Interested poets, listen up: Your prompt is “Every.word I wanna say to you.” – James Scott 512/478-5282

Grease 2

Mon., July 20

Flix Brewhouse

2200 S. I-35, 2200 S. I-35, Round Rock, Round Rock Beyond Austin

I will go to my grave rambling about the vast superiority of Grease 2 over OG Grease. Sure, “Summer Nights’” is a classic song, but is it as informative as “Reproduction”? I mean, that manages to teach sex ed and maintain a catchy refrain! Besides, watching Michelle Pfeiffer’s smoking-hot bad girl fall for nerd/secret biker Maxwell Caulfield is a delicious gender-bending twist. It proves a guy can be a “Cool Rider” and a bookish nerd. Bowling, motorcycles, and a climatic luau decrying the dangers of smoking cement this as a weird and wonderful film for those hot summer nights. –… 512/244-3549

Tomahawk, Melvins

Mon., July 20, 7 p.m.

Emo's

2015 E. Riverside, Austin South

God Shell, Ologist, Virginia Creeper, Twink Death

Now that the Jesus Lizard is no longer on the road, it’s a blessing for those who adore Duane Denison’s cutting guitar that he is out with Tomahawk, a thunderous supergroup which also features bassist Trevor Dunn of Melvins and Cows, drummer John Stanier of Helmet, and bellower Mike Patton of Mr. Bungle and Faith No More. Their roar is far more than the sum of its powerful parts. With Melvins, who have played Austin more than 30 times since 1990. Anyone who has seen all of those shows should win some sort of prize (other than tinnitus). – Joe… 888/512-7469

Mon., July 20, 8 p.m.

Chess Club

617 Red River, Austin Downtown

$10 cover (18+)

Turns out the distance between black metal and alt-country isn’t as wide as it seems. God Shell’s synthesis of doom metal and harsh noise favors texture as much as force, allowing corrosive ambience to carry as much weight as its riffing. Long Beach’s Ologist pushes that tension further, colliding experimental rock with hardcore's urgency and bursts of dissonance that refuse easy resolution. Virginia Creeper slows the pulse, filtering sludge through shoegaze’s luminous haze and the weathered ache of Americana. Texas outfit Twink Death keeps the momentum unsettled, pulling screamo and metalcore in opposite directions until the distinction hardly matters. –…

Fuck This Week

Mondays

Fallout Theater

616 Lavaca, Austin Downtown

HFC Presents: Short Film Selects

Comedy

Ugh. Oof. Yikes. These guttural sounds are all natural reactions to the fact that another week on this gosh-darn Earth has started, as is commiserating via improv comedy from FTW. For seven years, Fuck This Week’s cast has been offering a hilarious panacea to the weekly troubles afflicting us all by way of audience-supplied improv prompts. Anything from a stubbed toe to a bad hair day can be spun into goofy gold, but you gotta be there to see that magic happen. I mean, what else are you up to on a Monday? – James Scott 616/676-7209

Tue., July 21

Hyperreal Film Club

301 Chicon, Austin Lower East

Mary Helen Specht: Mudlark

Since their days sweating it out in the Hotel Vegas stage-turned-screening room and beyond, Hyperreal Film Club’s offered a great platform for indie filmmakers and their bite-sized cinematic creations. No trailers for the Minecraft movie here. Before a feature presentation, the HFC folks always show a short film from local, national, and sometimes international cineastes – a practice that’s continued into their brick-and-mortar era. Tonight, however, is an Oops All Shorts surprise, where every flick’s a miniature marvel: perfect for anyone who complains about modern cinema’s addiction to long run times. – James Scott

Tue., July 21

First Light Books

4300 Speedway, Austin Greater Austin

Books

What would post-apocalyptic wanderers make of Burning Man? What’s the dystopian future of indie rock? What will the ruins of physical media mean to climate change-ravaged generations to come? Mary Helen Specht’s Mudlark searches for the answers to these questions among American rubble in underground bunkers, treetop societies, and wastelands in between. Mother-daughter bonds, alligator shoes, and underwater treasures fill the lyrical pages of this timeline-shifting read for fans of A Visit From the Goon Squad and Parable of the Sower. Hear a snippet from Specht herself and pick up a copy next Tuesday. – Caroline Drew

Sullivan’s Travels

July 21 and 25

AFS Cinema

6406 N. I-35 Ste. 3100, Austin Midtown

feeble little horse, Touching Ice [outside]

Film industry satire Sullivan’s Travels (1941) isn’t Preston Sturges’ funniest picture; it’s not even his funniest Joel McCrea picture (stay tuned for that next week). But it’s uniquely interesting for its contradictions – as an inevitably dated comedy that nonetheless takes inequality and extreme wealth inequity as sincere topics of interest, and as a snub of social justice pictures (“leave the preaching to the preachers” he sniffed in his memoir) that itself becomes a message movie in its last reel. McCrea is a comedy director who wants to make a Very Important Drama titled O Brother, Where Art Thou? (yup,… 512/322-0145

Tue., July 21, 7:30 p.m.

Mohawk

912 Red River, Austin Downtown

Get Tickets Get Tickets

2023’s Girl With Fish cemented Pittsburgh trio Feeble Little Horse as noise-pop innovators – and introduced “Steamroller, you fuck like you’re eating” as a lyrical masterwork. This year’s bitknot somehow clears that high-water mark, mashing scarier guitar squalls, glitchier electronic samples, prettier melodies, and snottier poetry into a 25-minute experimental blast. Centerpiece “Dior” distills the LP’s strengths: As Sebastian Kinsler’s chunky, catchy riff devolves into a swarm of digital pixels, Lydia Slocum shades both couture worshippers (“I’m not insured, but nothing hurts wearing Ben Doctor”) and DIY posers (“You are not David Berman, you are not Kurt Cobain”). Her vocals… 512/666-0877

Notorious

Wed., July 22

State Theatre

719 Congress, Austin Downtown

Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar

Hitchcock’s stylish post-WWII spy thriller casts Cary Grant as a debonair U.S. agent who recruits the daughter of a German war criminal (Ingrid Bergman) to seduce a Nazi (Claude Rains) hiding out in Brazil. The political stakes are high as she complies, relaying their dastardly plans, but the emotional ones are higher as Grant and Bergman fall in love. As in all of Hitchcock’s films, the tension is stoked by masterful visual style and anchored by now-classic performances. – Lina Fisher 512/472-5470

Bad Biology

Wed., July 22

1120 S. Lamar, Austin South Lamar and Barton Springs

Don’t let director Frank Henenlotter catch you calling his features horror. The creator behind such classics as Basket Case and Frankenhooker considers himself an exploitation man. “Exploitation films have an attitude more than anything – an attitude that you don’t find with mainstream Hollywood productions,” he told Total Sci-Fi Online interviewer Matt McAllister ahead of this film’s 2009 release – his first movie since trilogy-ender Basket Case 3: The Progeny. Filmed on an ultra-low budget with production and writing support by rapper R.A. the Rugged Man, Henenlotter’s 16-years-later return follows photographer Jennifer, whose unique genitalia ensures the death of her… 512/861-7040

Buck Meek, Kisser

Wed., July 22, 8 p.m.

29th Street Ballroom

2906 Fruth, Austin Campus

The Kleberg at Zach Theater

Big Thief guitarist Buck Meek layers his Americana folk sound with beeps and boops for the first time on his latest solo album The Mirror, which comes by way of producer, Big Thief drummer, and ambient musician James Krivchenia. The tasteful synth doesn't overwhelm – you have to dig for it on most songs, and while you do, you'll uncover lyrics that are nothing new to Meek (“Music is in my soul/ Rock & roll is in my blood,” he sweetly warbles). The Texan winds down tour at home this week with openers Kisser, led by his partner Germaine Dunes… 000/000-0000

Sally & Tom

Through Aug. 23

1421 W Riverside Dr, Austin Downtown

Summer Grant Writing Hangouts

The best way to celebrate history is by confronting the uncomfortable truths. So celebrate a late Independence Day by acknowledging the personal-life messiness of at least one of the Founding Fathers. In this meta play, a theatre company stages a play based on Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, and any rosy interpretations of the past – or of the playwright and her romantic partner/co-star’s relationship – get immediately challenged. With a script from Pulitzer-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks, Sally & Tom defies the idea of clean narratives. The past is messy. It demands examination. And you’ll want to be in the… NA

Through Aug. 15

Various Locations

Various Locations, Austin Greater Austin

Barbecue, Culture, and Community: A Conversation with Adrian Miller

As you’ve probably read about in senior staff writer Richard Whittaker’s reporting on p.12, arts grant funding is in a weird state. The best bet now for creative folks is to find solidarity with fellow artists searching out moola for future projects. To that end, local art hub the Museum of Human Achievement has organized meetups for anyone navigating the city of Austin’s Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment funding program. Not affiliated with the city or ACME itself, this ongoing event happening throughout July and into August features workshops on this year’s application form, one-on-one support, and a friendly co-working…

Thu., July 23

LBJ Library

(missing address), Austin Greater Austin

Food & Drink, Community

What’s more American than barbecue? To celebrate LBJ’s new exhibit “The American Experiment,” the library hosts self-proclaimed “soul food scholar” (and James Beard Award-winning author, certified barbecue judge, and former White House special assistant) Adrian Miller for a conversation with Texas Monthly Barbecue Editor Daniel Vaughn about the origins of the beloved Southern cuisine (surprise: it has Black roots), as well as a presentation honoring the late Walter Jetton, President Johnson’s pitmaster of choice and 2025 inductee into the American Royal Barbecue Hall of Fame. Come for the tasty topic; stay for the history lesson. – Carys Anderson

Summer Shorts

Every other Thursday through August 20

First Light Books

4300 Speedway, Austin Greater Austin

Books

Dip your toes into a short story and scintillating conversation at First Light Book’s second annual summer reading series, Summer Shorts. In the leaf-shaded courtyard of the Speedway shop, curious bookworms gather every other Thursday to read a short story – announced day-of – and discuss. With happy hour pricing at the cafe and no preparation required, it’s an easy breezy way to indulge in good writing and good company. This summer’s first selection comes from the incomparable Lucia Berlin, a writer with a generous heart and an unexpected spirit. – Caroline Drew

Image: iLL Manner Shows (10th anniversary) & the Smoke Out ATX (eighth anniversary) anniversary party w/ SSG Splurge, LHF Lil Ke, Blakchyl, Shelby Ruger, Shirt Off Fe, JahleelFareaL, J. Mill, more

iLL Manner Shows (10th anniversary) & the Smoke Out ATX (eighth anniversary) anniversary party w/ SSG Splurge, LHF Lil Ke, Blakchyl, Shelby Ruger, Shirt Off Fe, JahleelFareaL, J. Mill, more

Thu., July 23, 7 p.m.

Brushy Street Commons

501 Brushy Street, Austin Lower East

Can you still call a passion project your baby if it’d be mature enough to do long division as a real kid? To kick off the preteen years of iLL Manner Shows with style, founder Jamal McKinney programs his latest Brushy Street blowout. Fellow local pillar J Soulja, whose The Smoke Out ATX event series celebrates eight years of hip-hop community building, hosts the joint birthday celebration. The two curators continue to champion emerging talent in Texas rap, with sets from SSG Splurge, LHF Lil Ke, Blakchyl, Shelby Ruger, Shirt Off Fe, and more. Laced Grillz provides free gold jewelry… 512-485-3100

The Drop-In Music Series

Thursdays. Continues through Aug. 13

Long Center Lawn

701 W. Riverside, Austin South Congress and South First

Free

Summery surprises await every Thursday late May through early August at the Long Center’s Drop-In music series. The outdoor concert organizers will announce 2026’s local artist lineup in early May, and reveal specific performers weekly. No matter who’s playing, these free, family-friendly evenings are always a treat. 512/457-5100

NowY2K

Thursdays

Barbarella

611 Red River, Austin Downtown

Current aesthetic trends skew a bit too close to 10 years ago – you know, the big-brim hats, stomp-clap music, and general horror at what the U.S. just elected to its highest office – so why not kick things even further back to, say, the turn of the century? Aughts and Nineties pop, rap, hip-hop, and more spin out from behind DJs Napster and Netscape’s decks and onto the Barbs dance floor. Return every Thursday for a follow-up nostalgia hit until all the evil of the 2010s & 20s fades from your frontal lobe. – James Scott 512/476-7766

Classic Game Fest

July 24-26

Palmer Events Center

900 Barton Springs Rd., Austin South Congress and South First

Noon Tunes Summer Midday Series

Can’t afford all those pricey new video games? The folks at CGF encourage you to look back at the great interactive art of the past with vendors, music, retro game-makers, and more fun. Be ready to walk out with all manner of Mario, Sonic, or even Bubsy trinkets.

Tue., July 28 and Tue., Aug. 11

KMFA 89.5FM

41 Navasota St., Austin Lower East

Family, Music

An admission: Local classical station KMFA 89.5 has fast become my favorite radio preset. So know this comes from an honest place when I recommend the station’s Kids on Key summer series for you and any youths in your orbit. Each presentation (July 14, 28, and August 11) is hosted by Saturday Matinee and KMFA by Request’s Guillermo Delgado and showcases a different selection from Looney Tunes’ Merrie Melodies oeuvre. Iconic tracks from the classical repertoire get a zany boost from Bugs & co., from Liszt in “Rhapsody Rabbit” to Rossini in “Rabbit of Seville.” Delgado adds context to the… 512/476-5632

Summer Stock Austin: Newsies

July 31 - August 9

McCullough Theatre

2375 Robert Dedman, Austin Campus

Catch one of 10 rousing performances of the musical based on the hit Disney film from 1992, which itself was inspired by the true story of the 1899 newsboys strike that led to changes in the way newspaper sellers were compensated. 512/471-1444

Leagues Cup

August 6-13

Q2 Stadium

10414 McKalla Place, Austin North

Sports

Austin FC faces Club Puebla, Club Tijuana, and México’s most storied franchise, Club América, in league play for the summertime competition pitting Liga MX against last season’s MLS Cup Playoffs participants. The tournament’s top three teams will qualify for next year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup. 512/953-2872

Austin Sketch Fest

Aug. 14-16 and 21-23

Various Locations

Various Locations, Austin Greater Austin

Comedy

Hee and haw your way through Austin’s celebration of the sketch comedy art form with local and national artists lighting up marquees wherever good jokes are found.

PCX: Pop Culture Expo

Aug. 15-16

Fairmont Austin

101 Red River, Austin Downtown

This pop-culture expo promises to be the ultimate in nerdery for Austinites with panels, a packed artist’s alley, and plenty of big guest gets like Buffy alums James Marsters and Charisma Carpenter. 888/240-7773

Come From Away

August 19 - September 27

Topfer Theatre at Zach

202 S. Lamar, Austin South Lamar and Barton Springs