OUR TOP PICKS
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Friday: Jenni Finlay Promotions’ 11th anniversary at Threadgill’s South. Finlay, daughter of the late songwriting mentor Kent Finlay of San Marcos, manages Austin troubadour James McMurtry, so it’s no surprise to see both him and his son Curtis McMurtry on this bill. The most intriguing name here, though, is somewhat lesser known: Chris Fullerton, who plays at 10 p.m., is celebrating the release of his album “Epilepsy Blues,” one of the best local records of 2017 so far. Also on the bill are Kinky Friedman, Emily Herring and Hymn River Suite. $18. 7 p.m. 301 W. Riverside Drive. threadgills.com. — P.B.
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Friday: Alesia Lani at the Mohawk indoors. Austin’s smoothest purveyor of sultry bedroom grooves celebrates the release of her new full-length, “Resilient,” the follow-up to her excellent 2015 release “First Impression.” Her next wave neo soul crew, Jon Keyz and the Keyzstreet band, knows how to smoke a set. They’ll be ready to put some fire in your Friday night and set your weekend off right. $10. 9 p.m. 912 Red River St. mohawkaustin.com — D.S.S.
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Saturday: A Giant Dog release party at Hotel Vegas. “Toy,” AGD’s sophomore release on Merge Records, explodes with the anarchic energy that made Sabrina Ellis and Andrew Cashen’s glam punk hooligans Austin’s top dive bar destroyers. But it’s not all grit and grime. The album is locked and loaded with flashy hooks and top-of-the-lung sing-alongs. For the past two years, this crew has maintained a brutal tour schedule, building a fan base across the country. Fans at home have been wondering when they’ll break out onto a much bigger stage. The answer? Any minute now. Arrive early; they moved a load of tickets in presale, and this will sell out. $15. 7 p.m. doors. 1502 E. Sixth St. texashotelvegas.com — D.S.S.
RELATED: Sabrina Ellis, Andrew Cashen go all in for art and music
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Saturday-Sunday: Lyle Lovett & His Large Band at ACL Live. When the Texas songwriter and his edge-of-forever American-roots ensemble did two nights at this venue last summer, Lovett’s tone leaned less on the wry witticisms for which he’s renowned and more toward a reflective appreciation for a long life in music with his bandmates. He’s not had a new album since 2012’s “Release Me,” so don’t expect big changes in the set list; but there’s still no contemporary touring act that combines musicianship and material with quite the same degree of class and grace. $49-$99 (first night sold out). 8 p.m. 310 Willie Nelson Blvd. acl-live.com. — P.B.
A Giant Dog celebrates the release of “Toy” Saturday at Hotel Vegas. JAY JANNER / AMERICAN-STATESMAN
ALSO PLAYING
Friday-Saturday
Mike Flanigin Trio with Jimmie Vaughan & George Rains at C-Boy’s
Friday
Michael Franti & Spearhead at Stubb’s outdoor
Cody Johnson, Muscadine Bloodline at ACL Live
Carolyn Wonderland, Bill Carter & the Blame, Carl Weathersby at Antone’s
Body Rock ATX 7th Annual Tribute to Michael Jackson at the North Door
Fairbanks & the Lonesome Light album release, Carson McHone, Noah & the Megafauna at Sidewinder
Moebius, Bubble Puppy, Crypt Trip, Sun Machine at Barracuda
Beat Root Revival at El Mercado Backstage
Brett Young at Nutty Brown Amphitheater
Tomar & the FCs, Sister 7, Leeann Atherton at One-2-One Bar
Jai Malano, Los Coast, Blues Specialists at Continental Club
Lost Counts, Robert Kraft Trio at Continental Gallery
Big Sugar with Hail Marley at Flamingo Cantina
Flyjack, Nic Armstrong & the Thieves, Beth Lee & the Breakups, Law By the Gun at Blackheart
Minor Mishap, Atash at Sahara Lounge
Saturday
Simple Plan, Set It Off at Emo’s
Lisa Lisa, Betty Who, Cupcakke, Mykki Blanco at Austin Pride Fest at Fiesta Gardens
Josh Abbott Band, Kyle Park at Nutty Brown Amphitheater
Micky & the Motorcars at Antone’s
Dawn & Hawkes at Cactus Cafe
Halfways, Twain at Radio Coffee & Beer
W.C. Clark at Saxon Pub
Hard Proof, Superfonicos at Threadgill’s South
Danny B. Harvey, Annie Marie Lewis, Heybale at White Horse
Chili Cold Blood, Blood Pumps at ABGB
Soul Supporters at Sam’s Town Point
Plini, David Miaim at Come and Take It Live
Sarah Jane Hargis & Justin Bernard Williams at Townsend
Sunday
Big Sugar, Lavelle White at Antone’s
Jon Dee Graham & the Lo Jinx Orchestra, Dave Biller at Continental Gallery
Resentments, John Gaar at Saxon Pub
Mike & the Moonpies at C-Boy’s
Jim Stringer & the AM Band at White Horse
Kinky Curly Coily Fest with Chakeeta B., Fort Never, D Madness at Empire
