OUR TOP PICKS
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Saturday: HillBenders present “The Who’s Tommy: A Bluegrass Opry” at One World Theatre. Though they hail from Springfield, Mo., this energetic alt-grass outfit has a vital Austin connection: It was the late South by Southwest co-founder Louis Meyers who persuaded them to record a bluegrass version of the Who’s classic rock-opera album. What might sound like a goofy lark reveals itself to be much more than that when the band reels off classic after classic in sequence, as they did to a delighted audience at Old Settler’s Music Festival in 2016. $20-$60. 7 p.m. — P.B.
Girl in a Coma performs at the Texas Heritage Festival at Stubb’s on Thursday, June 30, 2016. Photo by Peter Blackstock
Saturday: Pennyfest at Empire. Does a single-day event really count as a fest? It might be stretching the definition, but we’ll let it slide for this one with its solid offerings of top-notch regional indie rock. Gigs by San Antonio outfit Girl in a Coma have been rare over the last couple years as lead singer Nina Diaz focused on her solo career, but they kick off a national tour later this fall, and they’ll be in Austin to headline this shindig. Also on the bill, presented by Penny Loafer PR and 101X Homegrown Live, are Emily Wolfe, Ghost Wolves, Darkbird and many more. $12-$17. 6:30 p.m. doors. 606 E. 7th St. empireatx.com. — D.S.S.
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Saturday: Donald Fagen & the Nightflyers at ACL Live. It’s not Steely Dan, granted, but co-leader Fagen will be playing many of that band’s biggest hits on this tour, as well as choice cuts from his handful of solo records. Backing him is a band of younger musicians he’s recruited from the area around his Woodstock, N.Y., home: guitarist Connor Kennedy, keyboardist Will Bryant, bassist Brandon Morrison and drummer Lee Falco. $69.50-$99.50. 8 p.m. 310 Willie Nelson Blvd. acl-live.com. — P.B.
ALSO PLAYING
Friday-Saturday
Mike Flanigin Trio with Jimmie Vaughan & George Rains at C-Boy’s
Friday
Bob Schneider, Jai Malano, Eric Burton at Nutty Brown Amphitheater
South Austin Jug Band reunion at Threadgill’s South
Jon Wolfe, Django Walker, Shotgun Rider at Stubb’s outdoor
MC 900ft Jesus at the North Door
Rob $tone at Vulcan Gas Company
Uncle Lucius, Greyhounds, Elijah Ford at Barracuda
Magna Carda, Trouble in the Streets, BoomBaptist at Hotel Vegas
Body Rock ATX: Kanye vs. Beyoncé at Empire
Whitey Johnson, Denny Freeman at Saxon Pub
Screemin’ Sheelahs at Flamingo Cantina
Rosie Flores, Ruby Jane & the Reckless, Blues Specialists at Continental Club
Jean Caffeine album release, Bitter Heart Society, Butch County at Hole in the Wall
Sam Pace EP release, Watters at Mohawk indoor
Bad Rituals EP release, Noisechoir, Hunter Sharpe at Sidewinder
Pong, Bamako Airlines at Sahara Lounge
Kanga, Adoration Destroyed, Curse Mackey at Elysium
Gerardo Ortiz at El Coliseo
Saturday
Tab Benoit, Brandy Zdan at Mohawk outdoor
Carbon Leaf at 3Ten
Lou Ann Barton, Sue Foley, Redd Volkaert at Continental Club
W.C. Clark Blues Revue, Shelley King Band at Antone’s
Annabelle Chairlegs, Shivas, Mean Jolene, DJ Tweedy at Hotel Vegas
A Is Red, Patricia Vonne at One-2-One Bar
For Spite Creative Party with Glass, BLXPLTN at Sidewinder
Albert & Gage at Donn’s Depot
Jason Roberts at Little Longhorn Saloon
Belle Sounds at Saxon Pub
Breakaway Expansion party with Hollow Trees, Fleshlights at Breakaway Records
Against the Archaic at Come and Take It Live
Magnifico at ABGB
Ugly Beats at Carousel Lounge
Sunday
Everly Brothers tribute with Zmed Brothers at One World Theatre
Al Green tribute with CJ Edwards & the Funk Fellowship at Empire
La India Yuridia at El Coliseo
Mama K & the Shades, Kalu & the Electric Joint, Lindsay Beaver at Antone’s
Hilary York, Aimee Bobruk, Rosie Flores at C-Boy’s
Doug Strahan & the Good Neighbors at ABGB
Jean Caffeine at Antone’s Record Shop
Multicult, Vincas at Beerland
