OUR TOP PICKS
Friday: Geraldine’s 2nd anniversary with Jackie Venson and Jai Malano. Two of Austin’s best new blues artists join forces to celebrate the second birthday of the music-friendly hotel bar. Venson appears hot on the heels of a new EP release and a big year that included several stints opening for Gary Clark Jr. on the road. Meanwhile, Malano, a fierce singer who only recently found the courage to share her voice, has established herself as a powerful force on the local scene. The two women will each log a solo set and then, for the first time, perform together. Free. 9 p.m. 605 Davis St. geraldinesaustin.com. — D.S.S.
RELATED: Geraldine’s elevates live music on Rainey Street at Hotel Van Zandt
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02dQIyK_DwE&w=492&h=307]
Saturday: Ani DiFranco at Emo’s. Released in June, “Binary” was the Buffalo singer-songwriter and ultimate DIY-er DiFranco’s 20th solo album, not counting many live records, collaborations and compilation appearances. She’s done it all her way, independently, ever since she sported a cassette release during an extended visit to Austin in 1991 that found her playing to small but appreciative crowds at venues such as Cactus Cafe and the Continental Club. The rest of the world would soon tune in. Milck and Buddy Wakefield open. $27. 8 p.m. doors. 2015 E. Riverside Drive. emosaustin.com. — P.B.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICtRudxMVWM&w=492&h=307]
Saturday: Deer Tick at Mohawk outdoor. For their return to recording after a four-year absence, Rhode Island indie band Deer Tick made two albums, suitably titled “Volume 1” and “Volume 2.” The first is a more acoustic affair, while the second features the more electric sounds more common to the group’s decade-long catalog. They’ll showcase both sides of their identity in a two-set show featuring both acoustic and electric segments. $20-$23. 8 p.m. doors. 912 Red River St. mohawkaustin.com. — P.B.
Sir Nose from Parliament performs with George Clinton during SXSW 2017. Suzanne Cordeiro for American-Statesman.
Saturday-Sunday: Empire 4th anniversary with George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic. What’s funkier than George Clinton landing his legendary mothership in the heart of Austin’s Red River music district? The world’s greatest intergalactic funkateer arriving with an entourage that includes new school electro-funk kingpin Dam Funk and a supporting cast of funky Austinites that includes D Madness, Foot Patrol, and Mama K and the Shades. $45. 4 p.m. doors. 606 E. Seventh St. empireatx.com. — D.S.S.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1fY-23ffl0&w=492&h=307]
Sunday: Mandolin Orange at Antone’s. It’s remarkable just how many Austin venues this fast-rising North Carolina acoustic duo has played since their first visit here in 2013: Cactus, Continental, Mohawk, Stubb’s, Parish, the late Holy Mountain. (Not to mention many of the area’s biggest special events: SXSW, ACL Fest, Old Settler’s.) The new Antone’s becomes another notch in their Austin-centric belt, and if it’s anything like recent visits, the place will be packed. Rachel Baiman opens. (Technically sold out) 8 p.m. 305 E. Fifth St. antonesnightclub.com. — P.B.
ALSO PLAYING
Friday-Saturday
Mike Flanigin Trio with Jimmie Vaughan & George Rains at C-Boy’s
Friday
Tori Amos, Scars on 45 at ACL Live (sold out)
Ray Wylie Hubbard Birthday Bash at Paramount Theatre
Ottmar Liebert at One World Theatre
Wild Child, Batty Jr., Icing at Scoot Inn
Kip Moore at Stubb’s outdoor
Peter Case at Cactus Cafe
Floozies, Widdler, Cloudchord at Emo’s
Troyboi at Empire
David Ramirez, Matthew Logan Vasquez, Small Houses at Mohawk outdoor
Grant Hart tribute at Hole in the Wall
Junior Brown at Broken Spoke
Chris Duarte, Milligan Vaughan Project, Wyatt Casey photo exhibit opening at Antone’s
Beat Root Revival, Patrice Pike, Denny Freeman at Saxon Pub
Uncle Lucius, Rob Baird at Little Woodrow’s Southpark
Lynch Mob, Dharma Kings at Come and Take It Live
Lyfe Jennings at Coliseum
Microsessions with John Wesley Coleman, Born Again Virgins, Oscar Ornelas, Emme at Charles Johnson American Legion House
Golden Boys at End of an Ear
Murali Coryell & Ernie Durawa Band at Townsend
Tomar & the FCs, Mudphonic, Blues Specialists at Continental Club
Croy & the Boys, Roger Wallace, Missy Beth & the Morning Afters at White Horse
Nightowls, Sour Bridges, Cari Q at Barracuda
Mike Nicolai & the Stares at Hole in the Wall
Ricky Espinoza, Christy Hays at ABGB
Saturday
Shane Smith & the Saints, Flatland Cavalry, John Baumann at Scoot Inn
Blue October, Missio at Stubb’s outdoor
Rodeo Austin BBQ Auction with Neal McCoy at ACL Live
Monty Alexander Harlem-Kingston Express at McCullough Theatre
David Garza, Junior & Tanya Rae Brown, Redd Volkaert at Continental Club
Tommy Shannon & Friends, Jake Andrews, Alan Haynes, Seth Walker at Antone’s
Guy Forsyth, Ray Prim, Bobby Whitlock & CoCo Carmel, Bubble Puppy at Saxon Pub
Billy Crockett & Friends at Cactus Cafe
Golden Boys record release, Fleshlights, Vertical Vice, Peyton Andrew Green at Barracuda
Texas KGB record release, Cartright, Croy & the Boys at Mohawk indoor
Burgess Meredith record release, A. Sinclair, Michael St. Clair, Ooni at Hole in the Wall
F.C. Westcott CD release at El Mercado Backstage
Aaron McDonnell EP release at Poodie’s Hilltop Roadhouse
Holy Wave, Curved Light, Grivo at Hotel Vegas
Hovvdy, Caroline Says, Jana Horn at Cheer Up Charlie’s
Derailers at Broken Spoke
Ruby & the Reckless at ABGB
Latin at Heart at One-2-One Bar
Wiretree, San Saba County at Lamberts
Sunday
Gladys Knight at Paramount Theatre
Maine, Dreamers, Night Riots at Emo’s
Eddie Palmieri at One World Theatre
Public at Sidewinder
Pocket FishRmen record release, Butch County, Count Vaseline, Stabbies, Jean Caffeine at Hole in the Wall
Mayeux & Broussard, Sour Bridges, Harvest Thieves, Jonathan Terrell at Scoot Inn
Golden Boys at Little Darlin’
Hilary York, Aimee Bobruk, Rosie Flores at C-Boy’s
Willie Pipkin & Friends, Heybale, Marshall Hood at Continental Club
Mitch Watkins Trio at Elephant Room
Kevin Lovejoy at Lamberts
Soul of a Musician series with Vanessa Lively, Nicolette Good at Iron Cactus North
Lord Buffalo at Waterloo Records
