OUR TOP PICKS
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Friday: Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band at ACL Live. It’s a distant memory now, the first time I saw Ritter perform, ambling out onstage as a special guest of Glen Hansard’s band the Frames at a Boston nightclub and pin-drop silencing the crowd with a heart-stopping rendition of his song “Come and Find Me.” He’d made just two records at that point, but now he’s up to nine studio albums (including last fall’s “Gathering”), and he made an auspicious debut as an author with his novel “Bright’s Passage.” A sharp lyricist who’s also often inclined to step out with rock and pop songs well beyond acoustic singer-songwriter fare, Ritter benefits from the long and loyal support of his Royal City Band. Nicki Bluhm opens. $29.50-$39.50. 8 p.m. 310 Willie Nelson Blvd. acl-live.com. — P.B.
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Friday: Lolita Lynne release party at Barracuda. On the new six-song EP, “Fool’s Gold,” Lynne’s voice drifts between smoky nonchalance and sultry defiance as she lilts over dreamy pop soundscapes. Smiile, Batty Jr. and Carrie Fussel are also on the bill. 9 p.m. doors. 611 E Seventh St. barracudaaustin.com. — D.S.S.
Asleep at the Wheel taping “Other Voices” at Arlyn Studios on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Contributed by Richard Gilligan/Other Voices
Friday: Asleep at the Wheel at Broken Spoke. The unstoppable western swing machine rolls on, with plenty of regional and national touring on the horizon as 2018 begins. Before they go, though, they’ll make a rare appearance at South Austin’s storied honky-tonk, where leader Ray Benson’s head comes in dangerous proximity with the low ceiling. Benson’s 2017 was largely about his partnership with Dale Watson on their “Dale & Ray” record, but a new Wheel album is due this summer, after they play some high-profile local gigs with the Avett Brothers (Long Center, March 3) and George Strait (Erwin Center, June 3). $25. 9 p.m. 3201 S. Lamar Blvd. brokenspokeaustintx.net. — P.B.
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Saturday: Polyrhythmics, Kalu & the Electric Joint at the Mohawk indoor. The sprawling jams of Seattle groove collective Polyrhythmics will make you move, but hometown opener Kalu & the Electric Joint, the new project from Nigerian expat Kalu James, is also a big draw. The group’s latest release, ‘Time Undone,” simmers a slow burning dish of love and longing into a murky stew of muscular psychedelics, gut-bucket blues riffs and rootsy soul. $12-$15. Doors at 9 p.m. 912 Red River St. mohawkaustin.com. — D.S.S.
ALSO PLAYING
Friday-Saturday
Mike Flanigin Trio with Jimmie Vaughan and George Rains at Continental Club
Friday
BowiElvis Fest at Continental Club
Latin Dance party with ex-Romantika, Afrofreque, Timberos del Norte at Stubb’s
Hard Proof, Tomar & the FCs, Carl Weathersby at Antone’s
Monte Warden & the Dangerous Few at Townsend
Rite Flyers, Mike Nicolai & the Stares, Austin Pop Collective, Christine Young at Carousel Lounge
James Polk & Centerpeace, Sharon Bourbonnais at Elephant Room
Beat Juice, Gladkill at Empire
Dirty Fences, Trouble Boys, Muther, Cheap Fur, Heavy Chills at Hotel Vegas
Magnet School, Jay Satellite, Ex Optimists, Cult Leaders at Beerland
Samantha Lee & the Family Tree, B.R. Lively at Hole in the Wall
Pink Floyd laser spectacular at Emo’s
Saturday
Rodney Carrington at Bass Concert Hall
Milky Chance, Lewis Capaldi at Emo’s
Dolly Parton Birthday Bash at the High Road on Dalton
Magnifico, Ole ELO, Lung Letters at North Door
Joe King Carrasco at ABGB
Dale Watson at Broken Spoke
Rob Baird, Reed Turner at Antone’s
Money Chicha, Pong & Friends, Redd Volkaert at Continental Club
Christy Hays, Altamesa, Josh Buckley at Sam’s Town Point
Pamela Hart Quintet at Elephant Room
Culture Wars, Light Wheel, Otis Wilkins at Stubb’s indoor
Atash, Seu Jacinto at One-2-One
Yumi Zouma, Blushing at Barracuda
You Vandal, Despero, Dee-1 at Sidewinder
Drew Davis at Geraldine’s
Sunday
Black Label Society, Corrosion of Conformity, Eyehategod at Emo’s
Hilary York, Imperial Starlighters, Dale Watson at C-Boy’s
Lavelle White, Frank & Luci Craven at Antone’s
J.D. Clark, Teddys, No Sinner at Hotel Vegas
Peterson Brothers at Hilton Cannon & Belle
Willie Pipkin, Heybale at Continental Club
Lo Jinx Orchestra, Dave Biller Trio at Continental Gallery
Timberos Del Norte at One-2-One Bar
Purgatory Players at El Mercado Backstage
