MONDAY
MusiCares Sober Jam at Gibson Showroom. Once a month, national nonprofit MusiCares teams with SIMS, a local foundation dedicated to mental health for musicians, to present this open jam at Gibson’s South Austin Showroom. The idea is to provide a safe space for musicians struggling with addiction recovery and everyone who wishes to support them. The evening kicks off with an open blues jam at 7 p.m., followed by an hour-long open mic salon and a final open jam. Free. 3601 South Congress Ave. Visit the SIMS Foundation Facebook page for more details. — D.S.S.
Also: Every Monday, world renowned DJ Mel gets back to his roots with hip-hop night at Nasty’s. … Psych rockers Dirty Lens play the inside room at the Mohawk.
TUESDAY
8 ½ Souvenirs at C-Boys. Back in 1995, the Parisian gypsy jazz vibes of Olivier Giraud and Glover Gill’s made their weekly residency at the Continental Club an Austin essential. Twenty years later, Giraud and Gill have reunited to get Austin’s “Happy Feet” moving again, this time with a weekly happy hour set at C-Boys. 6:30 p.m. 2008 South Congress Ave. cboys.com — D.S.S.
Also: Spiderhouse continues their free Tuesday night Sun Sets series with a 7 p.m. all ages performance on the patio from Kyloe Blue. … Them Duqaines and Paul Nipper hold down the weekly “This Ain’t No Armadillo” show at Barracuda. Free two-step lessons at 8 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
Texas Radio Live with Ben Ballinger and Jaimee Harris at Guero’s. Sun Radio’s weekly live music series under the trees in the Mexican restaurant’s spacious Oak Garden pairs two rising singer-songwriters in the local community. Ballinger leans more to indie-rock, while Harris tends toward Americana, though each cross over into both of those realms. Both also have been working on new records that haven’t yet come out, but recent shows suggest good things on the horizon for them. Free (donations accepted). 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. 1412 S. Congress Ave. gueros.com. — P.B.
Also: After the Austin Mic Exchange’s weekly open mic, Spiderhouse welcomes West Coast indie hip-hop lifers Ras Kass and Planet Asia to close out the night. … Raul Malo’s country rock powerhouse the Mavericks stop by ACL LIve. … Rapidly rising L.A. rapperDerek Luh plays Empire. … ‘80s new wave rockers the Fixx play 3Ten.
THURSDAY
Jackie Venson. Photo by Gene Chavez.
Unplugged at the Grove with Jackie Venson at Shady Grove. One of the city’s great undersung talents, emerging blues phenom Venson brings sensitive artistry to her guitar work that is best experienced live. She excels on the electric, making her six-strings sing like a voice, but we’re confident her formidable skills will shine even in an unplugged set. A lovely end of summer get-together for the whole family. Free. Music begins at 8 p.m. 1624 Barton Springs Road. Additional parking available at Bicycle Sports Shop on South Lamar Boulevard. Kgsr.com. —D.S.S.
Also: The ACL Live show from Americana fave Lyle Lovett is sold out, but down and out fans might appreciate the gleeful obscenities of five-string slingers Folk Uke or the twangy tunes of the Beaumonts and Them Duqaines, who play sets downstairs at 3Ten. … The Earlybird, a new live music series for folks who are not trying to close down the bar, presents a happy show from rocker A. Sinclairat the Hard Luck Lounge. … Austin360’s August Artist of the Month Monte Warden & the Dangerous Few play the Continental Gallery.
