We've got a big weekend in store with plenty of shows, a few album releases and a celebration of a club's 30-year anniversary.
We're speaking, of course, of Fort Worth honky-tonk Billy Bob's Texas, which has been hosting national and local country acts on its stage since 1981. Tonight, the venue will celebrate with a performance by Gary Allan.
But if honky-tonkin' ain't your thing, we've got plenty of other shows for you this weekend, starting with the ones we've been talking about all week.
Tonight, Kirby Brown celebrates the release of his new record Child Of Calamity at La Grange with the help of Larry G(ee), and Hailey's Club in Denton will see Snarky Puppy and Eastern Blok will perform.
On Saturday, Trees proves itself to be a great setting for hip-hop, by welcoming up-and-coming rappers Big K.R.I.T. and Freddie Gibbs. Speaking of record releases, The Virgin Wolves will celebrate the release of their debut album Bad Blood at La Grange. Also on Saturday, Janet Jackson will take Dallasites on an escapade to Grand Prairie at the Verizon Theatre, and Joe Pug will perform at The Loft.
And on Sunday, alt-rock lifer Chris Cornell will take to the House Of Blues stage with a stripped down acoustic set. Oh, and Rockers vs Mods is happening all over town, so grab a two-wheeled vehicle of your choice and check that out, too.
More of this weekend's shows after the jump.
Deep Ellum Arts Festival
April 1 to April 3, in Deep Ellum
Rockers Vs. Mods isn't the only festival going on around town this weekend. Deep Ellum's got their 17th annual Deep Ellum Arts Festival going on this weekend, with several stages (including a Dallas Observer-sponsored stage) that will feature over 90 bands. Most notably, The Red 100's, The Beaten Sea, Whiskey Folk Ramblers, Nicholas Altobelli and Tweed EQ will perform among a smattering of other local acts.
Del Castillo
Friday, April 1, at The Kessler Theater
Austin latin-rock group Del Castillo have been making the trek up I-35 to Dallas for over a decade now. And they've done it so often that it wouldn't be a reach to mistake them as a Dallas act. Along the way, they've released four albums and worked with some pretty high-profile people. In 2004, Director Robert Rodriguez (Machete, Mariachi) filmed the band's live DVD, Del Castillo Live.
First Friday Tribute w/ Oliver's Army
Friday, April 1, at Fallout Lounge
It's rare to see a live band at Fallout Lounge since the somewhat cramped quarters lends itself more easily to the DJs that spin there almost every night of the week. But it seems the venue is turning over a new leaf, and in doing so, they have started a new series called First Friday Tribute, which will feature tribute acts on the first Friday of every month. The inaugural show tonight will feature Oliver's Army, an Elvis Costello tribute act.
John Mellencamp
Friday, April 1, at Verizon Theatre
Does Grand Prairie count as a small town?
Papa Grows Funk
Saturday, April 2, at The Kessler Theater
This weekend provides the Kessler Theater a chance to showcase a handful of bands that aren't your standard rock 'n' roll types. Del Castillo will be there on Friday night, and, on Saturday night, New Orleans funk act Papa Grows Funk will grace the stage with some, well, funky jams. So, if that's your thing, head down to Oak Cliff.
Sextape, Land Mammals, Ethereal and the Queer Show
Saturday, April 2, Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios
In last week's paper edition, our all-things-Denton expert, North of the Dial's Rodrigo Diaz basically says that Sextape is so hot right now. Check out the electronic band's dance-heavy, lo-fi jams at Rubber Gloves on Saturday. If we know those crazy folks in Denton, then this will almost certainly turn into a dance party.
Yells At Eels, Unconscious Collective
Saturday, April 2, at All Good Cafe
Seems like Yells At Eels have been all over the place lately. Well, good for them. The Oak Cliff avant-garde jazz family have been purveying the most energetic and interesting jazz in our city, and on the small stage at All Good Cafe, this intimate performance will be laid back and fun.
Zanzibar Snails, Dear Human, Sextape, New Fumes
Sunday, April 3, at Hailey's Club
Speaking
of experimental, avant-garde jazz, Denton's got some jazz chops of its
own (see University of North Texas Jazz Program). Zanzibar Snails, who
have been known to share a bill with Yells At Eels, will be in their
hometown this weekend at Hailey's Club. And interestingly enough, it's
not an all jazz bill. Far from it. It's actually quite a mixed bag of
sorts -- one that features Dallas' New Fumes.
Backsliders, Titan Moon, Lovie, Tweed EQ
Sunday, April 3, at La Grange
There will be a lot of rock 'n' roll on the La Grange stage Sunday night -- the blues rock of Tweed EQ, the space rock of Lovie, Titan Moon's U2 inspired brit-pop and the gritty blues of The Backsliders.
Del The Funky Homosapien
Sunday, April 3, at The Loft
Del is shaping up to be one of those guys who appears on a Dallas marquee ever four or five months. Sure, he's no Devin The Dude, who plays at the Granada Theater so much we assume he might have an apartment behind the venue, but Del is here quite a bit. This time, though, he'll bring his witty, wordy hip-hop to The Loft, for what will definitely be a great opportunity to catch this veteran MC.
...and that's it from us. Enjoy your weekend, and we'll see you back here on Monday.