“We are able to do something that is normally never done,” says curator Alex Czetwertynski. “Since it’s this type of art that’s based on light and computation and interactivity, it’s an emerging field and we’re giving people an opportunity to get familiar with it.”

With more than a dozen artists from across the globe creating installations for last year’s festival, Day For Night promises to impress audiences again with even more mind-blowing visuals in 2024. Check out our video and hear the artists from last year’s Day For Night explain why this is the festival of the future.

Storied Houston punk band Mydolls are taking stage this week at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston for a performance and live interview, offering a glimpse into the lives of four esteemed musicians.

Formed nearly four decades ago by Trish Herrera, Dianna Ray, Linda Younger and George Reyes, Mydolls have become established as one of Houston’s most venerated punk bands. In 1980, the group was invited to conduct an on-air interview with BBC Radio 1 host and tastemaker John Peel in London, and in 1984, Mydolls appeared in Wim Wenders’ movie Paris, Texas and were invited to attend the film’s New York City premiere and perform at the afterparty, held at the infamous Danceteria.

The long-time band has played with notable acts including Really Red, The Hates, Wild Bores, Introverts, Plastic idols, Recipients, Party Owls, Degenerates, and Anarchitex, as well as Culturcide, Mark Flood’s “experimental anti-band.” The interview and performance are part of the music-based lecture series 20HERTZ, with this edition held in conjunction with the museum’s current survey exhibition, Mark Flood: Gratest Hits.

Starting at 6:30 pm, the museum will host an interview between Mydolls, Dan Workman of SugarHill Studios, and Nancy Agin D., a graduate student in the Arts Leadership program at the University of Houston. For their presentation, “Mydolls will discuss their nearly four-decade-long career recording, touring, and producing records; their DIY Ethos and cultural impact; and their role as community leaders working to empower women of all ages.” Following the discussion, Mydolls will perform a live concert. Admission is free, but audiences should probably show up early to guarantee a seat.

20HERTZ: A World of Our Own: Mydolls and the Houston Punk Scene takes place at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (5216 Montrose) from 6:30 to 8 pm on Thursday, July 28.

According to forecasts, July 16 and 17 in San Marcos is set to be close to 100 degrees. So yes, it’s going to be hot. That said, an escape for the heat is tubing in the cool waters of the San Marcos River, a fun activity in and of itself, which is also something that represents our state so well. Tubing means something completely different here than it does to people in the North as it’s a pastime that’s distinctly infused with Southern life. Since people love to float the river with their Yeti coolers and floating speakers, so you might as well get to hear music as it’s best enjoyed — live. Lo and behold Float Fest, a unique festival hosted at Cool River Ranch that combines three of the best activities to do in the summer: enjoy a music festival, tube down a cool river, and camp in the great outdoors.

Off the top of my head, I can’t think of another festival that’s quite like Float Fest, certainly not in Texas. The festival boasts solid lineup that consists of artists like Chromeo, Rick Ross, Santigold, Bone Thugs-N Harmony, Future Islands and Metric, as well as local talents like Slim Thug, Fat Tony and Wild Moccasins, not to mention more than a dozen others.

This is my second year attending Float Fest, with my first year being the inaugural event back in 2024. It appears like a lot has changed since then, with the biggest change being the addition of a second day of the festival, but things that made the festival unique still remain and I sincerely hope they always will. One of the best things about this event is that the performances on each of the two stages never overlap, meaning that you don’t have to choose which band you want to see. Instead, you can see them all. One of the strongest memories I have of year one of this festival was the venue: A large field that seems similar to a festival like Bonnaroo, which grants you great views of both stages wherever you decide to stand or even sit.

Photo by Julian Bajsel

If you have been contemplating whether or not to buy passes, I recommend going, since as unique as this festival is, you will have a great time with a solid lineup, a chance to cool off in the San Marcos River, and possibly camp, if you are into camping in 100 degree weather near the central Texas. Hey, why not get the whole Texas experience while you’re at it? On the way to the grounds, stop at Buc-ee’s to buy the Beaver Nuggets and a tie-dye shirt, head to Whataburger for a patty melt, and buy a pint of Blue Bell… before the listeria comes back. Don’t miss out on a festival that is truly the definition of summer fun.

Get your tickets for Float Fest now before the festival this weekend, July 16 and 17.

This week certainly doesn’t disappoint with an exciting array of unique events, including opening receptions at 4411 Montrose, the premiere of Emily Peacock’s film August at DiverseWorks, and the Best in Show art and fundraising event benefiting Barrio Dogs and BOX 13 ArtSpace.

Wednesday, July 13

Free Gallery Talk + Lunch: Claudia Schmuckli on Matthew Ronay at Blaffer Art Museum

Join Blaffer Art Museum (4173 Elgin) at noon for a free gallery talk about Matthew Ronay’s solo exhibition by outgoing museum director, chief curator and exhibition organizer Claudia Schmuckli. The talk concludes over lunch provided by the museum and be sure to RSVP online to guarantee your spot.

Thursday, July 14

Opening Reception — Antonio Lizárraga: Balance of Duality at Sicardi Gallery

From 6 to 8 pm, Sicardi Gallery (1506 West Alabama) presents Balance of Duality, a retrospective spanning 30 years of Argentinian-born artist Antonio Lizárraga’s production in painting, drawing, printmaking, and sculpture. Although he passed in 2024, this will be the artist’s first solo exhibition in the United States and gives a comprehensive look at his impressive capacity for creativity through design, geometric painting, and poetry. Lizárraga’s exhibition will be on view through September 3.

Screening — Emily Peacock: August at DiverseWorks

“Carrying the weight of looming family tragedy and past heartbreaks, young artist August finds herself in limbo as she quietly goes through the motions at family gatherings, her job at a photo processing business, her own artist presentations, gallery openings, and awkward relationships,” reads the description for Houston artist Emily Peacock’s screenwriting and directorial debut, August. The world premiere of her half-hour film will take place at 7 pm in Matchbox 4 (3400 Main) and the screening will be followed by a Q&A session with Peacock. Admission is free, but tickets are required (available here).

Friday, July 15

Opening Receptions at 4411 Montrose

The galleries at 4411 Montrose make it easy for you to catch all of the exhibitions at once with four of the galleries hosting openings from 6 to 8 pm. David Shelton Gallery is hosting SummerzCool: A Group Exhibition featuring works by 16 artists; Ron Ulicny: Xylotheque at Cindy Lisica Gallery; and Owen Drysdale: Hot Summer Deadly Day at Barbara Davis Gallery. Additionally, Puffy, Prickly, Poured at Anya Tish Gallery features new and recent work by U.S. based, internationally-born artists Claire Ashley, Xuan Chen, and Dan Lam.

Opening Reception — Rahileh Rokhsari: The Edge at Samara Gallery

From 6 to 8 pm, Samara Gallery (3911 Main) is hosting the opening reception for The Edge, a solo exhibition of new works by Iranian-born artist Rahileh Rokhsari. The body of work presented, which will be on view through August 26, is “inspired by her personal journey as a woman and the never ending dance between tradition and modernity.”

Saturday, July 16

Best in Show at BOX 13 ArtSpace

From 3 to 8 pm, BOX 13 ArtSpace (6700 Harrisburg) is hosting a series of events as part of Best in Show, an open-call exhibition of dog and cat themed work, as well as a fundraiser and community awareness event. There will be an exhibition preview and adoption event with the non-profit Barrio Dogs from 3 to 5 pm where visitors will have the chance to meet animals in need of their forever home. At 6 pm, special guest representatives from Team Cat and Team Dog will judge the work on view and award artist-made ribbons, then from 6 to 8 pm, the works will be on sale with all proceeds benefiting Barrio Dogs and BOX 13.

LEAN, BLEAK at Alabama Song

As the second of three events, LEAN, BLEAK is a summer concert series featuring Texas songwriters, experimental improvisers and poets. This installment takes place at Alabama Song (2521 Oakdale) and includes performances by May (Regina Agu, Gabe Martinez and Ronnie Yates), Virginity (Spencer Dobbs and Parham Daghigi), Gun Kontrol (Joe Wozny and Sandy Ewen) and David Fiel. The show starts at 7:30 pm and there is a suggested donation of $5 to $10.

An Afternoon of Hope: Music in Memoriam of the Orlando Shooting takes place this coming Sunday at the St. Thomas Presbyterian Church.

In a two-act scenario a small ensemble will perform select classical pieces, followed by a rendition of Mozart’s Requiem in D Minor. The performers include soprano Pheobie Willis, alto Monica Isomura, tenor Brian Yeakley, and bass Austin Hoeltzel. The performance is conducted by Andrew Schneider and Michael Vaughan.

The event is free to the public with all donations going to the non-profit organizations Pulse Tragedy Fund in Orlando, Florida and Homeless Gay Kids – Houston

A silent auction will be conducted throughout the duration of the event. Bidding for respective items will conclude at the end of the second act. This is a worthy cause and the people spearheading the event are at once altruistic and concerned for the well being of all parties involved.

Mozart’s Requiem Mass in D Minor was a commissioned work that Mozart had been hired to complete in the months before he himself died at age thirty-five. The work was unfinished at his untimely passing. Mozart’s amanuensis Franz Xaver Süssmayr delivered a completed version to Count Franz von Walsegg who had hired Mozart in the first place to write a composition to commemorate the death of his wife, who herself had passed on February 14.

Even at the end of the Eighteenth Century Valentine’s Day was an established day of romance and sacrifice. Many early Christian martyrs were named Valentine. What a ambivalent bummer to have your wife die on such a date and yet have enough scratch to hire the preeminent artist du jour to write a song about said tragedy.

“An Afternoon of Hope: Music in Memoriam of the Orlando Shooting” takes place at the St. Thomas Presbyterian Church (14100 Memorial Drive) on Sunday, July 17 from 2 to 4 pm.

This week in Houston brings in an incredible array of can’t-miss events, such as a $300-or-less art sale by BLUEorange Contemporary and nearly half a dozen openings, including receptions at Inman Gallery, Art Palace and Hiram Butler Gallery.

Wednesday, July 6

Screening — Rushmore at Market Square Park

Fight the mid-week blues with Alamo Drafthouse‘s free screening of the off-kilter prep school dramedy Rushmore at Market Square Park (301 Milam), starting at 7:30 pm. With Houston as the backdrop for Wes Anderson’s classic, not to mention some of the most memorable performances by Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman, this is one screening you won’t want to miss.

Thursday, July 7

Opening Reception — Visual Voices at Spring Street Studios

Visual Voices, an exhibition of new work from resident artists at Spring Street Studios (1824 Spring), features an opening reception from 6 to 9 pm. Curated by local gallerist Hans Payan Geler, the exhibition focuses on a dialogue between the artist and viewer and the visual dialogue between the works on view. The opening reception includes remarks by Geler at 7 pm and the exhibition will be on view through September 17.

Friday, July 8

Opening Reception — Homelife: A Group Exhibition at Inman Gallery

From 6 to 8 pm, Inman Gallery (3901 Main) is hosting the opening reception for Homelife, a group exhibition featuring selected works by 16 artists. Painters Dana Frankfort and Gael Stack, who organized the show for the gallery, stated: “The work chosen for this show is emblematic of ‘homelife’, the danger that lurks there, and the precariousness and variety of it all.” The exhibition will be on view through August 20.

Opening Reception — Rebecca Marino: The Best Available Evidence at Art Palace

Initially inspired by a found document compiled to prove the existence and legitimacy of UFOs, Rebecca Marino’s exhibition, The Best Available Evidence, is the Austin-based artist’s way to play with the idea of proof and to question personal thresholds of belief through her manipulation of various mediums. From 6 to 8 pm, Art Palace (3913 Main) is hosting the opening reception for Marino’s exhibition, which will be on view through August 13.

Opening Reception — THIRST at Capsule Gallery

Capsule Gallery (3909 Main) is hosting the opening reception for THIRST, a group exhibition celebrating “the vessels that facilitate our enjoyment of summertime libations.” The exhibition features both functional and decorative pieces with the aim to encourage the support of craft and design, as well as to help offset the impact of single use beverage containers. The opening reception takes place from 6 to 8 pm and the exhibition will be on view through September 10.

Cheap Date: A $20 Art Show and Market at East End Studio Gallery

Check out Cheap Date, a one-night-only art show and market at East End Studio Gallery (708 Telephone) from 7 to 11 pm. Work by nearly 50 artists will be featured, including Michael C. Rodriguez, ACK!, Ned Gayle and Blake Jones — who helped organize the event — and all art at the event is $20 or less and is ready to take home that evening.

Saturday, July 9

Second Saturday Open Studios at Washington Avenue Arts District

The studios in the Washington Avenue Arts District — including Silver Street, Winter Street and Spring Street Studios, as well as The Silos at Sawyer Yards — are opening up to the public for their monthly second-Saturday event. The repurposed warehouses, which feature dozens of studios for artists of every medium, will be open from 2 to 5 pm, giving visitors the opportunity to get up close and personal with local artists and their work.

PrintMatters Summer Invitational at Nicole Longnecker Gallery

PrintMatters, a local nonprofit dedicated to promoting traditional and non-traditional printmaking, is hosting its inaugural Summer Invitational at Nicole Longnecker Gallery (2625 Colquitt) from 5 to 8 pm. The exhibition showcases the juried works of Texas artists and printmakers and works utilize lithography, relief, intaglio, monotype and screen printing.

Opening Reception — Leslie Fenn: Wikipedia says that Cottage Grove is a community in Houston, Texas at Aker Imaging Gallery

Leslie Fenn’s new exhibition at Aker Imaging Gallery (4708 Lillian), Wikipedia says that Cottage Grove is a community in Houston, Texas, takes a look at the transformation of a neighborhood. Fenn spent the last three years dedicated to exploring the community, understanding how it’s changed and photographing the area’s original residents, as well as the newcomers to the neighborhood. The opening reception for Fenn’s exhibition takes place from 6 to 8 pm.

Sunday, July 10

Yart Sale at BLUEorange Contemporary

From 3 to 9 pm, BLUEorange Contemporary (1208 West Gray) is hosting a “Yart Sale,” a gathering of talented emerging and established artists in the Houston area to encourage the appreciation for and acquisition of local fine artwork, all set in the casual environment of a yard party. All works — of which mediums include painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, sculpture, ceramic and jewelry — are priced at $300 or less, opening the doors of art collecting to those who may not have thought it possible.

Perhaps it’s synchronicity when de Havilland refers at the bottom of page 47 in the current edition of Every Frenchman Has One to a Winterhalter portrait. Upstairs the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is presenting an exhibit of Franz Winterhalter paintings and downstairs in the Brown Auditorium the MFAH is hosting a retrospective of de Havilland’s films, the titles of which were personally picked by her for their respective screenings. The actress turned 100 on July 1.

She spends the entire book not talking about movies and precious little about her sister Joan Fontaine. The reports of their rivalry seem to be more an invention of the media than actual hatred. Yes, de Havilland broke Fontaine’s collarbone when they were young but what siblings don’t fight on occasion. My younger brother knocked out my front teeth with a rock when I was sixteen and I still talk to him. On occasion.

The twelve films in the retrospective include two films for which de Havilland won the Academy Award for Best Actress — To Each Her Own (July 29) and The Heiress (August 6). In The Dark Mirror (July 30), de Havilland plays twins involved in a murder. You get two for the price of one.

Gone With the Wind, unwinding in a 4K-restoration digital print this Saturday at the MFAH, has a reputation that precedes its screening. She plays the role of Melanie Hamilton in the classic film. Under contract to Warner Brothers, de Havilland was traded for a one-time option for the services of Jimmy Stewart who himself was under contract to Selznick International. She would later sue Warner Brothers in 1943 successfully to release her from that contract. Essentially, an actor was under contract to a studio for seven years, but if you had a day or week or month off — as most actors do — the studio considered that as time that was owed them. The De Havilland Law is the unofficial name for California Labor Code Section 2855.

Adjusted for inflation, Gone With the Wind — which has been re-released numerous times since its premiere in 1939 — is the highest domestic grossing film of all time.

In David Thomson’s book The Whole Equation: A History of Hollywood, he examines the financial impact of Gone With the Wind. According to Thompson: “By the end of its first run, extended by the war through 1942 the picture had rentals of $31-million.” To put that in perspective for its era, “the 1941 Best Picture Winner How Green Was My Valley grossed $2.8-million, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs grossed $8-million, and Casablanca brought in $3.7-million.” Box Office Mojo, the go-to website for film grosses, has the adjusted take for Gone With the Wind at $1,733,542,900, which is $2-million more that the second place film, the 1977 Star Wars, and makes Gone With the Wind the top domestic grossing film of all time.

Gone With the Wind premiered on December 15, 1939 in Atlanta. Other historic events that took place that month included the opening of La Guardia airport on December 2, and the Soviet Union invading Finland on December 14, which got them tossed out of the League of Nations. Another film opened in 1939 that may very well be the best film ever made and is the complete opposite of Gone With the Wind in every aspect – Jean Renoir’s The Rules of the Game.

“Gone With the Wind” unreels at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston this Saturday, July 9 at 3 pm. The film will be introduced by Free Press Houston film buff and associate editor Michael Bergeron.

Things are really starting to feel stacked in our city. With festival season upon us, this week in Houston brings in an array of performances from the likes of King Khan & the Shrines, Jessy Lanza, Mitski and Reverend Horton Heat. Houston, here’s how to navigate the next seven days.

Wednesday you can get going over at Woodlands Pavilion to see the Oakland’s G-Eazy.  This guy is definitely popular, but it feels like he’s going to move here soon with as many appearances as he’s made here recently.  His latest album, When It’s Dark Out, is full of hits, which you know if you’re already a fan.  Logic will be on this bill as direct support, and he’s been in Houston enough in the last year to get his mail here.  Yo Gotti will also be on, as will YG who will open the all ages show with gates at 6:30 pm and tickets between $30 and $79.50.

If you don’t want to trek that far, then you could go to Warehouse Live in the green room for the straightforward American rock of Nashville’s Future Thieves.  These guys are making quite the name for themselves, they have a nice and catchy sound, and their debut album, Horizon Line from last year, sticks in your head.  There’s no word of direct support or opener on the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $10 and $12.

Venom Inc. Photo: Andre Smirnoff

Walters will host the dark metal sounds of Venom Inc.  Okay, so you need to know right off the bat that this isn’t Venom in the sense that it’s Cronos and pals.  This is actually Mantas and Abaddon from the original lineup performing the eras in which they were in the band Venom songs.  Of course, because both were in and out of the band over the years, it becomes tricky to say what you’ll actually hear, though I’m guessing easily Welcome To Hell through Possessed era in the least.  Ohio based death metal pioneers of the eighties Necrophagia will be on as direct support, while NYC’s SUNLORD will go on beforehand.  However, both bands will have their work cut out for them, as the dark metal of Houston’s Peasant will go on prior.  If you’ve somehow missed these guys, check out their new EP, Pain Is Near, because it’s pretty nuts. Possibly one of the better new bands in Houston, God Fearing Fuck will bring their d-beat punk meets heavy metal on as openers.  If you want to get a little scared, or maybe you just want to hear a solid and fast metal band, check out their latest Wasteland Hymns.  The all ages and all metal show has doors at 7 pm and tickets are between $20 and $22.

Nightingale Room will have the indie folk sounds of new Houston trio, Phantom Arcade.  I’ve never seen these guys before, but judging from the videos they have posted, they could be pretty good live.  Their singer, AP Stark, will bring his folky sounds on in a solo set as opener for the 21 & up show that’s 100% FREE with doors at 7 pm.

If that’s not your deal, then you could swing by Under The Volcano for the country sounds of Wrenfro.  You’ve probably never heard of these guys, but considering that there’s members of Fastball and Soulhat, maybe you’ll go see what they’re about now.  There’s no word of openers for the 21 & up show with doors at 8 pm and a TBA cover.

Ruiners. Photo: Hannah Gledhill

If you’re more in the mood for punk, then Barbarella will do their best to lure you over for their Dollar Punk Night.  I have no idea what that means for the bands playing, but you can’t say they’re asking for a lot.  You’ll have three strong acts to check out for your four quarters, with a headlining set from Gast.  Gast makes anarcho punk with hints of Killing Joke and The Jam, and their latest, Gast Cassette, is something everyone should own.  The “communist era” punk of Houston’s… I mean, Moscow’s Commie Hilfiger will go on as direct support, while one of my favorite new Houston bands, Ruiners will be on hand to open things up.  I caught this three-piece a couple of weeks ago, and I was seriously blown away.  And, while their debut EP Wasted Years is pretty damn tight, they’re better to see live.  The 21 & up show has doors at 9 pm and a $1 cover.

Over at Arlo’s Ballroom, you could get your groove on with Gio Chamba for his Electrotropical Movement dance party.  I’m not sure if this is a DJ set or Gio dropping one of his famous live sets, but either way it should be lit as always.  The 21 & up event gets going around 10 pm and it’s 100% FREE.

Thursday you can swing by Nightingale Room to catch the reggae meets soul sounds of Austin eight-piece, Cilantro Boombox.  Rumor has it that this band is like a ball of energy, and their sound is pretty crazy.  Their latest is a single, Fears Away, is a good summation of their sound.  The hip hop of Houston’s RYMNA will be on hand as support and opener.  If you haven’t heard this guy rock a mic in Def, then you need to hear either of his dope mixtapes.  Last year’s (The Unexpected…) was one of my favorites from the year, and this year he just dropped UNDSTRBD, which is more chill but also as equally impressive.  The 21 & up show has doors at 7 pm and it’s 100% FREE.

New Edition. Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty

Don’t call it a comeback, because it technically isn’t; but over at Arena Theatre you could relive the eighties when the boy band goodness of New Edition performs.  The R&B inspired sounds of this boy band rebirth that followed in the shadow of The Jackson 5 was once the biggest act of the eighties.  Featuring Bobby Brown before he was known more for his antics, the group spawned the hits “Candy Girl,” “Cool It Now,” and “Mr. Telephone Man.”  After several comebacks, they had more hits with “Can You Stand The Rain” and “I’m Still In Love With You.” I have no clue if they’re good live anymore, but if you’ve always wanted to see them then this might be your last chance.  The all ages show has doors at 7 pm and tickets for $99.50.

Mucky Duck will have two shows from the popular roots rock band, American Aquarium.  This six piece has been delighting audiences for almost a decade, and they’ve amassed a strong following.  Their latest album, Wolves from last year, gained them a wider audience while keeping their core sound intact.  The 21 & up shows are at 7 pm and 9:30 pm, and both carry tickets between $25 and $27.

Mikey & the Drags. Photo: Whitney Andrew

Of course, if you want to get some of that good ole’ garage rock, you could make it over to Satellite Bar for the return of Houston’s Mikey & the Drags.  Though I’ve heard that they already have a new release ready to go, last year’s Make You Mine sounded like it was recorded in the sixties with modern techniques, and they’re one of the best live bands in Houston.  They’ll have the beautiful and multilayered sounds of Kay Weathers on as direct support.  Since she doesn’t live in Houston anymore, I feel like you can’t miss her one woman band thing live, and this year’s Songs For Lucy is a mix of beauty and trippy effects that will leave you impressed to say the least.  The psych drone of Austin’s Black Liquid Drop will also be on the show, while the bluesy psych goodness of Mojave Red will open things up.  This three piece sounds fuller than a lot of bands with more members, and last year’s Creeper proved that the band is ahead of many of their peers. The 18 & up show has doors at 7 pm and an $8 cover.

Walters will be bringing the old school punk of British legends Special Duties to town.  These guys have been around since the late seventies, they literally declared war on the band CRASS, and they disbanded in 1983.  Around the late nineties they got back together and they’ve been back pretty much ever since.  Their latest release is a reissue, last year’s 77 One More Time Expanded.  The Potato Pirates from Denver will provide direct support, while the hardcore punk of Houston’s Black Coffee will also play, and probably blow the direct support off of the stage. Seriously, while their latest Livefast is a strong release, their live show is like a hardcore punch to the face.  The all ages show gets going with an opening set from hard core band, Substance and has doors at 8 pm and tickets between $12 and $13.

House of Blues will have the hip hop jams of Houston’s DJ XO.  XO has made quite the name for himself, he’s known for a crazy live show, and his latest release, XO Like The Drug Reloaded, is definitely on point.  There’s no word of support or openers, but I’m sure that’ll change.  The all ages show has doors at 8 pm and tickets for $15.

Friday you could start with a swing by Fitzgerald’s for the alt pop of Michigan’s Craig Owens. Owens makes this alt pop sound that seems to have a bigger fan base than I thought and his latest release is a two song single called Las Vegas Sessions.  The last show for Houston’s A Midnight In Chicago will be on as direct support, while the alt rock of Houston’s In Memory Of will go on prior.  Backdrop Violet will also perform and Austin’s Hitting Subset will open the all ages show with doors at 6 pm and tickets between $15 and $25, the latter being a VIP option with meet and greet.

Jon Bellion. Photo: Dave Weiner

House of Blues will host the massively popular sounds of contemporary pop artists Jon Bellion. This guy mixes R&B and hip hop with hints of indie rock and electronica to create his own thing. He’s rumored to have a crazy live show, and this year’s The Human Condition is pretty damn catchy.  He’ll have the hip hop of Canada’s Sonreal on as direct support who should make the crowd go crazy when his jam “Can I Get A Witness” plays.  Blaque Keyz will bring his hip hop on as opener for the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets for $18.

Mucky Duck will host two sets from the always amazing sounding Joe Ely.  The Amarillo native has been doing his country rock thing for a long time now, and he might be one of the best kept secrets in our state.  With hits like “Honky Tonk Masquerade,” and “The Road Goes On Forever,” his latest release Panhandle Rambler is one of his strongest to date, and you don’t get to see him this close very often.  The 21 & up shows are at 7 pm and 9:30, and both have tickets between $30 and $33.

Nightingale Room will be bringing in the folky pop of Houston’s Sherita Perez.  Sherita might work harder than most people you’ll meet in music, she’s fronted multiple bands, and her latest works are better than anything else she’s done in the past.  The dark and folk heavy sounds of John Egan will be on as direct support and opener.  This guy plays with a dobro and adds this really soulful and thick voice that makes his sound one you need to hear as soon as possible. His 2024 release Amulet is like hearing the gospel of what blue eyed soul bands wish they sounded like.  The 21 & up show has doors at 7 pm and it’s 100% FREE.

If you’re a fan of the Harrison Ford classic film, Raiders of the Lost Ark, then you should head to Jones Hall to watch the film on the big screen accompanied by the entire John Williams score to be performed by the Houston Symphony Orchestra in it’s entirety.  This doesn’t happen often, this was truly the best of these films, and the two night only event is a great way to beat the heat.  The all ages shows on Friday and Saturday have tickets between $22 and $115 and have doors at 7:30 pm.

Out at Joke Joint Comedy Showcase, you can catch a weekend from Houston’s John Wessling.  Possibly one of the best joke writers in Houston, Wessling is more than just another of The Whiskey Brothers, and his sets are always rife with side splitting jokes.  He’ll have the always hilarious Dale Cheesman on as his feature act, and I feel like if you miss Cheesman while you can still see him in a small club, then you’re missing out on a guy who could blow up sooner than later.  As always, one of Houston’s better up and coming comics will perform the duties of host on the 18 & up shows at 8 pm and 10:30 pm on both Friday & Saturday, all with tickets between $16 and $18.

Mitski. Photo: Julia Burke

Walters will have the hard-to-describe sounds of Mitski over to perform.  Mitski does this intriguing mix of orchestral pop and fuzz rock that sounds like nothing you’ve heard, while still reminding you of so many things.  She’s received praise for her live shows and her music from pretty much every music publication, and her new album Puberty 2 is a mix of insanity and beauty.  The lo-fi pop of Philly’s Japanese Breakfast will be on hand as direct support.  Hailed by everyone from Pitchfork to NPR, her new album Psychopomp sounds like a soulful version of what you wish big label pop music would sound like.  The bedroom pop of San Francisco’s Jay Som will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $10 and $12.

Even though she was literally just here, you could go by Rudyard’s to catch Canada’s Jessy Lanza.  Riding high off of the popularity of her debut single “Kathy Lee,” Lanza has returned with her second album, this year’s catchy and feet-moving Oh No.  Mixing R&B influence and electronica vibes, Lanza has been known for trippy live sets and plenty of grooving sounds. She’ll have the crazed footwork sounds of Chicago’s DJ Taye, who was the youngest to join the Teklife crew and his latest release Break It Down is pretty insane.  The all ages show has doors at 8 pm and tickets between $10 and $12.

If you want to catch some alt-country goodness, then you should head to D&W Lounge to catch a set from Houston’s Quiet Morning & the Calamity.  This band has gone through a lot of changes in the past year, but their core sound that’s a mix of alt country and Americana still shine through.  The all ages show gets going around 9 pm and it’s 100% FREE.

Continental Club will bring the blue eyed soul of Austin ten-piece The Nightowls over for a late night set.  Usually when Austin critics hail a band, I ignore them because most bands up there sound like carbon copies of better bands it seems.  But, with this band they aren’t wrong.  Full of energy, showmanship and multiple vocals, their live shows are crazy good and their latest single “Clean It Up (Play By The Rules)” is a great example of their sound.  The 21 & up show has doors at 10 pm and it’s 100% FREE.

You could close out the night over at Midtown Bar & Grill for the latest edition of Haywire, this time with Chase DuRousseau.  DuRousseau is possibly the funniest guy in Houston right now, he’s toured and could be a big deal before you know it.  The 21 & up show has doors at 10 pm and it’s a measly $5.

Danimal Cannon. Photo: Chiptography

Saturday you can start off at Fitzgerald’s for the RE:Play XPO w/Lazybit Collective.  So this all day affair is basically a ton of video games happening downstairs with prizes being awarded, and then music upstairs.  The music side of things gets headlined by New York chiptuner, Danimal Cannon.  Cannon has been a fixture in the chiptune world for a good while, his sets are supposed to be insane, and his latest release Lunaria is pretty intense.  New York’s Bit Shifter will be on as direct support, while Houston’s SIXIXIX will go on beforehand.  Sets from Austin’s Dual Core, Houston’s Ten Pixels Tall, Broken Satellite, Float, and OVERCRASH are all set to perform as well.  Houston’s Squincy Jones will kick things off for the all ages event with doors at 4 pm and tickets between $15 and $20.

Over at the White Oak Music Hall Lawn, you can catch the massively popular indie folk duo of Shovels & Rope as part of the Lone Star Beer Texas Heritage Fest.  The South Carolina group has been pretty big for a good while, and their latest release, a single called “I Know,” falls in line with their usual sound.  Not to be outdone, Austin folk group Okkervil River will bring their popular tunes on as direct support.  Last year, these guys re-released the tenth anniversary of their album Black Sheep Boy, they have a new album due later this year, and they have a new single called “R.I.P.” that’s pretty solid.  The indie punk of San Antonio’s Girl In A Coma will also be on the bill while Matt Vasquez of Delta Spirit will be on hand to open things up.  The all ages show has gates at 6 pm and tickets for $10, with proceeds going to Feeding Texas.

Reverend Horton Heat. Photo: Crystal Huffman

You might want to find yourself at Warehouse Live when the psychobilly greatness of Reverend Horton Heat comes over to the ballroom.  The Rev has been doing his rockabilly with punk attitude for over twenty years now, his live shows are always mesmerizing, and his last full length REV was his best in a good while.  He just dropped a single called “Hardscrabble Woman,” and he’s an act everyone needs to catch at least once.  He’ll have the one man gospel revival sounds of Texas’ Lincoln Durham on as direct support.  Durham has made a name as a heck of a performer, and his latest release Revelations of A Mind Unravelling is pretty impressive.  Of course, if you’re attending this show, then you need to catch Unknown Hinson who’ll also be on the bill.  Known more for the voice of Early Cuyler on animated show Squidbillies, Hinson is one of those acts that you have to see for yourself.  The high energy ska of Houston’s Los Skarnales will be on hand to open the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets for $10.

You can celebrate the artwork of Daniel Shaw over at Sound Exchange for the Sawblade Tenth Anniversary show.  Shaw has been doing punk rock art for over twenty years, though only ten under the name Sawblade.  His stuff is pretty intense, the show will have items specifically for this show that you can’t buy anywhere else, and Shaw will spin records as well.  The 100% FREE event is all ages, there’s gratis beer for the adults, and it runs from 7 pm to 11 pm.

You can head by Mucky Duck to catch the bluesy tunes of Houston’s Nathan Quick.  Quick busts his tail pretty hard while performing these soulful songs that sound like he’s been travelling a weary road.  His mix of energy and grit when he performs are hard for most to duplicate, and his latest release City Lights has a rough sound that’s hard to beat.  The 21 & up show has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $15 and $17.

Giorgio Murderer. Photo: Adam Bubolz

I’d guess however, that most of you would be at Walters to catch the electrifying and highly energized sounds of King Khan & the Shrines.  Easily one of my favorite acts going, and also one of the greatest live sets you can see, this band is like setting your hair on fire while dancing to Sam Cooke songs.  It’s also pretty damn cool that a guy who’s as political as Khan has been with his latest drop of singles like “Children of The World” from The Invaders documentary soundtrack; is doing his shows in small clubs where fraudulent acts like Prophets of Rage are doing their “political” tunes in arenas.  King Khan is definitely the real deal, and the shows with The Shrines are always amazing and like nothing else you can see anywhere else.  One man punk machine, Giorgio Murderer will bring his lo-fi drum machine sounds on as direct support. Murderer has become known for a crazy live show, and last year’s Lazer Lord is pretty tight and strange at the same time.  The DIY experimental guitar sounds of Houston’s Eli Winter will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $16 and $18.  

Satellite Bar will have the indie rock goodness of NOLA’s All People.  Touring in support of their new album ALL PEOPLE, this four piece has gotten tons of praise for their insane live shows, and this album is incredibly solid.  They’ll have the emo sounds of Houston’s football, etc. on as direct support.  I feel like if you haven’t seen this three piece then you’re doing Houston wrong. Their EP last year, Disappear was easily one of my favorites, their live shows are always amazing, and they just dropped their entire discography, (re)move the chains with 100% of the proceeds going to help The Center Orlando.  The math rock sounds of Austin’s Honey and Salt will also be on the bill while one of my favorite new Houston bands Cool Moon will open things up.  Cool Moon dropped a release last year called August 2024 Demos that sounds better than most “demos” you’ll hear, and they’re like what we all wished Liz Phair would’ve sounded like when she got on a major label.  This is a pretty stellar lineup with doors at 8 pm, and the all ages show has a TBA cover.

The Waughford will host Austin’s Shmu. Whether you’re a fan of them or not, you should definitely go early to check out Chris from BLSHS’ new project, SEXXES, as his debut track “Right Now” is pretty lit.  Sunrise and Ammunition will be on hand to bring their proggy goodness to the bill as well.  Because the facebook event page and the poster have different orders for the lineup, I have no idea who goes on first and who goes on last.  The 21 & up show has doors at 8 pm and it’s $10.

Adventure Club. Photo: Courtesy of Artist

The Canadian EDM dubstep duo of Adventure Club will be over at Stereo Live.  Part of what they’re calling the Texas Round Up Tour, these two are known for getting feet moving from the start to the end of their sets.  Their latest release is a single called “Limitless,” and it’s in line with their usual jams.  The 18 & up show has doors at 9 pm and tickets between $30 and $35.

You can get your dance on with Bombon over at Fox Hollow for the release of the new album from Royal Highness.  The release of the album, Lo KeTu Quiera from the duo alongside sets from Gracie & Navo mean that this is probably the best way to end your evening.  The show will have it’s always expected turnt up vibe with live percussion and lite bites from Boombox Taco.  The 21 & up show is 100% FREE with RSVP before Friday, or $5 after that with doors at 9 pm.

Monday is the Fourth of July, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate it.  The city of Houston will host their Freedom Over Texas festival with Darius Rucker from Hootie & the Blowfish who will headline.  The Eli Young Band is also set to perform, as well as The Suffers and Brooke Eden.  The all ages affair has $5 tickets until July 3rd, then they’re $8 to $10, with gates opening at 4 pm.

The Houston Symphony Orchestra will be at Miller Outdoor Theatre for their Summer Symphony Nights.  The all ages event will feature some of your favorite orchestral tunes including a favorite, Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.”  The all ages evening gets going around 8:30 pm with fireworks to follow, and it’s 100% FREE.

Handsome Beast. Photo: Orlando Sanchez

Tuesday you could head to Nightingale Room to catch another rousing set from Houston’s Handsomebeast.  These guys are pure energy from the moment they take the stage to the moment they’re done, and their latest release Sexy Face Reaction Time shows off just a hint of their energy.  The folk rock goodness of Houston’s Grisbee will be on hand to get things started. Last year these guys dropped a pretty stellar album called Sail Another Day that turns the folk you’re used to on its head.  The 21 & up show has doors at 7 pm and it’s 100% FREE.

Over at Satellite Bar, you can catch the return of Houston’s The Escatones.  Though their last album was two years ago with The Replacement, that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth checking out.  As I recall, their live shows were always highly energetic and fun as well.  They’ll have the garage rock of Tulsa’s Dead Shakes on as direct support, while the alt rock of Houston’s A More Perfect Union will go on prior.  The alterna rock sounds of Empty Shells will open the all ages show with doors at 7:30 pm and a TBA cover.

That’s about all that’s happening around town this week.  No matter what you do, remember that it’s also fourth of July weekend, and that a safe ride home could also mean avoiding a night in jail.