Shawn Mullins is a Georgia native who calls the road his home for no reason other than his job makes him a traveling man.  With the help of Vanguard records he has gotten a lot of praise over his last album “Light You Up”.  Shawn has been around the block performing thousands of live shows, 3 songs that have hit number one, and a Grammy nomination. The younger Griffin House picked up his first guitar at age 18 and never looked back.  His solo acoustic act is something no one will want to miss, and who can resist that grin?

Doors are at 8 pm and tickets are $20. Click “I like it” for your chance to win a pair of VIP tickets or perhaps some regular tickets.  Either way it can’t hurt to get in for free.

Front man Josh Mazour started out playing bass in a garage rock band, but was not writing songs at the time.  He walked away from music for several years before returning with a renewed focus in country music.  The original incarnation of Crooks was a two-piece, but the band has now evolved into a four piece made up of Sam Alberts (guitar/trumpet/mandolin/banjo/piano), Rob Bacak (drums) and Andrew Vanvoorhees (stand-up bass), with an accordion player joining sometimes.  Mazour says his songwriting continues to grow, and the debut album reflects that. He talks about wanting to write more traditional country songs, but he says his attitude about his music changes frequently. “That’s the whole thing with songwriting — you can do whatever the hell you want.”

Also on the bill is another band with major buzz of late is local indie-folk outfit Wild Child.  The band consists of six players who all play off each other, accenting soulful vocals and folk-infused instrumentation with lush strings, keys, bells, banjo and percussion. Wild Child recently graced the stage at the Do512 Lounge for an unforgettable performance in which you can watch a clip of below.

Opening the show at Antone’s is Wood & Wire, a trio featuring mostly bluegrass & Americana with swing elements and original music.  The band’s live show features everything from three part harmonies to ripping fast instrumentals. They mix an array of bluegrass traditionals along with original music written by Matt Slusher and Tony Karmel.

So come out to Antone’s this Saturday, May 19^th for a stellar lineup of some of the city’s finest country and bluegrass artists. Click “I Like It” for the chance to win one of three pairs of free tickets!

You can be apart of the studio audience, see the performances, and the amazing judges. If Simon Cowell is as harsh and judgmental (He is a “judge,” so I guess it comes along with the territory) in person as he is on TV, well, I might have to see it for myself. Seeing the fabulous Britney Spears wouldn’t be half bad either. The X-Factor relies on their TV fans, so they have no problem hooking you guys up with awesome seats! The auditions are taking place at The Frank Erwin Center on May 24^th and 25^th. Tickets are FREE, so click here for more information and to sign up for tickets!

The All-Star Game is a big deal and shows how much flat track roller derby has grown as a sport. If you read Do512’s last blog about the Texas Rollergirls, then you already know the basic rules of the game and the role of the jammer, pivot, and blocker. Roller derby has a rich history too, so here’s a little background….The term “roller derby” was first used to describe roller skate races in the 1920s. A man named Leo Seltzer saw potential in the skate races to become a physical sport. In the late 1930s, Seltzer began to tour with teams consisting of five skaters. He emphasized the role of falls and collisions, and created a raised track to serve as the athletes’ arena. Roller derby acquired such an avid fan base that it began to be televised in the 1940s. Leo Seltzer’s son, Jerry, took over the business in the 1960s, but when the sport lost popularity, he closed the organization in 1973. A roller derby renaissance occurred in Austin when the Texas Rollergirls started a women’s league. Before the sport has been co-ed, but the Texas Rollergirls decided that women were more suited to such a tough sport, and they were right.

Now that you’re a roller derby connoisseur, you should head to the Austin Convention Center at 5:15pm this Saturday to cheer on the Texas Rollergirls’ Texecutioners and the city of Austin. The stakes are high, so there will be plenty of hip checking, booty blocking, collisions, and falls. So, come support these babes on speed skates by clicking here to buy tickets in advance or here for a chance to win one of five pairs of tickets!

If House, Electro, and Groovy music are down your alley then you won’t be bored before Run DMT takes the stage.  Electrifying performances are set to be played by Larkside, Kromly, and Bearmanderson.  These are big names in the Electronic Music Scene so I am prepared for all of them to deliver high energy sets that will have us sweating our lives away.  Note to self: Wear shorts.

Start stretching because Doors are at 9 pm and the entertainment will last till 2 am.  These performers will have the whole room dancing until Beauty Ballroom pulls the plug.  Click “I like it” on Do512 for the chance to win a pair of tickets to the show. Tickets are $10.

When Jaime’s Spanish Village closed in July of 2010, a once vibrant section of Red River went dark. People who had once frequented the historic restaurant, which operated for nearly 80 years, wondered what would become of the location. That question was recently answered when it was announced that Austin live music and restaurant entrepreneur Doug Guller has turned the former Jaime’s Spanish Village into Pelóns, a cozy new Tex-Mex restaurant with an enticing menu.

Guller, who is also involved with other Austin venues including The Parish, Beale Street Tavern, and Bikinis Sports Bar, says his motivation for the project was to preserve this location and give it new life. ”If it had become condos or something like that, we would have missed out on a good piece of Austin,” Guller said. “We wanted to be able to give back to Red River.”

To help build the brand and determine what was best for the street, Guller and his team worked with Guerrilla Suit, the creative agency who helped develop Transmission Entertainment, Fun Fun Fun Fest, and the Mohawk, and has worked with a number of Austin businesses.

With the history of the location in mind, the renovation incorporated pieces of Jaime’s Spanish Village into the updated decor of Pelóns, including a large piece of original artwork that was peeled from the wall and hung in the dining room, and a brick etched with Jaime’s name that was dug out and now rests prominently above a fireplace in the middle of the restaurant.

Along with signature items like Tortilla Encrusted Whitefish and Crispy Sesame Avocado Strips, the menu at Pelóns will feature a number of traditional dishes including enchiladas, fajitas and burritos. The restaurant’s name was inspired by Guller’s employees who lovingly refer to him as Pelón, or ‘bald man.’

“We certainly didn’t want to take ourselves too seriously,” Guller says. “This is not an upscale place, it’s for everyone. Whether you’re in jeans or shorts, headed to a mosh pit, or just on a Friday night date.”

A year in the making, the space has been updated with a new kitchen, new plumbing, new electrical, and a spacious new wood patio. Working with a team of Austin’s best designers, including architect Michael Hsu and landscape designer Mark Word, Guller also transformed the adjacent 508 house from its traditional use as the Stubb’s Green Room into a casual, patio-lined cocktail lounge. The renovated space will also make room for Zorros, a patio food cart serving a variety of tacos, gorditas, and appetizers.

Located across the street from Stubbs at 802 Red River Street, Pelóns will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week from 11:00 AM to 2:00 AM. For updates, go to www.pelonsaustin.com and follow on Facebook @PelonsAustin and on Twitter @pelonsaustin.

Photos by David Weaver:

Owner Doug Guller and GM Heath McKinney

Photo By: BradleyQuinn.com

If you were ever a fan of the TV show Greys Anatomy you are undoubtedly familiar with the band Snow Patrol.  Their most widely known song ”Chasing Cars” seemed to hit a chord with any and every kind of person.   It is no wonder that the group has reached international acclaim because their music can make anyone sing.  According to the band, their latest album A Hundred Million Suns  is their “most complete record by far… touched by our entire history, and hopefully sounds like our future too.”

This Thursday is your chance to get a taste of their talent at their afterparty at Haven.  Two members of the band have a DJ set prepared.   Don’t worry, this set will surely be appropriate for dancing to liven the mood!  Although I am excited to dance to Snow Patrol, Im equally excited to experience the music of the talented Kelley James who will show off his hip hop beats and nice free style flows with an acoustic guitar.  His reggae rythyms and witty lyrics do nothing but showcase his one of a kind style.

Lastly, it would be in your best interest to click here to RSVP on Do512.  WHY? The first 50 people to get in the door with an RSVP get in absolutely free.  This is an 18 and up event and Doors will open at 9pm.   Head over to Haven this Thursday for a spectacular night of music.

The Highball really knows how to throw a tribute party. They’ve invited Austin’s official Queen tribute band Magnifico for your listening and dancing pleasure! They’ll be plenty loud so you can sing along at the top of your lungs… I know I will!

The party starts at 10:30pm, but get there early and enjoy the Action Pack’s mix of glam-rocker music videos to warm up to!

This isn’t your normal college kid karaoke night. It’s going to be one epic night. Queen is the ultimate power-house rock band. You think you know Queen, but you ain’t seen nothin’ yet (unless you saw them live). The Highball has one vision, and that is to rock your socks, or leg warmers, off, so make sure to wear your dancing shoes and to limber up.

If you haven’t been to The Highball yet, it’s at 1120 S. Lamar Blvd. So take a back seat, hitch-hike or take a long ride on a motorbike to get there. Or even your bicycle. Either way, they know how to rock-and-roll, and you will be square if you ain’t there!

UTOPiAfest is a unique music and arts festival held on a 1,000-acre ranch in Utopia, Texas. Now in its 4th year, the festival has established itself as a destination event for those who are looking for a refreshing alternative to mega-large music festivals.

A joint production between Travis Sutherland (the festival founder) and Onion Creek Productions, the 4th annual UTOPiAfest will take place on September 28-30, 2012. The initial lineup of performers was announced today and includes headliners Dr. Dog, Charles Bradley, and White Denim along with Ray Wylie Hubbard, Sorne, Kaki King, Toubab Krewe, The Werks, Houndmouth, Dana Falconberry, Plastics Revolution, and the Flying Balalaika Brothers. More headliners will be announced on June 15th!

Discounted tickets are on sale now at just $99 for a Weekend Pass. PLUS there is a Buy-3-Get-1-FREE option, so your cash-strapped roommate can come along too. These discounted ticket rates will only be available May 15-21 so jump on it now! The price includes on-site camping, and the festival is BYOB. Ticket sales will be capped at 1,800 this year.

UTOPiAfest is located in the beautiful West Texas Hill Country between Garner State Park and Lost Maples. Utopia, TX is three hours southwest of Austin and 1.5 hours west of San Antonio. The drive is peaceful, and if you want to have some local fun, funky little towns like Bandera, Leakey, and Concan are just down the road. To cool off, the crystal-clear Sabinal, Medina, and Frio Rivers lazily flow through the area.

View Map

UTOPiAfest encompasses the best aspects of the festival experience; Great performances, musical discovery, quality time with new and old friends, tasty food and enjoyable activities, and minimizes the worst; claustrophobia, 10 dollar beer, long lines, walking miles to camp, paying to camp or park, etc…

 Get More News and Updates:

 http://utopiafest.com/

UTOPiAfest on Facebook

It’s no secret, it’s National Tourism Week, so what are you doing to celebrate? Cruising the downtown sidewalks on a Segway tour? Giving the stink eye to the out-of-towners packing South Congress? No plans yet? Celebrate by living like a tourist in your own city for a week. Let us remind you exactly what this place has to offer with a list of all the best “tourist spots” which to us, means the coolest spots in town; the places you’d show off to out-of-town visitors to make them writhe in envy.

You’ve got your favorite places to hang out, your go-to restaurants and cafes, your favorite hidden gems and must-see spots. Help us add to our list by sharing your favorite spots with us…. using artsy fartsy photos!

We’re holding a photo contest of your special place/favorite hangout/secret spot/hidden gem for a chance to win $$ to some of our favorite spots!

Here’s the dealio:
>> Take a picture of your favorite spot in Austin any which way you’d like; using a neat phone app, Polaroid, fancy professional camera, or however.

>> Submit your photo to: Tourist@Do512.com and tell us where the it was taken + anything else you want to say about your special place. We’ll compile a photo album on Facebook.com/Do512 & let the public vote on their favorite!

>> Entry deadline is Thursday, May 24 at 4pm.

>> Winner will be announced Friday, May 25 at 4pm via Facebook.

1st Prize receives: $50 in Alamo Drafthouse Gift Cards + $25 Brew Exchange Gift Card + $15 Tiff’s Treats Gift Card + a $10 Gift Card & 1 free hour of Bowling at The Highball for up to 6 people.

2nd Prize: $25 Alamo Drafthouse Gift Card + $15 Tiff’s Treats Gift Card + 1 free hour of Bowling at The Highball for up to 6 people.

3rd Prize: $15 Tiff’s Treats Gift Card + a $10 Gift Card & 1 free hour of Bowling at The Highball for up to 6 people.

**Limit of 5 photo entries per person.

**Only residents of Austin can win, but tourists may enter.