Every year, the Austin Chronicle asks its readers to vote for their favorite radio station and radio personality as part of the Austin Music Awards. This year we had some stiff competition from other great public radio stations and there were no less than three KUTX music hosts to choose from. After the votes were tallied KUTX claimed its 7th title as “Austin’s Best Radio Station” and longtime host Laurie Gallardo racked up her 5th consecutive award for “Best Radio Personality.” Watch the videos below to see the Austin Chronicle music critic and prize fairy Kevin Curtain deliver awards to the winners!

Music is the heartbeat of Austin. That’s why the City of Austin Music and Entertainment Division, the Austin Music Foundation and KUTX have teamed up once again to declare February Love Austin Music Month. We want you to be part of it, too! Here are a few ways to support your music scene this month:

Throughout February, Laurie Gallardo’s Austin Music Minute will highlight live streams and other virtual performances from Austin artists, Miles Bloxson will feature profiles of Black Austin artists in honor of Black History Month, and every Wednesday KUTX will partner with NPR Music to shine a light on a light on our city’s music scene.

• Listen to an all-Austin stream like KUTX’s stream at Austin Bergstrom International Airport or Austin Public Library’s Electric Ladybird.
• Check out (and amplify) KUTX host Miles’ 2021 Black History Month profiles 
• Get to know folks in your scene and their great taste in music through KUTX’s guest DJ hour, My KUTX.
• Catch up on our newest podcast, Pause/Play, which explores the effects of the pandemic on Austin’s music scene – from musicians to promoters to venue owners.

• Help get #loveaustinmusic trending on social media in Austin!
• Pledge to turn 5 friends outside of Austin on to 5 Austin-area artists.
• Amplify your favorite Austin artists’ videos on social

Now more than ever, Austin music needs your support. Make a gift in honor of Love Austin Music Month to one of the many non-profit organizations that support Austin music. These are just a few to consider …

• Here’s a two-fer: Buy Austin music while supporting one of our local record stores! Many are offering curbside pickup.
• Support the Austin Music Foundation by purchasing their new compilation, ATX Gen Next: Adventures in Lockdown, featuring music from Austin artists in AMF’s Artist Development Program.
• If you can afford to, buy music and merch from your Austin artists on their websites. (A band shirt makes a great Valentine’s gift for an out-of-town music-lover or Austin ex-pat.)
• While you watch live streams, tip like it’s the holidays! Some performing artists use Venmo or other platforms to collect extra revenue during performances.
• If you have to venture outside your home this month, consider carrying a little cash so you can show some (socially-distant) love for your local busker (who may one day be a GRAMMY nominee, like this guy.)

#loveaustinmusic

A COLLABORATIVE VISUAL ALBUM CREATED DURING SELF-ISOLATION, PREMIERING TODAY AT ALAMO ON DEMAND

Conceived and directed by musician/multimedia artist Mobley, A Home Unfamiliar is an experiment in radically collaborative music and filmmaking. The ambitious project brought  together 30 musicians and filmmakers from in and around Austin, TX, to create a visual album over the month of April. Inspired by the surrealist parlor game “Exquisite Corpse,” each artist had two days to create their segment, having seen or heard only a small portion of the previous artist’s contribution. The finished product is a single collective work that explores this unique moment of both profound isolation and interconnectedness. Today you can watch it at Alamo on Demand, with all proceeds going to Central Texas Food Bank and The Dawa Fund, an organization providing direct aid for people of color serving as artists, social workers, teachers, healing practitioners and service industry workers. Visit https://ondemand.drafthouse.com/film
/a-home-unfamiliar/ for more information.

A Home Unfamiliar Trailer

Interview: KUTX At Home with Mobley

Musicians
AJ Haynes (Seratones)
Alejandro Rose-Garcia (Shakey Graves)
Bright Light Social Hour
Deezie Brown
Felix Pacheco (Cilantro Boombox)
Graham Reynolds

Jackie Venson
Jim Eno (Spoon)
Kalu James (Kalu & the Electric Joint)
Kelsey Wilson (Wild Child, Sir Woman)
Mama Duke
Mars Wright (Honey Son)
Mobley
Sabrina Ellis (A Giant Dog, Sweet Spirit, Heart Bones)
Tasz (BLXPLTN)
Walker Lukens

Filmmakers
Andrew Bennett
Anne-Marie Halovanic
Ari Morales
Emily Basma
Frank J. Kim
Gustavo Bernal
Hannah Varnell
Helaine Bach
Jacob Weber
Jenni Kaye
Jonathan Horstmann
Sarah Jones
Shannon Wiedemeyer

Vanessa Pla
Zach Morrison

We know it will be a minute before we can be live in Studio 1A once again. Until that time, we’ll be staying at home and checking in with our favorite musicians to see how they’re keeping busy during this weird time.

KUTX host Jody Denberg spends some quality time with Alejandro Rose-Garcia, aka Shakey Graves, to see what he’s been up to (hint – his new series “Hello Gorgeous”) and share a new song.

Support KUTX’s ability to bring you closer to the music by donating today.

We know it will be a minute before we can be live in Studio 1A once again. Until that time, we’ll be staying at home and checking in with our favorite musicians to see how they’re staying busy during this weird time.

Kevin Russell of Shinyribs chats with KUTX host Jody Denberg to clue us in on The Gourds “reunion” and share a special Sam Cooke song that’s been helping him through.

Support KUTX’s ability to bring you closer to the music by donating today.