Last night members of Austin’s music community gathered to celebrate the 2nd annual Austin Music Industry Awards, the younger sibling of the Austin Music Awards taking place during SXSW. Mayor Steve Adler opened the evening, giving an abbreviated version of the speech he delivered last week announcing his Omnibus Resolution to reinvigorate the local music scene. KUTX’s Jay Trachtenberg gave a moving speech while accepting Best Radio Host and Best Radio Program on behalf of Paul Ray and Twine Time. And thanks to your votes, KUTX won Best Radio Station for the third year in a row.
Austin’s local music patron organization Black Fret has announced 19 of this year’s 20 grant nominees. The list is as diverse in age as it is in genre, reflecting the multiple generations and backgrounds of musicians who contribute to the Austin music scene. Nominees will receive grants at the Black Fret Ball at the end of the year and include Walker Lukens, Dana Falconberry, Brownout, and Golden Dawn Arkestra. Black Fret will announce the final nominee at the Austin Music Awards on March 16th.
I Live Here, I Give Here’s Amplify Austin Day begins tonight. KUTX’s Cactus Café is one of the great non-profits participating in this year’s fundraiser. The 24-hour give-a-thon kicks off at 6.
AC/DC has cancelled the remaining ten dates on their North American tour at the command of frontman Brian Johnson’s doctors. Johnson’s hearing has been in decline for years, and continuing the tour put him at risk of losing it all together. This stroke of misfortune comes just months after drummer Phil Rudd was put on house arrest and less than two years after founding member Malcolm Young was forced to retire due to worsening dementia. Remaining members of AC/DC plan to make-up those dates later this year with a guest vocalist.
After decades of on-again, off-again Crosby, Stills, & Nash is done. Like done, done. Simply put: Graham Nash has had it with David Crosby. The cover album the supergroup had been working on has been shelved indefinitely, and Nash will tour solo this year in support of his new album The Path Tonight.
–Taylor Wallace
