Austin music fans deserve a party, and MVRK Music is bringing it with the first Austin Live Music Revival, a talent-packed Memorial Day weekend celebration of our music scene’s thrilling diversity and energy. Split between Empire Garage and the legendary Antone’s Nightclub, the two-day, multi-genre event will feature over 20 performances by artists from Austin and its neighbors, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Black Austin Musicians Collective. Shows will take place Saturday, May 28, and Sunday, May 29, at Empire Garage, 606 E. 7th St., and Sunday, May 29, at Antone’s Nightclub, 305 E. 5th St.
Advance tickets go on sale today via Eventbrite. Through May 13, two-day tickets are $70 and single-day tickets are $50. After May 13, prices are $90 for both days and $70 for one day. (Attendees must be 21 or older.)
Spearheading the event are two of Austin’s biggest breakout acts: multifaceted pop auteur Abhi the Nomad and Texas blues “legend in the making” Jackie Venson. Celebrated by NPR for his ability to “find a spot on the spectrum between hip-hop and bluesy pop while plumbing serious emotional depths,” Abhi the Nomad has racked up more than a million followers on Spotify and performed at the Austin City Limits Festival. Venson, who has been proclaimed Gary Clark Jr.’s “most obvious heir apparent on the Austin music scene,” has performed at ACL Fest and on the original “Austin City Limits” TV series.
Joining Abhi and Venson on the lineup is crunkstep producer Crizzly, who’s performed at Electric Daisy Carnival, Texas’ Lights all Night EDM festival, and one of the nation’s most desirable venues, Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Legendary Houston rapper Lil’ Flip, San Antonio rapper King Kyle Lee, alt-rockers the Living Ghosts, pop-noir duo Jane Leo (Jane Ellen Bryant and Daniel Leopold of Leopold & His Fiction) and one-man funk band Henry Invisible are also on the bill. In the coming weeks, many more artists will be announced, including an entire lineup curated by Black Austin Musicians Collective, along with other details that will be revealed via Instagram @austinlivemusicrevival and the Facebook event page @MVRKlive/events.
“Austin is our home, independent shows are our nature and live music is how we celebrate it!” says MVRK Music’s Tim Coon, who is coproducing the event with Dallas Brown of Kairo Entertainment in partnership with Ovrld.
RSVP on Facebook for updates, and watch social media for ticket giveaways and other surprises. Meanwhile, check out the Spotify teaser playlist to hear tracks from featured performers.
Artists interested in performing should register for a free artist account at app.mvrkmusic.com, then direct-message @austinlivemusicrevival on Instagram.
