Latin Roots Rocker & Troubadour Patricia Vonne to Play Saturday, Feb 4, 7:00 pm

Reserve your seat!
($15 donation to the artist)

In the eight years since Patricia Vonne’s eponymous debut album, the lovely San Antonio born and bred singer/songwriter has built an enthusiastic following for her lyrically and stylistically multilingual sound. Described by the Austin American-Statesman as “a Tex-Mex spitfire with a rock’n'roll heart…,” Vonne was the 2009 Grand Prize winner in the Latin category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and her single “Mujeres Desaparecidas” was featured as a free download on the Amnesty International website.

Vonne appeared as Zorro Girl in the motion picture “Sin City,” and her music was featured in “Once Upon a Time in Mexico,” as well as the Quentin Tarantino film “Hellride.”  She is recording her 5th album this year on her own Bandolera Records.  Don’t miss this opportunity to see Patricia’s lively show in an intimate setting.

Imagine a young Chrissie Hynde fronting the Mavericks with a little help from Calexico
–WORD

The very fine Vonne purveys a powerful, Texas styled rootsy rock ‘n’ roll.
–Time Out London

…superior roots rock from an excellent singer-songwriter …
–Uncut

A bilingual tour -de-force …
–Austin Chronicle

… confident, tuff gal vocals, sharp musicianship and smart lyricism don’t just promise the total package, they deliver the goods from the get-go.
–Texas Monthly Magazine

… hot-blooded mix of Latin rhythm and rattling bar-room rock …
–The Times

A beguiling storyteller …
–Harp

SOLD OUT Darden Smith Plays with Roscoe Beck on Saturday, Jan 14th, 7:00 pm

SOLD OUT

Darden Smith  is a man of many talents who has an eye for what’s beyond the horizon. With a songwriting career spanning 25 years and over a dozen albums, he’s highly regarded as a songwriter and performer both nationally, as well as in Europe. An innovator, Darden has composed an orchestral piece for the Austin Symphony and created a documentary for BBC Radio 2, “Songs from the Big Sky” (2006), which explores the relationship between renowned Texas songwriters and the landscape of the Lone Star State. His arts-in-education Be An Artist Program allows students to explore creativity through the song writing process, and his Solder Songwriting workshops bring together veterans and songwriters to give voice to the military experience. Darden has found a way to meld his interests in music, education and community involvement, as he explores and expands his creative process.

A singer-songwriter blessed with an uncommon degree of intelligence, depth, and compassion.
—All Music Guide

Blessed with a seemingly effortless melodic gift and one of the warmest, most penetrating vocal deliveries in American music.
—Jim Musser
Waxed

Marathon, his (Smith’s) latest album, expands his stylistic and creative horizons.
—John T. Davis
Austin American-Statesman

Michael Fracasso to Play Saturday, December 3rd, 7:00 pm

Reserve your seat!
($15 donation to the artist)

For the past 20 years Michael Fracasso has been one of the most distinctive voices and songwriters in Austin. He has shared the stage and recorded with Lucinda Williams, Charlie Sexton, Patty Griffin and Gillian Welch to name a few. This year (2011) he was shortlisted to receive the Austin Public Library award for literary achievement and has remained dedicated to his art of songwriting while influencing many younger artists; Nakia (from ABC’s “The Voice”) cut six of his songs from “Saint Monday,” his latest CD. The critics collectively acknowledge that Michael just gets better and better.

In a city renowned for its original music, Michael Fracasso has distinguished himself as an artist of uncommon brilliance.

—Robert Fraser
Texas Monthly

Fracasso remains one of Austin’s most distinctive voices.

—Jim Caliguri
Austin Chronicle

Saint Monday is the album of Fracasso’s career.

—Michael Corcoran
Austin 360.com

Fracasso is an extraordinary rock songwriter, and his sublime vocals are beyond compare.

—Robbie Woliver
Examiner

On the exuberant Saint Monday, Fracasso’s penchant for penning hook-laden melodies wed to engaging lyrics remains intact, making it for sure one of 2011’s ‘must buy’ albums.

            —Arthur Wood
Maverick-Country

Bob Livingston to Play Lydia Street on Sunday, September 25th

Veteran singer songwriter and master storyteller Bob Livingston  played an integral role in creating the music that first earned Austin the designation of ‘Live Music Capital of the World.’ He’s still got his game on with a new CD, Gypsy Alibi, that was named Album of the Year at the Texas Music Awards in July 2011.

Known by many as a member of Austin’s legendary Lost Gonzo Band, Bob has performed and recorded with such musical visionaries as Jerry Jeff Walker, Michael Martin Murphey and Ray Wylie Hubbard. Traveling since the 80’s as a Music Ambassador for the US State Department, Bob demonstrates again and again the unique power of music to build bridges between peoples of the world. As Livingston says, “When all else fails, music prevails!”

Bob Livingston

Sunday, September 25, 2011

5:00 – 7:0 pm

Lydia Street House Concerts

$10 donation

Reserve a Seat

Read below what people are saying about Bob Livingston.

A marvelous piece of work…..I’m stung. This CD just blew me away. Ed Miller,  “Folkways” KUT, Austin

Livingston’s always been a songwriter of the first order…he’s got a master’s way with words and music. Margaret Moser, Austin Chronicle

Bob Livingston is no newcomer, however his time has arrived to take center stage! Bruce Kidder, Program Director KHYI, Dallas

This record combines the energy of a young musician just discovering his voice with the integrity of a veteran that knows how to use it.  Mattson Rainer, Program Director of KNBT, Americana ‘Station of the Year 2004’

Johann Wagner Plays Lydia Street House Concerts

Johann Wagner is a highly regarded songwriter who has been recorded by such notable musicians as Gregory Alan Isakov, Victoria Williams, Shannon Wurst, and 3 Penny Acre. With a new CD (Disappear) receiving high praise, and summer shows booked in Alaska, Arkansas and New Mexico, catch him while you can at the upcoming Lydia Street show.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

5 pm

$10 donation

We’re a small venue; it’s really important that you reserve a seat.

Here’s what people are saying about Johann.

“J Wagner has John Prine in his heart, Bob Dylan in his head, and Woody Guthrie in his DNA.”

Paolo Carù, Buscadero

Call him folkie, call him Americana, this top shelf singer/songwriter would be right at home in any generation standing toe to toe with the best and brightest of the time.

Chris Spector – Midwest record

” The plaintive call of the open road echoes through the new CD by J. Wagner, “disappear”, featuring 11 songs that are intimate yet expansive, lovely and open-ended. This is my Outskirts Featured Album of the Week.”

 Rustin Thompson – KBCS 91.3 fm Bellevue/Seattle

Manuel “Cowboy” Donley

Sunday, March 6, 5-7 pm
RSVP Required
$10 donation

Manuel Donley started his first band at age 18 and has been playing for over 60 years. The accolades are many for this pioneer who laid the groundwork in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s for today’s successful Latino musicians. Remarkably, at age 83 he thinks of himself as “work in progress.” Come join us as we honor a legend.

• Member of the Tejano Music Hall of Fame,
• Honoree on the Trail of Tejano Legends alongside Town Lake
• Recently featured in a lengthy front-page feature in the Austin-American Statesman

“The Latino music scene is … now recognized on a worldwide level. Manuel Donley had a huge hand in that”

—Michael Ramos
Austin-American Statesman

In a city overflowing with stellar musicians, Donley might be the coolest cat of them all, and one of the most enduring and influential. In an extraordinary career that caught fire in the late 1940s in East Austin cantinas and Central Texas dance halls when he carved out a new Tejano sound, Donley is still performing.

—Juan Castillo
Austin-American Statesman

Ben Livingston with Dan Kaplan

Sunday, January 16th, 5-7 pm

$10 donation

about Ben

Ben Livingston is highly reccomended by Terry Allen. In many respects the two are like minded souls. Although he is not from Lubbock he fits right in the row of specific artists from that city like Terry Allen, Butch Hancock, Joe Ely, Carl Swinney and the Ledgendary Stardust Cowboy. That means intellectual, opinionated, progressive, looking across borders and at times wacky.             - John Gjaltema, Altcountry.nl (Netherlands)

“Ben Livingston claims the title of story and songmaker. Breaking apart the whole is the territory where Ben is King.”

- Danny McCloskey, The Alternate Root

“Known internationally as a neon-light sculptor, Ben Livingston won a fellowship with the National Endowment for the Arts for his discovery/invention of the infinite phosphorescent color palette. Trust Your Equipment (his debut CD) is almost equally inventive…..Some of his observations are pure Texas poetry.”
—The Austin Chronicle

about Dan Kaplan

“Dan Kaplan tells more compelling stories with his instrument than most singers do with their voices. Kaplan is also a visual artist and by playing in the spillover between his two mediums, he finds an authenic and special creativity.”

-Vivian Nereim – New Haven Advocate

“The triptych Rosella/I Shall Not Be Moved/African postman is made of pure grace.”

- Soul Bag Magazine – Paris, France

Michael Ramos Returns!

Sunday, December 5, 2010, 5 pm

As inventive and imaginative creator of Charanga Cakewalk, Ramos released Lotería de la Cumbia Lounge in 2005 and followed up with Chicano Zen in 2006. With positive reviews and loyal fans, he continues to evolve as a dynamic performer and artist, equally respected by musicians and fans. Join Michael for an intimate evening of music as he performs on a variety of instruments and sampled tracks, accompanied by Jacob Owen on guitar.

Jacob Owen
Owen, a talented guitar player/songwriter is one of Austin’s rising stars. He currently plays with Charanga Cakewalk, Kanko, Sahara Smith, and Gold Spot, among other bands and has written and scored music for various plays and short films.

Charanga Cakewalk Reviews:

From start to finish, (Chicano Zen) delivers a jaw-dropping rhyme of memory, spirit, and clear-eyed reality.
–Austin Chronicle

Whoever called Ramos a multi-instrumentalist sure wasn’t kidding. This is because he’s heard playing a Hammond B3, Wurlitzer electric piano, grand piano, pump organ, percussion, trumpet, accordion and melodica here.
–Dan MacIntosh
Audio Video Revolution

Johann Wagner

Date: Sunday, April 18, 5-7 pm
$10 suggested donation

Johann Wagner’s songs have been recorded by Victoria Williams/Calexico, 3 Penny Acre, Shannon Wurst, Gregory Allen Isakov, Brandi Carlile and many others. He was labeled a numbered one best bet by both The Austin American Statesman and the Dallas Morning News. He has appeared at countless music festivals and was a two time Regional finalist in the Kerrville New Folk Songwriter Competition.

While still in college he won the KFF Texas Collegiate Songwriter Award and has been touring and crafting songs since. His music has been featured on NPR’s Texas Eclectic radio show and in the  documentary film, The Porch.

“A Texas folk music staple”
The Dallas Morning News

“A wonderful, wonderful, song writer”
Victoria Williams, Calexico

Jonathan Byrd returns to Lydia Street

Date: Sunday, March 28, 2010, 5 pm

Jonathan Byrd has North Carolina roots that go back to 1795, though he’s got a whole lot of heart here in Texas. He won the Kerrville New Folk competition in 2003, and you can expect to find him there all 18 days. Here’s what he says about his recent release:

“Texas is still an incredible place to me. It just knocks me out and has really influenced my writing. The Law and the Lonesome, my latest release … (is) the culmination of Texas’ influence on my writing and my musical heritage from growing up in North Carolina. “

Here’s what others are saying about Jonathan and The Law and the Lonesome:

A guitar picker from North Carolina writing songs about Texas on an album recorded in Toronto—how does that work? Pretty darn well, in this case…”
–Rob Weir
The Valley Advocate

This rootsy North Carolinian may be the most buzzed-about new songwriter in folkdom. He displays John Prine’s gift for stark little songs that tell big, complex stories, Guy Clark’s lean melodicism, Lyle Lovett’s wry mischief, and Bill Morrissey’s knack for the revealing image.
–Scott Alarik
Boston Globe

What a treat to hear someone so deeply rooted in tradition, yet growing in his own beautiful way.
–Tom Paxton