Cory Graves
Erykah Badu Jams With Dave Chappelle and Arlington Becomes The Country Music Capital Of The World.
Since 1975, George Strait has employed the same group of backing musicians, a group collectively known as the Ace in the Hole Band.
And on Saturday, after the culmination of an 18-month “Cowboy Rides Away” farewell tour, the King of Country will part ways with the outfit he's been with for nearly 40 years — for good.
Before that, of course, the group plans on going out with quite the bang. To that end, the “Final Farewell” show that's set to go down this Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington will bring together a who's who of country royalty to town. Per Strait's most recent press release, Asleep at the Wheel, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert and Martina McBride will each perform three songs to open the show. For that reason, gates to the stadium's plazas will open at 3 p.m., and the show itself will begin at 6 p.m.
But that's hardly the only huge upcoming show with some local significance. Comedian Dave Chappelle's impending three-night run at New York's Radio City Music Hall from June 24 through June 26. For his first announced NYC dates in 10 years, Chappelle will share the stage on each with a different music act, all backed by a full orchestra. Those acts will include The Roots, Busta Rhymes, DJ Premier, Janelle Monae and, of course, our own Lady of White Rock Lake, Erykah Badu.
Speaking of Chappelle: The video for Dorian of The Outfit, TX's “Mars” kicks off with a clip from Chappelle's Show. Watch the video, which premiered today via Noisey below.
Moving on: KXT this week announced the lineup to its annual Summer Cut music festival, which will this year feature headliners Death Cab For Cutie along with Iron & Wine, The Hold Steady, The Oh Hellos, The Wild Feathers and Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, plus locals The Unlikely Candidates, The Orbans and Valise. VIP tickets to the August 15 fest are currently on sale here.
Likewise, Fort Worth's Clearfork Music Festival will return for its second offering on August 30. This time around, the mostly 817-centric fest will feature headlining performances from Austin outfits The Black Angels and The Bright Light Social Hour with support from Burning Hotels, Wild Child, Larry g(EE), Andy Frasco, Thomas Wynn & The Believers, Lincoln Durham, Holy Moly, Spoonfed Tribe, The Effinays, Son of Stan, Jetta in the Ghost Tree, Animal Spirit, We'rewolves, Un Chien, Kaela Sinclair, Royal Savages, Panic Volcanic, Phree Beer, Marshall Young Band and Lindby. Also, the festival will relocate from its namesake location at Heart of the Ranch at Clearfork to — where else? — Panther Island Pavilion. Tickets to that one are available here.
Other big, recently confirmed shows include the fourth annual Gorilla vs Bear Fest, which will go town at a yet-to-be-announced date later in the year, and a somewhat intimate club gig for The Polyphonic Spree that'll come next month at Dada.
That venue, of course, will also host a rather big show tonight as well withParquet Courts kicking off its current tour and celebrating the release of its new album, Sunbathing Animal, which came out today. The band also recently added to its list of high-profile features with this piece in last Friday's New York Times.
Other local bands have also recently earned some recognition from the New York music machine. For instance? Throwback outfit Larry g(EE) recently inked a publishing deal with New York-based publishing agency Primary Wave Music and teased a new LP that'll come out sometime next year. Then there's The Phuss, which signed a deal of its own with Brooklyn's Magnetic Eye Records. Expect that trio's debut for the hard rock label to come out later this summer.
Speaking of new releases, there are several more coming down the pike. Out today are new releases from Fort Worth math rockers Cleanup, which is currently streaming via Brooklyn Vegan, and roots rocker Van Darien, which you can get a taste of below.
You can also stream the debut from noisy Denton outfit Flesh Born — set for release June 24 via Skeletal Lightning — right here.
Other dates to keep in mind? June 7, which is when ex-Smile Smile member Jencey Keeton will release the debut effort for her new French 75 project. Goodnight Ned, meanwhile, will release its sophomore LP on July 29. And Sealion's debut for Hovercraft Records is currently being mastered, and will earn its release later this summer.
Elsewhere: Naptime Shake frontman Noah Bailey penned a jingle for 7-Eleven; Centro-matic is recording a version of the Squidbillies theme for an upcoming season; and the full footage from Nirvana's entire Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony — a set that includes St. Vincent's help on “Lithium” — can be watched here.
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