Don’t know if you’ve heard, but Austin’s got a brand new stage — a 3D-printed one, that is! In partnership with ICON, the city of course had to break in the new performance space with some live music. It’s the first in the world, after all. So in case you didn’t get to check it out during SXSW, we sat down with Brooke Bauguess, ICON’s VP of Communications, Marketing, and Public Affairs, to learn more about ICON as an Austin-based company, how this stage came to exist, plus the future of 3D printing and the arts. Read on to get the full scoop!
My name is Brooke Bauguess and I am the Vice President of Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs for ICON.
I grew up in Austin and fondly remember attending special events at Long Center and now bring my children to enjoy performances there like the Nutcracker.
3D-printing the future
Tell us ICON’s story. What are you all about?
Austin-based ICON develops advanced construction technologies in service to humanity in order to solve great problems and pursue grand opportunities. We exist as a response to the global housing crisis. Construction-scale 3D printing not only delivers higher-quality homes faster and more affordably, but fleets of printers can change the way that entire communities are built for the better. The U.S. faces a deficit of 6.5 million new homes, and worldwide there are 1.6 billion humans that lack adequate shelter. There is a profound need to swiftly increase supply without compromising quality, beauty, or sustainability, and that is exactly the strength of ICON’s technology.
ICON has delivered 3D-printed homes for folks who were experiencing chronic homelessness right here in Austin, TX, with Mobile Loaves & Fishes at Community First! Village, the first 3D-printed homes sold in the U.S., 3D-printed a Martian habitat for NASA and barracks for those serving their country with the Texas Military Department and U.S. Army, plus partnered with world-renowned architecture firm, BIG — Bjarke Ingels Group. The largest neighborhood of 3D-printed homes is underway in Georgetown, Texas, in partnership with Lennar, one of the nation’s leading homebuilders. The homes are codesigned by BIG and will be available to purchase beginning this year.
We also announced during SXSW 2023 a new collaboration with Liz Lambert to reimagine and 3D print a new 60-acre community development and expansion of El Cosmico in Marfa, TX, that will feature housing, hospitality amenities, and a hotel.
Additional social housing, disaster relief housing, and market-rate housing projects are also underway in addition to developing construction systems to create infrastructure and habitats on the Moon and eventually Mars with NASA.
Jason Ballard, ICON CEO, gives opening remarks at the unveiling. Photo Credit: Erika Rich // Tameca Jones performs on the 3D-printed cosmic pavilion. Photo Credit: Erika Rich // The Bros Fresh perform on the 3D-printed cosmic pavilion. Photo Credit: Erika Rich // First-ever concert on the new performance pavilion. Photo courtesy of ICON.
Everything begins with an idea
We know that ICON has done projects in Austin before. What sets this project apart from the others, and why did you choose the Long Center as its location?
We are still pinching ourselves that this once crazy idea to 3D-print the world’s first performance pavilion and unveil it during SXSW has come to fruition, and at the most iconic location for the arts and creative community in Austin. We began discussing the possibilities in November 2022 and before we knew it, the team at ICON was 3D printing the pavilion on the Long Center Hartman Concert Lawn by February 2023. The innovative structure, printed by ICON’s Vulcan construction system using proprietary software and advanced material, took 14 days to complete, and became the backdrop for a series of events and musical performances attended by more than 1,300 guests during SXSW.
The cosmic-inspired amphitheater is a gift from ICON, Liz Lambert, and the BIG team to the City of Austin as a creative expression of the best of Texas optimism, creativity, and innovation. The performance pavilion brings a taste of the West Texas project ICON has underway with Liz Lambert, El Cosmico, that parallels and reflects the architectural design themes made possible only by 3D printing technology. The design combines and extends some of these themes into a single, sculptural piece that serves as a landmark and a gathering space for culture, community, and the city in the heart of downtown Austin. We are beyond grateful to the City of Austin, the Long Center, and its Board members for believing in the new innovative technology and seeing the long-term vision for what the pavilion could bring to the creative culture, community, and the arts in Austin.
We look forward to seeing programming from musical acts and dance performances to theater and panel discussions taking place on the 3D-printed venue, and offering a central community gathering space with unparalleled access to the arts. My personal hope is to see children within the Austin community on stage one day soon!
In the future, we will build differently than we build today
How did the motivation for this project impact the overall look and design? What was that process like?
We have the honor of working alongside one of the greatest architects of all time, Bjarke Ingels, and his talented team at BIG. They understand what ICON’s robotic construction can bring in terms of new design vernaculars and languages and that the world doesn’t want to see straight lines and boxes. The organic forms, curves, and shapes that we’re able to make with the 3D printer are magical and otherwise seen as complex and associated with handcraft, but now made possible by robotic technology. With this particular print, we were able to bring to life curves and lofted geometries never before seen with our homes and structures printed to date. The BIG and ICON teams worked on the design and engineering plus printed a test wall at our laboratory before bringing the mobile, gantry-style printer to the Long Center. We love how it turned out and hope the community will enjoy the arts in Austin for years to come at this cosmic pavilion under the Texas stars.
How can technology continue to help the arts, and how does this project at the Long Center help Austin artists specifically?
Set with the beautiful Austin skyline as its backdrop, the performance pavilion reminds me of some of the most iconic outdoor music venues in the country. There aren’t many options for an intimate outdoor performance venue to enjoy your favorite artsits in Austin, and what I love about the Long Center is they offer free events for the public to come and enjoy like The Drop-In concerts, which begin May 25th. Supporting the local music scene is one of many ways we see this stage being utilized, and we are thrilled to have played a small part in making the arts even more accessible for Austinites and visitors to town.
Any tips for how everyday folks can support the arts and community through technology, too?
ICON announced during SXSW the launch of Initiative 99, a global architecture competition to reimagine affordable housing and aimed at designing accessible, beautiful, and dignified homes that can be built for under $99,000. Registration for the competition opens in the summer of 2023 and architects from all over the world including firms, individuals, and university students are encouraged to participate. The multi-phase, year-long competition offers a total prize purse of $1 million. ICON has committed to building a selection of the winning designs at multiple locations to be announced in the future.
If you know of an architect, designer, or dreamer who wants to make a difference, please encourage them to sign up to hear when registration opens for Initiative 99. Everyone deserves a dignified home. At ICON, we believe 3D printing is the way to deliver homes at scale and that the housing of the future must be different from the housing we have known. In the future, we will build differently than we build today.
What a way to start our 15th year! And we’ve got more where that came from. Look out for more announcements about The Drop-In and we’ll see you on the lawn to experience the new performance pavilion really soon!
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
From the news desk to Meredith Stage and everywhere in between, Olga Campos Benz is one of the Long Center’s biggest fans! And let us say, the feeling is mutual 😍 We thought we’d check in with her to see which of the many events we’ve hosted these past 15 years are her favorites and learn a bit more about how she’ll be supporting the Icon Awards. But enough from us, read what Olga has to say 👇
Hola, Austin!
Hope this Mid-Week Intermisison finds everyone preparing for an awesome April and with calendars already marked to join me at the Icon Awards on April 6th as we honor the people, organizations, and corporations for their commitment to the arts.
Since the Long Center became Austin’s home for the performing arts, no one has exemplified wholehearted giving like Eva Womack. From the first capital campaign to establish the Long Center to various arts organizations, Eva and her late husband, Marvin, have been generous supporters and beloved members of our arts community. Likewise, corporate giant AT&T will be recognized for its leading role in building a strong and inclusive creative home at hte Long Center, making Austin a better place to thrive, explore, entertain, and creat! Mil gracias Sra Womack y AT&T!
I’m thrilled to be serving as the Emcee for the Icon Awards, which will take place on the Meredith Stage of Dell Hall. My mind flashes back to other times I’ve been honored to step on that very stage. As a former Trustee of the Long Center, after my first meeting I ventured near the footlights while thinking, “Wow! How it must thrill every performer who walks out here knowing each seat is filled by someone eager to capture a beautiful memory of a live performance to keep in their memories forever!”
Because that’s exactly what happens with each thrilling performance afterwards and for always. For me, it’s the memories of attending a UT Tailgate event organized by my daughter Allegra; or the annual holiday tradition of The Nutcracker with loved ones; and I’ll never forget the excitement of attending both Jimmy Kimmel Live tapings during SXSW?!?!
Then there was the time my husband, Kevin Benz, and I served as Honorary Co-Chairs of the Long Center’s Birthday Bash where we stepped on stage to welcome the audience to see “The Beatles: Let It Be” tribute show. You wouldn’t have recognized us since we were dressed like characters from the Sgt. Peper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. What a fun evening!
But perhaps my fondest memory of stepping on stage is from 2008 when, as a TV news reporter, I toured the venue before it opened to the public. I remember being in awe of the possibilities of the best live performances, family-friendly experiences, and memorable occasions for the entire community — all about to take place both inside and outside.
What excites me most about the Long Center, then and now, is that the venues goes far beyond being the home of the Founding Resident Companies. It welcomes all genres of music! There’s an eagerness to host out-of-the-ordinary performances. In fact, the Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel with The Avett Brothers Birthday Bash, and Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, are among my very favorite shows inside the Long Center.
Outside, there are too many to count! Kevin and I are excited about the return of The Drop-In music series, and we love the fact that everyone is welcome to take photos, host a picnic, gaze at the skyline, and just soak in the beautiful vibe of ATX while on the lawn and H-E-B Terrace. During my time as a Long Center Trustee and now in my current role as media consultant and community advocate, I continue to be most proud of the commitment by the Long Center staff and sponsors to roll up their sleeves and roll out the red carpet for everyone!
So let me end this letter of greeting to all by echoing some of my favorite phrases:
¡¡Bienvenidos a todos!! ¡Nos vemos pronto en el Centro Long!
Welcome to all!! See you soon at the Long Center!
Yours always,
Olga Campos Benz
Former TV News Anchor/Reporter
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
We’re celebrating Black History Month with a list of events, arts, and city life to explore, this month and beyond! What’s top of our list? Booking a free tour of the ‘Field Order 15: And Other Broken Promises’ gallery exhibition brought to you by Carver Museum ATX, right here at the Long Center. Check out what our community partners are up to and add some items to your calendar in this Mid-Week Intermission.
So much to explore, so much to celebrate.
FIELD ORDER 15: And Other Broken Promises
When: Now – March 31, 2023
Curated by Carver Museum ATX
Gallery 701 @ Long Center
On display through the end of March, this exhibit engages artists of African descent around the concept of repair through film-based vignettes and sculptural works that explore repair, identity, and contradiction.
Book a tour for free with our Producer, Andrea, available Monday-Friday.
EXPLORE YOUR SURROUNDINGS
Six Square District tours by Six Square
When: Now
Beginning at the George Washington Carver Complex, home of Austin’s only African-American museum, the Carver Geneology Center and the Carver Library, discover present-day landmarks and past sites of the Six Square District. This is a great way to experience the Chitlin’ Circuit, Victory Grill, Downs Field, and more.
Black History Bike Ride
When: Now
With rides happening all the time, guide Talib Abdullahi hosts themed tours through all parts of Austin. Check out @blackhistorybikeride on Instagram for the latest.
EXPLORE THROUGH SOUND
Black Joy & Resistance Music Series
When: Feb. 11 // Feb. 18 // Feb. 26
Catch a fave group or hear someone new at Austin Public Library’s Black History Month music series highlighting amazing Austin talent. At multiple branches around town, check out Rochelle & the Sidewinders on February 11th, Money Chicha on February 18th, and Honey Made on February 26th.
American Music: Black Composers Concert
When: Feb. 18
Curated by musician Dr. Nicole L. Taylor and composer Nikki Birdsong, explore the works of Florence Price, Maragaret Bonds, and more through the power of song.
Black Austin Matters Podcast
When: Any time
Hosted by Richard J. Reddick and Lisa B. Thompson, this podcast from KUT / KUTX Studios highlights the Black community and Black culture in Central Texas. Catch a new episode the first Wednesday of every month, and subscribe so you don’t miss a single perspective.
EXPLORE THROUGH FILM
Carver Museum ATX Presents: That’s My Face – “Waiting to Exhale”
When: Feb. 13
Yes, this is a Black Love Day screening AND singalong of “Waiting to Exhale,” a 1995 classic! “That’s My Face” is a community film series that features works that explore the diversity of Black experiences through everything from full-length narrative films to animated works.
Been Here: Queer, Black & Proud
When: Feb. 16
aGLIFF Queer Black Voices is celebrating with an evening of queer Black voices in film, community engagement, short films, and more. Includes a special screening of “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” a post-screening discussion with director Nathan Hale Williams, and a performance by Austin Drag performer Amber Nicole Davenport.
EXPLORE THROUGH EACH OTHER
Black History Month Celebration at Central
When: Feb. 18
Riders Against the Storm, a Black Panther movie watch party, and author and artist talks headline this free day of celebration at Austin Public Library Central.
Black Future Market
When: Feb 19
Republic Square is the place to be on Saturday, February 19th, where you can catch a massive Black vendor market featuring Black-owned businesses ranging from food to art and everything in between.
Black History Month Kids’ Day at Carver Museum ATX
When: Feb. 25
For children and their families, this cultural event celebrates the contributions of African American trailblazers with crafts, music, and educational activities centered around the Museum’s 2023 theme of “Black Resistance.”
Black History Bowl
When: Feb. 25
This family-friendly event hosted by Austin Justice Coalition is a day of game shows, prizes, music, and food. Feeling lucky? Check out their study guides and see if you could cut it in the trivia department — Black youth grades 3-12 can still register to showcase their Black history knowledge.
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
From El Paso to LA to Austin, Long Center’s Programming Coordinator, Matt Muñoz, has worked on quite a few records you’ll recognize! Since he’s marking 15 years of living back in Austin — and we’re celebrating our 15th birthday this year (look out for more on that later) — we thought we’d check in with him to hear a little bit more about how he got here. Cue The Smiths and take some notes!
Hola Amigos!
My name is Matt Muñoz and I am part of the Programming team at the Long Center.
I live in South Austin with my wonderful wife, Samantha, our daugher, Austin, and two dogs, Rebel & Kim.
I am a HUGE Los Angeles Dodgers fan and I love The Smiths and all things Brit Pop & ’80s.
I was born and raised in El Paso, TX (El Chuco), learning early how to navigate the beauty of the sounds spilling across the frontera and fusing them with my father’s music collection (Hank Williams, Herb Albert, Fats Domino, and Jose Alfredo Jimenez), and my own ’80s metal upbringing — Van Halen, AC/DC, and a dalliance into hair metal. I fell in love with drumming at age 11 and began to play shows with local party bands at 14, performing at quinceaneras, weddings, and even at the Sun Bowl for cardinals from the Vatican!
I attended college in the panhandle as a music business major with a percussion emphasis at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, TX. I soon met other likeminded music majors and we turned our love of The Smiths, The Cure, REM, and Texas regional bands like Ten Hands & Twang Twang Shock-a-Boom (aside from Long Center, here — check out our interview with David Garza if you’re also a Twang fan) into our own musical unit called The Cleavers. We toured regionally and put out some cassettes before moving to Austin in 1993. Once here, we established some residencies at the Black Cat, Steamboat, and performed at other wonderful places like the Electric Lounge & the Austin Outhouse opening for bands like Magneto USA (Fastball), Spoon, The Asylum Street Spankers, and the Texas Instruments.
As life started to happen and the band faded, I transitioned to Arista Latin/Austin, which was an off-shoot of Arista Nashville, working with artists like Flaco Jimenez, Nydia Rojas, Abra Moore, and Robert Earl Keen. When the label shuttered in 1998, I was off to Los Angeles where I worked at New Line Cinema — then, El Norte Productions — for Gregory Nava (Director of Selena & El Norte), then landed back in music at Warner Brothers Records in the Marketing department.
That was a beautiful education on how to release a record, working on records from artists Joni Mitchell, k.d. lang, Green Day, Perry Farrell & Mike Patton of Mr. Bungle & Faith No More fame. From Warner Bros, I continued my journey to Universal Music Distribution, working on every big-name star and album of the early 2000s including Eminem, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Jimmy Eat World, Lil Wayne, and many others.
As the music business started to change, I moved back to Austin in 2008 to work for a little indie label that went away almost as soon as I moved back! It was then that I was able to start a new gig as the caretaker of the iconic Cactus Cafe on the UT campus, and I spent 10 years helping KUT & KUTX manage the little venue that could, and helped give a platform to the exploding local music scene, booking some of the first shows for artists that went on to bigger venues. When Covid hit, I fell victim to a layoff and later resurfaced here at the Long Center.
We’re celebrating 15 years of the Long Center, and that milestone holds a special meaning to me as it is also my 15th year of living back in Austin.
This venue and the excitement of the possibilities that lie ahead for the future of arts, music, culture, and communy in the city are what we strive to bring you here!
I hope to see you soon!
— Matt
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
It’s safe to say (now that we can’t jinx anything), the end of 2022 has all of us here at the Long Center breathing a sigh of relief. Though this year still had some ups and downs, and we can’t quite shake off some lingering pandemic perils, we’re pretty proud of what 2022 has turned out to be and what our nonprofit team — along with a whole host of partners, supporters, and every Austinite out there — has accomplished.
Our 2022 goal was to make curiosity live and in-person, and we did just that! So whether you joined us for a performance, a Drop-In, a night on the town, or a spin on the ice (psst… Geoji’s ice rink ends January 1st), we just wanted to say “thanks” and share a few reasons why this year was our most curious year yet.
4 WAYS 2022 WAS OUR ‘YEAR OF CURIOSITY’
A Destination for the Curious
As 2022 dawned, we were ready to rock and roll, not knowing what the year might have in store. Coming out of topsy-turvey 2021, though, we were ready to reach for the stars. Can we do… everything? we asked. The answer? “Yeah, kinda!” With no holds barred, the Long Center became a destination for the curious, and boy did Austinites show us how curious they really were.
In fact, so curious that they ate up 16 free community events and attended 50+ shows at the LC this year. And that’s not even counting the almost 70 performances put on by our friends at the Ballet, Symphony, and Opera, who are not only back in full swing but also experiencing some of their best seasons in years.
The feverish need to feed our collective curiosity didn’t stop there. The Long Center was home to hundreds of artists this year, of all makes, shapes, and sizes. There were 225+ artists on our stages in 2022, but countless more helped to produce, manage, and work hard to make sure those artists looked and sounded great. We kept going, welcoming more creative and visual arts into the building in new ways than ever before. Look out for more vendor markets and exhibitions in Gallery 701, the newest space in which we’re sharing the stories, perspectives, and creations of Austin’s visual artists.
One thing is for sure — this year has made our Long Center team into a group of curiosity fiends, and we can’t wait to see what wild and wonderful combinations of sound, sight, and experience we land on next.
Curious Listeners
Speaking of curiosity fiends, will Austin’s curiosity ever run out?? It could never, because 2022 yet again demonstrated that the breadth and depth of the city’s musical interest is infinite. Presenting countless musical genres, performance types, and opportunities to discover something new made the Long Center THE place for curious listeners in 2022, and you never stopped showing up to devour more of the sounds that make Austin so unique.
Together with our fantastic partners, we celebrated traditional music and dance of our Hispanic neighbors for Univision 62’s El Grito event. We turned a new spotlight on jazz with a 5-band celebration of International Jazz Day and the first-ever Dell Hall appearance of jazz icon Christian McBride with locals Brannen Temple Express. We also had the time of our lives at the Third Annual Pride in Local Music Fest with the Austin LGBT Chamber.
Sounds of all kinds flowed this summer. Thousands of music-lovers from all over town enjoyed 12 free Drop-In shows, supporting 50+ of Austin’s new and upcoming homegrown artists. It doesn’t get better than an Austin summer of free music, and your continued support means we can show up for local artists every day and keep The Drop-In going year after year.
We turned things up a notch with KUTX’s & KAZI’s Summer Jam, hosted by Confucius & Fresh of The Breaks. With a lineup boasting Geto Gala, Anastasia Hera & The Heroes, Moody Bank$, and Tribe Mafia, this was the most hip-hop the LC had seen in a long time. We hear that 2023 is hip-hop’s 50th anniversary… could we see more?
Our ultimate curiosity this year was lookOUT Fest, the culmination of a long, fruitful exercise in ingenuity, creativity, and “newness” that this town had been missing these last few years. With a curated combo of musical, visual, and creative arts, we welcomed new genres, new sounds, and new arts-lovers to the Long Center in a celebration for the ages. Getting to see The Album Leaf on the same ticket as Mary Lattimore, Julianna Barwick, and Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith with locals The Kraken Quartet and Felt Out, was just the icing on the cake. Plus, when was the last time you got to catch a DJ set from KUTX’s Soundfounder?
With lineups like these, we’re working hard to continue our commitment to Austin’s culture and its incredible spectrum of diversity, and especially how that’s reflected on our stages. Look out for more incredible lineups in 2023.
Curious Communities
Perhaps nothing has been more rewarding this year than seeing all of this curious and creative energy channeled into support for local artists, problem-solving to expand accessibility, and events to bring communities closer together.
In 2022, we opened our doors to 50+ orgs and community partners by giving rental discounts to make our spaces as accessible as possible. Performances on our stages put $60,000+ dollars in the pockets of local artists. We again partnered with the City of Austin and distributed $2.6 million in critical funding to 1,248 members of Austin’s creative ecosystem through the Austin Music Disaster Relief Grant. How cool is that?
Even better, we saw different communities come together to support creativity and curiosity in 100+ ways, new and old, big and small. We celebrated Texas Reading Day with H-E-B and Camila Alves McConaughey, gathering thousands of students together to read. We then turned around and handed out free breakfast tacos and gathered donations for Central Texas Food Bank with the help of H-E-B and our friends at Luck Presents. We reveled in the return of ACL Radio’s live morning ACL Fest broadcasts, and were delighted that we could gather again to celebrate July 4th with big crowds, fireworks, and the Austin Symphony Orchestra. And don’t worry, our furry friends were included, too, with Tito’s Handmade Vodka’s “Impressions of Tito’s Distillery Dogs over 25 Years” gallery in our Rollins Lobby.
A very special and ultra-curious community, the Heller Awards for Young Artists took center stage this year. Back to its first in-person celebration since the pandemic, this Tony Awards-style ceremony for high school musical theatre in the Greater Austin area celebrated the hard work of 32 schools, 13 districts, and 6,500+ students. Stay tuned for 2023’s Awards Ceremony next April — we’ll be celebrating 10 years of HAYA!
We’ve also loved continuing to explore more of Austin’s curious communities through our Mid-Week Intermission newsletter. Just this year, we learned about the message behind an international piece of art, shared hand-crafted mixtapes from our lookOUT Fest artists, got a behind-the-scenes look at Austin PBS’s new media center, and learned more about a few of the Long Center team along the way. If curious communities are up your alley, sign up for our newsletter — you’ll get it in your inbox every other week so you’re always up-to-date.
Curious for 2023
Returning to our pre-pandemic routine of events, shows, partnerships, and more shows was great, but there were just a few things that we hadn’t imagined might come our way.
We were pleased as Punch when Austin Young Chamber voted us FAVE Arts & Culture Experience at their 13th Annual FAVE Awards. We were also beyond grateful to be named Best Non-Profit at the Austin LGBT Chamber’s 2022 Business of Pride gala. We hope this entices you to come join us for a show next year (or a second, or a third!) and experience the Long Center for yourself.
We’re not sure if you noticed, but not only were we taken over by Disney+ for SXSW, we also made it into a couple of things on Netflix. If you watched the streaming giant’s Look Both Ways rom-com starring Lili Reinhart and Luke Wilson… yep, that SXSW panel took place at the LC. And at the beginning of the year, a little, tiny, not-known-well-at-all show called QUEER EYE threw the Navarro High Vikings an ultra-dreamy Prom bash on our H-E-B Terrace. Definitely worth a re-watch when you get a chance.
All this to say, the Long Center has certainly come a long way in 2022, and we have you to thank for making us the destination for curiosity this year. We’ve deepened partnerships, forged some new ones, experimented and explored nonstop, and still found time to launch our TikTok (follow us, pretty please? we’re new here).
As for 2023, you’re going to want to make sure you’re following us on the social media platform of your choice (@longcenter) and checking on our calendar regularly. Not only are we super excited to host William Shatner in January and Ta-Nehisi Coates on MLK Jr. Day (together with a group of community partners ranging from Six Square to Austin Justice Coalition), but rumor has it our nonprofit is also turning 15 years old. 🤫
On that note, cue the Queer Eye re-watch and we’ll see you real soon.
Wishing you a safe & healthy New Year from all of us at the Long Center — here’s to a curious 2023!
Get this… your support matters! We hope you had as good a 2022 with us as we did with you. Anything you give goes right back to making it all happen at the Long Center. You did that!
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice or sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter, and we’ll see you real soon.
It’s time again for warm drinks, fire pits, and holiday plans galore… good thing the Long Center is looking out for you! With a calendar simply bursting with live experiences the whole fam can look forward to, we have the perfect plan to help you stay warm this year.
BUNDLE UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS
🧣🧤🧥
Starting now until January 1st, when you buy tickets to 2 or more Long Center Presents shows, you can save 20%!
While you’re at it, add on a Friend Level Membership for just $60 (usually $120).
Step 1️⃣ Pick a Long Center Presents show from the list (read below for more info on what’s coming soon).
Step 2️⃣ Pick another!
Step 3️⃣ Become a Long Center Member if you’re feeling jolly by adding on a Friend Membership for half off.
Step 4️⃣ Enjoy the savings! We’ll see you here soon.
Something else caught your eye? You can add a third (or fourth!) show in the same transaction. Santa won’t mind.
Just add Standard tickets from 2 of these upcoming shows to your cart 👇 and you’ll get the discount automatically. Happy gifting!
SANDRA BERNHARD: BERN IT DOWN
Sunday, December 4 @ 5:30pm & 8:30pm
Spend an intimate, cabaret-style night with performer, actress, singer, and author Sandra Bernhard. A pioneer of the one-woman show, Bernhard will take us on a raucous journey of stand-up, rock-and-roll, and social commentary infused with her irresistible joie de vivre.
Did you catch Sandra on Netflix’s comedy special Stand Out? 🏳️🌈 VIP tickets are eligible for the Holiday Bundle for this show.
GRAHAM REYNOLDS RUINS THE HOLIDAYS
Friday, December 9 @ 7:30pm
Saturday, December 10 @ 7:30pm
Local legend Graham Reynolds, along with a mega-talented ten-piece band, will once again burn down the house with their raucous, minor key versions of your favorite holiday tunes. The band will feature many of Graham’s longtime collaborators, including Andre Hayward on trombone. Join in the fun to start your holidays with a bang!
WILLIAM SHATNER & STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN
Sunday, January 15 @ 7:30pm
Prepare to be beamed up for an unforgettable night with the original ‘Captain James T. Kirk,’ award-winning actor William Shatner. Following a screening of the classic film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, William Shatner will take to the stage to share fascinating and humorous behind-the-scenes stories from his noteworthy career, including answering audience questions.
Tickets to see Captain Kirk would go great with Shatner’s new book, Boldly Go 🚀 VIP tickets are not eligible for the Holiday Bundle.
A CONVERSATION WITH TA-NEHISI COATES
Monday, January 16 @ 7:30pm
Spend an evening in deep thought and reflection with Ta-Nehisi Coates, award-winning journalist and author of the bestselling books The Beautiful Struggle, We Were Eight Years in Power, The Water Dancer, and Between the World and Me. He also enjoyed a successful run writing Marvel’s Black Panther (2016-2021) and Captain America (2018-2021) comics series.
Don’t know what to get for your Marvel-obsessed nephew? We do 🦸
MALPASO DANCE COMPANY
Wednesday, January 18 @ 8:00pm
In the seven short years since its establishment in 2012, Malpaso Dance Company has already become one of the most sought-after Cuban dance companies with a growing international profile. Emphasizing a collaborative creative process, Malpaso is committed to working with top international choreographers while also nurturing new voices in Cuban choreography.
OUR PLANET: LIVE IN CONCERT
Thursday, March 9 @ 7:30pm
The landmark Emmy Award®-winning Netflix series that took the world by storm is now a live concert event. Our Planet: Live in Concert combines breathtaking HD cinematography with all-new orchestrations by Oscar®-winning composer Steven Price performed by a live onstage orchestra. Featuring narration by David Attenborough, this spectacular celebration of the planet we call home welcomes audiences to be fully immersed in the wonders of earth’s wildlife and their habitats while demonstrating the urgent need to treasure and protect the environment.
THE PEKING ACROBATS feat. THE SHANGHAI CIRCUS
Sunday, March 26 @ 7:30pm
The Peking Acrobats with The Shanghai Circus offers more than a glimpse into the fascinating traditions of east Asia, with sensational Chinese acrobatics, comedy, balancing feats, and beyond. A truly spectacular show for all ages, the grace and precision of the acrobats are the triumph of years of dedicated training and discipline.
NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON:
COSMIC PERSPECTIVES ON CIVILIZATION
Wednesday, April 5 @ 7:30pm
Returning to the Long Center, award-winning astrophysicist and author Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson will delve into cosmic perspectives on civilization. In this illustrated talk, explore what divides us today through the lens of science! Leaving you with a refreshed outlook on life, culture, and the future of civilization, Dr. Tyson journeys through war, politics, religion, law, gender, race and, of course, the universe.
The word in outer space is that Dr. Tyson has a new book, too 🪐 VIP tickets are not eligible for the Holiday Bundle.
PILOBOLUS: BIG FIVE-OH!
Saturday, April 8 @ 8:00pm
For this 50th anniversary celebration, iconic modern dance troupe Pilobolus questions its own “givens,” turns its traditions sideways, and brings its past into the future. As fresh and vibrant as ever, Pilobolus continues to morph its way thrillingly into audiences’ hearts and minds. The celebration includes signature works from vintage classics to their trend setting innovative work in shadow.
PATTI LUPONE:
DON’T MONKEY WITH BROADWAY
Monday, May 1 @ 8:00pm
Spend an evening with a true Broadway legend as three-time Tony Award winner Patti LuPone takes the stage with her acclaimed one-woman show. In Don’t Monkey with Broadway, LuPone explores – through indelible interpretations of classic Broadway show tunes by the likes of Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Jule Styne, Stephen Schwartz, Charles Strouse, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Cole Porter and Irving Berlin – how her life-long love affair with Broadway began and her concern for what the Great White Way is becoming today.
BLUEY’S BIG PLAY
Saturday, May 27 @ 10:00am & 2:00pm
Sunday, May 28 @ 10:00am & 2:00pm
Join the Heelers in their first live theatre show made just for you, featuring brilliantly created puppets, this is Bluey as you’ve never seen it before, brought to real life. When Dad feels like a little bit of Sunday afternoon time out, Bluey and Bingo have other plans! Join them as they pull out all the games and cleverness at their disposal to get Dad off that bean bag.
Only tickets in the rear Mezzanine and Balcony levels are eligible for the Holiday Bundle for this show. VIP tickets are not eligible.
You’ve made it this far — sounds like you’re ready to bundle up! And don’t forget to add on a Friend Level Membership for only $60 to enjoy ticket presales, Member’s Lounge access, and more all year long.
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
What lies at the intersection of food, feminism, and finding joy? Austin’s own Addie Broyles! Get to know what inspires her, her lifelong food journey, and how she stays curious ahead of her November 22 conversation with British television cook Nigella Lawson.
Hello, Austin food family!
It’s a delight to send this invitation for you to join me on Nov. 22 with Nigella Lawson at the Long Center.
I’m Addie Broyles, the longtime Statesman food writer who now spends her days helping people connect with their ancestors via tarot cards (who could have predicted that?!) and writing freelance stories, including a weekly column The Feminist Kitchen, now published as a Substack newsletter. Later this month, we are welcoming the inimitable Nigella Lawson, Britain’s best-known food writer.
A little background on how the one and only Nigella landed on my radar. My life as a foodie began back in the 1990s, when I was one of those Food Network-obsessed teens who watched every show that aired on this newfangled cable channel. By the time I was in college, I was hooked, watching Rachael Ray and Sara Moulton in between journalism classes at Mizzou, never dreaming that I would one day make a living as a food columnist.
Nigella became a food star in England in 1998 with her debut cookbook, “How to Eat,” which became a bestseller almost overnight, followed by a series of book and TV shows that made her a household name in both the UK and the U.S. I first saw her on one of those early Food Network shows, putting together one of her famous feasts with an ease that I still haven’t yet mastered. I knew she was on her way to becoming a food powerhouse.
With 13 books and countless TV shows and appearances, including as a judge on “Iron Chef America,” Nigella became an outspoken feminist and champion of empowering cooks rather than belittling them. In every book she has published in the past 24 years, Nigella continues to encourage cooks to help them go beyond the what and how of cooking and into the why.
I was delighted to hear that Nigella was heading out on a book tour through the U.S. to promote “Cook, Eat, Repeat: Ingredients, Recipes and Stories,” a collection of recipes and essays that was released during the pandemic, a time when many of us struggled with the monotony of cooking.
Perhaps more than any of her previous books, “Cook, Eat, Repeat” reminds readers that Nigella was a literary journalist before becoming a cookbook author. She penned dozens of small essays scattered throughout the book to give a glimpse into her own philosphy about living a life as rich as the food on the table.
“Although there seems to be an ever-increasing amount of pressure to rise to the occasion of cooking something new and complex and unfamiliar…it becomes our food only when it eases its way into our repertoire, that list of dishes we turn to and repeat, a list that grows and changes, to be sure, just as we grow and change,” she writes.
It turns out that Nigella, too, struggles with what she calls the “Sisyphean drudgery” that sneaks up even on the most enthusiastic of us home cooks. But food nourishes our creativity as much as our bodies. When we’re stuck at home and can’t travel, we can explore different cuisines and cooking techniques, not just once a year but every single night. When we shop for food, we can try a new grocery store or a new ingredient or invite a new friend over to share a meal.
Helping people feel not so alone while they climb that what’s-for-dinner hill every night was also my mission during all those years putting out the weekly food section. But recipes were the Trojan Horse for deeper stories about the unpredictable experience of being alive including getting married and divorced, raising kids as a single mom, navigating Austin’s exploding culinary scene and unpacking racism and sexism in the food industry and beyond.
My desire to ask “why” and “what if” is what made my work as a food writer resonate with so many of you. It’s what I continue to do through The Feminist Kitchen, where I continue to write columns about the texture and topography of the examined life.
The interest in folk psychology led me to having a tarot practice, now Don’t Fear the Death Card, my tarot education and event business. My desire to know more about the plants around me led me to enroll in not one, but two, local herbalism courses this year. My curiosity might have taken me to unexpected places – including my great-great-grandmother’s hometown in Sweden and a fruit forest in Costa Rica – but it has never failed me.
I can’t wait to take the stage with Nigella later this month to find out what fuels her curiosity. How have her own views on food, history and culture changed over the years? What does it mean to live a good life now that she’s almost 25 years into living a very public life?
I hope you’ll consider joining us on Thanksgiving week to talk about ways to keep that flame alive, not only in your own kitchen but in your heart. They say we eat with our eyes first, but what lingers is the feeling we have in our hearts, not our stomachs.
Now, time to feed your curiosity…
Before I leave you, I wanted to share a handful of life-changing, curiosity-feeding books, movies and podcasts that I have been recommending to everyone I know in the past year or two.
“Truly Texas Mexican” – I wrote about this documentary from Houston chef Adán Medrano, available on Amazon Prime, as one of my final pieces for the Statesman in 2021, and it continues to come up in every conversation I have about Texas food, history and culture. It’s so much more than a food documentary and should be required watching for every Texan.
“Heavyweight” and “Strong Sense of Place” – These wildly different podcasts are ones that make me drop whatever I’m doing when a new episode comes out. The first is a Gimlet product from former “This American Life” reporter Jonathan Goldstein, who helps guests reconnect with people from their past to get closure on something that has been bothering them for years. The second is a books-and-travel show from former Austinites Melissa Joulwan and David Humphreys, who are now expats living in Prague. I’ve never met anyone as curious as this couple, and their enthusiasm for learning about new places around the world through the written word is infectious.
“Braiding Sweetgrass” and “Emergent Strategy” – Ever feel helpless about the state of the world? Me, too. These books are often the only thing that gives me hope about the future. Robin Wall Kimmerer’s celebration of indigenous science is a book I wish I would have read years ago. (It came out in 2013 when I still had a toddler on my hip.) The latter book, by organizer and activist adrienne maree brown, became an instant classic in 2017 in its effort to help us look to nature as we learn to lean into the changing world around us rather than resist it.
Buy Nothing – This free, volunteer-led global movement, based mostly on Facebook, now has an app to help people give and ask freely with people in their communities. Participating in the gift economy left such a profound impact on me that I started seeking out books like “The Gift” by Lewis Hyde to help me understand why. I’m also an admin for our neighborhood group, one of more than 40 in the Austin area.
“The Art of Gathering” – Priya Parker’s 2018 bestseller is helping me learn the practical strategies and philosophical ideas that make gatherings more meaningful. The book has been a constant companion as I plan my wedding next year with my partner, Frank, who had me at “squash blossom pizza.”
Yes, I’m getting married again. The boys, now 15 and 12, are thrilled. And so am I. You can follow our journey at thefeministkitchen.com or by finding me on Instagram @broylesa.
I hope to see you on Nov. 22!
Be well,
Addie
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
There’s a slight nip in the air and spooky season is upon us! As you’re settling into your routine, we thought you might be thinking… do I need a new fall hobby?? Enter Adrian Richardson, our Guest Services Manager, who has all the details on volunteering at the Long Center and why you should give it a shot. In this Mid-Week Intermission, hear about their first theater experience and check out our volunteer application so you can hit the ground running this season.
Hello!
My name is Adrian Richardson, and I am what happens when a Theater Kid grows up into a Theater Adult. (No, really!)
When I was five years old, I took my place as an audience member for the very first time and the proverbial bug took its bite. Amongst the heritage stone buildings in my Canadian hometown, the local high school was best known for its annual Christmas musical, and always invited the surrounding county’s elementary students to attend. We filed in to our seats on giddy legs stuffed into snow pants, and all at once were transported to a world of magic, music, and merry.
The show ended all too soon and took my toddling heart with it. When we’d made it back onto our bus and began to pull out onto the street, a few of the actors, still donned in their costumes, popped their heads out of the building’s back door and waved their goodbyes, sending us off with not a single fourth wall broken.
Twenty years later, and while the stages and acts have changed, my love for live performance has stayed ever the same. I’ve seen shows through the eyes of an usher, actor, assistant stage manager, and spectator, and each new position has only continued to charm me over and over again. These days, I am proud to work alongside Austin’s best in the biz at the Long Center, leading and developing the Guest Services department. Being in front of the house allows myself and my team to see firsthand the same joy and inspiration in our audiences that I felt all that time ago.
There is nothing better than being a part of someone’s first theater experience — trust me, it’s the best! I encourage anyone with an interest in live theater, whether you’re a novice thespian or a seasoned one, to join an ushering team and try it for themselves. If you’ve ever been curious about community volunteering, there’s no better way than to visit longcenter.org and send your application to us. The Long Center can’t wait to see you — we’ve saved you a seat!
So what’s volunteering all about?
Our dedicated team of Volunteer Ushers are a major part of what keeps our events and shows seamless, safe, and a whole lot of fun! Get an in-depth look at the events you already love from the ground-up by joining our corps of volunteer ushers whose problem-solving skills, customer service, and warm personalities provide an unparalleled, positive experience for all visitors and guests. And did we mention… free shows??
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
Where do Austinites go when the curiosity bug bites? Well that’s easy… Austin’s PBS station! From gardening, local news, and all those loveable kids characters, to the longest-running music series in American television history and everything else under the Texas sun, KLRU pretty much has it all. So in today’s Mid-Week Intermission, we’d like to introduce to you Luis Patiño, the new President and CEO of Austin PBS, but no stranger to Austin. Check out what’s curious in the Austin PBS neighborhood and why you should tune in the next chance you get.
I’m super excited to be back in Austin!
Having lived in Austin for 10 years prior to moving to Southern California, we established some deep roots in Texas and when the opportunity to return came about, we jumped on it.
Thrilled to be leading Austin’s PBS station, KLRU, and the family of brands that make up the media portfolio. Some of you readers might know me from having led Univision, the Spanish language media group in Texas, and others might remember me from my days serving on the Long Center Board of Trustees during the early years. I truly look forward to integrating back into the Austin community. My associations with iconic institutions like the Long Center will be a big part of this.
Having been back in Austin for six months, it didn’t take long for the community to embrace my family and I in my new role as President and CEO for Austin PBS. The Austin community has been, and continues to be, one of the most welcoming cities in America. Every day we see examples of that warm hospitality. It’s been amazing to pick up where we left off with old friends and exciting to be making new friends in this city that is filled with fascinating, civic-minded leaders. The mission for KLRU is simple: continue to evolve into a modern media organization that embraces new technologies while never losing sight of our mission and purpose. Austin PBS will continue to focus on enriching lives and transforming communities through the power of media. Our viewers will likely see more local programming and increased focus on the performing arts.
Having been in the media business for over 25 years, one cannot help but remain curious. Curiosity allows for innovation to flourish. Without this, we become stagnant and even lose relevance in this fast-paced world. Not only must we maintain that deep sense of curiosity in the workplace, it applies to one’s personal development as well. I love to read and learn from history so as to better understand the present. Having context for when and how things came to be has always been important for me.
Take Austin City Limits for example, many people in town don’t associate Austin PBS with ACL when in fact we have been producing this show for 48 seasons. The show was created to explore traditional Texas music, but throughout the years it has taken various paths, leading to music discovery for many. Now, it is a beautiful, eclectic mix of sounds and genres. Most of this happened by design as a way to modernize our own music tastes, but some happened organically as content curation is all about taking risks and being curious.
Public media, and especially PBS, is having a renaissance of sorts. We are bringing in new content and attracting new audiences. While broadcast television viewing has seen better times, we seem to be filling a need for the stimulating, uplifting and aspirational storytelling that people are craving. Our journalism constantly wins awards and accolades for its fact-based, trustworthy reporting. Combine our excellent storytelling, highly credible journalism, passion for the arts and sprinkle in some educational and engaging kids programming, and you have the perfect reason to lose yourself in PBS content exploration. Look for us on the PBS Passport streaming platform.
…we seem to be filling a need for the stimulating, uplifting and aspirational storytelling that people are craving.
As a lover of the holidays, attending Ballet Austin’s rendition of the famed Nutcracker at the Long Center is a treasured memory and definitely a Patiño family tradition we are excited to pick up again.
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
Nobody embodies creativity quite like Jimmy LaValle, who you might know better as The Album Leaf. Creating and recreating new sounds is what he’s known for, so we caught up with him ahead of his performance at lookOUT Fest to find out what’s new (so much, including an EP!) and what it was like reimagining one of Album Leaf’s most popular albums for its 20th anniversary.
LOOKOUT FEST 👉 This all day indoor-outdoor fest is coming up September 3rd! Come explore the lookOUT Fest Vendor Market for free and then grab a ticket for the 6-band music lineup feauring The Album Leaf, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Mary Lattimore, and so much more.
MEET JIMMY LAVALLE of THE ALBUM LEAF
Long Center: We’re so excited to have you as a part of the inaugural lookOUT Fest lineup! Rumor has it that you’ve played in Austin once or twice already. Is that true? Any special memories here?
Jimmy: I have been playing in Austin regularly since the late ’90s. So, yes, I’ve been here once or twice 😊 I think the most special memories are with the friends I’ve made here throughout the years. The American Analog Set crew — we’ve toured together, gone to Taiwan together. My first official booking agent was from Austin, Courtney Cooper (Slip Productions), there are countless SXSW performances, Sub Pop showcases, changing a broken Rhodes tine on stage at Emo’s mid-show. Many, many good times have been had here. I love the city.
Long Center: Reading your touring history is so fascinating. Capping everything off with celebrating the 20th anniversary of One Day I’ll Be On Time in the midst of the pandemic, do you have any favorite career moments from the last two decades? What made you decide to reimagine this particular album at this time?
Jimmy: Anniversaries are special, and tricky to celebrate. I’d like to think I’ve grown as an artist over the last 20+ years, so the idea of recreating a record I made in my early 20s was exciting. I didn’t want to fix any mistakes per se, I just thought I could bring my years of production experience to celebrate the record in a new way. Typically, bands will go out and play the record front to back. I’ve never been interested in that. I think it’s more exciting to revisit it and see what new twist you can put on something.
Long Center: You include so many different instruments and electronics in your music. Do you have a favorite or even a top three? Any specific type that you’d recommend as the best tool for new electronic music makers?
Jimmy: I’m immediately drawn to synthesizers and creating new sounds. I also do a lot of sampling of sounds I create to further manipulate the sound. I’m really interested in creating something new, even if it’s a standard sine wave — what you can do on the other end creates something fresh.
I fell in love with the sound of a Rhodes piano when I first played one back in the late ’90s. I’ve had the same Rhodes since then and it’s made an appearance on every record. Since my sound has changed and progressed through the years, I’ve moved on from playing it live, using a Nord instead because I run a lot of midi messaging in the show, trigginger sounds I’ve created from multi-sampling. But in general, I’ve always loved and gravitated toward the sound of acoustic analog instruments mixed with electronics.
Long Center: This season we’ve been encouraging our readers to get back out there and give into their curiosity to discover new artists, hobbies, art, or cool things in the neighborhood.
What have you been curious about? What will you explore next — in your music, in your own backyard, anything?
Jimmy: I’ve stayed away from modular synthesis for many years and now I’m diving in. It’s been something I’ve always been curious about, but when it became really popular over the last decade, there was a lot of noise being made. There’s beauty in that but I really look to create melody. I’ve discovered many exciting records and artists over the pandemic that have really inspired me to step into that space. I’m excited to see where it takes me.
Long Center: Any new projects or albums in the works that you can share with us?
Jimmy: I’ve been working on a new record for a really long time. Every time I make solid headway and can see the finish line, I’ll be offered a film to score so that sets me back with its deadline. Then during the scoring process, I create new sounds that I get really excited about, so I go back to the body of work I was ready to release and start to work on it again. I’m nearing the end again 😊
But, I’m on two films currently that will release over in 2023. I also will release my score to Something in the Dirt, the last film I scored that will release in theaters this October, I believe. So, new music will be coming, just not a proper Album Leaf record until 2023. But I will start to release a series of singles coming up soon. Finally sharing new music! I also just released an EP a week ago, called Past and Future Tense.
Long Center: Could you give us a little tease about what you’ll be playing at lookOUT Fest?
Jimmy: Well, expect a typical Album Leaf show that will include visual eye candy along with selections from the last 20 years. And you might just hear something new, too!
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
One more mixtape for you, folks, until lookOUT Fest commences on September 3rd. If you’re just joining us, we’ve embarked on a series of mixtapes curated by three of the bands performing on our lookOUT lineup to get us ready for the big day.
This week, it’s a bright, shiny cassette tape created for you by The Album Leaf, and we hear that Jimmy LaValle himself put it together.
After you pop this one into your tape player, make sure you listen to our other two mixtape experiences from Felt Out and The Kraken Quartet. And once you’re done there, check out Album Leaf’s newest album One Day XX.
Artist Mixtape: Curated for you by The Album Leaf
Tracklist
EURYBIA (feat. Polonius) // Francesca Heart
IN EVERYONE REPEATING // Asa Tone
BY FOOT BY SEA // Jeremiah Chiu & Sofia Maria Honer
MIRROR // Dolphin Midwives
AMYGDALA // Jako Jako
MOIRÉ – Piano & Organ // Jan Jelenik
RODEN // The Growth Eternal
NIGHT FIRE // James Tillman
TALK SHOW HOST // Nailah Hunter
BOA // Sam Gendel & Sam Wilkes
SLEEP WITH YOUR WINDOWS OPEN // Brett Naucke
FAST MOVING CARS // Carla dal Forno
About lookOUT Fest
This indoor-outdoor, one-day festival is your one-stop-shop for end-of-summer music. With 6 bands and a summer day filled with visual artists, food trucks, vendor market, curated experiences, and tunes from Soundfounder to cap it all off, there are infinite ways to get lost.
Be there as we gather audiophiles from across the city to experience the vibes, the sounds, and the feels of summer before they’re gone. Your ears will thank you.
EXPLORE THE LINEUP 👉 grab your tickets to see Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, The Album Leaf, Julianna Barwick, and more on September 3rd!
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
For those of you who missed our first Artist Mixtape with Felt Out, all you need to know is that this is exactly what it sounds like — a shiny, little cassette wrapped up in a bow, curated for you by someone else. And for those of you who haven’t stopped listening to Felt Out’s Artist Mixtape… here’s another!
This time, Austin’s own percussion four-piece The Kraken Quartet has curated a 12-song adventure for us with plenty of twists, turns, and surprises — just like a Kraken performance (which you can experience live at lookOUT Fest on September 3rd).
So pop this cassette in and let’s go.
About This Mixtape: a message from The Kraken Quartet
The four members of The Kraken Quartet are heavily influenced by a wide variety of genres, artists, and instrumentations. This playlist contains songs that inspired us during our formative years, and songs that continue to inspire us today.
Just want to listen? Find the full playlist here.
Tracklist
LAST LIGHT // Son Lux
Son Lux are masters of transforming familiar sounds into something otherworldly. Every layer of this track has something compelling about it, something that makes you want to listen deeper. Their music has been a huge inspiration as we continue to explore new sounds to write with, and this track perfectly encapsulates why.
STRANGERS ALL ALONG // Sō Percussion
As college students, we took a trip from Ithaca, NY to Brooklyn, NY to see Sō Percussion perform “Where We Live” in December 2012. All of us consider that show a monumental point in our lives as young percussionists. It inspired us to reconsider what our newly formed percussion group could be and sound like.
NO MATTER HOW FAST YOU RUN TODAY, YOU WILL NEVER CATCH UP TO TOMORROW // ensemble, et al.
CHICAGO // Sufjan Stevens
TURKEY DOG COMA // Flying Lotus
As we write music for our group, no style of music is off the table… there has always been a steadfast acceptance of polystylism. As we prepared to write our first full length album, “Separate | Migrate,” we were enamored by this Flying Lotus record that seemingly abandoned any notions of “genre specificity.” This track in particular really takes you on a ride all over the place.
UNTITLED #1 – VAKA // Sigur Rós
RED ROOM // Hiatus Kaiyote
BLUES SUBTITLED NO SENSE OF WONDER // Gastr Del Sol
8 (CIRCLE) // Bon Iver
LOS PLÁTANOS // Rumberos de Cuba
THE BIRTH AND DEATH OF THE DAY // Explosions In The Sky
SOME // Nils Frahm
About lookOUT Fest
This indoor-outdoor, one-day festival is your one-stop-shop for end-of-summer music. With 6 bands and a summer day filled with visual artists, food trucks, vendors, curated experiences, and tunes from Soundfounder to cap it all off, there are infinite ways to get lost.
Be there as we gather audiophiles from across the city to experience the vibes, the sounds, and the feels of summer before they’re gone. Your ears will thank you.
EXPLORE THE LINEUP 👉 grab your tickets to see Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, The Album Leaf, Julianna Barwick, and more on September 3rd!
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
