Event Calender

A curated list of the latest cultural happenings in Houston

April 18, 2024
  • Opening Reception: Abbie Preston Edmonson

    April 18, 2024  5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
    Elgin Street Studios, 4224 Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004, USA

    https://www.uh.edu/kgmca/art/events/calendar/?view=e&id=640473#event

    Join us for the opening reception of MFA Sculpture candidate, Abbie Preston Edmonson, in Gallery 1 at Elgin Street Studios.

    See more details

  • Exhibition Opening Reception - Tay Butler

    April 18, 2024  6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
    Lawndale Art Center, 4912 Main St, Houston, TX 77002, USA

    https://lawndaleartcenter.org/exhibition/tay-butler-2/

    About the Exhibition

    A Friendly Game of Basketball in John M. O’Quinn Gallery is a solo exhibition by 2023/2024 Artist Studio Program participant Tay Butler. This multi-media exhibition presents Butler’s research of and art engagement with basketball’s racial history and contemporary anti-Black issues. Through various media—including installation, painting, drawing, photography, collage, music, and performance—Butler creates a multi-sensory environment which mirrors basketball’s pre-, post-, and in-game play.

    Statement by the Artist & Writer

    “‘The problem was “What shall we do with the Negro?…now the problem is “How can we get more of them?”’

    Andrew Carnegie,  Howard University, 1907. 

    “It is hard to argue against the opinion that basketball is king in the Black community. Difficult to assess or analyze statistically, it is something taken for granted.  Both an ‘if you know, you know’ assumption within the community, and a well-worn stereotypical trope outside of the community. Teenagers and twenty-somethings maintain a connection to the game, either through direct play, or aesthetic cultural references. Middle-aged men who grew up playing the game, continuing as occasional ticket holders and coaches of children who play. Elders who ‘used to be a monster back in the day’, telling anyone who will listen how the game was so much better back when. All while the mouths of city governments, law enforcement, sneaker companies, non-profit founders, college coaches and scouts salivate. But what does it all REALLY mean?

    “In 1891, Luther Gulick tasked his young assistant James Naismith with creating a game that could bring young, white boys back to Christianity. A game that could reverse years of ‘Victorian domesticity’ and promote manliness by utilizing physical fitness to enhance spirituality. This philosophical concept would become known as ‘muscular christianity’, and Naismith would fasten peach baskets to a beam randomly 10 feet high, merge the teamwork necessary in football, with the finesse and passing necessary other so-called primitive games, and ask players to toss a laced, leather ball into the basket. Several rule changes later, basketball was born. 

    “Today, basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world. As recently as 2022, The Fédération Internationale de Basketball, better known as FIBA, estimated worldwide players at 450 million. In American high schools, over 892,000 student athletes played. A whopping 55,498 student athletes played basketball for the NCAA that year. Even fewer make it to the pros, with 720 players playing at least one game in the NBA and WNBA during the 2022 season. These numbers are impressive, indicating a global game once thought incapable of replacing football or baseball in the hierarchy of American sports. Anywhere in America where Black people form a majority, the game is even more ubiquitous and suffocating. Arguably the biggest cultural force behind music and food, basketball has become a foundational pillar. 

    “In the sixteen years between its inception and when the first referee and spectator basketball game between all Black teams took place in Washington DC, basketball belonged to white society. Endorsed by President Theodore Roosevelt, a sport once thought ‘for sissies’ became useful, and universities, churches and athletic clubs created a world around it. Black teams were banned from the Amatuer Athletic Union and NCAA, while Black players were not eligible to play or coach against white teams in city leagues. Through the determination of Naismith’s only Black protege, John McLendon, and the actions of a handful of privileged and educated Black immigrants in New York and DC, basketball would slowly spread through a few small communities. It would not be until 1907 and after that basketball would become a tool for physical education, Black collaboration and collective economics. Today, the hold that basketball has on not just young, Black enthusiasts, but the imagined community as a whole, remains formidable. But lost in the frenzy of AAU tournaments, custom sneakers and celebration dances are the political ramifications of a sport now dominated by the Black body. 

    “In her book Black Scare/Red Scare, author and activist Dr. Charisse Burden-Stelly theorizes the merging of both Cold War era anti-communist paranoia and Jim Crow era fear of a Black rebellion with the consistent suppression of Black radical left and anti-capitalist politics. These new ideas were packaged as ‘American patriotism’, deeming anything in opposition as communism and therefore, anti-American. Any and all Black citizens could be reprimanded or worse for anti-Americanism, but the Black leaders, entertainers, athletes and celebrities would face a special kind of treatment. Basketball and its players, with its large stake in Black culture, would be no different. 

    A Friendly Game of Basketball, a solo exhibition at Lawndale, finds Tay Butler concluding several years of research and art engagement surrounding the racial and political material within the sport. Comprising installation works, paintings, drawings, photography, collage, music and performance, viewers are welcomed into a multi-sensory environment mirroring elements of pre, post and in-game play. By taking the game and examining its historical archives and advertisements, identifying both its historical and contemporary anti-Black events, reintroducing the isolation and removal of its radical elements, and imagining a new application for the sport within the community, I am thinking critically about where the sport currently exists, and how it can do more to serve the community that loves it so much.” 

    -Tay Butler, Artist & Zora J Murff, Writer

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  • Rado Wine Club: Prince Wine Dinner

    April 18, 2024  6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
    The Rado MKT, 2310 Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004, USA

    Celebrate the life and music of Prince with a 3 course + Amuse Bouche Vegan Wine Dinner and Tasting of 7 Bio-diverse wines

    Tickets are $55

    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rado-wine-club-prince-wine-dinner-tickets-876216877267

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April 19, 2024
  • DACAMERA Young Artist Brooke Wyatt

    April 19, 2024  5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
    Lynn Wyatt Square for the Performing Arts, 600 Louisiana St, Houston, TX 77002, USA

    https://www.dacamera.com/free-event/young-artist-brooke-wyatt-at-lynn-wyatt-square/

    Brooke Wyatt, keyboard (DACAMERA Young Artist); A.J. Moyler, bass; Mark Simmons, Jr., drums

    DACAMERA Young Artist Brooke Wyatt is a passionate pianist, vocalist, and songwriter from Houston, Texas. She received her BA in Music at Columbia College Chicago, where she performed with artists such as Jonathan McReynolds, Isaiah Sharkey, and Kendrick Scott. She has also had other notable performances at Carnegie Hall and the Caramoor Jazz Festival in New York with artists such as Sean Jones, Dianne Reeves, and Jeff Tain Watts. While shifting to online studies during the pandemic, Brooke developed a passion for audio production and decided to pursue her Master’s Degree in Audio Engineering at Northwestern University. She recently graduated with her MA in audio and is looking forward to a career that combines her love for music and audio post-production.

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  • David Ponton III - HOUSTON AND THE PERMANENCE OF SEGREGATION

    April 19, 2024  6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
    Brazos Bookstore, 2421 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77005, USA

    https://www.brazosbookstore.com/event/store-david-ponton-iii-houston-and-permanence-segregation

    Brazos welcomes David Ponton III in-store on April 19 at 6:30 p.m.

    A history of racism and segregation in twentieth-century Houston and beyond.

    Through the 1950s and beyond, the Supreme Court issued decisions that appeared to provide immediate civil rights protections to racial minorities as it relegated Jim Crow to the past. For black Houstonians who had been hoping and actively fighting for what they called a “raceless democracy,” these postwar decades were often seen as decades of promise. In Houston and the Permanence of Segregation, David Ponton argues that these were instead “decades of capture”: times in which people were captured and constrained by gender and race, by faith in the law, by antiblack violence, and even by the narrative structures of conventional histories. Bringing the insights of Black studies and Afropessimism to the field of urban history, Ponton explores how gender roles constrained thought in black freedom movements, how the “rule of law” compelled black Houstonians to view injustice as a sign of progress, and how antiblack terror undermined Houston’s narrative of itself as a “heavenly” place.

    Today, Houston is one of the most racially diverse cities in the United States, and at the same time it remains one of the most starkly segregated. Ponton’s study demonstrates how and why segregation has become a permanent feature in our cities and offers powerful tools for imagining the world otherwise.

    David Ponton III is an assistant professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies at the University of South Florida.

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April 20, 2024
  • Pay What You Can - Earth Day: Sustaining Climate Action & Community Health with Youth Organizers

    April 20, 2024  11:00 am - 12:00 pm

    Register Here: https://www.rothkochapel.org/experience/events/register/2515

    This year's observance, will shine a light on young organizers advocating for climate justice and community well-being, providing a space for learning, restoration, and renewal. The event will feature a conversation and meditative moment focused on sustaining action, particularly highlighting the efforts of youth organizers working tirelessly in these areas.

    Inspired by the groundbreaking 2023 ruling in the Held v. Montana case regarding the state's constitutional rights to health, representatives from Our Children's Trust, including staff attorney David Schwartz and youth plaintiffs, will share insights into the development and success of this case, along with how their methodologies can be applied nationwide. Following this, there will be a community discussion with Texas-based youth and grassroots activists, delving into the connections between environmental and climate justice and community health. The discussion will be moderated by Andre Segura, Vice President of Litigation at Earthjustice.

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  • Lanecia A. Rouse

    April 20, 2024  2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77005, USA

    Meet artists featured in the exhibition Multiplicity: Blackness in Contemporary American Collage as they lead conversations in the galleries. The four-part series begins this Saturday with Houston-based artist Lovie Olivia, who discusses her work and the landscape of contemporary Black collage.

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  • The Black & White Art Show 8.0

    April 20, 2024  5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
    Hardy & Nance Studios, 902 Hardy St, Houston, TX 77020, USA

    https://hardyandnancestudios.com/event/the-black-white-art-show-8-0/

    Hardy & Nance Studios is pleased to announce our Call for Entries for “The Black & White Art Show 8.0” that coincides with our Third Saturday Open Studios on April 20, 2024 from 5-9pm. This call for entries is open to all artists in Houston and surrounding areas working in 2D & 3D media.
    THEME: Your artwork may be any subject and medium*. ALL art MUST be Black & White and shades of gray ONLY. No other color may be present in the artwork which includes signatures, frames, mats, etc.
    Stay as neutral as possible and avoid a grayscale that is too cool (towards blue/purple) or too warm (towards brown/sepia).
    Please do not use silver, gold, metallic, opalescent, iridescent, holographic or other colored mediums. Graphite is acceptable. Black, white, gray & clear are acceptable for all mediums including glass, beads, wire, etc.
    If artwork is on wood, please make sure the natural wood color is not seen and is painted black, white, or gray. If artwork is framed, the frames and mats must also be black, white and/or gray only. Please no silver, gold, natural wood, or other colored frames and mats.
    *Please no loose glitter or confetti. If using these two mediums, they must be completely adhered and sealed to the substrate so that they will not fall off. We do test this at drop off.
    SIZE RESTRICTIONS: 2D/Wall Hanging artwork can be no larger than 36” any side. Standalone 3D/sculptural work must fit through a standard door way.
    SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Artists can submit images and information for up to four (4) pieces no later than April 3, 2024 at 11:59pm. This is a curated show, so some pieces may not be chosen.
    ENTRY FEE: The entry fee for this show is $15 cash per accepted piece, due at drop off. There is no fee to submit images for consideration.
    There is NO commission fee involved and therefore artists are required to handle all sales transactions.
    More Details & Submission Form: https://form.jotform.com/HardyandNanceStudios/BWArtShow8

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April 21, 2024
  • 2024 Spring Festival: New Beginnings

    April 21, 2024  1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
    Brown Foundation, Inc. Plaza, 5101 Montrose Boulevard, Houston, TX 77006

    April 21, 2024
    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, invites you to this free community celebration of spring and new beginnings. In the spirit of resilience and renewal, the MFAH also honors its 100th anniversary of opening in 1924, and ushers in the next 100 years.

    Explore the Museum inside and out—find favorite works of art in the galleries, and try your hand at making art with local artists on campus. 

    Like the city of Houston, the Museum has experienced dynamic growth through the years and is now a destination that champions diversity and international art. The Spring Festival celebrates that fusion of cultures through music and dance performances, art-making activities, and food from vendors across Houston.

    Pick up a map to guide you on a hunt inside the MFAH for works of art that represent resilience, all acquired during the past 100 years. The map also takes you along a path that starts at the Brown Foundation, Inc. Plaza and winds its way to the original Museum entrance on the south side of the Law Building.

    Plan Your Visit | Free Admission

    • Admission is free all day to both the Museum and the Spring Festival activities, thanks to the generosity of H-E-B.
    • The festival takes place on the Brown Foundation, Inc. Plaza and in the Cullen Sculpture Garden.
    • Parking Information | Museum Hours | MFAH Campus Map
    • Free tickets are needed to enter the Museum. Tickets are not needed for outdoor activities. To expedite entry, book your free ticket in advance.
      Get Free Tickets

    Taste & Savor
    Enjoy international cuisine from vendors including Antojitos BoriNic, Bismillah Restaurant and Cafe, Blood Bros. BBQ, Un Caffè Roastery, ChopnBlok, Popston, and Sweets by Belen.

    Create & Discover

    • Musical performances: Mariachi Orgullo de Houston; Riyaaz Qawwali with the Jones Family Singers.
    • Art-making projects led by area artists: “Transparent Layers of Art” with Melissa Aytenfisu; “Recycled Garden Quilts” with Naomi Kuo; “Mindful and Meditative Ink Drawing” with Leslie Cuenca; “Photography, Portraits & Postcards” with Tyler Allen; “Transportation + Art” with Ursula Andreeff.
    • Activity tables with community partners: Houston Community College fashion design program; Houston Public Library; Islamic Arts Society; Madres del Parque; MECA Houston.

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  • Houston Reads Zora Neale Hurston

    April 21, 2024  1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

    https://kindredstorieshtx.com/collections/book-clubs/products/houston-reads-zora-neale-hurston-by-project-row-houses-chanecka-kindred-stories
     

    Kindred Stories is proud to partner with Project Row Houses and Chanecka Williams to present Houston Reads Zora Neale Hurston.

    Zora Neale Hurston Meeting Schedule 

    November 19 - Jonah’s Gourd (1934)

    December 17 - Mules and Men (1935)

    January 14 - Their Eyes are Watching God (1937)

    February 18 - Tell My Horse (1938)

    March 17 - Moses, Man of the Mountain (1939)

    April 21 - Dust Tracks on a Road (1942)

    May 17 -  Seraph on the Suwanee (1948)

    June 23 - I Love Myself When I Am Laughing…Then Again (1979)

    July 21 - The Complete Stories (1998)

    August 18 - Every Tongue Got to Confess (2001)

    September 15 - Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” (2018)

    October 20 - Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick (2020)

    November 19 - You Don’t Know Us Negros and Other Essays (2022)

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  • Jazzy Sundays

    April 21, 2024  5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
    The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park, 105-B Sabine St, Houston, TX 77007, USA

    https://epconservancy.org/jazzy24announcement/

    The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park, 105 Sabine Street

    April 7, 2024: Ghost-Note & Monterey Jazz
    April 14, 2024: Free Radicals & Hot Box
    April 21, 2024: Rainel Joubert & Lolade
    April 28, 2024: Chief Adjuah & Sal Capone

    All concerts will be held from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm and guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

    From classic jazz to zydeco, blues and more, this year’s production kicks off at Emancipation Park on March 3 with tunes from R&B vocalist and song-writer, TK Soul, before moving to Buffalo Bayou Park on April 7, where parkgoers can sway to the progressive jazz hits from Grammy-winning musical duo, Ghost-Note. The programming concludes at Discovery Green, kicking off on May 5 with the Latin jazz ensemble, Tim Ruiz and Friends and featuring a performance by award-winning, MacArthur Genius Cécile McLorin Salvant on May 26.

    The full Jazzy Sundays in the Park line-up is listed below.

    See more details

April 22, 2024
  • Andrés Cepeda: The Tengo Ganas Tour 2024

    April 22, 2024  8:00 pm - 9:45 pm
    Cullen Theater, 559-575 Prairie St, Houston, TX 77002, USA

    Purchase Tickets: https://performingartshouston.org/events/andres-cepeda-the-tengo-ganas-tour-2024-2024-04-22-800-pm/seats/802/

    Renowned Colombian producer, singer and composer Andrés Cepeda will bring his brand of Latin pop and rock mixed with a dose of bolero.

    Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, Cepeda is a three-time Latin Grammy winner and 13-time nominee with multiple diamond, platinum and gold records to his name. He has collaborated with great artists such as Juan Luis Guerra, Jessi & Joy, Cali & Dandee, Morat, Joss Favela, Leo Dan, Fonseca, Ricardo Montaner, Kany García and Tommy Torres, among many others. His career spans over 20 years, making him one of the most important pop artists in Latin America.

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April 23, 2024
  • YA Book Club for Adults

    April 23, 2024  6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
    Kindred Stories, 2304 Stuart St, Houston, TX 77004, USA

    https://kindredstorieshtx.com/collections/book-clubs/products/april-2024-young-adult-book-club-for-adults-april-23-7pm

    The bookclub meeting will take place on April 23, 2024 at 6:30 PM in the Kindred Stories' Reading Garden. Be sure to show up with the book read (or partially read). You are always welcome to just come and take up space. 

    ABOUT THE BOOK

    From the New York Times bestselling author of the Brown Sisters trilogy, comes a laugh-out-loud story about a quirky content creator and a clean-cut athlete testing their abilities to survive the great outdoors—and each other.

    Bradley Graeme is pretty much perfect. He’s a star football player, manages his OCD well (enough), and comes out on top in all his classes . . . except the ones he shares with his ex-best friend, Celine.
     
    Celine Bangura is conspiracy-theory-obsessed. Social media followers eat up her takes on everything from UFOs to holiday overconsumption—yet, she’s still not cool enough for the popular kids’ table. Which is why Brad abandoned her for the in-crowd years ago. (At least, that’s how Celine sees it.)

    These days, there’s nothing between them other than petty insults and academic rivalry. So when Celine signs up for a survival course in the woods, she’s surprised to find Brad right beside her.

    Forced to work as a team for the chance to win a grand prize, these two teens must trudge through not just mud and dirt but their messy past. And as this adventure brings them closer together, they begin to remember the good bits of their history. But has too much time passed . . . or just enough to spark a whole new kind of relationship?

    See more details

April 24, 2024
  • Film Screening: Mami Wata

    April 24, 2024  7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
    Houston Museum of African American Culture, 4807 Caroline St, Houston, TX 77004, USA

    https://2024hmaacfilms.eventive.org/schedule/65c39fbbb6ddb40056443660

    Mami Wata

    In the oceanside village of Iyi, the revered Mama Efe acts as an intermediary between the people and the all-powerful water deity Mami Wata. But when a young boy is lost to a virus, Efe’s devoted but rebellious daughter Zinwe and skeptical protégé Prisca warn Efe about unrest among the villagers. With the sudden arrival of a mysterious rebel deserter named Jasper, a conflict erupts, leading to a violent clash of ideologies and a crisis of faith for the people of Iyi.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/C48WzjFufNr/

    The Houston Museum of African American Culture(HMAAC) Presents: Mami Wata Afrofuturism: 500 Years Back to the [Afro][F]uture, curated by HMAAC’s Chief Curator Christopher Blay. Opening Reception is Friday, April 12, 6 - 8PM and the show will be on view through June 29. The exhibition envisions the future through the lens of the past and focuses on works by artists of the African diaspora who consider the transatlantic and trans-Mississippi delta journeys of black people across waters, carrying with them histories, mythologies, and cultures towards new futures.

    The exhibition includes paintings, photography, video, and sculpture from the following artists: Arnold J. Browne, Carla Jay Harris, Lewinale Havette, Miatta Kawinzi, Abi Salami, Lakea Shepard, and Raymond Thompson.

    A conversation with the artists, moderated by Chief Curator Blay, will be on Saturday, April 13, at 2PM at HMAAC.
    There will also be a Wednesday, April 24, 7PM screening of the movie Mami Wata by director C.J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi. The public is invited to register for free tickets for the film by clicking the link below or link in bio.

    See more details

April 25, 2024
April 27, 2024
  • Bayou Blues Festival

    April 27, 2024  1:00 pm - 7:00 pm
    Houston Botanic Garden, 1 Botanic Lane, Houston, TX 77017, USA

    https://hbg.org/event/bayou-blues-festival/

    The annual Music in the Garden Concert Series provides a family-friendly outdoor cultural experience combining the sound of live music with the relaxing acoustics and visual beauty of nature.

    New for 2024, join us near the banks of Sims Bayou for an afternoon of soulful, roots music at the Bayou Blues Festival, curated by Houston’s own Annika Chambers.

    Festival Lineup:

     

    Like other Music in the Garden Concert Series performances, lawn seating for the Bayou Blues Festival is included in the cost of general admission. Ticket prices on Saturdays are $15 for adults and $10 for students (with current ID) and children age 3 and older.

    *Members can use the general admission(s) benefit associated with their level of membership toward the cost of a concert ticket(s).

    Concessions, including adult beverages, will be available for purchase; outside food and drink are prohibited.

    Special thanks to festival sponsor Saint Arnold Brewing Company.

    NOTE: Bring your own lawn/camp chair(s) with General Admission.

    See more details

  • Global Objects and the Need for Material Literacy

    April 27, 2024  1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
    Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 6003 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77007, USA

    In this lecture, Edward Cooke presents a new approach to examining historical objects. Instead of categorizing objects by geography or time, scholars can analyze raw materials and consider the objects’ functionality and origins. Cooke also talks about teaching material literacy so more people are engaged with object-driven histories.

    https://www.mfah.org/calendar/global-objects-and-material-literacy/202404271330

    See more details

April 28, 2024
  • Jazzy Sundays

    April 28, 2024  5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
    The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park, 105-B Sabine St, Houston, TX 77007, USA

    https://epconservancy.org/jazzy24announcement/

    The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park, 105 Sabine Street

    April 7, 2024: Ghost-Note & Monterey Jazz
    April 14, 2024: Free Radicals & Hot Box
    April 21, 2024: Rainel Joubert & Lolade
    April 28, 2024: Chief Adjuah & Sal Capone

    All concerts will be held from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm and guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

    From classic jazz to zydeco, blues and more, this year’s production kicks off at Emancipation Park on March 3 with tunes from R&B vocalist and song-writer, TK Soul, before moving to Buffalo Bayou Park on April 7, where parkgoers can sway to the progressive jazz hits from Grammy-winning musical duo, Ghost-Note. The programming concludes at Discovery Green, kicking off on May 5 with the Latin jazz ensemble, Tim Ruiz and Friends and featuring a performance by award-winning, MacArthur Genius Cécile McLorin Salvant on May 26.

    The full Jazzy Sundays in the Park line-up is listed below.

    See more details

May 2, 2024
  • UHD Thursday Night Concerts - Grupo Fantasma

    May 2, 2024  7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
    Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney St, Houston, TX 77010, USA

    https://www.discoverygreen.com/event/uhd-thursday-night-concerts-4/
     

    Jam out to free outdoor concerts under the night sky.

    Headliner: Grupo Fantasma

    Grupo Fantasma has been praised as one of the most important independent acts in the Latin genre and has continually defied expectations to create one of the most unique musical voices to come out of the United States in the 21st century. The nine-piece collective formed in 2000 in Austin and consists of Jose Galeano (timbales, vocals), Kino Esparza (vocals, hand percussion), Beto Martinez (guitar), Greg Gonzalez (bass), John Speice (drums), Matthew “Sweet Lou” Holmes (congas), Gilbert Elorreaga (trumpet), Josh Levy (baritone saxophone) and Mark “Speedy” Gonzales (trombone).

    https://www.grupofantasma.com

    Opener: Grupo Vadenagi

    Grupo Vadenagi has been performing and serving the community since 2013. This group was founded by their musical director/ father Carlos Zambrano and consists of Mayra Zambrano (wife), Daisy Zambrano (daughter), Nallely Zambrano (daughter), Giselle Zambrano (daughter), Camila Zambrano (daughter), and Martin Lucatero (family friend). Grupo Vadenagi is recognized as one of the few female dominated norteño groups in the regional Mexican genre. Grupo Vadenagi perfosrms both in the U.S and Mexico and has opened for norteño icons such as Ramon Ayala and Los Cachorros de Juan Villarreal. Grupo Vadenagi’s mission is to empower women, promote family wellness and keep norteño music traditions alive!

    https://www.instagram.com/grupovadenagi/?hl=en

    See more details

May 4, 2024
  • BIPOC Book Fest: A LIT VIBE

    May 4, 2024
    Asia Society Texas Center, 1370 Southmore Blvd, Houston, TX 77004, USA

    https://bipocbookfest.com/
     

    A festival that celebrates books and literary works by BIPOC authors.

    The annual BIPOC Book Fest is a celebration centered on underrepresented voices through a showcase of literary works that feature Black, Indigenous, People of Color and other creatives of marginalized communities. Curated with diversity in mind, the festival combines the nostalgia of the book fairs we knew and loved as children with unique programming, panels, readings, vendors, book-related memorabilia, poetry performances and more!

    See more details

  • East End Street Fest

    May 4, 2024  12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
    The Esplanade at Navigation, 2500-2800 Navigation Blvd, Houston, TX 77003, USA

    https://www.facebook.com/events/643361201251813/


    Celebrate Cinco de Mayo weekend at the East End Street Fest.

    The 2024 East End Street Fest, set in East End Houston during Cinco de Mayo week, is a FREE, vibrant celebration of Mexican and Chicano arts, music, and heritage. From 12pm to 6pm, visitors can enjoy diverse performances, with dance showcases from Mexico at Plaza de Piñata and Plaza de Luchas, and a dedicated kids’ area at Plaza de los Niños. Car and art enthusiasts are in for a treat with the Show & Shine exhibit on Chicano Boulevard. It’s a day of cultural immersion, fun, and community spirit for friends and families alike.
    The EESF is organized by The East End Improvement Corporation (501c3) and the East End Houston Cultural District.

    See more details

May 5, 2024
  • Jazzy Sundays

    May 5, 2024  5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
    The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park, 105-B Sabine St, Houston, TX 77007, USA

    https://epconservancy.org/jazzy24announcement/

    Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney Street
    May 5, 2024: Tim Ruiz & Friends
    May 12, 2024: Doreen Ketchens & Hustler Brass Band
    May 26, 2024: Cecile McLorin Salvant & The Pew
    June 2, 2024: Melvin Johnson & Johnathan Hulett

    All concerts will be held from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm and guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

    From classic jazz to zydeco, blues and more, this year’s production kicks off at Emancipation Park on March 3 with tunes from R&B vocalist and song-writer, TK Soul, before moving to Buffalo Bayou Park on April 7, where parkgoers can sway to the progressive jazz hits from Grammy-winning musical duo, Ghost-Note. The programming concludes at Discovery Green, kicking off on May 5 with the Latin jazz ensemble, Tim Ruiz and Friends and featuring a performance by award-winning, MacArthur Genius Cécile McLorin Salvant on May 26.

    The full Jazzy Sundays in the Park line-up is listed below.

    See more details

May 9, 2024
  • UHD Thursday Night Concerts - Theo Lawrence

    May 9, 2024  7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
    Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney St, Houston, TX 77010, USA

    https://www.discoverygreen.com/event/uhd-thursday-night-concerts/
     

    Jam out to free outdoor concerts under the night sky.

    Theo Lawrence
    Theo Lawrence is a young, independent French-Canadian songwriter, musician & singer based out of Bordeaux, France, and more recently, Austin, Texas. His music is rooted in the country music songs of the 1950’s and 1960’s, borrowing elements from Soul, Pop, and Rock ’n’ Roll of the same era. His is a mix of styles & sounds, done with a deep love for tradition, while bearing the mark of modern times.
    https://linktr.ee/tomikarecords

    Kalu & The Electric Joint
    Kalu and the Electric Joint blend the powers of psychedelic soul music with the driving beat of rock and roll and the ancient rhythms of Africa. Born in Nigeria, Kalu at age 18 first moved to New York before relocating to Austin, Texas, where he & JT Holt (Guitarist, Producer/Engineer) put together a stellar ensemble of players who graciously fuel and follow his deep well of eclectic influences.
    https://www.kaluandtheelectricjoint.com

    Billboard describes their sound as “blending both West African and American brands of funk with bluesy grit and psychedelic ambience, along with a chin-out attitude”.

    This musical chemistry comes from the bond forged by frontman Kalu James, and guitarist Jonathan “JT” Holt, who adds a touch of American soul to Kalu’s West African heritage.

    The Creeps
    The Creeps are a 4-piece Hard Rock band that brings a raw, power-driven sound to any stage they set foot on. The Houston based group began performing in the fall of 2020 and have not slowed down since then. They are the winners of the 2023 Discover Houston Music Showcase at Discovery Green. They’ve performed at city staples including White Oak Music Hall and The Houston Rodeo. Drawing inspirations from Grunge, Rock, and Heavy Metal artist, they blend these sounds to create an energetic thunderous sound through their music and performances.
    https://linktr.ee/TheCreeps

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May 11, 2024
  • Sugar Land Jazz Festival

    May 11, 2024
    The Crown Festival Park at Sugar Land, 18355 Southwest Fwy, Sugar Land, TX 77479, USA

    https://sugarlandjazzfestival.com/

    https://www.visitsugarlandtx.com/events/sugar-land-jazz-fest/

    In Sugar Land, live music seamlessly intertwines with our daily life, and soon, it'll be time to turn up the jazz vibes! Mark your calendars for the all-new Sugar Land Jazz Fest, gearing up to take over Crown Festival Park on Saturday and Sunday, May 11-12, 2024. Get ready for a weekend with friends brimming with music and culture!

    Jazz Fest Music Lineup
    Sugar Land Jazz Fest attendees will enjoy performances from six artists with serious chops. Each day of the festival will feature one headliner and two supporting acts.

    The Saturday headliner will be Boney James, a Grammy-nominated saxophonist who has collaborated with artists like George Duke, Faith Evans, and the Isley Brothers. California-based funk band Tower of Power and contemporary jazz instrumentalist and vocalist Vincent Ingala, will join him on Saturday's bill.

    Sunday's show will feature Robert Glasper, a multi-Grammy-winning and Emmy-winning jazz pianist. Other acts to enjoy on Sunday include saxophonist Gerald Albright performing a tribute to James Brown and R&B and soul singer/producer Terrace Martin.

    Ticket Info
    Sugar Land Jazz Fest is an adult-only event. Secure your tickets online in advance for the weekend festival. Single-day general admission tickets with entry to the venue and the shows go for $49. Weekend passes for both Saturday and Sunday cost $79. For pre-selected seats, you can buy single-day premium tickets for $59 or premium weekend passes for $109. The VIP experience, which includes entry for both days, VIP seating at the front of the stage, and free parking, is available for $179. If you have GA tickets or a weekend pass, parking is available for $10 per day.

    In addition to concert access, all tickets will allow attendees the chance to mix and mingle throughout the grounds and purchase and enjoy food and beverage concessions from local vendors. VIP guests can order drinks from a private bar.

    If you’d like to attend this music festival free of charge, check out our giveaways to enter for your chance to win tickets. You can also enter by following us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Keep an eye out for the giveaway alert, fill out the submission form, and share the post to boost your chances of winning.

    Play & Stay in Sugar Land
    Sugar Land Jazz Fest enjoys an ideal host location at Crown Festival Park, a stunning 52-acre green space just minutes away from the town’s finest dining, entertainment, and lodging.

    Unwind with a glass of wine and an artisanal cheese plate while enjoying smooth sounds at Vino & Vinyl, nosh on quirky pies and sweet and savory waffles at Jupiter Pizza & Waffles Co., or settle in for a top-notch sushi spread at UMAMI Japanese.

    Shopping lovers will delight in the nearby options, ranging from the upscale Sugar Land Town Square to the First Colony Mall. As for evening activities, a trip to Baker Street Pub & Grill might treat you to a lively live music performance, a spirited trivia game, or even a karaoke battle, depending on the night!

    For a stylish and comfortable overnight stay in Sugar Land, consider hotels like Hilton Garden Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, or Hyatt Place, all conveniently located.

    Come for the Sugar Land Jazz Fest and stay for everything else there is to do here!

    See more details

  • [postponed] 3rd Ward on Tap (Tre Edition)

    May 11, 2024  10:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Cuney Homes, 3260 Truxillo St, Houston, TX 77004, USA

    https://www.facebook.com/events/212162895307428/
     

    🎉 Join us for the ultimate neighborhood celebration at the Third Annual 3rd Ward on Tap Festival: Tre Edition (3WOT)! 🎊
    📅 Date: Saturday, May 11th
    🕙 Time: 10 am - 2 pm
    📍 Location: Cuney Homes on the Columbia Tap Trail (3260 Truxillo)
    Get ready for the largest block party on the Tap, featuring:
    🍔 Delicious food
    🎶 Live music
    🚴‍♂️ Bike rides
    🚲 Bicycle giveaways
    🎈 Kids zone activities
    🌱 Gardening and urban farming demonstrations
    But that's not all! Explore over 45 exhibitors showcasing the best of our community. 🏘️ Plus, be a part of history as we cut the ribbon on Houston's newest pocket park! 🎀
    Bring your friends, family, and neighbors for a day of fun, laughter, and community spirit! Let's make memories together at 3WOT: Tre Edition. See you there!

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  • Crawfish & Brews

    May 11, 2024  12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
    Project Row Houses, 2521 Holman St, Houston, TX 77004, USA

    https://www.crawfishandbrews.com/tickets

    We're happy to announce Crawfish and Brews is officially back and our biggest yet! Join us Saturday, May 11th as we celebrate our 10th year of bringing the community together for music, crawfish and fun. This year we have the honor of partnering with Project Row Houses, an organization that has been a champion for Houston art + culture.

    We can't wait to share what we have in store this year!

    See more details

May 12, 2024
  • Jazzy Sundays

    May 12, 2024  5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
    The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park, 105-B Sabine St, Houston, TX 77007, USA

    https://epconservancy.org/jazzy24announcement/

    Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney Street
    May 5, 2024: Tim Ruiz & Friends
    May 12, 2024: Doreen Ketchens & Hustler Brass Band
    May 26, 2024: Cecile McLorin Salvant & The Pew
    June 2, 2024: Melvin Johnson & Johnathan Hulett

    All concerts will be held from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm and guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

    From classic jazz to zydeco, blues and more, this year’s production kicks off at Emancipation Park on March 3 with tunes from R&B vocalist and song-writer, TK Soul, before moving to Buffalo Bayou Park on April 7, where parkgoers can sway to the progressive jazz hits from Grammy-winning musical duo, Ghost-Note. The programming concludes at Discovery Green, kicking off on May 5 with the Latin jazz ensemble, Tim Ruiz and Friends and featuring a performance by award-winning, MacArthur Genius Cécile McLorin Salvant on May 26.

    The full Jazzy Sundays in the Park line-up is listed below.

    See more details

May 16, 2024
  • Delita Martin "What the Night Knew”

    May 16, 2024  6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
    Nicole Longnecker Gallery, 1440 Greengrass Dr, Houston, TX 77008, USA

    Artist (Delita Martin) Meet and Greet Thursday May 16 from 6-8pm

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  • Public Lecture by Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons

    May 16, 2024  6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
    Nancy and Rich Kinder Building, 5500 Main St, Houston, TX 77004, USA

    *This lecture is free and open to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. No RSVP required.

    https://www.mfah.org/calendar/artist-talk-maria-magdalena-campos-pons

    Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons explores topics of migration, diaspora, and memory through photography, water color, installation and video works. Indeed, her work is deeply autobiographical and examines the global histories of enslavement, indentured labor, motherhood. In doing so, she makes personal history universally relevant. Campos-Pons is a descendant of Hispanic, Nigerian and Chinese immigrants to Cuba. Using herself and her Afro-Cuban relatives as subjects, Campos-Pons creates historical narratives that illuminate the spirits of people and places, present and past. Although her practice is multidisciplinary, Campos-Pons is most known for her large-format Polaroid photographs which she began exploring in the 1990s.

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  • UHD Thursday Night Concerts - Vortex

    May 16, 2024  7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
    Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney St, Houston, TX 77010, USA

    https://www.discoverygreen.com/event/uhd-thursday-night-concerts-2/
     

    Vortxz
    Vortxz is an Indie/Alternative rock band based in Houston Texas. The group was founded by lead singer/song writer, Isaias “Rambo” Rodarte. On lead guitar is Noe Rodriguez who also produces all of Vortxz’ tracks. Luar Quintanilla is the bass player and Jonathan Lopez is on drums. The Vortxz sound varies from new-age indie to alternative rock. The band’s goal is to make music that helps people escape from the world we are currently living in and be submerged into hope, freedom, and expression.

    https://linktr.ee/vortxz

     

    Astragal
    Named after the 1965 semi-autobiographic novel by Albertine Sarrazin which is cited as one of Patti Smith’s favorite books, Houston-based trio Astragal formed in 2016 by way of serendipity in a Craigslist posting. Featuring Jimmy Bent on guitar and vocals, David Sosa on bass and Sam Enkelmann on drums, their instant fusion of friendship and creativity proved undeniable as they set forth to write music for the sake of writing music. The three-piece mixes elements of post-punk and indie-rock with plenty of pedal soaked sounds for an entirely immersive experience. Always consistent is their highly dynamic live show, exuding a vibrant magnetism that’s visible between the members as well as to their audience while onstage. Releasing their first two EPs in September 2016 and March 2019 respectively, Astragal has since played Austin’s psychedelic Levitation Festival and Houston’s In Bloom Festival as well as shared lineups with the likes of alexalone, Why Bonnie, B-Boys, Ringo Deathstarr and Deeper.

    https://linktr.ee/Astragal

     

    Blossom Aloe
    Blossom Aloe is an indie rock quintet from Houston, TX. The band incorporates elements of bedroom-pop, psychedelia, and alternative rock into their sound, with no two songs sounding alike. Summer Days Heavy Rain is the band’s latest album featuring tracks Getaway and You’re Telling Me. Now, Blossom Aloe continues to write/record new music and play shows across Texas.

    https://linktr.ee/blossomaloeband

    See more details

May 17, 2024
  • Houston Reads Zora Neale Hurston

    May 17, 2024  1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

    https://kindredstorieshtx.com/collections/book-clubs/products/houston-reads-zora-neale-hurston-by-project-row-houses-chanecka-kindred-stories
     

    Kindred Stories is proud to partner with Project Row Houses and Chanecka Williams to present Houston Reads Zora Neale Hurston.

    Zora Neale Hurston Meeting Schedule 

    November 19 - Jonah’s Gourd (1934)

    December 17 - Mules and Men (1935)

    January 14 - Their Eyes are Watching God (1937)

    February 18 - Tell My Horse (1938)

    March 17 - Moses, Man of the Mountain (1939)

    April 21 - Dust Tracks on a Road (1942)

    May 17 -  Seraph on the Suwanee (1948)

    June 23 - I Love Myself When I Am Laughing…Then Again (1979)

    July 21 - The Complete Stories (1998)

    August 18 - Every Tongue Got to Confess (2001)

    September 15 - Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” (2018)

    October 20 - Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick (2020)

    November 19 - You Don’t Know Us Negros and Other Essays (2022)

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