By Chip Chandler — Digital Content Producer
From Texas country to Christian hip-hop, Tejano to folk and blues to jazz, here's who's playing and where for this weekend through July 21.
Digisaurus
Though James Allison gets tagged as a funk or R&B performer often, the frontman of the band Digisaurus hopes he's blazing his own trail.
"I'm taking those influences ... and creating a new spin on the sounds. To me, it's the future of pop," Allison said. "I don't necessarily think pop music sounds like that today yet, but it's what I imagine it will move towards in the future, in 10 to 15 years."
Digisaurus will make its Amarillo debut with a 9 p.m. Monday show at The 806, 2812 S.W. Sixth Ave. The show is free, but donations are accepted.
Allison hopes to give audiences an eyeful, too: "I like to work with a lot of different graphic artists and video guys," he said. "For me, personally, the thing I like to focus on is live production."
The band will perform infront of an LED light screen programmed with several different effects, he said.
"I feel like being an artist is (more) than just the music now," he said. "When you talk about music, it's so hard to revolutionize that anymore in the sense that so much has been done already.
"I think, especially with young people, everyone's senses are being overloaded all the time," he continued. "When I go to a show, I need to feel something different."
Also performing this weekend:
Acapulco Mexican Restaurant
El Trio Cortez will perform at 7 p.m. today at the downtown restaurant, 727 S. Polk St.
Amarillo Botanical Gardens
The Music in the Gardens series continues with folk singer Andy Chase at 7 p.m. July 21; doors open at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 for nonmembers and $5 for members.
Amarillo Community Market
Maggie Burt & Friends will perform at the downtown market, open between 10 a.m. and noon Saturday at 1000 S. Polk St.
Austin’s Texas Pub
The bar, 3121 S.W. Sixth Ave., will host Lubbock-based Americana band No Dry County at 10 p.m. today with opening acts J. Trial and Chance Anderson; cover is $7. Texas country singer Austin Meade will perform with opening act The Last Cigarette at 10 p.m. Saturday; cover is $7.
The Big Texan Steak Ranch
Amarillo bluesman Stew Moss will perform at 7 p.m. today at the restaurant, 7701 E. Interstate 40.
Bracero’s
Pete Y Los Releros will perform at 6:30 p.m. today at the restaurant, 2822 S.W. Sixth Ave. Jackie Haney plays at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays.
Buckin' Wild Music Fest
The wildly popular Oklahoma festival branches out to Amarillo this year for a noon to midnight Saturday event in the Amarillo National Center on the Tri-State Fairgrounds, 3301 S.E. 10th Ave. Headliner is JB and the Moonshine Band, with support from Nashville acts Ward Davis (don't miss my interview with him) and Ray Scott, Grammy Award-winning Tejano star Sunny Sauceda, and Amarillo and regional acts Zac Wilkerson, Comanche Moon, Tyler Wilhelm & A Few Dollars More and JW Lane & County Road X. The event also includes a professional bull riding competition. Tickets are $55 for adults, $40 for students ages 13 to 17 or military, and $25 for children ages 6 to 12.
Buffalo's Southwest Cafe
Singer-songwriter Tyler Higgins will perform at 9 p.m. Saturday at the cafe, 2811 Fourth Ave. in Canyon.
Burger Bar
Singer-songwriters J. Trial of Amarillo and Dave Martinez of Lubbock will swap tunes at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the restaurant, 614 S. Polk St.
Butler's Martini Bar
DJ Saga will provide music at 9:30 p.m. today at the bar, 703 S. Polk St.
City Church
The third For the Heart of the City Christian hip-hop concert will feature Thi'sl at 6 p.m. today at the church, 205 S. Polk St. Also performing are A-Ron, Big Mike and DJ Teddy. Admission is free.
The 806
Aside from indie band Digisaurus (see above) at 9 p.m. Monday, the coffee shop, 2812 S.W. Sixth Ave., will host indie-pop singer Sam Vicari at 9 p.m. Wednesday. Shows are free, but donations are accepted.
575 Pizzeria
Folk singer Andy Chase performs at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the local pizza franchise’s original location, 2803 Civic Circle.
La Frontera
Los Cuatros Compadres will perform at 6:30 p.m. today at the restaurant, 1401 S. Arthur St.
Gerb’s Wurst Bar
Singer Steven Birkenfeld will perform at 8:30 p.m. today at the bar and restaurant, 7145 S. Bell St.
Golden Light Cantina
Texas country singer Kimberly Dunn will perform with Nathan Bonnes at 10 p.m. today at the cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover is $8. Amarillo indie-rock band Shandy Bandits will perform at 10 p.m. Saturday with singer Clark Griffin; cover is $6. And Texas country act The Cody Bryan Band will perform at 10 p.m. July 21; cover is $6.
High Noon on the Square
Center City of Amarillo's summer series continues at noon Wednesday with a performance by dancers from the Lone Star Ballet on the lawn of the Potter County Courthouse, Sixth Avenue and Tyler Street in downtown Amarillo. Lunch service begins at 11:45 a.m. with sandwiches/wraps from Pan-Handlers; lunch is $8, but the performance is free.
Hoots Pub
The bar, 2424 Hobbs Road, is temporarily closed for remodeling, owner Casey Berry said.
Joe Daddy’s
Amarillo favorites Anderson, Flesher & Key perform at 8 p.m. today at the restaurant, 2108 Paramount Blvd.
Joe Taco
Music on the patio at the popular Mexican eatery, 7312 Wallace Blvd., will include Cory Michael at 6 p.m. Saturday, J. Trial at 6 p.m. Wednesday and Insufficient Funds at 6 p.m. July 21.
Leftwoods
The Wes Williams Band will perform at 10 p.m. today at the bar, 2511 S.W. Sixth Ave. Cover is $5.
Midnight Rodeo
The Amarillo Live! concert series continues with Lee Scheetz & Borderline at 9 p.m. Saturday at the bar, 4400 S. Georgia St. Cover is $6 for ages 21 and older or $10 for ages 18 to 20.
Napoli’s Italian Restaurant
Andy Chase will play around 7 p.m. today on the patio of the restaurant, 700 S. Taylor St., followed at 7 p.m. Saturday by James Owens.
Pescarez
Folk singer Yvonne Perea will perform at 6:30 p.m. today at the restaurant, 3415 S. Bell St., Suite K.
6th Street Saloon
Amarillo band Panhandle Wind will play at 9 p.m. today and Saturday at the bar, 609 S. Independence St. Cover is $5 for guys and free for women.
Smokey Joe’s
Amarillo guitarist Gabe Marinez will perform at 8 p.m. today at the restaurant, 2903 S.W. Sixth Ave. Then, the band Bad Fish will play at 8 p.m. Saturday. No cover for either night.
Skooterz
Van Halen tribute act In Halen will play at 10 p.m. today at the bar, 4100 Bushland Blvd., followed by Amarillo rockers Hed Change at 10 p.m. Saturday.
Starlight Theatre
Amarillo jazz band The Martinis will headline the latest in this year's series from Amarillo Parks and Recreation. The band will kick off at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Sam Houston Park, Line Avenue and Western Street. Admission is free.
Taqueria El Tapatio
Singer Victor Gallegos will perform at 6 p.m. at the restaurant, 3410 S. Coulter St.
Throwbacks
Rock band Mind Plays will perform at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at the bar, 7150 S. Bell St., and Amarillo country band Shotgun Rider will perform at 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Whiskey River
Country band Big Trouble in Texas will play at 10 p.m. today at the bar, 4001 S.W. 51st Ave., followed Amarillo's Tommy Gallagher Band at 10 p.m. Saturday. Cover is $7 or two for $10.
Zombiez Bar & Grill
Amarillo rock band Roger Pressure will perform at 10 p.m. today at the bar, 711 S.W. 10th Ave.; cover is $2.
Open mics
Lucid Moment will host jam nights at 7 p.m. Sundays around the fire pit at Mac Daddy's, 1221 S.W. 10th Ave. ... Maggie Burt hosts an open jam at 9 p.m. Tuesdays at Hoot’s Pub. ... Mike Chism and Lee Scheetz host open mic nights at 9 p.m. Wednesdays at Whiskey River, 4001 S.W. 51st Ave. … Skooterz holds open-mic nights at 10 p.m. Wednesdays. ... Clint Culwell hosts open mics at 9 p.m. Thursdays at Austin’s Texas Pub.
(Thanks to Amarillo Music Scene on Facebook for help in compiling these. Check there for daily updates.)
Chip Chandler is a digital content producer for Panhandle PBS. He can be contacted at Chip.Chandler@actx.edu, at @chipchandler1 on Twitter and at www.facebook.com/chipchandlerwriter on Facebook.
