July
Charley Crockett: One of the finest singer-songwriters on the Texas scene today, Crockett makes his return to Amarillo for a July 5 show in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St. Other red-hot concert offerings in July will include hometown boy Aaron Watson with Triston Marez on July 30 at Starlight Ranch Event Center, 1415 Sunrise Drive; Texas country star Jon Wolfe kicking off Fourth of July celebrations on July 1 at Starlight Ranch; fellow Texas country singer Austin Meade with area native Logan Samford on July 9, also at Starlight Ranch; and venerable Americana favorites Micky and the Motorcars on July 16 at Hoots Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road. Plus, don’t miss the continuing slate of summer outdoor concert series: Starlight Theatre on Tuesdays at Sam Houston Park, Line Avenue and Western Street; High Noon on the Square on Wednesdays at the Potter County Courthouse, 501 S. Fillmore St.; Songwriters in the Canyon on Wednesdays and Concerts in the Canyon on Fridays at Starlight Canyon Bed & Breakfast, 100 Brentwood Road; Music at Wellington Square Courtyard, 1619 S. Kentucky St., on Thursdays; and Music in the Gardens on Thursdays at Amarillo Botanical Gardens, 1400 Streit Drive.
Suds & Sounds: Hit the road and head to Nazareth on July 9 for the annual German Fest and music festival, this year celebrating 50 years with Reckless Kelly, Kyle Park, Dale Brisby and more. Other unmissable events will include the Amarillo Sod Poodles’ home stands against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals from June 28 to July 3, the San Antonio Missions from July 12 to 17 and the Corpus Christi Hooks from July 26 to 31; a salute to of Amarillo landmark The Nat’s centennial on July 16; community celebration Las Fiestas de Amarillo on July 16 and 17; the original Harley Party for Family Support Services, now at Amarillo National Center on July 30; the Koben Puckett Professional Bull Riders event on July 9; Kwahadi Dancers’ summer shows on July 9, 16 and 23; and West Texas Drums, featuring some of the country’s top drum corps, on July 18 at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium at West Texas A&M University in Canyon. And don’t forget July 4 celebrations including Don Harrington Discovery Center’s Explode! on July 1 and Kickin’ It in Canyon (featuring Casey Donahew) on July 3.
42nd Street: Amarillo Little Theatre Academy tackles one of the giants of the musical theater world with a two-weekend run July 8 to 17 on the Allen Shankles Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle. Other arts highlights will include the public announcement of the Amarillo Symphony’s new music director and conductor on July 9 in the Globe-News Center; and the traditional summer run of outdoor musical Texas on Tuesdays through Sundays in Pioneer Amphitheater in Palo Duro Canyon State Park.
Thor: Love and Thunder: The Norse god with the rockin’ bod returns July 8 in another film from wacky director Taika Waititi, featuring guest appearances by the Guardians of the Galaxy and Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster as a female Thor. Also hitting big screens this month: animated prequel-sequel Minions: The Rise of Gru on July 1; literary adaptation Where the Crawdads Sing on July 15; and director Jordan Peele’s Nope on July 22. Among the special screenings are a 25th anniversary revival of Men in Black on July 3 and 4, and a 50th anniversary run of Cabaret on July 17 and 20.
August
Aaron Lewis and The Stateliners: The former Stained lead singer brings his country band to town for an Aug. 20 show in the Civic Center Complex Auditorium. Other concert highlights will include Mexican singers Amanda Miguel & Ana Victoria Verdaguer on Aug. 19 in the Civic Center Auditorium; Pony Bradshaw on Aug. 19 at Hoots Pub; and golden-voiced Texas troubadour Zac Wilkerson on Aug. 18 at The Golden Light Cantina, 2906 SW Sixth Ave.
Ama-Con: The Amarillo Public Library’s celebration of all things pop-culture returns after a pandemic hiatus for a two-day party Aug. 6 and 7 in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex, 401 S. Buchanan St. Other top events for the month will include Jackass star Steve-O’s Bucket List tour on Aug. 6 in the Globe-News Center; the Spicer Gripp Memorial Roping from Aug. 3 to 7 in Hereford; and the Amarillo Police Department Motorcycle Rodeo on Aug. 5 and 6 at the Civic Center Complex.
Missa Solemnis: A veritable slew of musicians from Amarillo Symphony, Chamber Music Amarillo, Amarillo Master Chorale, Lubbock Chorale, West Texas A&M University, Amarillo College and more will join forces for a rare performance of Beethoven’s massive work, timed to commemorate the 250th anniversary of his birth. The concert is set for Aug. 27 in the Globe-News Center. Also on the arts scene: Amarillo Little Theatre’s season-opening of romantic comedy Significant Other from Aug. 18 to 28 in the Adventure Space, 2751 Civic Circle.
Bullet Train: Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji and Bad Bunny star as assassins all stuck on the same train to Kyoto in this madcap thriller opening Aug. 5. Also in theaters this month: survival thriller Beast on Aug. 19, starring Idris Elba and Sharlto Copley; and Three Thousand Years of Longing, director George Miller’s Scheherazade-style fable, opening Aug. 31 with Elba and Tilda Swinton. Among the special screenings is a live broadcast of Drum Corps International finals on Aug. 11.
Author
Chip is the senior communications specialist at West Texas A&M University. A Canadian High School graduate and award-winning journalist, he has covered arts and entertainment in Amarillo since 1998 and is a member of the Amarillo Convention and Visitor Council arts committee. He is a 2020 Golden Nail Award winner and a 2017 National Philanthropy Day award winner. He is a member of the national GALECA critics group, has seen every Best Picture Oscar winner and watches way too much television.