With Memorial Day weekend just days away, the unofficial start of summer is here—and with it, outdoor concert season has arrived.
It officially kicks off with the 10th Bad Magik Music Festival, set for 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Sam Houston Park, 4101 Line Ave.
The all-local lineup will feature Terror Tower, Trenchrat, Psycke & Erratic Soul, Pancakes For Dinner, Twelve2Six, Plemons Bridge and Stealing Handshakes, with performances by DJs Ashmead Stopher and Petra400.
“I usually like to mix it up and pick some newcomers to this music scene,” said Wade Tosh, one of the festival’s founding organizers. “Maybe someone that a lot of people haven’t seen so we can get them a little bit of exposure, and at the same time, I try to pick some bands who are out there doing the work every week.”
The festival serves as a great launching pad for new bands, Tosh said, exposing the acts to audiences who aren’t hitting the bar scene as often (or, in the case of minors, at all).
“I think it gets them out in front of people of all ages rather than just those 21 and older,” Tosh said. “And it just creates more of a music community, because this is all volunteer DIY. No one gets paid.”
Admission is free. And if you want to keep the party going, Ronnie & The Redwoods and Indego will headline one after-party at 9 p.m. Saturday at Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave., with Groove Anthem headlining another after-party at 9 p.m. Saturday at The 806 Coffee + Lounge, 2812 S.W. Sixth. Advance tickets are $17.85; get $2 off at the door and $1 off drafts with your Bad Magik wristband.
Beyond Bad Magik, the summer will feature six major outdoor concert series—mostly free, all featuring Amarillo faves. Bring your own beverages, food and chairs.
The Music at Wellington Square Courtyard series actually sneaked in an early show May 13, featuring West Texas A&M University’s Phi Mu Alpha Jazz Orchestra, and the series will continue through July at 1619 S. Kentucky St. Acts will include Robert Hinds & Friends on May 20, Esquire Jazz on May 27, WT Faculty Jazz on June 3, Polk Street Jazz on June 10, Esquire Jazz on June 17, Doc Laughlin & Friends on June 24, a Sizzlin’ Summer Singin’ Fundraiser for WT Opera on July 1, the Band Directors’ Big Band on July 10, Polk Street Jazz on July 15, Esquire Jazz on July 22 and the Devlon Jones Love Band on July 29. Concerts begin at 7 p.m. Cost is $15 cash or Venmo at the door; kids ages 10 and younger are free. Call 806-584-9571.
Starlight Theater returns for its 7th season June 2 with Jackie Haney & The Geezers Gone Wild with opener Arieon Keller at Sam Houston Park. The weekly Tuesday concerts run from 6:30 to 9 p.m.; admission is free, and food trucks will be on site. The season also includes Velvet Funk with Brannon Oliver & Co. on June 9; Stealing Handshakes with Dani Bee on June 16; Big G & The Tradewinds with Brandon Trey Borup on June 23; Old Dog Tray with Dani Bee on July 7; Pocket Break with Ezekiel Johnston on July 14; Mike Fuller & The Repeat Offenders with Hank Vincent on July 21; The Prairie Dogs with Chelsi Woods on July 28; Touching Voodoo with Mia Spidel on Aug. 4; and Insufficient Funds with Gas-Station Sushi on Aug. 11. Call 806-378-3036.
Amarillo College’s Jim Laughlin June Jazz Series returns for Season 31 with The Martinis on June 2; the Amarillo Jazz Society with guest saxophonist Drew Zaremba on June 9; Polk Street Jazz on June 16; Esquire Jazz on June 23; and Jim Laughlin on June 30. Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. weekly on the Experimental Theatre Porch on AC’s Washington Street campus. The after-hours jam session will begin at 9 p.m. weekly. Admission is free. For information, call 806-371-5340.
Center City of Amarillo’s High Noon on the Square ties into the centennial celebration of Route 66 with its series this year. The lineup includes Ed Montana on June 3, Buster Bledsoe Band on June 10, The Huckleberries on June 17, Andy Chase & Friends on June 24, the cast of Texas on July 1, the cast of Amarillo Little Theatre Academy’s You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown on July 8, Big G & The Tradewinds on July 15, Bomb City Bluegrass on July 22, and Insufficient Funds on July 29. Lunch line opens at 11:45 a.m., with music kicking off at noon. Lunch is $12, or bring your own food. Check the website for weekly lunch selections, and call 806-372-6744 for information.
Music in the Gardens, the concert series at Amarillo Botanical Gardens, will offer music at 7 p.m. Thursdays from June through August. The lineup includes Insufficient Funds on June 4, Big G & The Tradewinds on June 11, The Rien Nash Band on June 18, Tennessee Tuckness on June 25, Logan Ellis & The Fever Dream on July 2, Broken Echo on July 9, Old Dog Tray on July 16, The Solano Project on July 23, Touching Voodoo on July 30, Cameron James Smith on Aug. 6, Kickback 2 on Aug. 13, The Joe Trevino Band on Aug. 20 and Jackie Haney & The Geezers Gone Wild on Aug. 27. Admission is $10 for nonmembers and $5 for members; children ages 10 and younger are free. Call 806-352-6513.
And Canyon Main Street’s June Jams series will actually stretch for five weeks this year, with shows from Woven Wild on June 4, Old Dog Tray on June 11, Velvet Funk on June 18, the Juke Box Duo on June 25, and Matt Martindale and Charlie Shafter on July 2. Concerts are free at 7:30 p.m. weekly in Neblett Park, 508 16th St. in Canyon. Call 806-656-6833.
It’s also patio season, so watch for any number of offerings, including Wibby Wednesday shows at Six Car Pub & Brewery, 625 S. Polk St., and frequent shows at Shark Beach Burgers, 1505 E. Farm-to-Market Road 1151; Golden Light Beer & Wine Garden, 6014 S. Western St.; Smokey Joe’s, 2903 S.W. Sixth Ave.; Patio Vista at The Barfield, 600 S. Polk St.; Crush, 627 S. Polk St.; and elsewhere.
This week’s other can’t-miss options:
Nelson McKinney: 6 p.m. Tuesday; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
Amarillo Sod Poodles vs. Northwest Arkansas Naturals: 7:05 p.m. Tuesday, continues through Sunday; Hodgetown, 715 S. Buchanan St.; ticket prices vary; 806-803-9547
Wibby Wednesday with Amarillo Jazz Society: 7 p.m. Wednesday; Six Car Pub & Brewery, 625 S. Polk St.; no cover; 806-576-3396
Cameron James Smith: 6 p.m. Thursday; Walk On’s Sports Bistreaux, 3506 Soncy Road; 806-398-2003
Dale Smith: 7 p.m. Thursday; Georgia Street Taphouse, 2001 S. Georgia St.; 806-803-7000
Kickback 2: 7 p.m. Friday; Shark Beach Burgers, 1505 E. Farm-to-Market Road 1151; free; 806-335-5644
Velvet Funk: 7:30 p.m. Friday; Crush, 627 S. Polk St.; 806-418-2011
Tristan Graves: 9 p.m. Friday; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
The Big Lebowski screening and party: 6 p.m. Saturday; Old Tascosa Taproom and Brewery, 3100 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-681-4050
Amarillo Warbirds vs. Pharr Phantoms: 6:30 p.m. Saturday; Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum, 401 S. Buchanan St.; tickets $15.50 to $20.50; 806-378-3096
Insufficient Funds: 7 p.m. Saturday; Shark Beach Burgers, 1505 E. Farm-to-Market Road 1151; free; 806-335-5644
Jack Ingram with Travis Roberts: 7 p.m. Saturday; Palo Duro Canyon State Park Pioneer Amphitheatre; admission free; 806-651-2181
Willy Wiggs: 8 p.m. Saturday; Golden Light Beer & Wine Garden, 6014 S. Western St.; 806-221-2337
The Jon Young Band: 9 p.m. Saturday; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
Karma: 9 p.m. Saturday; Broken Spoke Lounge, 3101 S.W. Sixth Ave.; no cover; 806-373-9149
The Logan Ellis Band: 9 p.m. Saturday; Blind Pig, 609 S. Independence St.; no cover; 806-412-4251
Goldpine: 7 p.m. Sunday; Chalice Abbey, 2717 Stanley St., Suite A; $15 suggested donation; 806-576-2480
Def Leggend and Jovi Forever: 7:30 p.m. Sunday; Shark Beach Burgers, 1505 E. Farm-to-Market Road 1151; tickets $20 plus fees in advance, $25 plus fees at the door; 806-335-5644
Bryan Robertson: 6 p.m. May 26; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
Email submissions to info@brickandelm.com.
Movie options:
Opening Thursday: slasher flick Corporate Retreat, heist comedy I Love Boosters, horror film Passenger and franchise stretcher Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (Cinemark Hollywood 16, 9100 Canyon Drive, and Cinergy, 9201 Cinergy Square)
Special engagements: concert film Txt Moa Con in Japan: Live Viewing (Sunday, Hollywood 16); Legally Blonde 25th anniversary (Sunday and May 27, Hollywood 16); Pressure early screening (Monday, Hollywood 16); Over the Hedge (Monday to May 28, Cinergy
