“I hate it when I’ve got more month than I’ve got money.” So goes an old friend’s lament. As February winds down, here’s a few ways to stretch that dollar and still have fun.

FREE MUSIC THAT MATTERS

Austin City Limits kicked off its 50th season Tuesday with Austin’s own Black Pumas. Tapings are free, and we encourage patience and persistence. It is an incredible experience. Here’s how to find announcements and how to sign up for the ticket lottery. The year-long celebration will feature a ton of legendary performers, livestreams and a special anniversary shindig this fall.

“You only get one 50th anniversary, and we definitely want to make the most of it. But I also want it to be very forward-looking. In my mind, that means staying true to what ‘Austin City Limits’ has always been from the beginning. And that is a showcase — not only for known talent and, in some cases, legacy superstar talent, but also for up-and-coming acts.” Terry Lickona as quoted in Austin American Statesman

March tapings include Juanes and Gary Clark Jr., Brittany Howard is coming in April.

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FREE FILM THAT MATTERS

“It’s hard to be a Texan right now.” Iliana Sosa

ATX TV Fest and The Austin Film Society screen the three-part documentary series God Save Texas at 2pm March 2 and 3 at AFS Cinema. Inspired by Lawrence Wright’s book of the same name, episode directors Richard Linklater, Iliana Sosa and Alex Stapleton use their hometowns to explore our state’s complicated, thorny history. Linklater takes us to Huntsville, a city surrounded by seven prisons. The director will virtually join Wright, who will be in person, for a Q&A. The following day Sosa and Stapleton’s episodes screen back to back. Sosa uses El Paso as a setting to discuss the border, and Stapleton zeros in on Houston’s environmental racism. The screenings are free, as long as you register through the AFS website.

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Read the rest on Substack ->

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