May 11  Sara Hickman
Chip Dolan opens.
Benefiting Animal Trustees of Austin

Sara Hickman grew up in Houston, Texas, as the daughter of artistic parents—a mother who was a fiber artist, a father who was a painting professor. Her household was full of interactive creativity: writing, painting, jars of clay. There was never a dull moment. At 7, she started to play the guitar, which became her best friend. She wrote her first song at 8, performed it on stage, and won an award from the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was hooked as a singer/songwriter from that point on.

Sara is a parenting and children's rights activist as well as a singer-songwriter, and her many CDs show her versatility. Her children's music has won many awards. Her most recent CD is Motherlode, which represents a return to adult music. In addition to music, Sara and her husband produce art for many Austin recording artists.

Chip Dolan will open the show, accompanied by Marvin Dykhuis. For more than 20 years Chip has been one of Austin's most sought after and most versatile musicians. . After years of helping make legendary music with Bruce Robison, Charlie Robison, Kelly Willis, The Mavericks, Tish Hinojosa, Greg Trooper, Eliza Gilkyson, Jimmy Lafave, Sara Hickman, Slaid Cleaves, and many more,  Chip is making his own music, his own way. "Right Now" is the first album from an artist who's earned respect, admiration and praise from some of the major names in Texas music. His talent and versatility on piano, keyboards and accordion have kept Chip in high demand, providing great back-up for major artists in concerts, clubs, music festivals and recording studios in Austin and far beyond.

April 13   Bob Livingston (Cowboys & Indians)  
Tucker Livingston opens.
Benefiting Any Baby Can

BOB LIVINGSTON has never been a traditional Texas country musician living the honky-tonk life even though he has spent more than his share of time on the roadhouse circuit with some of Texas’ most colorful musicians. Livingston grew up in Lubbock and moved to Austin in 1971 with Michael Murphey after they recorded the album Geronimo’s Cadillac for A&M Records. Austin was a creative boom town whirling with excitement and busting at the seams. The streets were full of musicians, poets, artists and dancers and there were lots of clubs to play. Livingston quickly hooked up with Jerry Jeff Walker and they toured the country and recorded some of the quintessential progressive country rock albums including Jerry Jeff's 1973 classic, Viva Terlingua! In 1974, Livingston, Gary Nunn and John Inmon founded the Lost Gonzo Band and made two records for MCA (Lost Gonzo Band and Thrills) and one for Capitol (Signs of Life). Rolling Stone called the Gonzo’s self titled debut record, “one of the best albums to ever come out of Austin.”

Livingston has been called a 'cosmic cowboy' for good reason. He looks into the music and mysteries of other cultures and tours countries like India, Pakistan, Africa, and the Middle East for the U.S. State Department. On the tours, he invites local musicians to play with him and they bring to the stage a wide diversity of themes and influences, mixing instrumentation and insights from both east and west. Country 'n Eastern! Inspired by these experiences, Livingston released a new CD in 2004 for Vireo Records called Mahatma Gandhi & Sitting Bull.

Bob will be joined by Bradley Kopp on guitar.

Tucker Livingston, Bob's son will be the opener. Tucker Livingston is a singer and songwriter, born into a family of artists and musicians. Along with pursuing a solo career, he has collaborated and toured with his father since 1998 traveling throughout Asia, Africa and the Middle East on grants from the U.S. Government to act as an official United States Ambassador of American music. In the spring of 2003, Tucker entered and won the Austin Music Foundation’s Incubator program, which provides artists a grant to create and market a recorded work. Soon after recording and releasing this album, Ballet Austin choreographed their 2004 Winter Ballet to its music in performances at Austin’s own Paramount Theatre. On Apples iTunes online music store, Tuckers self-titled debut CD was the 6th most internationally downloaded folk artist album. Tucker Livingston has been a featured artist at The Austin City Limits Music Festival, Kerrville Folk Festival and Voice of America, and continues to perform in Texas and around the world.

March 9
The Austin Lounge Lizards
opener the Austin Family Jewels
Benefiting Austin Group for the Elderly

They're STILL our kinda guys, and a special treat for coffeehouse fans! The Austin Lounge Lizards have delighted audiences from Texas to California, from Canada to the U.K., with their inventive style of satirical folk, country and bluegrass. Based in Austin, Texas, since they formed in 1980, the Lizards have honed their music into a knife-sharp art form. Trademarks of a Lizards song are highly literate, sharply pointed lyrics that poke fun at politics, love, religion and the culture in general. The music of the Austin Lounge Lizards is played on bluegrass and Americana-themed radio shows as well as some of the more "in the know" independent radio stations. The band has appeared at festivals and in concert across the U.S., in Canada, and in the U.K. They have been featured in NPR's Morning Edition, and on the radio programs Mountain Stage and E-Town.

The Austin Family Jewels will be featured on an upcoming Austin Connection podcast

February 9
Ken Gaines and Karen Mal
Brian Kalinec opens
Benefiting Helping Hand Home for Children