Local Texas Bands Releasing New Music, Bands From Out of Town Coming to Your City on Tour – We Have It All for You in This Month’s Texas Tunes.

#1 The South Austin Moonlighters

With the help of a wildly successful crowdfunding campaign, The South Austin Moonlighters — Lonnie Trevino Jr., Chris Beall, Daniel James, and Hunter St. Marie — took to the studio with producer Steve Berlin (of Los Lobos fame) and got right back in the saddle, cutting ten tunes that would eventually become their brand new album, “From Here To Home.”

Announced recently, “From Here To Home” is an album of rebirth and acknowledgement. It’s a recognition of where The South Austin Moonlighters have been, and a peek at all of the exciting places they are going and want to head towards in the future. The band will be playing at Waterloo Records on June 16 and at 3TEN ACL Live on June 24. 

#2 Al Staehely

Al Staehely is the only person on the planet who has both played Carnegie Hall and provided legal services for Stevie Ray Vaughan. It didn’t take long for Staehely to begin making those dreams a reality. Soon after arriving in Los Angeles in 1971, he and his brother John were asked to join the critically acclaimed band, Spirit. With Al as the band’s new lead vocalist, bass player, and chief songwriter and John taking over lead guitar duties from Randy California, Spirit recorded the album, “Feedback,” in November of 1971.

Now, Staehely is signing with Quearto Valley Records and releasing his new album in June. His single, “Something Good Is Gonna Happen,” is out now, with a few more releasing this month ahead of the album. 

#3 Jess Williamson

Jess Williamson is set to play two nights at Continental Club on June 9 & June 10 in support of her new album, “Time Ain’t Accidental,” out June 9 on Mexican Summer. Jess recently released a new song titled “Chasing Spirits” along with a video. You can watch it HERE. 

A daringly personal but inevitable evolution for the Texas-born, Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, “Time Ain’t Accidental” is evocative of iconic Western landscapes, tear-in-beer anthems, and a wholly modern take on country music that is completely her own. Above everything, sonically and thematically, this album is about Williamson’s voice, crystalline and acrobatic in its range, standing front and center. Think Linda Rondstadt turned minimalist, The Chicks gone indie or even Emmylou Harris’ work with Daniel Lanois. Ringing boldly and unobscured, it’s the sound of a woman running into her life and art head-on, unambiguously, and on her own terms for the first time.

#4 Metric

Canadian rockers Metric are heading out on tour next month and they’ll be coming to Del Valle at Germania Insurance Amphitheater on June 18. Last year, they released their album “Formentera” – which saw praise from Pitchfork, Under the Radar, MXDWN, Billboard, The Needle Drop who declared it, “Metric’s most solid album in a decade” and tons more. The band consists of Emily Haines, James Shaw, Joshua Winstead and Joules Scott-Key.

#5 Tanya Tucker

Two-time Grammy-winning entertainment legend and recent Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Tanya Tucker will kick off her “Sweet Western Sound Tour” this summer including a special “Texas Takeover” run with shows at Lubbock’s Buddy Holly Hall, Helotes’ John T. Floore’s Country Store, Houston’s Heights Theater (two nights) and Fort Worth’s Billy Bob’s. 

The upcoming performances celebrate Tanya’s highly anticipated new album, “Sweet Western Sound,” which will be released June 2 on Fantasy Records. Produced once again by Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings, “Sweet Western Sound” reunites the award-winning trio following the release of Tanya’s landmark 2019 album, “While I’m Livin’.” Her first new album in 17 years, “While I’m Livin’” reintroduced Tanya to a new generation and went on to win the GRAMMY for Best Country Album as well as Best Country Song for its poignant single, “Bring My Flowers Now.”

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Cover Photo courtesy Anthony DELANOIX, Unsplash

Gracie Watt is a regular contributor to Texas Lifestyle Magazine and a graduate of St. Edward’s University in Austin, with a degree in Journalism. Watt is also a Lifestyle Producer at NBC-affiliate KXAN’s Studio 512. When she’s not writing, Watt enjoys singing, playing the guitar and doing volunteer work.