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 Chance Peña

Rising singer-songwriter Chance Peña is currently on his “i am not who i was” tour. It kicks off this month and includes a stop in Austin. Peña is performing at Antone’s on Jan. 28.

Renowned for his poignant songwriting and an electrifying stage presence, Peña unveiled his latest single, “i am not who i was,” in September. The track swiftly struck a chord with fans, amassing over 13 million global streams. The release marked yet another milestone in what has already been a groundbreaking year for the artist. In July, he launched his Lovers to Strangers EP, which included the fan-favorite single “In My Room.” The song has garnered an impressive 200 million streams across Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube, along with a staggering 5 billion views on TikTok, inspiring over 2 million video creations and counting.  In June he toured North America (also as the support for Kusher) that included a stop at Bonnaroo Music Festival.

#2 Tool Returns to Texas

After coming off their Fall tour, Tool will be heading back on the road to begin the winter tour. Their first Texas step will be at the Moody Center in Austin on Jan. 31, followed, by a stop in Dallas to play at the American Airlines Center. After leaving Texas the tour will take them up to Oklahoma City, Ok. 

Progressive psych metal band Elder will open up for Tool. Elder will join Tool once they wrap their European tour where they sold out dates in the UK, Germany, and France. 

Once the tour comes to an end, Tool  bassist Justin Chancellor says the band has plans to record a new album. Their previous album ‘Fear Inoculum’ debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200 in 2019 when it was released. 

#3 Leti Garza

Austin-based world music artist Leti Garza just released her latest single,“Mi Amor (Español),” on Dec. 15. The heartwarming new track is now available on all digital platforms, and you can stream it here. “Mi Amor” comes from Leti’s latest bilingual album, “Canciónes Sobre La Vida y La Muerte,” dropping on Jan. 25, 2024.

With a career spanning over two decades, Leti has released multiple critically acclaimed albums and has garnered a loyal following of fans who eagerly anticipate each new release. Her magnetic stage presence and heartfelt performances have led her to collaborate with Grammy award winning artists and perform in prestigious venues and festivals across the United States, England, Europe and Cuba.

To celebrate “Canciónes Sobre La Vida y La Muerte,” Leti will be performing a special album release show at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 26 at Sahara Lounge (1413 Webberville Rd, Austin, TX 78721).

#4 Meanwhile Brewing Co. 

Meanwhile Brewing Co. in Austin sits on about four acres of oak tree-shaded land fully equipped with five food trucks (Side Eye Pie, Distant Relatives, Pueblo Viejo, Songbird, and Bésame), a coffee bar, taproom and brewhouse, cedar playscape for kiddos, soccer field, and a full-scale concert stage.

They have live performances all month long including talented artists such as Sahara Smith on Jan. 4. Sahara Smith is an Americana singer/songwriter from Austin. Her richly poetic music is evocative of Texas legends like Lucinda Williams and Townes Van Zandt, and her unique vocal delivery and impressive range lend a passionate intensity to her unmistakable sound.

Catch the full calendar of events and live performances online. 

#5 Free Week

The admission-free winter music festival Free Week is back on Jan. 5-6, presented by the Red River Cultural District. 

The Red River Cultural District (RRCD) is a worldwide cultural tourism destination and entertainment district located in the heart of downtown Austin. Free Week was created more than 20 years ago to keep clubs’ lights on and staff working during the historically slower winter months. This mission now expands to supporting nearby restaurants and bars along the Red River Cultural District’s nearly mile-long entertainment district.

Check out the lineup and all of the venues online. 

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Cover Photo courtesy Travis Yewell, 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. 

Brian Maass is a native Austinite who has a passion for music, travel and sharing his experiences through his camera lens. He lives in Round Rock, Texas, with his wife Dana Kent Maass and their faithful dog Chester.