The annual Austin Music People party is still finding its sea legs, so to speak.
The music, of course, booked for this music advocacy group’s benefit at ACL Live is top notch. The scales dropped from my eyes and ears, for instance, when Austin native Shakey Graves took the stage for several supremely charismatic songs.
Meera Chandrasekaran, Faisal Syed and Ashley Hunter
Couldn’t make heads or tails of the awards that were given out every few minutes from the stage. I realize I’d missed the early part of the evening, but the ones I witnessed seemed all over the map — best late-night eats, best recording studio, etc. Just needs a little more focus.
What requires no changes are the chances to just hang out with with behind-the-scenes influencers. I’d pay good money just to hear ACL Live booker Colleen Fischer and Transmission concert promoter Graham Williams talk shop, as they did for a fair length of time out on the terrace.
Ran into many others in this tribe, including AMP leader Jennifer Houlihan, whom I’d love to profile some day.
Anyway, the benefit is growing and should eventually belong in that category of essential Austin parties.