KUTX’s Artist of the Month Program is powered by PNC Bank.

Fresh off her debut full-length BLUEPRINT, Austin R&B/soul singer (and our August Artist of the Month) Grace Sorensen has made it abundantly clear she is a force to be reckoned with. Well before her debut LP dropped, Sorensen had become an integral part of Austin’s R&B and rap scenes — including a guest appearance on BLK ODYSSY’s debut album, BLK VINTAGE, and a single featuring Austin rap group Magna Carda for some guest verses. She’s also been an official SXSW artist, performed at ACL Festival, AND opened for Diana Ross.

Today we’re sharing another preview of our new series The Hole Story. Think of it as MTV: Unplugged, but Austin. Short, stripped-down story-driven solo sets by some of our favorite Austin musicians performed on The Hole In the Wall’s famous front stage. And starting January 16th, we’ll be sharing new installments every week online, on-air, and right here with Song of the Day. Sorensen’s full episode will premiere on February 6th.

The post Grace Sorensen: “Cologne” [Live At the Hole In the Wall] appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

KUTX’s Artist of the Month program is powered by PNC Bank.

Texas band Chaparelle harkens back to a golden era of country with modern lyrics. What started as a mind-meld between Zella Day and Jesse Woods in 2023 not only evolved into a match on its way towards matrimony, but also into a trio, originally working with Beau Bedford in a producer role before he became part of the band full time. And it’s the magic among the three that puts Chaparelle on-track to be in the same discussions as Paul Cauthen, Leon Bridges, and Orville Peck (all artists Beauford has done production for).

The melodies, storytelling, and twangy vocals of Day and Woods set the group solidly in the modern era of golden country, and that power will be on full display this New Year’s Eve at Auditorium Shores with the Head & the Heart, The Point., and Tameca Jones. The show is free, all ages, and open to the public.

The post Chaparelle: “Devil’s Music” [Live In Studio 1A] appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

KUTX’s Artist of the Month program is powered by PNC Bank.

Our October Artist of the Month. Teethe was formed up in the DIY music enclave of Denton, all students of the University of North Texas. Now, with streaming numbers on their side, a move to Austin, and a European and east coast tour under their belt, the quartet is champing at the bit to keep their incisors sharp and their momentum growing.

While their debut album was an amalgamation of their individual songs synthesized together, their new album Magic of the Sale is wholly Teethe: a little no-wave; a little dark, dream pop; and a bit of that classic Denton DIY energy.

The post Teethe: “Holy Water” [Live In Studio 1A] appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

For over a decade, the windows in the KUTX booth and the front of the Hole In the Wall have gazed at each other from across the street. Generations of musicians and music lovers have storied memories of the 51-year-old venue, whether you were there to see Townes Van Zandt’s regular performances or Lucinda Williams get her start, spotted icons like Courtney Love and Dave Grohl, or witnessed Yard Act’s first show in the U.S..

So it would make sense that two iconic Austin music institutions would finally converge. Over the last few months, we’ve invited our Concert Club members to be part of a new tradition, a series we’re calling The Hole Story. Think of it as MTV: Unplugged, but Austin. Short, stripped-down story-driven solo sets by some of our favorite Austin musicians performed on Hole In the Wall’s famous front stage.

And now, we’re sharing these sets with you, kicking it off with our May Artist of the Month Half Dream. A regular on the Hole In the Wall calendar, Half Dream’s Paige Renee Berry performed a plugged-in solo set, showcasing her lofty, haunting vocals and bare-it-all-while-sometimes-taking-no-prisoners songwriting prowess.

The post Half Dream: “Fly” [Recorded Live at the Hole In the Wall] appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

It’s been six years since we’ve had a full Jay Som album, but Melanie Duterte has remained ambient. She kicked-off the early 2020’s as one half of the side project Bachelor alongside Palehound (El Kempner); produced music for Lucy Dacus, Jeff Tweedy, and Hatchie; and worked as both a producer and live band member of one of the biggest supergroups of the decade so far, boygenius.

Turning the lens back on herself, Duterte, as Jay Som, released Belong back in October. It’s a confluence of her years behind the board and as a musician, absorbing the processes of the songwriters around her in the interim years. A bit grittier, more reflective, and with a pop-punk edge of tension, it’s a marked growth for Duterte. She brought the full band to Studio 1A last week ahead of her show at Brushy Street Commons.

The post Jay Som: “What You Need” [Live In Studio 1A] appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Today, we’re thrilled to highlight our July Artist of the Month, J’cuuzi. The Austin-by-way-of Atlanta punk duo, made up of Gorge Bones and Trey Razeldazl, have an insatiable appetite for the stage and pushing the boundaries of how they use it. They released their debut EP, SLUDGEcontent, in July, with their style that they’ve dubbed “pop-vantgarde.”

They brought their brand of indulgence with a live performance of “Fame By Death” in Studio 1A ahead of their July release, and we’re bringing it back to warm up the winter months!

If you want to see them command the stage live, they’ll be performing at the Holiday Hootenanny at Radio/East this weekend, alongside Shannon & The Clams, tUnE-yArDs, Rubblebucket, and many more. Learn more and get your tickets here.

The post J’cuuzi: Fame by Death [Live in Studio 1A] appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Rhys Woodruff has been a sterling songwriter throughout his adult life, with the single caveat that he has had very little interest in singing his own songs. Sure, his oscillations between art punk and post punk have led to some of the coolest songs heard in Austin clubs for years, but it took more than a tad of cajoling for him to take the mic into his own hand. His fellow bandmates in the trio Borzoi played a little friendly hardball (you know how guys show love and support of each other), and now with his own group Variety, Woodruff is reaping the benefits of getting out of your own way and embracing the full monty.

Variety’s debut album, Subtropical, is Woodruff turning inward and tying precious, intimate details and broad strokes of his life to parts of Texas’s natural beauty. The manifestation of this conduit is an album that, on its head, is an interesting, if not sometimes meditative, listen, but also an invitation to his soul. And as the band name implies, this has been the start of something new, but not necessarily static. What comes next is sure to be just as enticing, regardless of the pivot.

Variety plays arguably the biggest show of their career to date this Saturday at Radio/East for the annual Holiday Hootenany, sharing the stage with Shannon & the Clams, tUnE-yArDs, Rubblebucket, and a swath of local gems.

The post Variety: “Subtropical” [Live In Studio 1A] appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Austin R&B and hip-hop artist Anastasia Hera is busy lady. This year alone, she released her album Way Outside; played our Scholz Garten show during SXSW; and her deft lyrics, sultry vocals, and smooth, earwormy beats led her to become our February Artist of the Month. All while running her non-profit CAKE (Creativity, Abundance, Knowledge, Education), a non-profit empowering and educating women pursuing music careers.

To pair nicely with the cloudy wintery weather outside, we’re revisiting her Studio 1A from February to cuddle with you all cozy like.

The post Anastasia Hera: “Ambitions” [Live In Studio 1A] appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Austin quartet Grocery Bag had a banger year, being handpicked to open for Osees and Frankie & the Witch Fingers and a stellar, dare I say breakout set at Levitation. That show put them in the crosshairs of Australian psych-rock group Psychedlic Porn Crumpets, who they will be supporting for a whopping 22 dates on their tour next April and May. A true superfecta of a year. Let’s just hope they remember lil’ ol’ us as their ascension undoubtedly kicks into an even higher gear in 2026.

Their final single of 2025 “Watching TV” throws a grunge wrench into their garage/psych sound, teasing a Nirvana and Veruca Salt pastiche at the beginning before deftly circumventing it by wrapping it up in a bit of no wave and, of course, their own signature blend that always includes a whisper of pop catchiness. It’s a compelling texture for the group, but if you prefer paper to plastic, make sure this heavy boy is double-bagged.

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To say Next of Kin have had a successful year would be an understatement. After almost two years of anticipation, our April Artist of the Month released their debut Ep Homemaker in May, punctuated by two sold-out shows at the Continental Club. Since then, they’ve made their ACL Fest debut, modeled for Austin FC’s Live from ATX capsule collection, and were invited to dig through the archives of Texas Monthly.

Next of Kin is rounding out their triumphant year with a New Year’s Eve show at Antone’s joined by Nane, TC Superstar, and Quentin Aspire, presented by KUTX.

The post Next of Kin: “Jekyll & Hyde” [Live in Studio 1A] appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.