The Orange Show for Visionary Art is going to play host to another cross-cultural musical act this Saturday. This mix of very danceable Benga meets American funk or Kenyan-American Indie Rock should be a great time. Extra Golden formed in Nairobi when Ian Eagleson, guitarist, arrived to study benga, or Kenyan pop while earning a master's degree in ethnomusicology. Along with fellow guitarist Alex Minoff joined forces with members of Orchestra Extra Solar Africa and......

We really wish we could spend Friday night at a really cool, outdoor venue listening to crunchy guitar lined with fuzzy vocals, indie rock with one of the strongest rhythm sections in our 10 mile radius and two guys on guitar righteously rocking the stage. Lucky for us Hearts of Animals, Young Mammals and Wicked Poseur play The Orange Show on Friday, May 9 at 7 p.m. As you should be well aware of by......

Houstonist recently heard a rumor that you know it is Spring when your asparagus garden is ready to harvest. Hogwash!!! Here in Houston, we know that it is Spring when The Orange Show begins to ramp up their activities. Of course, these just preclude the most exhalted display of eclectic coolness, ever, The Art Car Parade (we lurve it). This weekend brings us some deluxious Orange goodness, beginning with the up and coming (and......

>> Wintry mix blasts Panhandle, North Texas with sleet, snow: They came from the north and helped freeze your tootsies. Yep, those darn north winds are to blame for the uber chill around town today writes Meteorologist Tim Heller on the Houston Weather Blog. The same system that blanketed North Texas with nine inches of snow and caused Dallas-Ft. Worth airport to cancel 200 flights will share its chill with Houston. "This type of......

The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art is hosting The Beer Can Opener this Friday from 7 p.m. until Midnight! Officially, the Beer Can House opens to the general public on March 1st, however, you can participate in the special preview party, which will be resplendent with zydeco & honky tonk music, barbecue and beer! Shuttling you to and fro are, ART CARS, of course (and, how cool, we might add) - the "to" part......

::The Orange Show Concert Series presents Charalambides & Alasdair Roberts:: Bring on the folk artists! What we've come to know and love from the The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, tonight continues to bring musical artists with unique creative visions to the intimate amphitheater of its namesake folk art environment. Austin-based favorites Charalambides return to their former hometown of Houston to play fan favorites from their nearly two dozen albums and new works from......

So, normally here at Houstonist, we try to promote events--arts and otherwise--that are open and (ahem) FREE to the public. Every now and again, though, something costing cash-o-la is so cool, so fun, SO important, that we simply MUST promote it. In this case, well, there's a lot of cash-o-la involved. But it's for such a good cause!!! We are not necessarily flush with cash today...or, well, any other day. But YOU, dear Houstonist......

::Howe Gelb At The Orange Show::Called one of the most "resilient and consistently inventive American artists of the last two decades," Howe Gelb has served as the frontman for Giant Sand, been a member of of OP8 and become owner of his own record label, "all the while entertaining, confounding and influencing fans and critics alike." Howe's music travels the spectrum from bluesy piano and rollicking guitar riffs to haunting melodies and spare strummings as......

No, it's not Mardi Gras. And not THOSE oranges. Our friends at the Orange Show need your juice this weekend. (Mind. gutter. pick it up.) The Orange Show is looking for Volunteers to help with the Bayou City Art Festival Downtown this coming Saturday & Sunday, October 13th & 14 th. Volunteers ages 16 and older are needed to man the Orange Show booth featuring a Mini Art Car Workshop for kids and to help......

::The Orange Show for Visionary Arts Concert Series:: We told you about this event in this week's Thriftster, but decided it was waaaaaay to cool not to be reminded of again. I mean, would you seriously know what to do if we didn't tell you these things? Don't answer that. Unless the answer is "No." This new concert series, co-sponsored by SugarHill Studios, is dedicated to showcasing musicians as original as the Orange Show......

The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art is kicking off its Fall with a fantastic afternoon for families, children, artists and all very cool persons who enjoy art cars! Saturday, September 29th from 1-4pm, head on over to Munger Street, home of The Orange Show Monument, for food, drinks and the return of the 2006 winner of the Mayor's Cup - Atomic Dog, created by Waltrip High School. Those of you who hit the Art......

The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art will soon be conducting a nationwide search for a new Executive Director, as Susanne Theis will be leaving August 31st to become the new Programming Director of Discovery Green, which opens in early 2008. Susanne has been with The Orange Show for more than 20 years. Under her guidance, The Orange Show has garnered international recognition for the world's largest and oldest Art Car Parade and each of......

VIEWER'S CHOICE EDITION So tell us what you want, what you really, really want. Since the announcement that England's favorite fabulous five will be reuniting, we've been unable to concentrate on our weekend plans. With so much drama in the HOU, it's kinda hard figuring out what we should do. So we need your help. (in so many ways). Leave your comment as to what YOU think WE should do tonight. Here are our top......

Tomorrow night at The World Famous Orange Show, for the low, low price of $10 - you can hear four brands of new folk music. QuadroFolkia will be headlined by Jana Hunter - backed by a full band! Now, we know we told you there was a burgling incident - however, we have been assured that the show will go on! If there is a merchandise table, you really should pick up her new CD......

Folk Legend Bert Jansch, who has influenced artists from many genres, including Neil Young (who refers to him as the acoustical version of Jimi Hendrix), Devendra Banhart, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Johnny Marr (The Smiths), Nick Drake, Beth Orton, Noel Gallagher (Oasis) and Mike Oldfield, will make a rare live appearance at the Orange Show. Infused with American folk, blues and Traditional British Isles music, his style is singularly unique and his song-writing very affecting.......

Here are some recently announced concerts. Tickets will go on sale this weekend: The Format (7/18 @ Meridian) Marilyn Manson/Slayer (8/31 @ Reliant Arena) The Killers (9/15 @ Reliant Arena) – win tickets from us in advance! This week, we think the show to see is The Hold Steady at Walter’s on Thursday night. Sure, their new stuff resembles some of early Springsteen’s best work, but it’s damn good. Legendary Scottish folk singer (you......

Saturday marks the "piece de resistance" of Art Car Weekend - The Art Car Parade! Houstonist is singing "I Love a Parade" in our very best Ethel Merman voice in celebration of this event (normally, we stick to "There's No Business Like Show Business"). The world's largest and oldest parade of its kind makes its way into downtown on Allen Parkway for the 20th year to an anticipated crowd of over 200,000 people. This year's......

The Orange Show is looking for volunteer photographers to shoot the 20th Annual Houston Art Car Parade this weekend! The parade starts at 1pm Saturday on Allen Parkway, but photographers are needed throughout the weekend, from Shop Talk at the Art Car Museum on Friday night to the Awards Ceremony and Brunch at The Orange Show on Sunday Afternoon. Volunteers get an Art Car t-shirt, food & drinks, and the chance to see their......

Looking for something to do with all that spare time? We know, we don't exactly have much spare time, either. However, there are some great volunteer opportunities available for those of you who are so inclined. First, we'd like to tell you about a long term, or ongoing commitment where there is a need to fill that serves the community by assisting those less privileged. The Christian Community Service Center's Emergency Services Program needs some......

Bill Callahan Performs at The Orange Show On the heels of releasing his latest CD, Woke on a Whaleheart, crooner Bill Callahan performs tonight at the Orange Show Monument. With a voice that recalls Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen, this maverick songwriter returns to the Orange Show for an encore performance. Callahan's darkly personal, yet dry and witty lyrics have made him a favorite with Houston audiences. Callahan, also known as Smog and (Smog),......

Ah ... Spring is in the air. With spring comes festival season! The International Festival begins its two-weekend stint on Saturday, bringing a wide range of musicians. This weekend, George Clinton headlines, but you can also catch Ruthie Foster, Grupo Fantasma, and more. Another annual tradition (well, a 14 year tradition) is Buzzfest sponsored by 94.5 KTBZ. This year's line-up for the rock station (notice that we didn't say "alternative?" -- there's a reason......

Today’s Photo of the Day comes from flickr user and Houstonist photo contributor Randy. This is a detail shot of Houston's own Beer Can House. It even has an entry in the RoadsideAmerica.com website. The house was originally owned by John Milkovisch, a retired railroad worker. He adorned his property with beer cans, pull tabs and various other items to create this amazing folk art living space. When John and his wife, Mary, both......

The Art Car Parade requires about 400 volunteers, in order to go off without a hitch. The parade is Saturday, May 12th, and the volunteer recruiting is getting off with a bang tomorrow with a Kick-Off Party at the Whole Foods in West University, located at 4004 Bellaire Boulevard @ Weslayan. Essentially, there will be a big parking lot party from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. with food, music, schwag giveaways and some art cars......

So, Houstonist has forewarned you about a couple of events this weekend, The Orange Show Extravaganza whch is occuring Saturday afternoon (props to reader BShirley - we were remiss) and the AIDS Walk 2007 on Sunday. The Orange Show is typically looking for helpers at it's events - even if it's free, it's still gotta go off without a hitch. Call them at 713.926.6368 to see if you can be more than a participant this......

Here is a big, big Houstonist "heads up". The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art will re-open this weekend with some fantastic fanfare and events. This event is from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. this Saturday, it is FREE to attend and beer and wine will be available with proper I.D. (have we got your undivided attention, yet?). This marks a re-opening celebration of the Orange Show - plus (so proud of our Orange Show!!!)......

Did you know that Houston has more than 500 cultural, visual, and performing arts organizations? Neither did we. We did however suspect that something strange was going on when we heard Houston had the second largest Theater District in the nation. Houstonist feels like our artsy professor step dad just bench pressed 2,000lbs. The Orange Show for Visionary Arts is just one little guy in the multitude of Houston’s arts organizations, but Houstonist thinks if......

The shot from flickr user and Houstonist photo contributor The Fuzzball. For those not in the know, The Orange Show is one of Houston's most popular folk-art installations (follow this link to more information). This great shot indicates why The Orange Show is such a beloved Houston institution. More photos of it can be found here. If you've got a camera, and you love Houston, consider joining Houston's best photographers in the Houstonist Flickr......

Even though he’s been recording for almost 30 years, most people don’t know who Daniel Johnston is. His profile was lifted a couple of years ago with the release of a tribute album, with artists like Beck, Death Cab for Cutie, Bright Eyes and Tom Waits covering his songs. The following year, a documentary of his life won an award at the Sundance festival. This year, Houston’s Infernal Bridegroom Productions created and performed a rock......

We who bring you Fun For A Hamilton tell you to email us things we miss, and today, someone actually did. And we're glad, because in all our perusal of Houston's arts scene, we'd somehow missed this one. Thanks are due to fellow blogger Greg. The Orange Show is one of Houston's strangest and most endearing art institutions. A folk-art/achitecture environment created from 1956-1979 by the late Jefferson Davis McKissack, a Houston postal worker, the......

Add one more thing to the list of southeast Houston attractions: a 71-foot-long nuclear missile in a residential neighborhood. Actually, it's not a missile — it's a car disguised as a missile. And it's art. Houston native Mel Chin designed it, along with art students from East Tennessee State University. They call it "WMD - a Warehouse of Mass Distribution". [...] It is an exact replica of a Peacemaker nuclear weapon, 71 feet long and......