Derek Udensi

Call it a melting pot. At Might Be Magic, the love child dance party series born from the minds of Brett Johnson and Claudia Hernandez, weekly club nights at various Austin venues keep the freshest crate diggers in touch with old-school seasoned DJs. This week at Cheer Up Charlies, MBM welcomes back Brownsville-reared, Austin-nurtured DJ and producer CHKLTE (pronounced “Chocolate”), whose rising star has taken him around the globe playing alongside tastemakers Marco Carola, Shaun Reeves, Doc Martin, and Raresh. Repping Club Eternal, M.Shogi and Al V Dam team up as Tough n’ Pretty. Neon Grotto’s Industry Night mainstay Oh!V completes the bill. – Christina Garcia

Get your weekdays planned out

Get in the spirit with these arts and cultural happenings

At Walker Lukens’ The Last Walt on Dec. 6, Carrie Fussell, wearing a glamorous black ball gown, belted “I Will Always Love You.” Usually, covers of this song – especially when sung like Whitney, not Dolly, as Fussell did – elicit in me only dread and secondhand embarrassment, as few people can pull off such an infamously difficult vocal performance. Fussell, apparently masking a powerful set of pipes during her time in Calliope Musicals, killed it. New project BRUCE reveals even more of her talents. “Cherry” offers insight into the artist’s neglected childhood, and preview tracks from upcoming projects signal art-pop experimentation. Knife Channel and Big Bill round out Friday’s bill. – Carys Anderson

Under new management – the teams behind Resound Presents, Tweedy’s, Hotel Vegas, the Little Darlin’, and more – the venue at 2906 Fruth rebrands again to 29th Street Ballroom. They kick off Free Week early with a killer no-cost showcase of local alt-rock. Melodic post-punks Witches Exist headline on the heels of October single “Drown,” which explodes from quietly chugging verses into a fuzzed-out chorus. That same month, opening experimentalists Water Damage notched another edition in their ongoing “really” series – that is, 20-plus-minute ruminations entitled “Reel E,” “Reel Ee,” “Reel Eee,” and now “Reel LE” – while Dorothy’s debuted the ethereal EP Suite in May. – Carys Anderson

Lots of live music options ahead

If I could vote to retire one word from the English language, it would be “unprecedented,” which has been applied to a procession of health and political tumult over the past five years. But if there’s one person I’d allow to reclaim it, it’s Canadian American feminist icon Ani DiFranco. For years, DiFranco has been giving fans an outlet for frustration and confusion through her emotive but often frantic folk cuts, and

Irene Antonia Diane Reece: “Don’t Cry for Me When I’m Gone”

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Shake the Sheets, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists bring their high-energy blend of power pop, punk, and sharp commentary to 29th Street Ballroom. Performing the seminal 2004 album in its entirety alongside other career highlights, the band delivers soaring hooks, driving rhythms, and fiery passion. Known for their electric live presence and unflinching optimism, Leo and his Pharmacists promise an unforgettable night. Whether you’re revisiting Shake the Sheets or discovering its timeless urgency now, this Austin stop should not be missed. – Tim Stegall

Lola Tried, who fuse pop and indie rock with noise sensibilities, plan to premiere new single “Degrader” at Thursday’s show. Lauren Burton’s powerful, gritty vocals take center stage in this Austin-based quartet, though guitarist Ray Garza, drummer Jeff Stringer, and bassist Gianni Sarimento craft an equally invigorating atmosphere. With two EPs and an LP under their belts, they’re all set to continue captivating audiences and crafting new sounds with the company of Stella & the Very Messed and Housewarming. – Mattea Gallaway