HAAM Day is Tuesday: Give money at free shows to help support Austin musicians
HAAM Day comes but once a year, but the mission of the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians is year-round. The award-winning nonprofit, which has helped local musicians with health care expenses since 2005, has arranged for hundreds of free performances at dozens of locations around town on Tuesday, with volunteers on-hand to accept donations.
Ground zero is Waterloo Park, which will kick off HAAM Day at 6 a.m. with a proclamation from mayor Steve Adler and a set from bilingual artist Lesly Reynaga. Performances continue every hour until Bob Schneider's closing set at 8:30 p.m.; highlights include Dawn & Hawkes at 8 a.m., Beat Root Revival at 3 p.m. and Riders Against the Storm at 7 p.m. Special perks at the park include free samples from Torchy's Tacos (7:30 a.m.), Juiceland (10 a.m.) and Via 313 Pizza (noon), while supplies last.
More:Health Alliance for Austin Musicians gets its 'first-ever permanent home' in South Austin
Elsewhere, musicians will perform at venues ranging from PNC Bank lobbies to HEB stores to Peoples RX pharmacy locations to the Domain shopping center to the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue on Lady Bird Lake, as well as many nightclubs and restaurants. For a full list of HAAM Day performers and locations, go to myhaam.org.
Here's our list of 10 HAAM Day highlights:
9 a.m.: Jon Dee Graham at Waterloo Park. The king of Wednesday nights at the Continental Club makes a rare morning appearance.
Noon: Carolyn Wonderland & Shelley King at the Willie Nelson statue in front of ACL Live. Leading ladies of Americana music will set up shop at one of Austin's best-known landmarks.
More:Carolyn Wonderland brings the Texas heat on new album 'Tempting Fate'
1:15 p.m.: Michael Fracasso at 24 Diner's airport location. Fracasso, a longtime Austin fixture who's worked extensively with Charlie Sexton, is one of many acts performing at restaurants inside Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
2 p.m.: Terry Klein at PNC Bank, 7321 N. Highway 620. PNC Bank took over as HAAM Day's title sponsor this year, and they'll feature artists at more than a dozen locations in Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown and beyond — including this one near Lake Travis with one of Austin's top singer-songwriters in recent years.
4 p.m.: Scott Strickland at Fareground Austin. The food court in the sunken entry-level plaza of the One Eleven Congress office building will present several acts, including this rising talent who released his debut album in April.
More:Scott Strickland makes a big leap forward
6 p.m.: Erica Michelle at Yeti Flagship. We've been impressed by recent singles from this young pop singer, who's one of three acts booked for early-evening sets at the hip SoCo store and bar.
8 p.m.: Kiko Villamizar at Geraldine’s. The founder of Casa de la Cultura headlines a Latin showcase at the bar inside Hotel Van Zandt that also features sets from Aztek and DJ Tropidelico.
8:30 p.m.: Anton Nel at Draylen Mason Music Studio. Classical radio station KMFA's impressive new performance facility is a fine setting for this award-winning pianist.
10 p.m.: Kydd Jones at the Mohawk. The renowned local hip-hop artist highlights an impressive lineup at the Red River Cultural District hot spot that also includes Anastasia Hera & the Heroes, Jane Leo and El Combo Oscuro.
More:Austin rapper Kydd Jones releases video for police brutality track 'Goblin'
11:30 p.m.: Tomar & the FCs at Antone’s. Soul sensation Tomar Williams and band will take HAAM Day beyond midnight at Austin's home of the blues, part of a five-band bill that includes Nagavalli and Como Las Movies.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Support Austin musicians by donating at annual HAAM Day and free shows
