Live music in Austin: Ruthie Foster, Grupo Firme, Arc Angels, Oddisee, more

Here are our top picks for live music in the Austin area Nov. 17-23.

Thursday: Oddisee & Good Company at Mohawk outdoor

Internationally acclaimed for his insightful lyricism and lush production, the fiercely independent D.C. rapper/producer has become a leader of the global hip-hop underground. His 2020 release “Odd Cure” brilliantly parsed the complex emotions of a community in lockdown searching for a new way forward. He tours with a five-piece band to recreate his spectacular instrumental scores live. $20. mohawkaustin.com.

— D.S.S.

Thursday: Joe Pug, Pat Byrne at 3Ten

Austin lost one of its best singer-songwriters when Joe Pug, who’d moved here from Chicago in 2011, left a few years ago to be closer to family in the D.C. area. He’s released three more records since then, including the new “Nation of Heat Revisited,” which features reworked versions of songs from his debut EP. Opening the show is Austin-via-Ireland troubadour Pat Byrne, whose latest album “Into the Light” was among the best local releases of 2021. $25-$30. 8:30 p.m. 3tenaustin.com. (Pug also performs a 5 p.m. in-store set at Waterloo Records.)

— P.B.

Friday: Arc Angels at Haute Spot

Teaming guitar hotshots Charlie Sexton and Doyle Bramhall II with the Double Trouble rhythm section shortly after Stevie Ray Vaughan’s death in 1990, the Arc Angels immediately had major blues-rock bona fides. Their star burned brightly but quickly. They released just one album before splitting up, but a reunion in the 2000s led to a second record. Bassist Tommy Shannon has since retired, but Sexton, Bramhall and drummer Chris Layton reconvened in January with new bassist Eric Holden for what’s turned out to be more than a one-off. Madam Radar opens. Seating is sold out, but standing room is available at $30. hautespotvenue.com.

— P.B.

Friday: Booker T. Jones at Antone’s

Winner of a lifetime achievement award from the Grammys, keyboardist Booker T. Jones first gained notoriety with 1960s Memphis R&B band Booker T. & the M.G.’s. Eventually he became a highly sought after collaborator and producer, working with everyone from Otis Redding to Willie Nelson to Rita Coolidge to Rodney Crowell to, most recently, Matt Berninger of The National. He’s in town to play a “Help Clifford Help Kids” benefit for the Clifford Antone Foundation on Thursday, but he’s sticking around for a general-admission ticketed show on Friday. $35. 8 p.m. antonesnightclub.com.

— P.B.

Saturday: Ruthie Foster at Paramount Theatre

Powerhouse gospel-blues-Americana singer Ruthie Foster is just the sixth artist to be given a star on the sidewalk in front of the Paramount Theatre, and the first woman. Her Grammy-nominated 2019 live album was recorded at the historic downtown venue. Arrive early for a 6 p.m. unveiling ceremony out front that’s free and open to the public. Stick around for Foster’s concert, which begins at 8 p.m. $25-$50. austintheatre.org.

— P.B.

Saturday: Cory Wong at Stubb’s

An accomplished guitarist, the Minneapolis-based multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter has recorded and toured with Vulfpeck and performed with everyone from Jon Batiste’s Stay Human to Chris Thile’s ensemble on NPR's "Live From Here" radio show. Guitar World recently dubbed him “the poster boy for modern funk,” and his latest, “Power Station,” is an upbeat 15-song opus that includes features from bass master Victor Wooten, electro-funk duo Chromeo, bluegrass artist Billy Strings and banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck. Sierra Hull and Ripe's Robbie Wulfsohn open. $30. 7 p.m. doors. stubbsaustin.com.

— D.S.S.

Sunday: Grupo Firme at Moody Center

Recipients of a 2021 Latin Grammy, Tijuana’s Grupo Firme also has received multiple honros at the Spanish-language Premios Juventud and Premio Lo Nuestro awards shows. The seven-piece band plays regional Mexican music ranging from banda to norteño to mariachi to other styles. Their concert, part of the group’s "Enfiestados y Amanecidos" arena tour, also will feature folklorico dancers. $46-$605. 7 p.m. moodycenteratx.com.

— P.B.

Wednesday: Los Tigres del Norte at ACL Live

Active since 1965, the San Jose-based norteño band has a catalog that’s more than 500 songs deep. They’ve sold over 60 million albums and won seven Grammy Awards and nine Latin Grammys. This summer, Amazon Prime released the documentary “Stories to Tell” tracing the band’s rise. In 2019, Netflix created a documentary of a Folsom Prison concert by the band. Last month, they released a deluxe album, “La Reunión,” after dropping an EP of the same name and topping Mexican charts with the title track last year. 8 p.m. acl-live.com.

— D.S.S.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Top concerts in Austin: Ruthie Foster, Grupo Firme, Arc Angels, more