Waco Insider #173
Texas Music Cafe Grand Reopening, Brazos Nights: Los Lonely Boys, and Maker Bot Battle Summer Camp
For almost three decades, Texas Music Cafe has recorded live shows by the best local, regional, national, and international music acts—everyone from Classie Ballou to Samantha Fish to Willie Nelson and everybody else in between. Now, the new TMC studio in downtown Waco is celebrating its grand opening this Thursday through Saturday night.
The festivities kick off on Thursday afternoon with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and a video presentation highlighting Waco’s first nationally syndicated TV show. Then, see Blackbird Sing perform on Friday night, dive into curated videos highlighting past shows on Saturday from 11 am to 3 pm, and hear Rachel & The Resistors on Saturday night.
TMC is renowned around the world but is still one of Waco’s best-kept secrets… so get out this weekend to make sure that isn’t the case any longer!
Tickets for Blackbird Sing and Rachel & The Resistors are available online.
(For a preview of Blackbird Sing as well as other upcoming live shows this next week—including Tea Aguilar, Sundae Drivers, Rowdy Folk, and others—listen to our latest playlist on Spotify.)
Other live music this weekend includes the next installment of the Brazos Nights Concert Series with Los Lonely Boys and opening act The Peterson Brothers at Indian Spring Park on Friday. Getting their start in San Angelo, the Grammy winners play what they call "Texican” rock and roll that combines elements of rock, Texas blues, brown-eyed soul, country, and Tejano music. But make sure you’re there by 7:30 pm when The Peterson Brothers perform their infectious, feel-good mix of American soul, funk, blues, and jazz.
Admission is free.
(More live music includes the final spring concert in the Levitt AMP Waco Music Series—it picks up again in September—at Bridge Street Plaza on Saturday night, featuring Mozart Gabriel, El Combo Oscuro, and Migzavier. And, like Brazos Nights, it’s free!)
Need to keep the kids busy? Consider sending them to the Maker Bot Battle Summer Camp each afternoon next Monday through Thursday.
The four-day battle bot–themed camp will focus on building and customizing a radio-controlled combat robot that campers get to take home after learning about electronics, radio systems, and mechanisms. These maker-focused robot kits allow beginners to have a reliably functional robot with modular, customized weapons. Then? It’s robot fightin’ time!
Upcoming Events
Events subject to change. Visit Waco Insider for complete event and ticket details, venue info, and newly added/updated listings.
Have an event you’d like listed? Visit our event submissions page.
Thursday, June 6
Thirsty Thursday | Pivovar | 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Grand Reopening Ribbon Cutting | Texas Music Cafe | 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Open Mic Night | Guess Family Barbecue | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
June Steak Night | The Brazos Landing | 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Frank Exum | Segovia Wine Bar | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Likely Stories Book Club: Under the Whispering Door | La Madeleine | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
David Matthew Doran | The Grape Wine Bar & Bistro | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Art Tapas: A Contemporary Collectors Take | Art Center Waco | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Sami Brown | Ridgewood Country Club | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Moms Night Out 2024: Rooftop Pajama Party | Hotel 1928 | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
The Yacht Club | Lounge ’93 | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Simone Nicole | AC Hotel | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Open Mic Night with Joel Wood | MacDaddy’s Pub | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Music Bingo | Waco Ale Co. | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
High Water Gamble | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Kate Khavari | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Branded Heart | Sul Ross Boot Scootin’ Dance Club | 7:00 pm – 9:15 pm
Bike Night Pool Tournament | 308 Tavern | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
JD Hicks Jam Session | Rocky’s Roadhouse | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Gary "GT" Taylor | Tandem Rooftop Bar | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
WPN Rainbow Roll | Skate World Waco | 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Karaoke on the Patio | Austin’s on the Avenue | 9:00 pm – midnight
Tim German | Hotel Herringbone | 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Friday, June 7
June Skate Camp | Skate World Waco | 8:30 am – 1:00 pm
Café y Pan Dulce | Hillcrest Chiropractic Clinic | 9:30 am – 10:30 am
2024 Sunflower Festival | Western Belle Farm | 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Katie Stewart & Jace Smith | Hotel Herringbone | 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Blind Whiskey Tasting: Seven Seas | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Brazos Nights: Los Lonely Boys with The Peterson Brothers | Indian Spring Park | 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Rainbow Roar with Stephany Chavira | Cameron Park Zoo | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
First Friday: Front Gallery Opening | Cultivate 7twelve | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Maxx "Smokinmaxx" Carter | The Grape Wine Bar & Bistro | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Dave Innis | Cambria Hotel | 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Karaoke | Waco Ale Co. | 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Greg Bashara & Evan Klaras | Hilton Waco | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Lawn Chair Music Series: Nick Dennard & Cody Ellinger | Shoppe 826 | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Aladdin Kids | Waco Civic Theatre | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Brazos Brothers | Segovia Wine Bar | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Emerald Opals | Lounge ’93 | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Rich & Fam | Thrst Coffee | 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Shakespeare in the Park: The Winter's Tale | Hotel Herringbone | 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Beyond Destiny | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 8:00 pm
Chris Colunga | The Buckle | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Alan Reyes | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Blackbird Sing | Texas Music Cafe | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Jims With Benefits | Blue Pup Wine & Martini Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Darrell "D-Rail" Ray | Papa Joe’s Texas Saloon | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
The Windbreakers | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
The Ballou's Cats | BIG’s Mayberry Tavern | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Fooligan | Freight Bar | 9:00 pm – midnight
EDM Sessions with L30, RCKSTDY & ADTILLA.M. | Tandem Rooftop Bar | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
JeMarcus Bridges | Hotel Herringbone | 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Adult Sip 'n' Skate Luau | Skate World Waco | 10:30 pm – 1:30 am
Saturday, June8
Scrapin' into Spring Truck Show 2024 | McLane Stadium | 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Waco Downtown Farmers Market | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
McLennan County Master Gardeners: Let's Talk About Bees & Butterflies | Waco Downtown Farmers Market | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
McGregor Outdoor Market | Cedar Chest Antique Mall | 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
Homestead Weekly Market | Homestead Heritage | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
2024 Sunflower Festival with Jennifer Pisarcik & Jon Fox | Western Belle Farm | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Trails Unveiled at Cameron Park | Emmons Cliff | 10:00 am – 11:30 am
World Ocean Day Celebration | Cameron Park Zoo | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Sacred Places Exhibition Opening | Mayborn Museum Complex | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Summer Story-Time | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 10:30 am – 11:30 am
TMC Video Retrospective | Texas Music Cafe | 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Summer Kick-Off Luau with The Bill & Phil Show | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | noon – 9:00 pm
33rd Annual Tolbert Texas State Chili Championship | Lakeside Bar | noon – 5:00 pm
Paws for Par | Lake Waco Golf Club | 12:15 pm – 5:00 pm
Storytime | Barnes & Noble | 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Cornhole Tournament | 308 Tavern | 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Nate Leonard | Hotel Herringbone | 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
A Night Out with CaCean Ballou & DJ Euby | Freight Bar | 4:00 pm – 11:30 pm
Levitt AMP Waco Music Series: Mozart Gabriel, El Combo Oscuro & Migzavier | Bridge Street Plaza | 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
5th Annual West Street Dance with Sunny Sauceda | The Tipsy Lion Bar & Grill | 5:00 pm – midnight
National Bestie Day & Rosé Day Celebration | The Black Daisy (China Spring) | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Darrell "D-Rail" Ray | Slow Rise on the Brazos | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Brazos Brothers | Camp Fimfo | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Dr Pepper Paranormal Experience | Dr Pepper Museum & Free Enterprise Institute | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
McLennan County Mud Fest & Mega Truck Racing | Riesel Lions Club | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Aladdin Kids | Waco Civic Theatre | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Rachel & The Resistors | Texas Music Cafe | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Denim N Black Summer Jam | Waco Convention Center | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Shakespeare in the Park: The Winter's Tale | Hotel Herringbone | 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Sundae Drivers | Elk Hall | 8:00 pm – midnight
Cuttin' Heads | Papa Joe’s Texas Saloon | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Megan Urby & Shane Howard | Wolf’s Sports Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Rowdy Folk | The Will | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Joe Frausto & Roper Crosthwaite | Lakeside Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Home at Last Band | BIG’s Mayberry Tavern | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Sean Anderson | Hotel Herringbone | 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Sunday, June 9
2024 Sunflower Festival with Jennifer Pisarcik & Jon Fox | Western Belle Farm | 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Woodway Farmers Market | Carleen Bright Arboretum | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Scott Daniels Cancer Benefit Lunch | Riesel Lions Club | 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
Live Figure Drawing | Cultivate 7twelve | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Sunday Sessions: Strawberry Blonde | Waco Surf | 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Ties & Tiaras: Daddy-Daughter Dance | Greater Waco YMCA | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Trevor Hickok | The Will | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Bryce Brown Fundraiser with Sloppy Joe Band | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Mystery Book Club: Murder Past Due | South Waco Library | 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Darrell "D-Rail" Ray | Playdium Pool | 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Sunday Funday | Freight Bar | 4:00 pm – 11:45 pm
Dinner in Waco: Berries (SOLD OUT) | Providencia Urban Retreat | 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Open Mic Night | Lakeside Bar | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Shakespeare in the Park: The Winter's Tale | Hotel Herringbone | 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Monday, June 10
Art Camp: Fun With Pen & Paper (1st–2nd grade) | Art Center Waco | 8:30 am – noon
Monday Story Time: Way Out West | Mayborn Museum Complex | 10:30 am – 11:15 am
Maker Bot Battle Summer Camp | MAKER’s EDGE Creation Studio | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Art Camp: Full STEAM Ahead (1st–2nd grade) | Art Center Waco | 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Art Camp: Fun With Pen & Paper (3rd–6th grade) | Art Center Waco | 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Acoustic Open Mic | Taqueria Mexicano Grill 15 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Adult Art Camp | Cultivate 7twelve | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Waco Roller Derby Open Practice | Skate Waco Bellmead | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Karaoke Mondays | The Crying Shame | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Manic Monday | Freight Bar | 7:00 pm – 11:45 pm
Monday Funday with Tea Aguilar & Le's Kitchen | Hemingway’s Watering Hole | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Slap Stix Trivia Night | Lakeside Bar | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
May The Road Rise Up To Meet You | Woodway United Methodist Church | 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Tuesday, June 11
Art Camp: Fun With Pen & Paper (1st–2nd grade) | Art Center Waco | 8:30 am – noon
Maker Bot Battle Summer Camp | MAKER’s EDGE Creation Studio | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Art Camp: Full STEAM Ahead (1st–2nd grade) | Art Center Waco | 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Art Camp: Fun With Pen & Paper (3rd–6th grade) | Art Center Waco | 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Break-Even Bottle Night with Eagle Rare 1979 | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Cocktails with Jen | Hemingway’s Watering Hole | 5:00 pm – midnight
Beer Garden Yoga | Brotherwell Brewing | 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Books & Brews: Dropkick Murphy—A Legendary Life | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Towne Tuesday Open Mic | The Crying Shame | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Smarty Pints Trivia | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Strawberry Wine Paint & Sip | Lounge ’93 | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Slap Stix Trivia Tuesday | Freight Bar | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Waco Community Band Children's Concert | Ball Performing Arts Center | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Wednesday, June 12
Art Camp: Fun With Pen & Paper (1st–2nd grade) | Art Center Waco | 8:30 am – noon
The Meetup | Startup Waco | 9:00 am – 10:00 am
All-Day Happy Hour | Pivovar | 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Art Camp: Fun With Pen & Paper (3rd–6th grade) | Art Center Waco | 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Art Camp: Full STEAM Ahead (1st–2nd grade) | Art Center Waco | 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Maker Bot Battle Summer Camp | MAKER’s EDGE Creation Studio | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Waco Ale Co. Pint Night | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Bridge Street Farmers Market | Bridge Street Plaza | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Trivia Night | Bare Arms Brewing | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Wine Wednesday with Stan Wilfong | Segovia Wine Bar | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Slap Stix Trivia Night | Torchy’s Tacos | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
This is a Clue Trivia | Old Chicago | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Music Bingo | Brotherwell Brewing | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Open Mic Night | Last Chance Bar | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Need to know when to staff up for large events? Click here to view business and social events that may not be listed above.
Coming Next Week
Juneteenth Parade, Father’s Day, and Superhero Training Camp.
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