Waco Insider #105
Most weeks, the music listings are straightforward to classify by genre: country, blues, rock, and so on. Then you get a band like Amber Dreams that defies easy categorization. The wife-and-husband duo consists of Amber Rasura on vocals and Ricky Rasura on harp. That might give you an idea about what you think they sound like, but as the band’s bio says, you have to throw some electronic beats in there too.
Confused yet? You don’t have to be as they’ll be playing Slow Rise on the Brazos from 6 pm to 8 pm on Friday.
Listen to music by Amber Dreams on Spotify.
Wild Imaginings’ latest production is Sweat, with performances at Mission Waco’s Jubilee Theatre from Thursday through Sunday. The 2017 Pulitzer Prize winner for drama tells the story of a group of friends who have spent their lives working together on the factory floor. But when layoffs and picket lines begin to chip away at their trust, they find themselves pitted against each other in a heart-wrenching fight to stay afloat.
As Trent Sutton, the play’s director, recently told Waco Insider theater writer Jonathan Kinder, “We chose it with Waco in mind… the show is for those who are ready to engage with issues of race, who are curious about learning from other experiences and perspectives, and who want to support art that is challenging.”
Mardi Gras season is here with a slew of musical performances on Fat Tuesday, February 21, including Blue Houdini at Twisted Sisters, NOLA Happy Hour with Dave Innis at Stay Classy, and CaCean Ballou and The Dirty Crawfish at Freight Bar.
Hands down, however, your best bet is a free show by Cedryl Ballou and The Zydeco Trendsetters at the Backyard Bar Stage and Grill. The grandson of zydeco pioneer Classie Ballou—and CaCean Ballou’s nephew—Cedryl Ballou has carved out his own identity in the sprawling Ballou musical clan. Plus, enjoy gumbo, jambalaya, and boudin balls while they last as well as traditional New Orleans cocktails.
Listen to more music by Cedryl Ballou on Spotify.
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, February 16
CTHCC Office Hours | 25th Street Furniture Store | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Judi Simon | Art Center Waco | 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Happy Hour with Dave Innis | Stay Classy Waco | 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
The Order of the Owl: Five Survive | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Pegasus City Pint Night | Dancing Bear Pub | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
CTHCC Family Skate Night Fundraiser | Skate Waco Bellmead | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Parents as Teachers Workshop | Dewey Park Recreation Center | 6:00 pm – 6:45 pm
Mack Abernathy's Third Thursday Throwdown | Lakeside Bar | 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
All-University Sing | Waco Hall | 6:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Trivia Night | Brotherwell Brewing | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Jonna Mae's Songwriters | Texas Music Cafe | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Midnight Mustangs | Sul Ross Boot Scootin’ Dance Club | 7:00 pm – 9:15 pm
$3 Thursday College Night | Freight Bar | 7:00 pm – 2:00 am
Sweat | Mission Waco Jubilee Theatre | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Los Roachez | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Keaton Nail | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Jazz Ensemble Concert featuring Alicia Olatuja | Glennis McCrary Music Building | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Friday, February 17
Amber Dreams | Slow Rise on the Brazos | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Chris Low Band | Fuzzy’s Taco Shop | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
All-University Sing | Waco Hall | 6:30 pm – 11:00 pm
DJ Kris with a K | Fuzzy’s Taco Shop (Hewitt) | 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Caleb Deschaine | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Ethan Smith & The Dirt Road Rebellion | Undercroft Social Club | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
An Evening with Texas Music Legends | Texas Music Cafe | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Brian Brown & Neal Davis | Aloft Waco Baylor | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
The Union Revival | Pivovar | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Sweat | Mission Waco Jubilee Theatre | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Friday Night Dinner | Lighthouse Coffee & Wine | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Jesse Dean | Papa Joe’s Texas Saloon | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Colby Townley | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Markus Miller | Blue Dog Wine & Martini Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Brazos Brothers | BIG’s Mayberry Tavern | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Kin Faux | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Saturday, February 18
Waco Downtown Farmers Market | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Mardi Gras Party with Cody Lee Stone | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Artist Talk: Kimberly Merck-Moore | Art Center Waco | 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Eastside Thrift & Arts Market | Brotherwell Brewing | 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Learn to Roller Skate | Skate World Waco | 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Secrets from Lula Jane's Cooking Demonstration | East Waco Library | 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
All-University Sing | Waco Hall | 6:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Dr Pepper Paranormal Experience | Dr Pepper Museum & Free Enterprise Institute | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Sweat | Mission Waco Jubilee Theatre | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
11th Annual Mardi Gras Ball | BASE at Extraco Events Center | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
American Merit | Texas Music Cafe | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Vampires Ball | Casket and Cauldron | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Bohemian Pirates | Hoot’s Tokio Store | 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Rude Ant Karaoke | Papa Joe’s Texas Saloon | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Strix | Lakeside Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Sanger Heights Blues Allstars | Stay Classy Waco | 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Rewind Party Band | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Tyler Stokes | Last Chance Bar | 8:00 pm – midnight
Hannah Rose | Freight Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Julia Tucker | The Tipsy Lion Bar & Grill | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Stand-Up Comedy Showcase | Brazos Theatre | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Burn The Wicked | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Russell "The Piano Man" Boyd | BIG’s Mayberry Tavern | 9:00 pm – midnight
Sunday, February 19
Sweat | Mission Waco Jubilee Theatre | 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Faculty Recital: Ann Shoemaker, Kae Hosoda-Ayer & Euridice Alvarez | Waco Hall | 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Sacred Arts Series: Duo Edelen | St. Alban’s Episcopal Church | 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Open Mic Night | Lakeside Bar | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Service Industry Night | Freight Bar | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Monday, February 20
Monday Storytime with Ke'Sha Lopez | Mayborn Museum Complex | 10:30 am – 11:15 am
Acoustic Open Mic | Taqueria Mexicano Grill 15 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Skate Skills Camp | Skate Waco Bellmead | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Health & Wellness Series: Vanessa Cornett | Glennis McCrary Music Building | 6:15 pm – 7:15 pm
Microbrew Monday | Freight Bar | 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Keep Waco Loud Open Mic Night | Stay Classy Waco | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Chamber Singers & A Cappella Choir | First Baptist Church Waco | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Tuesday, February 21
Fat Tuesday with Midnight Mustangs | Fish City Grill | 11:00 am – 9:30 pm
NOLA Happy Hour with Dave Innis | Stay Classy Waco | 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Cocktails with Jen | Hemingway’s Watering Hole | 5:00 pm – midnight
Roller Hockey Skills Class | Skate Waco Bellmead | 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
CaCean Ballou & The Dirty Crawfish | Freight Bar | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Blue Houdini | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Beer Garden Yoga | Brotherwell Brewing | 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Smarty Pints Trivia | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Towne Tuesday | The Crying Shame | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Ironroot Republic Whiskey Tasting | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Faculty Jazz Concert | MCC Music & Theatre Arts | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
WindSync | Waco Hall | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Booze Clues Trivia | Dancing Bear Pub | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Cedryl Ballou & The Zydeco Trendsetters | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Wednesday, February 22
1 Million Cups Waco | Hustle Co-Working | 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Fabled Story-Time | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Trivia Night | Bare Arms Brewing | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
National Margarita Day | Freight Bar | 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Trivia Night | Old Chicago | 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Music Bingo | Brotherwell Brewing | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
A String Chamber Music Celebration of Black History Month | Waco Hall | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Name That Tune Music Bingo | Freight Bar | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Once | Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Heathers: The Musical | Waco Civic Theatre | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Witty Wednesday BuzzTime Trivia | Hemingway’s Watering Hole | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
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Coming Next Week
Gospel Explosion, Black-Owned Business Expo, and Youth Pop-Up Shop
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