Houston

Here are the top 10 things to do in Houston this weekend

Rock on at BowiElvis Fest.

The first weekend after the new year is generally pretty quiet, but a few choice happenings are here for your end-of-week pleasure. Brides-to-be and their future grooms can delight in a big bridal bash. Manga fans can enjoy an anime-inspired pop-up. And fans of Bowie and Elvis are in for a double-headed tribute to the two legends, born on the same day.

Happy New Year — here are your best bets for the weekend.

Thursday, January 6

International Gem & Jewelry Show
Visit America’s longest-running, direct-to-consumer jewelry show when it comes to NRG Park this weekend. This world-famous “jeweler’s market” brings wholesalers, manufacturers and designers together under one roof. Shop from rows and rows of quality gemstone, bead, jewelry and accessory dealers. You’ll find local jewelers, international vendors and talented artisans at every show. Noon (10 am Friday and 11 am Saturday.)

Memorial Hermann Broadway at the Hobby Center: Hadestown
This production intertwines two mythic tales - that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone - as it invites the audience on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Performed by a vibrant ensemble of actors, dancers and singers, this is a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that grabs you and never lets go. 7:30 pm (8 pm Friday, 2 & 8 pm Saturday and 2 & 7:30 pm Sunday).

Friday, January 7

14 Pews presents Red Rocket
For his latest film, writer-director Sean Baker (Tangerine, The Florida Project) came right here to the Lone Star State for his latest story of struggling dregs of society. Filmed in Texas City, it's about a washed-up porn star (former MTV VJ — and one-time porn star — Simon Rex) who clashes with his estranged wife after returning to his hometown. So far, it's gotten good reviews and has recently been nominated for the Houston Film Critics Society's Texas Independent Film Award (TIFA). 7 pm.

Improv Houston presents Donnell Rawlings
Fans of Chappelle's Show will definitely know Donnell Rawlings as the guy who gave us the immortal "I'm rich, beeyotch!" line. But Rawlings has been working on some other things as of late. He's been touring the world performing his new show, 2Soon with Donnell Rawlings and, like every comic out there, he has his own podcast, The Donnell Rawlings Show. He's not rich just yet, but he seems to be getting there. 7:30 and 9:45 pm (7 & 9:30 pm Saturday and 7:30 pm Sunday).

Theatre Southwest presents The Sunshine Boys
In Neil Simon's classic play, Al and Willie were top-billed vaudevillians for over 40 years. Now they aren't even speaking. When CBS requests them for a "History of Comedy" retrospective, a grudging reunion brings the two back together, along with a flood of memories, miseries, and laughs. This is definitely for fans of the 1975 movie version that paired up George Burns and Walter Matthau (or even the 1996 TV movie that starred Peter Falk and Woody Allen). Through January 22. 8 pm (3:00 pm Sunday).

Saturday, January 8

Bridal Extravaganza
The largest bridal planning showcase in the U.S., will return with the most cakes, gowns, local vendors, and more fashion shows than ever. Expected brides, bridesmaids, mothers-of-the-bride, grooms, family, and wedding planners will have their pick of vendors that cater exclusively to the wedding industry. The show will feature cake samples, décor, flowers, fashion shows, Instagram walls for selfies, speaker presentations on the latest bridal fashion trends, and entertainment from Houston’s top wedding professionals. 10 am.

Manga on Main
Calling all manga fans to come enjoy the most iconic scenes from Naruto and My Hero Academia at this pop-up. Be the first to experience this limited-time event over at The Lucid Experience (which was previously home to the Rusty Krab pop-up). Partake in their scavenger hunt, bingo, trivia, and more. Enjoy exhibits showcasing Naruto's transformation. Treat yourselves to delicious themed food and drinks. 11 am.

BowiElvis Fest
BowiElvis Fest will honor the shared birthdays of rock legends David Bowie and Elvis Presley, two of the most loved and influential artists of the previous century and true legends of rock n’ roll. The music goes all night on two different stages featuring multiple local and regional up-and-coming bands from the surrounding areas. This year’s event will also feature burlesque acts, face painting, games, and some Elvis-inspired concessions. 6 pm.

Sunday, January 9

Houston Symphony presents Pink Martini
Sunday will be the last time this weekend to catch Pink Martini in action, performing at Jones Hall this weekend. (The Saturday performance will be available to livestream.) This glamourous and global phenomenon features an exhilarating mix of Brazilian samba, Parisian café music, cabaret, and vintage jazz featuring lead singer China Forbes, with a special appearance by NPR’s Ari Shapiro. 2:30 pm.

The Heritage Society presents An Evening of Heritage
This Heritage Society-sponsored event will feature a discussion between James A. Baker III and Susan Garrett Baker with Jim McGrath. A native Houstonian, Baker served as the nation’s 61st secretary of state under President George H.W. Bush, served as the 67th secretary of the treasury under President Ronald Reagan, and Secretary of Commerce to President Gerald Ford. He and his wife Susan currently reside in Houston and have eight children and 17 grandchildren. 3 pm.

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In Memoriam

Legendary Texas singer-songwriter Joe Ely dies at 78

Joe Ely/Facebook

Joe Ely was a major figure in Texas' progressive country scene.

Joe Ely, the legendary songwriter, singer and storyteller whose career spanned more than five decades, has died from complications related to Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and pneumonia. He was 78.

In a statement posted to his Facebook page, Ely died at his home in Taos, New Mexico, with his wife, Sharon, and daughter, Marie, at his side.

Born February 9, 1947, in Amarillo, Texas, Ely was raised in Lubbock and became a central figure among a generation of influential West Texas musicians. He later settled in Austin, helping shape the city’s reputation as a hub for live music.

As with many local legends, it's hard to tease out what specifically made Ely's time in Austin so great; Austin treasures its live music staples, so being around and staying authentic from the early days is often the most important thing an artist can do.

Ely got his local start at One Knight Tavern, which later became Stubb's BBQ — the artist and the famous venue share a hometown of Lubbock. He alternated nights with emerging guitar great Stevie Ray Vaughn. He built his own recording studio in Dripping Springs, and kept close relationships with other Texas musicians. Later in his career, Ely brought fans into the live music experience, publishing excerpts from his journal and musings on the road in Bonfire of Roadmaps (2010), and was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame in 2022. Austin blues icon Marcia Ball was among Ely's friends who played the induction show.

"Joe Ely performed American roots music with the fervor of a true believer who knew music could transport souls," said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

In the 1970s, Ely signed with MCA Records, launching a career that included decades of recording and touring around the world. His work and performances left a lasting impact on the music scene and influenced a wide range of artists, including the Clash and Bruce Springsteen, according to Rolling Stone.

"His distinctive musical style could only have emerged from Texas, with its southwestern blend of honky-tonk, rock & roll, roadhouse blues, western swing, and conjunto. He began his career in the Flatlanders, with fellow Lubbock natives Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, and he would mix their songs with his through 50 years of critically acclaimed recordings. [...]"

Read the full story at KVUE.com. CultureMap has added two paragraphs of context about the Austin portion of Ely's career.

obituary music country music