Feelin' Good Again

Legendary Texas troubadour Robert Earl Keen storms into Houston on farewell tour

Robert Earl Keen announced the end of the road earlier this year.

Photo by Melanie Maganias Nashan

The road, it seems, does not go on forever, and the party — at least the live one — is wrapping up for legendary Texas songwriter Robert Earl Keen. In January 2022, the he announced his decision in January 2022 to retire at the top of his game, and the acclaimed musician is making the most of his final touring year with a romping, rowdy set of shows across his home state of Texas.

“I’ve been blessed with a lifetime of brilliant, talented, colorful, electrical, magical folks throughout my life,” Keen shared in a video on his social media channels. “This chorus of joy, this parade of passion, this bull rush of creativity, this colony of kindness and generosity are foremost in my thoughts today. It’s with a mysterious concoction of joy and sadness that I want to tell you that as of September 4, 2022, I will no longer tour or perform publicly.”

The final leg of his final tour will kick off in Corpus Christi on August 4 and run through September 4, making stops at several Texas institutions, including visits here at Galveston’s Grand 1894 Opera House and The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. He’ll also play ACL Live at the Moody Theater in Austin and Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth.

With a catalog of 21 albums, his band of stellar musicians, and many thousands of shows under his belt, Keen has earned living-legend status in the Americana music world. A Houston native, he grew up on classic rock and Willie Nelson records, teaching himself the guitar by the time he entered Texas A&M University. Keen co-wrote “The Front Porch Song” with fellow Texas legend and friend Lyle Lovett, which both artists recorded on their debut albums.

Keen followed in the footsteps of some of the Lone Star State’s most revered singer-songwriters, producing and financing his first album No Kinda Dancer before moving to Nashville. By the time he moved back to Texas, he had a publishing deal, a new label, and a national booking agent. He released The Live Album and West Textures, the seminal album which debuted what remains his all-time fan favorite, "The Road Goes on Forever."

Since then, two more albums, A Bigger Piece of Sky and Gringo Honeymoon, produced instant classics like "Corpus Christi Bay," "Gringo Honeymoon," "Dreadful Selfish Crime," and "Merry Christmas from the Family.” Keen’s acclaim as a writer has earned him membership in the Texas Heritage Songwriter Hall of Fame, The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, and the Texas Institute of Letters.

While Keen will continue to write music, host his popular podcast, support young artists, and follow his artistic muse wherever it takes him, his already-sold-out final public concert will be September 4 at John T. Floores Country Store in Helotes, Texas, followed by a fan appreciation party at the same venue on September 5.

Below is the complete list of dates and venues for his World Tour of Texas. Local presale tickets will go on sale on Thursday, May 26, from 10 am-10 pm. All tickets will be on sale Friday, May 27, at 10 am.

August 4 — Concrete Street Amphitheater, Corpus Christi
August 5 — Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, San Antonio
August 6 — KOKE Fest, Hutto
August 12 — Starlight Ranch, Amarillo
August 17-18 — Gruene Hall, New Braunfels
August 19 — The Grand 1894 Opera House, Galveston
August 20 — Texas Uprising, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Houston
August 21 — Julie Rogers Theater, Beaumont
August 24 — The Factory Deep Ellum, Dallas
August 25 — Billy Bob’s Texas, Fort Worth
August 26 — Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center, Midland
August 28-29 — ACL Live at the Moody Theater, Austin
September 1 — Floore’s Country Store, Helotes (sold out)
September 2 — TBA, College Station
September 3-4 — Floore’s Country Store, Helotes (sold out)

weekend event planner

These are the top 15 things to do in Houston this weekend

Photo courtesy of The Galleria

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This weekend features several festivals happening around town, including a film festival featuring films from all over, a Jewish book and arts festival, an Islamic arts festival, and a fest celebrating countries and cultures in the Americas. As our darling editor Eric says, let’s be ecumenical (translation: promote unity with all religions and races) — which is not a bad idea right now.

Read on for this weekend’s best bets.

Thursday, November 7

Houston Cinema Arts Festival
The Houston Cinema Arts Festival will feature more than 40 different screenings and programs over 11 days, including feature films, short films, documentaries, and more. The festival will open with Tendaberry, directed by Houston filmmaker Haley Elizabeth Anderson. Other highlights include John Waters doing live commentary during a screening of Hairspray; and a screening of Bambi alongside a book signing for Background Artist: The Life and Work of Tyrus Wong. Through Sunday, November 17. 5 pm (7:30 pm Friday; 10 am Saturday and Sunday).

Mid Main Houston First Thursday Block Party
The businesses of Mid Main, together with Mid Main Lofts, will host the First Thursday Block Party. Attendees will get to eat, shop, and rock at the block partners and have beer, sponsored by Saint Arnold Brewing Company. There will also be live music, art shows, special activations, street art, and handmade goodies from local vendors at the Winbern Street Market. This month, the nonprofit you can donate to at this block party will be Fresh Arts. 6 pm.

La Colombe d'Or Hotel presents Oysters & Champagne
The Montrose boutique hotel will host its annual party devoted to bivalves and sparkling wine. Attendees will feast on Gulf Coast oyster varieties from Prestige Oysters paired with Savor Caviar and sips from Telmont Champagne. The event also includes champagne-themed cocktails and live music. 6 pm.

Houston Music Classifieds presents Lungs
Midtown bar Leon’s Lounge will turn into a theater venue this weekend. Step into the raw and intimate world of Lungs by Duncan MacMillan, where life, love, and the future of our planet are intertwined in a gripping, thought-provoking story. Directed by Madison Elaine and starring the talented duo Eva Olivia Catanzariti and Dillon Dewitt, this play explores the complexities of human connection in an uncertain world. Following the play, there will be a live music set from local Houston musicians. 8 pm.

Friday, November 8

Reeves Art + Design presents Rachelle LeBlanc: "No Time for Sorry" opening reception
In "No Time for Sorry," French American/Canadian artist Rachelle LeBlanc invites viewers into an exploration of alternative realities and identities, delving into the themes of transformation, belonging, and the fluidity of self. Through a fusion of hand-hooked surface embroidery and ceramic sculptures, LeBlanc crafts a narrative transcending traditional boundaries, engaging with the concept that there is no time to apologize for becoming who you were meant to be as a pathway to self-discovery and social change. Through Saturday, November 16. 6 pm.

Theatre Under the Stars presents Lights Up Gala
The wintry-themed Lights Up Gala will feature live and silent auction experiences and entertainment by one of Broadway’s greatest leading ladies, Tony Award winner and Emmy nominee Kelli O’Hara, who will perform alongside students from the TUTS Education Pre-Professional and Performance Troupes. All proceeds from this event fuel the magic behind TUTS' mainstage productions, empower education programs, and ignite community engagement initiatives. 7 pm.

Houston Symphony presents It Don’t Mean a Thing: Swingin’ Uptown Classics with Byron Stripling
Inspired by legendary musical hot spots like The Cotton Club and The Savoy, It Don’t Mean a Thing: Swingin’ Uptown Classics will transport audiences to Harlem’s hippest nightclub, when Duke Ellington’s orchestra was the house band and Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, and Ethel Waters showcased the biggest jazz hits of the day. The concert will be conducted by Byron Stripling. 7:30 pm (2 pm Sunday).

Improv Houston presents Dave Attell
If you grew up watching Insomniac with Dave Attell on Comedy Central back in the day, you’ll be happy to know that the veteran comedian will be in town this weekend. Attell's caustic wit, rapid-fire delivery, and his choice of material that can best be described as "very adult" has earned him the reputation as a "comic's comic." Maybe you’ll also see him hanging out at some Houston nightspots, like he used to do back on Insomniac. 7:30 and 9:45 pm (7 and 9:30 pm Saturday).

Saturday, November 9

Nickelodeon and VStar Entertainment Group present PAW Patrol Live! A Mighty Adventure
This all-new live stage show picks up where PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie left off. Audiences will join the “PAW-some” pack in Adventure City and witness the pups charging up like never before, as they work together to super-save the day. PAW Patrol Live! A Mighty Adventure is based on the Nickelodeon preschool series PAW Patrol, which follows Chase, Marshall, Skye, and the rest of the pack after they save Adventure City with their Mighty Pup Powers. 10 am and 2 pm (11 am and 3 pm Sunday).

Islamic Arts Society presents 11th Islamic Arts Festival
The Islamic Arts Society presents the annual, two-day Islamic Arts Festival, featuring artists from across the U.S. It is the largest and oldest festival of Islamic arts in the country. It's a platform for established artists to network, collaborate, and inspire, while also providing a space for emerging and student artists to showcase their talent. There will be a film festival, a comedy show, and a Sufi music entertainment program. 10:30 am.

The Galleria presents Tree Lighting and Ice Spectacular
The Galleria will present the 35th Annual Ice Spectacular, which will kick off the holiday season with the lighting of its 55-foot Christmas tree, featuring 450,000 twinkling lights and 5,000 ornaments in a variety of colors and shapes. The 45-minute tree-lighting show will feature a performance by The Voice season 25 contestant Zoe Levert. The event will culminate with the lighting of the tree by Skating Santa and a fireworks display. 6 pm.

52nd Annual Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival
The Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival started last weekend, but you know what? We’re gonna give some love to this fest, which attracts an audience of all ages and is recognized as one of the largest Jewish book & arts festivals in the nation. On Saturday, Mitch Albom will be talking about his book The Little Liar. And, on Sunday, Jason Bell will be there with his book Cracking the Nazi Code: The Untold Story of Agent A12 and the Solving of the Holocaust Code. Through Saturday, November 16. 7:30 pm (7 pm Saturday).

Sunday, November 10

Alamo Drafthouse LaCenterra presents World of Animation: Grave of the Fireflies
Set in Japan during WWII, the 1988 Studio Ghibli film Grave of the Fireflies follows two siblings as they try to survive without their father, who is in the Navy, and their mother, who dies tragically during an air raid. As the oldest of the two, Seita bears a heavy burden, not only ensuring that his little sister has food and shelter, but also doing his best to keep the harsh reality of their lives from robbing her of her childhood. In Japanese with English subtitles. 11:45 am.

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Fall Festival: Myths and Leyendas
The MFAH will host Myths and Leyendas, a family festival celebrating legends and folklore from a variety of countries and cultures in the Americas. Now in its third year, the fest features new, temporary large-scale sculptures by six Houston Latinx artists.This year’s festivities includes food, live music, and dance performances at the Brown Foundation, Inc. Plaza. Visitors can play a lotería game with cards featuring MFAH works of art, wander through the Cullen Sculpture Garden to discover the sculptures, and join in art-making activities. 1 pm.

Texas Medical Center Orchestra presents "Voices of Resilience"
The Texas Medical Center Orchestra presents "Voices of Resilience," a performance that will explore the pressing issues of homelessness and mental illness, especially among veterans, through the power of music. The performance will feature the world premiere of Lost Child by Max Viventz, a new composition that captures the emotional journey of those who have faced life’s harshest realities. 5 pm.

Photo courtesy of The Galleria

The Galleria presents Tree Lighting and Ice Spectacular.

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