Are the best things in life free?

Free Night Houston is back: Explore the performing arts scene without spending adime

No matter how many times Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson sang "The Best Things in Life are Free," surely they didn't take into consideration that love needs diamonds, romance needs roses and that sex needs wine — and that most of us don't believe sentimental nonsense such as this coming from celebs that are rolling in the dough.

But here's something you can believe in, and it's free.

Free Night Houston is making a comeback. Set for Oct. 5 through 21, the Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) is in the midst of organizing a two-week fest during which anyone can sign up to sample what's artsy around the Houston region — at no cost.

HAA invites any type of performing organization looking to attract new audiences to participate in Free Night Houston. The initiative strives to "ignite interest and create awareness about the variety of performing arts organizations in the Greater Houston area." What started in Austin, Philadelphia and San Francisco in 2005, in partnership with Theatre Communications Group, has now reached 120 metro centers, more than 700 theaters and performing venues, and has introduced 65,000 art consumers to local, national and international talent.

Organizations hoping to participate in Free Night Houston should contact HAA programs & services coordinator Janel Badrina for more info.

Performing art junkies hoping to grab a free ticket need to sit tight just a bit longer while all the details are being sorted out. Though if you do score some tickets, remember that if you enjoy what you see, there's nothing stopping you from donating what you would have spent on that evening back to the groups that keep Houston's creative economy going.

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One More for the Road

ZZ Top honors late drummer Frank Beard with Austin tribute concert

ZZ Top

ZZ Top/Facebook

ZZ Top will celebrate their late drummer, Frank Beard (middle, after a show in Canada), at one of his favorite venues.

Texas rock trio ZZ Top will play a tribute to their late drummer, Frank Beard, at their scheduled Austin tour stops at ACL Live at the Moody Theater on August 22 and 23. Beard died Monday, August 17, at 77.

The band announced Beard's death in a social media statement.

Lead vocalist and songwriter Billy Gibbons wrote, "Today, Elwood and I lost a great friend and collaborator, and the world lost one of the most naturally innovative drummers and a great and true son of Texas. His signature backbeat was key to keeping ZZ on top."

ZZ Top canceled performances in Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs following Beard's death. The Austin shows will be the band's first onstage again, offering a fitting time to celebrate the Texas great. A statement on the band's website calls the Austin City Limits stage "one of Frank’s favorite venues and in a city that had been something of a second home for him."

Beard was born near Tyler in Frankston, Texas, in 1949. He was raised in Irving, outside Dallas, and the band formed in Houston in 1969. The Austin Chronicle reported in 2013 that Beard was then splitting time between a house on Lake Travis, in Austin, and Houston. He died on his ranch in the Houston suburb of Richmond.

ZZ Top was known for its large performances and elaborate setup, none more so than the Worldwide Texas Tour, which included a Texas-shaped stage and a collection of live Texas animals.

In 1974, the band left its mark on Austin — for better or worse — at "ZZ Top’s First Annual Texas Sized Rompin’ Stompin’ Barndance & Bar B.Q." at the University of Texas. It was the first, but also the last, since around 80,000 of the band's "friends" trashed the venue, earned the disapproval of the famous Coach Royal, and were ostensibly responsible for the venue not hosting another rock show until 1995. ZZ Top's two encores had 20 years to ring out after the legendary, if infamous show.

ZZ Top will make their upcoming Austin appearances as part of The Big One! Tour on Saturday, August 22, at 8 pm and Sunday, August 23, at 7:30 pm. Tickets are still available for both shows at acllive.com.

live music music history celebrities obituary acl live concerts

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