Live Music Now

11 coolest concerts to catch in Houston this November

The local music industry is bouncing back in a big way this November.

Dozens of concerts are taking place across the city, with more tickets purchased than any point in the last two years. The biggest sign the Houston live music scene is headed in the right direction is the opening of a brand new venue located in the heart of downtown, decked with all the bells and whistles.

What was known as 713 Music Hall opens its doors at the new POST Houston, a multi-purpose building with a food hall, shops, office space, and a massive rooftop garden. The crown jewel, however, is the 5,000-capacity theater that will draw a wide-variety of artists from many genres, all within walking distance to major downtown destinations.

In addition to the grand opening, the Bayou City welcomes it's biggest shows since early 2020. Here are the biggest, best, and most notable shows for the month ahead.

CultureMap Recommends: The Hives with Mystery Lights and The Killer Hearts
Tuesday, November 2
White Oak Music Hall, 2915 N Main St.

Yes, Sweden's The Hives reached their greatest heights around the early-2000s indie rock heyday, playing alongside other "The" bands like The White Stripes and The Strokes on the strength of killer singles such as "Hate to Say I Told You So" and "Tick Tick Boom."

And yes, they haven't put out an album of original material since 2012's Lex Hives. But one thing this five piece hasn't lost is their live chops, with every show played like it's the last one.

Look for incredible energy from frontman extraordinaire "Howlin'" Pelle Almqvist and his ultra-octane bandmates, where three-minute pop songs become motivational tools to run through the nearest brick wall, all done with stylish, matching-suits panache and more than enough charisma to go around.

Tickets start at $27 plus fees. Show starts at 7 p.m.

CultureMap Show of the Month: Astroworld Fest
Friday, November 5 and Saturday, November 6
NRG Park, 1 NRG Park

Now one of the biggest music festivals in the world in terms of sheer popularity — tickets sold out in minutes — Missouri City's proud son Travis Scott is trying something new this year at his Astroworld Festival: diversity.

Sure, hip-hop is still the dominant force, represented by Master P, Young Thug, Bad Bunny, SZA, Lil' Baby, Roddy Ricch, and more. But Scott, who plays a huge hand in curating the event, has invited Australian psych-rockers Tame Impala to the stage in addition to chillwave artist Toro y Moi and R&B-funk legends Earth, Wind, & Fire.

They are all welcome additions and a nod to the strong influences on the mega-star's sound.

Tickets are sold out but available on the resale market. Gates open at 10 a.m.

Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin with Sebastian Yatra
Friday, November 5
Toyota Center, 1510 Polk St.

Spanish-language pop music fans are in for a huge treat when two of the biggest stars of the genre in the last 20 years team-up for a co-headlining tour. Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin are bringing their TRL Live credentials to the Toyota Center, an insane 36 No. 1 Latin hits between them.

But they both also had English crossover success, with Iglesias belting out "Bailamos," and "Hero," and Martin scoring the massive cultural touchstone, "Living La Vida Loca." It also helps they are two of the best looking men to walk the earth. No pyro needed at this show — these dudes radiate enough heat on their own.

Tickets start at $39.95 plus fees. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Chris Stapleton with Jamey Johnson and Yola
Saturday, November 6
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, 2005 Lake Robbins Dr, The Woodlands

Nashville star Chris Stapleton first got rich writing huge songs for some of the biggest country acts such as George Strait, Kenny Chesney, and Luke Bryan before rocketing to fame as a solo act, scoring No. 1 songs, the inescapable "Tennessee Whiskey" and "Broken Halos," and four No. 1 country albums.

The seemingly annual RodeoHouston performer is back on the road behind 2020's Starting Over, and he's joined by two up-and-coming acts that could very well achieve his heights in Jamey Johnson and Grammy-nominated Yola.

Tickets start at $45.72 on the resale market. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.

Chvrches with Donna Missal
Tuesday, November 9
White Oak Music Hall Lawn, 2915 N Main St.

The Glaswegian electro-indie act Chvrches return to White Oak Music Hall after a triumphant appearance back in 2019, but this time around, they are promoting their strongest album since their debut classic in Screen Violence, one of the best of 2021.

Fronted by the affable and whip-smart Lauren Mayberry, singing over anthemic, pulsating synth tracks laid down by Martin Doherty and Iain Cook, the good news is the trio gets better every year as they embrace their roles as modern pop stars, each successive tour featuring better visuals and performances, and an ever-growing catalog of unassailable singles ("The Mother We Share," "Clearest Blue," "Get Out," among many others).

It's no surprise they are slowly transforming into the Depeche Mode or New Order of their generation. They're that good.

Tickets start at $36 plus fees. Show starts at 6 p.m.

Kaytranada with Sango
Friday, November 12
White Oak Music Hall Lawn, 2915 N Main St.

The groove produced by Haitian-Canadian producer Kaytranada endeared him to audiences worldwide since he first burst onto the scene, his profile as a festival draw increasing over the last few years.

His 2016 debut album, 99.9% earned high accolades in his native land, picking up the Juno Award (equivalent to a Grammy) for Electronic Album of the Year and the Polaris Music Prize, given to the best album of the year based on artistic achievement. It led to him signing with a major label for 2019's Bubba, garnering more notoriety south of the border for his infectious beats and R&B dance sounds.

The White Oak Music Hall lawn will grooving late into the fall night.

Tickets start at $37 plus fees. Show starts at 7 p.m.

Willie Nelson & Family
Wednesday, November 17
Post Houston, 401 Franklin St.

Who better to christen a brand new music venue than the Pasadena, Texas native and country music legend, Willie Nelson? As he is wont to do, the 88-year-old will bring his "family" along to back him up, including son Lukas Nelson.

Anyone who saw his inspired and passionate performance at the 2020 edition of RodeoHouston knows the red-headed stranger still has the goods to deliver a great show, buoyed by a veritable bible of hit songs. The star of the evening, however, will be Post Houston, a gorgeous space designed to bring medium-sized shows to the old Barbara Jordan Post Office, which will no doubt have a huge effect on downtown Houston.

Tickets start at $59.50 plus fees. Show starts at 8 p.m.

Rüfüs Du Sol
Thursday, November 18 and Friday, November 19
Post Houston, 401 Franklin St.

Continuing the opening week party at Post Houston, world-beating Australian dance act Rüfüs Du Sol will play two shows, the first one selling out.

Unlike other dance acts, the trio relies on live instrumentation during performances, showcasing an intimacy that few other EDM acts can match. They've headlined major music festivals around the world with their blend of atmospheric indie rock-influenced electronica and are touring behind this year's album, Surrender.

Tickets for the second show start at $39.50 plus fees. Doors open at 8:30 p.m.

Lost 80’s Live 2021
Saturday, November 20
Arena Theatre, 7326 Southwest Fwy.

Bust out those legwarmers and head bands, it's going to get radical. Fans of '80s New Wave and synth-pop will find a lot to love at the Lost 80's Live 2021 tour, not named due to the age of the performers, but for their place as cult acts in one of the most fertile decades of music.

The retro tour features a who's-who of MTV hitmakers, including Flock of Seagulls ("I Ran," "Space Age Love Song"), Men Without Hats (the stone-cold classic "Safety Dance," "Pop Goes the World"), Missing Persons ("Destination Unknown"), Dramarama, Stacey Q, Animotion, The Flirts, Tommy Tutone, and Anything Box.

Tickets start at $39.50 plus fees. Show starts at 8:30 p.m.

Charley Crockett
Friday, November 26
White Oak Music Hall Lawn, 2915 N Main St.

Old-school crooner Charley Crockett comes with an origin story made for a hard-scrabble Americana-country musician: He's a distant relative of Davy Crockett. He was born and raised on San Benito, Texas, before escaping to New York to busk on street corners.

He had to put his career on hold to have a open-heart surgery to fix a defect. Then he returned beating stronger than ever, his career taking off with the prolific run of albums, 2019's The Valley, 2020's Welcome to Hard Times, and this year's 10 for Slim: Charley Crockett Sings James Hand.

He plays his largest show in Houston, headlining the White Oak Music Hall lawn.

Tickets start at $25 plus fees. Show starts at 6 p.m.

No Limit Reunion Tour
Saturday, November 27
Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land, 18111 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land

At one point, Master P was the most famous hip-hop rapper/producer in the world. As CEO of No Limit Records, Master P released some of the most popular rap albums from the South, his base of operations being the melting pot of New Orleans.

The roster of stars he built made him millions, first starting in the underground, then achieving mainstream success with "Make 'Em Say Uhh!" which led to him building a multimedia empire and coming up with some of the most iconic videos of the late-'90s. He'll bring back some of the most notable names from years past including Mystikal, Silkk The Shocker, Mia X, Fiend, and Mr Serv On.

Tickets start at $72 plus fees. Show starts at 7:30 p.m.

The Hives perform at White Oak Music Hall on Tuesday, November 2.

Courtesy Facebook/The Hives

The Hives perform at White Oak Music Hall on Tuesday, November 2.

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Awards Season

CultureMap critic's guide to the 2026 Oscar Best Picture nominees

Michael B. Jordan and Miles Caton in Sinners

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Sinners leads all films at the 2026 Academy Awards with a stunning 16 nominations.

The nominations for the 2026 Academy Awards have been announced, with 10 films vying for Best Picture. Leading the way is Sinners with an astonishing 16 nominations, the most in Oscars history.

The other top films include One Battle After Another, which earned 13 nominations, and Marty Supreme, Frankenstein, and Sentimental Value, which each got 9 nominations.

As a refresher, below are links to the full reviews for each of the nominees covered by CultureMap in the past year, as well as brief thoughts on the films and their various nominations.

Movie fans will have plenty of time to catch up with each of the nominees, as this year's Oscars ceremony will not take place until Sunday, March 15.

Here's the list of Best Picture nominees, in alphabetical order:

Bugonia
Yet another off-the-wall film from director Yorgos Lanthimos features two great performances by Emma Stone (nominated for Best Actress) and Jesse Plemons at its center. Written by Will Tracy (nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay), the conspiracy theory film is alternately brutal and funny as the characters played by Stone and Plemons use their form of power to try to manipulate the other. With a fair amount of intrigue and two great actors going head-to-head for much of its running time, it gives even more Oscar pedigree to its filmmakers and stars.

F1
The biggest surprise among the Best Picture nominees has to be the racing movie F1. It was a technical marvel, to be sure, as its nominations in Film Editing, Sound, and Visual Affects attest. But the fact that it has no other nominations in any of the above the fold categories indicates that its other qualities are lacking. As a showcase (aka advertisement) for the sport it depicts, the film works relatively well. As a complete movie, though, there’s not much to recommend, to the point that it almost negates any of the positives that come from the racing scenes.

Frankenstein (not reviewed)
Writer/director Guillermo del Toro (nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay) loves himself a monster movie, and he takes on one of the classics with his new version of Frankenstein (now streaming on Netflix). Oscar Isaac plays Victor Frankenstein, who brings to life The Creature, played by Jacob Elordi (nominated for Best Supporting Actor). With a slew of nominations in technical categories, there's a chance this film goes home with a lot of awards at this year's ceremony.

Hamnet (not reviewed)
Writer/director Chloé Zhao (nominated for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay alongside co-writer Maggie O'Farrell) gets back to her Oscar-worthy skills for the first time since 2020's Nomadland (after the unfortunate detour into the MCU with Eternals). A story about love, loss, and grief involving William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes, the film is most notable for the performances of its two leads, Jessie Buckley (nominated for Best Actress) and Paul Mescal.

Marty Supreme
There was no other movie this year, or maybe even this century, like Marty Supreme. Directed and co-written by Josh Safdie (nominated for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay alongside co-writer Ronald Bronstein), the film is an almost continuous blast of pure energy for 2 ½ hours. So many different things happen over the course of the film that the story defies conventional narratives. At its center is the fast-talking, powerhouse performance by star Timothée Chalamet (nominated for Best Actor), who cements his status as his generation’s movie star one year after playing the polar opposite role of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown. Look for the film to be a strong contender in the inaugural Best Casting category, as Safdie fills the film with non-actors who are crucial to the film's success.

One Battle After Another
Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson (nominated for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay) has an acclaimed career going back 30 years, but has yet to actually win an Oscar. That will change this year, as One Battle After Another is one of the favorites to win Best Picture thanks to Anderson's stellar filmmaking, as well as multiple great performances that earned the film four acting nominations (Leonardo DiCaprio for Best Actor, Teyana Taylor for Best Supporting Actress, and Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn for Best Supporting Actor). Add in a story with a very timely political critique (that's getting more relevant by the day) and you have the recipe for a big winner on Oscar night.

The Secret Agent (not reviewed)
No foreign country has quite the influence on the Oscars as Brazil, which for the second straight year has gotten one of its films nominated for both Best International Feature Film and Best Picture. Written and directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, the film is anchored by the performance of Wagner Moura (nominated for Best Actor) as a technology expert in the late 1970s who flees from a mysterious past to try to find peace in his hometown.

Sentimental Value (not reviewed)
For the third year in a row, two international films made the cut in the Best Picture race (but whither It Was Just an Accident?). Directed and co-written by Joachim Trier (nominated for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay alongside co-writer Eskil Vogt), the film is tied for the most acting nominations this year, earning nods for Renate Reinsve for Best Actress, Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas for Best Supporting Actress, and Stellan Skarsgård for Best Supporting Actor.

Sinners
It takes a special kind of filmmaker to make movies that are both popular and Oscar-worthy, and writer/director Ryan Coogler (nominated for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay) has done it again, seven years after helming the Oscar-winning Black Panther. Both a tribute to Black music history and a gnarly vampire movie, the film is led by Michael B. Jordan (nominated for Best Actor) in dual roles as twins Smoke and Stack. With a story infused with all manner of subtext and a bunch of great supporting performances, including Best Supporting Actress nominee Wunmi Mosaku, the film demonstrates Coogler's great filmmaking abilities that should keep him in demand for years to come. Amazingly, there was only one category for which it was eligible in which it did not receive a nomination.

Train Dreams (not reviewed)
The second Netflix movie this year to be nominated, Train Dreams is a contemplative film about a logger (played by Joel Edgerton) in early 20th century America who tries to adapt to a rapidly-changing world. Nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for the script by director Clint Bentley and co-writer Greg Kwedar, the film is most notable for the work done by Adolpho Veloso (nominated for Best Cinematography), who showcases the Pacific Northwest in all its glory.

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