Amp Up
Unwind at AMP's first annual UnGala, celebrating the Austin music industry
Looking for a way to unwind with Austin's signature musicians? AMP (Austin Music People) has the answer, served up in the form of its first ever "UnGala" to be held at ACL Live on Sunday, April 21. The first annual AMP UnGala will merge a concert featuring some of Austin's most inspirational and up-and-coming artists with a celebratory awards ceremony honoring backstage players in the Austin music industry.
The evening will kick off with special performances by Minor Mishap Marching Band and Charlie Belle, a band formed from graduates of the Girls Rock Camp program. The jam-packed programming continues with short and sweet sets from Alejandro Escavedo, Shakey Graves, The Bright Light Social Hour, Mother Falcon, and Heartless Bastards' Erica Wennerstrom.
"AMP is thrilled to be able to share a variety of exceptional Austin music with music fans who might not otherwise encounter them," says AMP Executive Director, Jennifer Houlihan. "It's impossible to capture the entirety of the local music scene in one night, of course, but with a bill that includes classically-trained horn players and emerging singer-songwriters as well as hip-hop virtuosos and internationally-recognized rock performers, we think every guest will have the chance to both see an old favorite and meet a new one."
Outside of the music, the UnGala will celebrate the hardworking, often under-recognized, behind-the-scenes players in the Austin music scene with the first annual AMP Austin Music Industry Awards. The awards, designed with the blessing of Austin Chronicle's Margaret Moser, will honor Austin's best sound engineer, poster design, recording studio and local music promoter.
"AMP was inspired by Margaret Moser's outstanding work with the Austin Music Awards to create a complementary recognition opportunity for the part of the music community that is often unseen, but equally appreciated," Houlihan says.
"The AMP Austin Music Industry Awards celebrate the technicians, engineers, graphic artists, and others who provide the strong foundation that allows our city to serve, year after year, as the Live Music Capital of the World. We look forward to growing the event over time with awards that honor those working year-round to support Austin's world-class singers, songwriters and musicians."
In true AMP spirit, the UnGala is an accessible event, with ticket prices starting at an affordable $25 per person, to ensure that as many local artists, techs, songwriters, servers, bartenders and fans as possible can attend. VIP tickets start at $250, and include a private pre-event reception, the AMP 2013 Cocktail Summit, on the Mayor’s Balcony at City Hall.
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AMP's UnGala takes place Sunday, April 21. Tickets available through ACL Live.