High-flying Acrobatics

Cirque du Soleil goes country on new tour coming to Austin in August

High-flying Cirque du Soleil (seen here in the show Alegría) will add some twang.

Photo courtesy of Cirque du Soleil

Cirque du Soleil, in partnership with Universal Music Group Nashville, will unveil a new country-themed show called Songblazers, which is coming to Bass Concert Hall in Austin from August 14-18.

The show, which will make its debut in Nashville in July, is initially scheduled to go to seven different cities, including Sugar Land from August 1-11, San Antonio from August 21-25, and Dallas from September 25-October 20.

The company will stage 8 performances during its Austin run. It is Cirque du Soleil's sixth visit to the Austin area.

The production, which pays tribute to the legendary and modern trailblazers of country music, charts the journey of two main characters as they forge their own path to country recognition. Per usual with Cirque du Soleil shows, audiences will witness acrobatics, aerial acts, and displays of strength.

Sam Williams, grandson of country pioneer Hank Williams and the son of outlaw legend Hank Williams Jr., has created a new song, "Carnival Heart," specifically for the show. The song reflects the show's themes of self-discovery, friendship, and hope.

“The title idea came to me pretty easily after becoming acquainted with Cirque du Soleil,” Williams said in a statement. “Where I come from, most people don’t get to go to the circus. We go to county fairs and carnivals, and the carnival in a small town is filled with joy, excitement, mystery, euphoria, you name it. That feeling is one you always remember, and I think the roller coaster of emotions lines up with what you want to feel seeing such an incredibly beautiful production such as Cirque’s.”

Tickets sales began at 10 am on March 25 for Club Cirque members. The general on-sale starts on March 28 at cirquedusoleil.com/songblazers.

theater music performing-arts concerts

The 'Brothers' Are Back

Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson spotted with film crew in Austin

Getty Images

Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson were seen on South Congress Avenue in mid-November.

One of Hollywood's favorite duos, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, were spotted on South Congress in mid-November with a camera crew.

Nobody is exactly sure what these two are up to, but that hasn't stopped the rumor mill from churning. Some say it's for their upcoming Apple TV+ series, Brother From Another Mother. It'sa 10-episode comedy that is a "heartfelt odd couple love story," according to The Wrap, quoting an early press release. It takes place on a ranch in Texas, so filming around town would make sense.

South Congress Avenue certainly doesn't look like a ranch, though. The actors looked foppish, Harrelson in an all-maroon suit and shiny leather shoes, and McConaughey in a loud, royal purple patterned shirt.

Another theory was that they were shooting Salesforce ads, and someone in the same thread suggested (without a source) that what they were filming wasn't a narrative feature.

And of course Reddit is doing what it does best:

Reddit discourse about Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson McConaughey and Harrelson starred together in the first season of True Detective.reddit.com

Reddit discourse about Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson McConaughey said on Access Daily that his mom started the rumor that he and Harrelson are half-brothers.reddit.com

But even though no one knows for sure what the two are doing here, we do have reason to believe that the two real-life best friends and former EDtv and True Detective co-stars are still around. According to an insider, who can't say much because the project is still in the works, the two are "still shooting a bunch of stuff around town," though where they'll be next is a mystery.

And remember, "Time is a flat circle. Everything we have done or will do we will do over and over and over again — forever.” So if you don't catch them this time, sounds like you'll have another chance.

celebrities tv shows