For more than eight years, Black Fret supported the Austin music community with an unstoppable sense of purpose and accomplishment. When COVID brought live music to a near standstill, many of us wondered who would step up and take a stand. Black Fret came to the table and their brand new music festival, “Keep Live […]
Austin Musicians Granted $250,000 at 2019 Black Fret Ball
Music is the lifeblood of Austin. Anyone who tells you different hasn’t spent a Saturday night on Red River or discovered a random artist during SXSW. On any given night, there are 100 shows to choose from in the greater Austin area. Music is a piece of who we are. But the vein is starting […]
Black Fret Awards $250,000 to Austin Musicians at 2018 Black Ball
It’s tough to be a musician in the Live Music Capital of the World. On any given night, world-class artists ply their trade for the contents of a tip jar. Award-winning singers hold down regular jobs. Venues that find pride in treating artists fairly close the doors in favor of no-cover bars with a makeshift […]
Black Ball Awards $230,000 to Austin Musicians at Paramount Theatre
Sixteen bands performed on the iconic Paramount Theatre stage Saturday night, as Austin nonprofit Black Fret awarded $230,000 in grants to 19 local bands at its annual Black Ball. For all the gowns and tuxedos in the audience, the atmosphere was informal and upbeat. Excited whoops and friendly heckling were directed towards the stage, and […]
Ray Prim Celebrates New Record During Soul-filled Set at North Door
Two days before his Sept. 15 record release show at The North Door, Ray Prim and I sat in the courtyard of Genuine Joe Coffeehouse and laughed for 90 minutes. We talked about everything. The music business, his shoulder surgery, and the challenges in finding a quality cello player. Grinding out life and dreaming big. Spend […]
ALL ATX Showcase and CD to Support Austin Musicians
ALL ATX advocates for and nurtures Austin’s musicians, and strives to aid Austin in keeping musicians here and cared for. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, ALL ATX is adding new beneficiaries this year to best meet the needs of local musicians, needs highlighted in the 2015 Austin Music Census Report. The proceeds from the Sept. 29 ALL ATX 2016 […]
Black Ball Awards $150,000 to Austin Musicians
It’s easy to say we love Austin’s live music scene, but Black Fret is actually doing something for local musicians. $150,000 worth of something. At the second annual Black Ball Gala, Friday night at The Paramount Theatre, non-profit Black Fret awarded grants to 20 musicians, for a total of $150,000 in grant dollars. Ten major grant winners […]
Black Fret Poised to Change Lives of Local Musicians in 2015
If you love Austin’s music scene, but haven’t heard of local non-profit Black Fret, that changes now. Imagine being a talented musician trying to make a living following your passion. You have a fan base, regular shows and even a couple of albums. But it’s an uphill struggle every day, and you find yourself having to […]
Black Fret Awards $100,000 to Austin Musicians
The red carpet was aglow with paparazzi flashes as Austin’s music royalty arrived at The Paramount for Black Fret’s inaugural Black Ball. A surge of music and energy was brought to the stage at 7 PM this past Saturday night, kicking off five hours of unique performances from 16 of the 20 grant nominees. Black Fret […]
Austin Musicians to Receive $100,000 at Inaugural Black Ball
On November 8th, a new event will be introduced to Austin, TX. Under the historical roof of Congress Avenue’s Paramount Theatre, non-profit Black Fret will award $100,000 to 10 local music artists at the inaugural Black Ball. Black Ball has been a long time coming. Following its Launch Party at the beginning of 2013, Black Fret marked […]