MUSIC

Head to Discovery Green for Fun, Free, Family-Friendly Concerts! It's UHD Thursday Concerts at Discovery Green, May 3- June 28, 6:30 pm.

Rock out at our free, family-friendly concerts showcasing the best music of Texas and the Gulf Coast. Blankets, lawn chairs and picnics are welcome; food, beer and wine are available for purchase. No glass containers or outside alcoholic beverages.

Schedule of Concerts:

May 3*
Grupo Fantasma
Patricia Vonne Opens
Hard charging Latin funk.

Grupo Fantasma comes at you at top speed with hip-shaking, horn-blaring, mind-bending Latin funk. This Grammy nominated Latin orchestra's incendiary live show has burned up the stage at festivals worldwide like Bonnaroo and Coachella. Be prepared for Prince's go-to party band to rock your world. Songstress Patricia Vonne opens the show.

May 10
Glen David Andrews Band
Journey Agents Opens
Electrifying New Orleans funk!

New Orleans veteran of Rebirth, Lil Rascal and Treme brass band steps up front to lead his own high energy, horn driven jazz, funk, rock, soul and gospel review. Glen’s performance at the 2011 Jazz Fest garnered rave reviews from the audience, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and many other national press outlets. “Glen seemed too big for any screen, with a Jay Z physique and a voice big enough to accommodate James Brown and Wilson Pickett,” says David Fricke of Rolling Stone Magazine. Up and coming Houston funksters, The Journey Agents set the grooves in orbit to open the show.

May 17*
Buckwheat Zydeco
Zydeco Dots Opens
Grammy Award winning Zydeco party!

Buckwheat Zydeco is a master entertainer and musician who spreads the joy of zydeco music everywhere he goes. He won a Grammy Award in 2010 for his Lay Your Burden Down album. After years of touring with blues and soul legends Joe Tex and Clarence Gatemouth Brown, playing piano and organ, Buckwheat joined forces with the King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier. Clifton baptized him in the fire of zydeco and he’s never stopped testifying. Buckwheat Zydeco counts U2, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Willie Nelson, Paul Simon and legions of other legends among his fans. “Buckwheat leads one of the best party bands in America; he can pump out zydeco two-beats or shift into rolling 12-bar blues, steaming all the way,” reported the New York Times. Houston zydeco institution, The Zydeco Dots kick start the party!

May 24
Buxton, The Tontons
Americana folk rockers.

New West recording artists Buxton brings dynamic instrumentation and powerful writing to their indie-infused, folk-inspired blend of Americana. The Houston Chronicle called Buxton “One of Houston's finest bands.” With packed performances during SXSW and CMJ music festivals and the new release of Nothing Here Seems Strange, Buxton is poised for a break-out year in 2012. One of Houston’s top pop bands, The Tontons is a soulful psychedelic blues and indie rock spectacle. Their high energy, hypnotic stage show instantly engages audiences.

May 31
Two Tons of Steel, Mike Stinson
Two ton Thursday!

Two Tons of Steel’s rambunctious brand of country rooted rock and high-energy show guarantee a fun party. Whether they are performing at the Grand Ole Opry, Gruene Hall or any other great venue, Two Tons of Steel provides a sound, attitude and approach as big as Texas. Mike Stinson who calls his music "tear-in-your-beer honky-tonk and barnyard rock and roll" kicks out the country jams to start the night.

June 7
George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Partners
Paul Ramirez Band Opens
New Orleans funk and bass master.

George Porter, Jr. is best known as the bassist in the seminal New Orleans funk outfit, The Meters, and has worked with Paul McCartney, Allen Touissant, David Byrne, Taj Mahal, Irma Thomas and tons of other legends. Hot off the release of his latest release, Can’t Beat the Funk, he’ll hit Houston with his long running solo band, The Runnin Pardners, for a funkified night of fun at Discovery Green! The Paul Ramirez Band revs up the night with an opening jam set.

June 14*
The Gourds, Mary McBride
Kaleidoscopic roots rock and roll.

The Gourds are a Texas alt-country, roots rock, Americana institution. Stellar songwriting, joyous playing and non-stop touring have resulted in a passionate following and a dynamic new album on Vanguard Records. Their latest of 11 releases, Old Mad Joy, was recorded in Levon Helm’s studio in Woodstock, NY and produced by Larry Campbell. Mary McBride is a rockin’ singer songwriter. The New York Times states “Her voice is part angel, part truck driver, as if to say sometimes you power through sadness and sometimes you hope for a miracle.”

June 21
The NiceGuys, Kydd, Zin
Hip Hop on the Green!

The NiceGuys are a four-member Houston-based group with Southern roots and musical sensibilities that stretch far beyond the city’s limits. A self-contained unit, The NiceGuys comprises MC (Yves ‘Easy Yves Saint’ Ozoude), DJ (Lucien ‘DJ Candlestick’ Barton) and producers (Todd ‘Christolph’ Louis and Winfrey ‘Free’ Oribhabor). Kydd is an up and coming Austin rapper. Zin is a neo soul urban music specialist and host of KPFT’s SOS radio show.

June 28
Los Skarnales, (pictured above) Wild Moccasins
Explosive Latin ska and shining pop rock!

Providing explosive Latin ska and shining pop rock, Los Skarnales can barely be contained by any stage. Force of nature and band leader Felipe Galvan has the vertical leap of an NBA star, the style of a pachuco kingpin and the pipes of a classic soul shouter. The Wild Moccasins, New West recording artists on the vanguard of the Houston music scene and a sought-after export to other music towns, generate excitement and delight fans at home and on tour with their cleverly-constructed pop tunes.

** Recycle your empty Saint Arnold six-pack carriers for double reward points at this concert. 

Co-sponsored by Saint Arnold Brewing Company, Cactus Music and KPFT 90.1 FM, Houston Press and 29-95.