Paul Simon, Edie Brickell, Willie Nelson, and Annie Nelson bring you an all-star cast to raise money with the Austin Community Foundation; June 10 at 8 p.m. Central
Austin, Texas, has, without a doubt, left a lasting impression on all who have spent any amount of time in the Live Music Capital of the World — a week for SXSW, a day’s stop on tour, business conferences, or years building careers and friendships — and right now, the city we’ve strived to keep weird all these years needs a little help to “Keep Austin Going.”
Announcing “A Night For Austin,” a television and streaming event to raise money for the community of Austin in reaction to the closures and loss due to COVID-19 shutdowns.
Produced by Luck Productions—the busier-than-ever collective best known for hosting Luck Reunion at Willie Nelson’s Luck, Texas, ranch every year—“A Night For Austin” is the brainchild of Grammy Award-winning, Mt. Rushmore-worthy singer-songwriter Paul Simon.
The two hour, commercial-free telethon-style broadcast starts at 8 p.m. Central on June 10 at anightforaustin.com and twitch.tv/luckreunion.
The program will also air locally on CBS Austin (KEYE).
“A Night For Austin” will be powered by Brightcove, the world’s leading video technology platform.
Performances from Simon, Nelson, James Taylor, and more will intertwine with appearances from the likes of Ethan Hawke, Renée Zellweger, Woody Harrelson, and Owen Wilson; all Texans with a strong love for the city and its people. 100% of the money raised will go to a fund managed by the Austin Community Foundation to be distributed directly to MusiCares Austin, HAMM, Central Texas Food Bank, Six Square, Southern Smoke Foundation, Red River Cultural District, and People Fund.
Locals will be able to watch “A Night For Austin” on CBS Austin (KEYE).
Worldwide, “A Night For Austin” will be streamed on anightforaustin.com and at Luck Reunion’s Twitch channel, complete with a “virtual tip jar”—a direct link to donate throughout the evening.
A full, ever-growing list of performers can be found below.
“We were incredibly honored and excited that Paul Simon and his team tapped Luck to produce this event and to benefit our own community of Austin,” Matt Bizer, Co-founder of Luck Productions, said. “It means a lot for us to be able to support this community that has always inspired and provided for us and we are excited to be doing it alongside an amazing group of talented individuals, organizations, artists who themselves represent the unique fabric and soul that makes Austin our home.”
“Everyone here at CBS Austin loves our Austin community, our hearts go out to the musicians, artists, and business owners who have struggled due to the COVID 19 pandemic,” Amy Villarreal, Vice president and General Manager of CBS Austin/Telemundo Austin, said. “That’s why we’re proud to provide this commercial-free two-hour televised event as a means to help them out.”
“The coronavirus has completely upended live music in Austin, which is why we must come together to support the industry that makes our city special. Austin Community Foundation is honored to work with Paul Simon to bring much-needed relief to those who rely on the music scene for their livelihood. The funds raised through A Night For Austin will go to nonprofit organizations equipped to help musicians, producers, venue owners, and others persevere through these difficult times,” Mike Nellis, CEO of Austin Community Foundation, said.
What: “A Night For Austin” a two hour, commercial-free telethon-style fundraiser
When: June 10 at 8 p.m. Central
Where: anightforaustin.com/donate, twitch.tv, or locally on CBS Austin (KEYE)
Appearances by: Paul Simon, Edie Brickell, Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett, Shawn Colvin, John Hiatt, Jerry Douglas, Bonnie Raitt and Boz Scaggs, Ryan Bingham, Black Pumas, Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel, Augie Meyers with Los Texmaniacs, Flaco Jiménez with Los Texmaniacs, Patty Griffin, Alejandro Escovedo, Willie Nelson, Lukus Nelson, Gary Clark Jr., Britt Daniel (Spoon), Jimmie Vaughan and The Tilt-a-Whirl Band, David Ramirez, Charlie Sexton with Doyle Bramhall II, Terry Allen, Norah Jones, James Taylor, Ethan Hawke, Renée Zellweger, Woody Harrelson, and Owen Wilson.
About Austin Community Foundation:
Austin Community Foundation is the catalyst for generosity in Austin. The Foundation brings together philanthropists, dollars, and ideas to build a better Austin today and tomorrow. Austin Community Foundation is focused on closing the opportunity gap through research, pooled resources, and data-driven grantmaking. In 2019, the Foundation granted $37 million to the community, mostly through donor-advised funds. Founded in 1977, the foundation is the third largest charitable foundation in Central Texas by grants distributed. Learn more at AustinCF.org.
About Luck Productions:
Luck Productions is a rogue cultural collective headquartered in Willie Nelson’s Luck, TX. Anchored by its flagship event, the annual Luck Reunion—also dubbed as the “Anti-Coachella” by Fast Company—Luck Productions creates experiences that embrace our past while cultivating new traditions in American roots culture. In addition to the Reunion, Luck Productions has hosted pop-up events including "Luck Mansion" residencies during Nashville’s AmericanaFest; a featured stage activation during Highwater Festival; the "Luck Hotel" content and concert series in Dallas; and the new "Luck Social" supper and song series held in Luck, TX. After the postponement of Luck Reunion 2020, Luck Productions kicked it into high gear with a virtual festival Til’ Further Notice – a live streaming concept that raised upwards $200,000 for participating artists and partnering nonprofits who are heavily impacted by the current disaster. Read more about it via Pollstar.
About CBS Austin:
CBS Austin is a CBS network affiliate and is owned and operated by the Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair is a diversified media company and leading provider of local sports and news. The company owns and/or operates 23 regional sports network brands; owns, operates and/or provides services to 191 television stations in 89 markets; is a leading local news provider in the county; owns multiple national networks; and TV stations affiliated with all the major broadcast networks Sinclair’s content is delivered via multiple platforms, including over-the-air, multi-channel video program distributors, and digital platforms. The Company regularly uses its website as a key source of Company information which can be accessed at sbgi.net.
About Brightcove:
We are the people behind the world's leading video technology platform. With our award-winning technology and services, we help organizations in more than 70 countries meet business challenges and create strategic opportunities by inspiring, entertaining, and engaging their audiences through video.
Since Brightcove was established in 2004, we have consistently pushed boundaries to create a platform for people who are serious about video: one that is robust, scalable, and intuitive. Benefiting from a global infrastructure, unrivaled customer support, an extensive partner ecosystem, and relentless investment in R&D, Brightcove video sets the standard for professional-grade video management, distribution, and monetization.
