UT Austin’s Cactus Cafe Marks 45 Years With Anniversary Series Featuring Ray Wylie Hubbard, Sir Woman and More

Austinites regularly pack around Cactus Cafe’s smattering of bar tables for everything from songwriter’s open mics to headliner shows. Throughout its history, the listening room has gained a reputation for hosting premiere acts and cultivating a supportive atmosphere for musicians. This February, Cactus Cafe celebrates 45 years of acting as a haven for budding musicians and live music enthusiasts. 

In honor of the anniversary, the “Then, Now, and Forever” series will run Feb. 6-22, sponsored by Armadillo World Headquarters. The Cactus welcomes new and returning talent to the stage for nine shows, including performances from Ray Wylie Hubbard, Sir Woman, West 22nd, David Garza, Kevin Russell and more. Tickets range from free to $30 at the door. 

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Darden Smith will perform at Cactus Cafe on February 6. (Photo courtesy of Cactus Cafe)

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Kevin Russell will perform at Cactus Cafe on February 7. (Photo courtesy of Cactus Cafe)

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David Garza will perform at Cactus Cafe on February 8. (Photo courtesy of Cactus Cafe)

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Uncle Roy & Spice will perform at Cactus Cafe on February 14. (Photo courtesy of Cactus Cafe)

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Next of Kin will perform at Cactus Cafe on February 15. (Photo courtesy of Cactus Cafe)

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Sir Woman will perform at Cactus Cafe on February 20. (Photo courtesy of Cactus Cafe)

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West 22nd. (Photo by Brooke Ellisor)

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Ray Wylie Hubbard will close out the anniversary series at Cactus Cafe on Feb. 22. (Photo courtesy of Cactus Cafe)

Cactus Cafe anniversary series lineup

On Thursday, Darden Smith, seasoned singer-songwriter and The University of Texas’ Songwriter in Residence Emeritus, will kick off the series on February 6. With 17 full-length records to his name, the Austin-based artist plans to use the set to celebrate an anniversary of his own – 30 years of his 1993 album “Little Victories.”

Friday brings an acoustic performance from Cactus veteran Kevin Russell. Then Grammy-winning artist David Garza will pay homage to his Texas roots by playing two sold-out shows. In keeping with Cactus’ support of up-and-coming artists, UTalent Records, the University’s student record label, will showcase four student artists on February 13.

Uncle Roy & Spice’s harmonic genre-fusing performance falls on Valentine’s Day for a perfect date night show. The R&B duo, originally hailing from D.C., found their start as backup vocalists. Now taking on Austin as a main act, they will grace the stage of a musical cornerstone of their new home base.  

Alt-country trio Next of Kin is set to perform on Feb. 15 with special guest Creekbed Carter Hogan, followed by alternative band Sir Woman on Feb. 20. Indie rock group West 22nd, composed entirely of University of Texas students, will take the stage on Feb. 21 for the series’ only free show. The celebration will conclude on Feb. 22 with Heritage Songwriters Hall of Famer Ray Wylie Hubbard, marking his first return to the Cactus Cafe in more than a decade.

For more information visit their website or follow their social media for updates.

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