Sixto Rodriguez, the folk musician at the center of the Oscar-winning documentary “Searching for Sugar Man,” will perform at The Theatre at the Frank Erwin Center for one night only Saturday, May 4. Our partners at the Frank Erwin Center have offered KLRU viewers a special presale starting now until Sunday, March 3, at 10 pm. Just enter the code, KLRU, at the Texas Box Office link There is an 8 ticket limit.

Rodriguez
Sat. May 4
The Theatre at the Frank Erwin Center
TexasBoxOffice.com Enter the code, KLRU

Rodriguez was discovered in the late 1960s. In 1970, Rodriguez released his debut album “Cold Fact” followed by “Coming from Reality” in 1971. Both received little reception in the U.S., and Rodriguez decided to retire from music and settle down in Detroit. Unbeknownst to him, Rodriguez had become an icon in South Africa. Four decades later, the talented singer-songwriter is captivating audiences worldwide with his story and his music through the documentary “Searching for Sugar Man.” The hype from the film has revitalized Rodriguez’s music career, sending him on a worldwide tour, including the stop in Austin!

Starting at 7pm, we’ll be live in studio 6A with a great line up of KLRU Collective highlights. If you haven’t visited our online arts portal, KLRU Collective, then tune in tomorrow to see our favorite videos of local movers and shakers in our creative community. And we’ll literally be moving and shaking with special guests from the Austin Samba School joining us!

Austin Samba School from KLRU Collective on Vimeo.

Following our mix-tape of KLRU Collective, we’ll premiere the brand new Arts in Context episode,  All My Friends Are Vampires, which documents Fantastic Fest,  the largest genre film festival in the country, specializing in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, action, and just plain fantastic movies from around the world held each year in Austin, TX at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema on South Lamar. We’ll have Tim League, founder of Fanstastic Fest and the Alamo Drafthouse, in studio with us and we’ll giveaway a 2013 Fantastic Fest badge and an Alamo movie theater experience for you and your friends.

All My Friends Are Vampires Trailer from KLRU-TV on Vimeo.

You’ll probably be hungry at 8:30pm, so we’ve planned a special Daytripper hour of the best in Texas BBQ. Chet joins us with the inside scoop on taking daytrips and brings some great gifts when you support the station, like a 2013 Daytripper BBQ Calendar, Daytripper Koozies, and a subscription to Texas Highways magazine.

48 Hour Film Project Austin from KLRU Collective on Vimeo.

Our friends at The 48 Hour Film Project are hosting a best of screening on Monday, Sept. 24, at the Long Center at 7 pm.  At this screening they will announce the winners of the 48 Hour Film Project which has filmmaking teams create a short film in just 48 hours. They’ve given us a few pair of tickets to give to our fans, just post a comment by noon Friday, Sept. 21. Or you can buy tickets online

About the 48 Hour Film Project:
The 48 Hour Film Project’s mission is to advance filmmaking and promote filmmakers. Through its festival/competition, the Project encourages filmmakers and would-be filmmakers to get out there and make movies. The tight deadline of 48 hours puts the focus squarely on the filmmakers—emphasizing creativity and teamwork skills. While the time limit places an unusual restriction on the filmmakers, it is also liberating by putting an emphasis on “doing” instead of “talking.”

Post a comment below about your favorite public affairs program on KLRU. We’ll randomly pick the one person to receive two tickets. Post your comment by noon Thursday, Sept. 20. You can buy tickets on the festival site

About the Festival:
Texas Tribune Festival, a full weekend of debate, discussion and dialogue featuring some of the biggest names in the world of politics and public policy, including chairs of major committees in the Texas House and Senate on the University of Texas at Austin campus.

Among the festival’s confirmed participants — more than 120 as of this writing — are a range of federal and state elected officials, public policy professionals, issue activists and advocates, leaders from academia, and more. They include Gov. Rick Perry; Texas House Speaker Joe Straus; Attorney General Greg Abbott; San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro appearing alongside Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ted Cruz; Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples; former gubernatorial candidate and We Texans executive director Debra Medina; Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins; Kyle Janek, incoming executive commissioner of health and human services; criminal defense lawyer Rusty Hardin; Donna Nelson, chairwoman of the Public Utility Commission; U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar and Blake Farenthold; Renu Khator, chancellor of the University of Houston System; Al Armendariz, former regional Environmental Protection Agency administrator; and Gwen Ifill, moderator of Washington Week and PBS NewsHour senior correspondent.

In addition, seven celebrated Texans will speak at exclusive, intimate breakfasts on the morning of Sunday, Sept. 23. They include Speaker of the Texas House Joe Straus, R-San Antonio; state Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon; state Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, the chairwoman of the House Public Health Committee; and congressional candidate Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso.

We have been looking forward to this night for a very long time! In celebration of Julia Child’s 100th birthday, some of the best chefs and foodies in Austin will be joining us LIVE in studio during a special presentation of three classic episodes of The French Chef featuring Julia’s take on omelettes, boullaibase, and roasted chicken, tonight at 7pm on KLRU.

If you call in during the evening with your support for KLRU, you might be talking with one of these wonderful people on the phone: Rene Ortiz (La Condesa, Sway), Laura Sawicki (La Condesa, Sway), Philip Speer (Uchi/Uchiko), Aaron & Stacy Franklin (Franklin BBQ), Karla Loeb (Slow Food Austin), Larry McGuire (Lamberts, Perla’s, Elizabeth Street Cafe, Fresa’s, Jeffrey’s), John Bates (Noble Pig), Sonya Cote (Hillside Farmacy, Homegrown Revival) and Casey Wilcox (Justine’s), and Patty Cater (Central Market).

This is the perfect opportunity to support the great history of cooking shows on public television and celebrate the incredible culinary scene here in Austin. We love when we can connect the awesome programming on KLRU with our local community and who better to showcase the KLRU vision of inspiration and creativity than Julia herself.

Every gift made tonight (or made online here) will automatically be entered to win one of several gift certificates to the places above and others: Olive & June, Parkside, Olivia, The Back Space, Foreign & Domestic, Lenoir, Chez Nous, Trace, Dai Due, Second Bar + Kitchen, and Barley Swine. A gift of just $25 could mean a dinner at a critically-acclaimed Austin restaurant – and you’ll be supporting Austin’s only locally owned and operated television station at the same time – what’s not to love about that?!

KLRU needs your support during this August pledge drive – if you love food, you won’t want to miss out on tonight’s special tribute to Julia Child beginning tonight at 7pm. Thank you for celebrating with us.

What if every parent who trusts KLRU with their children….

What if every concerned citizen who tunes into KLRU for election coverage…
What if every artist who sees inspiration in KLRU Collective and Arts in Context…
What if everyone who laughs with Brit-Coms or cries with Masterpiece…

…gave a gift to KLRU today?

This August, we’re trying to raise $240,000 to remain a strong and beneficial service in this community. Many of you have already put a price on what you love about KLRU and we’re $30,000 closer to our goal. Thank you for doing your part. But we need everyone who can to support KLRU right now.

What if you took this opportunity to think about what you value in KLRU and made adonation today?

Your tax-deductible gift of $5, $35, $50, $100 or any amount that is right for you, ensures that KLRU will create possibilities, trust, knowledge, inspiration, and entertainment for everyone in Central Texas…right now and for generations to come.

For supporting during this August pledge drive, choose from some great thank you gifts including t-shirts, DVDs, CDs, and posters!

Create culinary masterpieces withThe French Chef!

We’re celebrating Julia Child’s 100th birthday tomorrow night at 7pm with classic episodes of The French Chef and Austin chefs from incredible restaurants like La Condesa, Franklin BBQ, Uchi/Uchiko, and more! Consider making a gift and get automatically entered to win one of 20 gift certificates to some of the finest dining Austin has to offer!

British Beat to British Drama

Going through some London Olympics withdrawal? We’ve got you covered with British Beat, a fun and funky concert featuring the Zombies, the Animals, and many more UK legends, Thursday at 7pm. And for all you Downton Abbey Fans, get your costume drama history lesson this Sunday at 8pm with Story of the Costume Drama.

Sing it, Tony!

Tony Bennett is joined by a tour-bus-load of talented musicians for Great Performances: Duets tonight at 9pm! Guests include Queen Latifah, Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Andrea Bocelli, and Lady Gaga. You won’t want to miss this beautiful concert – and get the CD for your own collection!

KLRU will air Yanni Live at El Moro Thursday, August 9th, at 9 pm. Yanni will perform live in Austin on Friday, August 17, at 8 pm at the Bass Concert Hall. Our friends at Texas Performing Arts have given KLRU tickets to this show to share with our members and fans. Post a comment on this blog post by August 14th and we’ll choose winners to receive two tickets each.

AN EVENING WITH YANNI
Friday, August 17, 2012, 8:00 pm
Bass Concert Hall
His concerts are legendary. His live shows have amazed millions on every continent in the world. After an extensive World Tour, Yanni returns to the USA and Canada with an all new show. Yanni as you know him best, performing his instrumental hits from the shows that have become famous around the world. Fans will witness Yanni and his world class musicians as they take the stage to perform his greatest instrumental hits made famous in his shows from The Acropolis in Greece, The Taj Mahal in India, The Forbidden City in China and The Royal Albert Hall in England.

We are having a great week of celebrating and hope you can join us for our capstone event on Sunday afternoon: KLRU’s 50th Birthday Party! Your favorite PBS characters will be celebrating KLRU’s birthday with the city of Austin. Cookie Monster, Arthur, SuperWhy, Clifford, Maya & Miguel and others will take over 2ND Street with fun for the whole family including a Central Texas Gardener activity, story time with local celebrities, Arts In Context dance demonstrations and much more.

When your family joins KLRU Explorers, you not only support your favorite public television station, but you also get so much in return!

• Discounts to local family-friendly and kid-centered businesses, museums and attractions. You will receive a KLRU Explorer card and a Go Local Austin card for hundreds of deals all over town!
• A bi-monthly eNewsletter with upcoming program, community events, and Explorer discount highlights for kids and families.
• Want to see Clifford at the Long Center or a great musical performance at the Austin symphony? KLRU Explorers will get automatic entry into all family-fun ticket giveaways!
• You’ll also receive special invitations to all family and kid-friendly events at KLRU
• We want to see your adventures – a visit to the zoo? A family photo in the wildflowers? Share your family exploration photos with us and we’ll share them on our website – a great way to showcase Austin and your awesome family!

And finally, as a KLRU Explorer we want you to explore beyond Austin’s City Limits:

Once a year, a KLRU Explorer family will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Washington DC to visit incredible museums, zoos, and meet your favorite PBS Kids characters!

Start exploring right now, or sign up at the information booth at the Birthday Party – we’ll be giving away Idina Menzel concert tickets to the first 10 families that sign up on Sunday!

Hope to see you this Sunday!