by John Morthland
Top Music Events- Mid June
Pura Vida Hispanic Music Awards
The San Antonio show's big winner was La Tropa F, which snared entertainer of the year, Tejano group, and progressive Tejano conjunto accolades. Selena won best female artist (and video) and Emilio took best male artist (and Tejano country).Clarksville-West End Jazz and Arts Festival
Jimmy Smith and his funky Hammond B-3 organ headline the annual event at Pease Park in Austin, June 15-16.Tejano Celebration
Shelley Lares, Mingo Saldivar and Latin Express appear June 21 as part of the Fort Worth Symphony's Concerts in the Garden series at the Botanic Gardens.International Mariachi Festival
Mariachi Vargas, Mariachi Los Campaneros and Las Perlitas are the three main attractions at Plaza Garibaldi in El Paso, June 21-23.Willie Nelson's BBQ on the Beach
Willie and friends launch the first of what's projected to be an annual blowout, at the Backyard at the Beach in Galveston on June 16.Lyle Lovett: The Road to Ensenada (Curb/MCA)
It's his most country set in a while, including the usual skewed western swing, but Lovett remains the original ironic lounge artist, and a man for whom love is a four-letter word more often than he'd like.Original Soundtrack from the Film 'Lone Star' (Daring)
John Sayles' movie takes place on the border, so the music's dominated by Tejano, but these non-Texans know their stuff. Conjunto Bernal, Fito Olivares, Isidro Lopez and Lydia Mendoza are quirky but savvy choices, and the r&b oldies ain't bad, either.Slobberbone: Crow Pot Pie (Doolittle)
Having surfaced at least a decade too late for the cowpunk movement (where they belong), this Denton trio is dubbed alternative country. But they rock twice as hard--and surly--as that genre's laid-back rustics.Dale Watson: Blessed or Damned (Hightone)
Though vocally a little too Haggardly, this Austin mainstay writes country songs with 'tude, and his honky-tonk music is suitably hard-edged. All this and trucking songs, too.Director Anthony Philputt: Cotton Pickin' Smash! The Story of the Legendary Stardust Cowboy
Talk about cult films. Here's a feature-length video about Lubbock's Norman Odam, a.k.a. The Legendary Stardust Cowboy, whose 1968 "Paralyzed" was the weirdest (and many say worst) single ever to crack the Billboard charts.
