Texas grocer H-E-B gets into the music game
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Marcia Ball in performance. Photo: Dave P Photography via H-E-B.
H-E-B is partnering with Austin nonprofit Housing Opportunities for Musicians and Entertainers (HOME) to host a new monthly concert series at the South Congress H-E-B.
Why it matters: HOME provides financial housing assistance for aging musicians in need.
What's happening: Each "True Texas Tunes" concert, free and open to the public, takes place at the True Texas BBQ from 11am to 1pm on the third Saturday of every month.
- The series starts this Saturday with a performance by Marcia Ball's Boogie Trinity with Floyd Domino and Nick Connolly.
What they're saying: "We try to tailor our stores to their communities, and South Congress is an iconic part of what makes Austin so special," Heidi Anderson, H-E-B's senior director of public affairs, tells Axios. "We wanted to create a store experience that reflects that and honors the legacy of South Austin."
- "We thought, wouldn't it be great to have live music in some cadence here on site, in a way that honors the history and legacy of live music in this community," Anderson says. "And we felt like HOME was a perfect partner for us — they're supporting performers who really put Austin on the map and who are aging now."
Plus: Anderson said the concert series was a way to thank dedicated customers in the community who had to endure construction work as the grocer remade its longtime store at Oltorf Street and South Congress Avenue.
What's next: In the coming months, the concert series will feature Shelley King, Carolyn Wonderland, Midnight Snack and Sister Golden Hair.
💠Our thought bubble: This is the best concert series at an H-E-B since a mariachi band serenaded frantic shoppers in Schertz, northeast of San Antonio, shortly after the pandemic began in mid-March 2020.