Friends Fair Austin: Launch Party

Join Future Front for the launch party of Friends Fair 2026 at The Contemporary Austin — Jones Center. Returning for its second year at The Loren Hotel on May 8 and 9, Friends Fair will launch with an intimate reception at The Contemporary Austin — Jones Center, presented in partnership with Future Front. Curated by Jane Hervey, the evening’s lineup reflects the overlapping friendships that define Austin’s analog art and live music scenes. All are welcome. Scroll for details.   WHAT TO EXPECT THE LINEUP ALL NIGHT ★ Masked movement artists, featuring pieces by Mexic-Arte Artist-In-Residence Carla 6 PM ★ All-vinyl set by Antone’s Nightclub photographer, live music curator and DJ Salihah Saadiq aka Foxxxy Brown 7:30 PM ★ Intimate art-rock performance by Austin Music Awards 2026 Best Vocalist BRUCE READ ABOUT FRIENDS FARI IN "ARTNEWS" → READ ABOUT FRIENDS FARI IN "ARTNEWS" →   HOW TO ATTEND Tickets are $10 and include museum admission. RSVP NOW → RSVP NOW →   MEET THE LINEUP Guest Performer BRUCE BRUCE is the new project of Carrie Fussell, the former front-woman of Calliope Musicals. you're home alone in the shower; you're singing "all by myself" by celine dion at the top of your lungs while ice cold water prickles your skin into that of a chicken. from somewhere that seems far away, a stadium full of people throw flowers at your feet and chant your name. your name is BRUCE. BRUCE is an art rock project. BRUCE got ready for sunday school all by herself.  her debut album "must love teeth" was released on july 11, 2025, and she released a live concert film by the same name on november 4, 2025. at the very end of 2025, BRUCE was nominated by the austin chronicle as best vocalist (which she won), best new band and most creative event. pretty cool, huh? Guest Performer Foxxxy Brown Salihah Saadiq aka Foxxxy Brown is a local vinyl vixen who's all about a good time and a good groove. Heavily inspired by the energy of 70s/90s and innovation of the modern sounds, she integrates the old with the new, providing a sweet sonic experience. Her signature sounds include soul, hip-hop, funk and electronic/house.  Guest Artist Carla Santillana Carla Santillana is an artist and art educator from Brownsville, Texas, currently based in San Antonio. Working across oil painting, textiles, and sculptural forms, including handmade masks, her practice explores how emotion is held and expressed through the body. She is a 2026 Changarrito Resident at the Mexic-Arte Museum in Austin, and her work was featured on the cover of Bittersweet Memories, a publication by a Rio Grande Valley artist. Movement Artist Taryn Lavery Taryn Lavery, originally from Utah, is a freelance dancer, choreographer, cross-disciplinary design artist and co-founder/co-director of Austin’s BLiPSWiTCH— a project-based dance company focused on collaboration and site-specific performance works as an avenue to community expansion. She is a current dancer with Allysen Ho...