The Historic Paramount Theatre and Artworks Center will have a mix of new events and returning acts to keep Austin residents entertained throughout the fall season.

October will be a busy month at the Paramount Theatre with three music groups booked to perform.

“All three groups are fantastic and I think all of the events are going to be really popular,” said Jennie Knoebel, Executive Director of the Austin Area Commission of Arts.

First on stage at the Paramount will be Charlie Parr, an Austin native and veteran of the stage at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 1. Parr has been traveling around singing his songs ever since leaving Austin, Minnesota, in the 1980s. Last year, he released his 13th album, “Stumpjumper”, through St. Paul-based Red House Records. He is now based out of Duluth, Minnesota.

“It’s always fantastic to have [Parr return],” Knoebel said.

On Oct. 14, Davina and the Vagabonds will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the Paramount. The last time they performed in Austin was 2011, and Knoebel thinks the group has greatly evolved since.

“Their career has definitely taken off since the last time they were at the Paramount,” she said.

Bringing listeners 100 years of American music and Davina’s originals, the band brings edgy nostalgia to older generations and fresh new music to younger ears. The quintet is held together by Davina’s keyboard playing, with acoustic bass, drums, and a spicy trumpet and trombone horn section. The group’s focused, clean sound and emphasis on acoustic instruments is novel to both blues and jazz worlds, and sets the show closer to New Orleans than to Chicago.

Capping off October, the Caravan du Nord presents Bad Bad Hats, an indie-rock band from Minneapolis at 7 p.m. on Oct. 22. The Caravan du Nord is an ongoing project of The Minnesota Music Coalition. The tour creates partnerships between independent musicians, who are not traditionally viewed as members of the fine arts community and presenters who are excited to engage new audiences with the artists.

[“Caravan du Nord] brings Twin Cities bands to greater Minnesota and gives them more exposure to the rest of the state,” Knoebel said. “It’s music that you might consider traveling to the cities for. You get to experience it right at home.”

Bad Bad Hats band members Kerry Alexander, Chris Hoge and Noah Boswell met while attending Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Alexander and Hoge began writing songs together in 2010 and Boswell solidified the lineup when he joined in 2012. In early 2013, Afternoon Records signed the trio and released their “It Hurts” EP. Most recently, they released their debut LP, “Psychic Reader” on July 17.

Knoebel believes the Paramount is the perfect place to kick back and enjoy these bands as the weather gets colder.

“The Paramount is such a cool venue,” she said. “[These concerts are] a great opportunity to listen to music there.”

Matchbox Children’s Theater will also perform “Nick of Time!,” a detective red mistletoe Mystery, at the theater at 7 p.m. on Nov. 4 and 2 p.m. Nov. 5-6.

At the Artworks Center, things will get musical once again. After some time off, Music at the Bank will return with several artists performing in the upstairs area of the Artworks Center. Since they purchased a sound system for the building, it’ll be simpler to put on shows there.

“It’s a really great way to do music in a different way,” Knoebel said.

Ian Hilmer will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 16 and Part Time Ex’s are scheduled to play at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 29. The decision to bring back Music at the Bank came from a resurgence of people interested in hearing music at the Artworks Center. Knoebel is thrilled to make the second floor a venue again.

“It has a really nice feel,” she said. “It makes you feel like you’re in a big city.”

The Artworks Center also has a full line up of classes planned for the fall. There will be a wildlife oil painting class on Sept. 10, Uncork & Create: Minnesota on Sept. 15 and many other classes throughout the season.

Kevin Strauss will also teach writing workshops as part of a six week series on Sept. 14, 21, 28 and Oct. 5, 12 and 19. It is not required for participants to attend all six events.

“It’s something new and different,” Knoebel said.

There will also be a puppet-making workshop in partnership with Z Puppets in Minneapolis on Nov 26. Children will create their puppet projects using items they find. Z Puppets will return in the spring for another workshop and performance.

“We don’t usually do a lot of family shows,” Knoebel said. “It’s a first opportunity to bring in a children’s theater show.”

With a full schedule of art, music and writing events, Austin residents will have plenty of opportunities to get their creative juices flowing throughout the season.

 

•Oct. 1: Charlie Parr, 7:30 p.m.

•Oct. 14: Davina and the Vagabonds, 7:30 p.m.

•Oct. 22: Caravan du Nord featuring Bad Bad Hats, 7 p.m.

•Nov. 4-6: Matchbox Children’s Theatre’s “Nick of Time!” (A Detective Red Mistletoe Mystery)

•Nov. 25: Jane Taylor Academy of Dance performs “The Nutcracker”

 Austin Artworks Center

•Sept. 10: Wildlife Oil Painting, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

•Sept. 14, 21, 28 and Oct. 5, 12, 19: Kevin Strauss Memoirs Workshop

•Sept. 15: Uncork & Create: Minnesota, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

•Sept. 16: Music at the Bank: Ian Hilmer, 7:30 p.m.

•Sept. 24: 5-1 Wrap Bracelets, 1-3 p.m.

•Oct. 4: Uncork and Create: Sunflowers, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

•Oct. 6: Glass Fusing with Jennifer Forbes: Intro to Glass Fusing

•Oct. 12: Kid’s Fused Glass Mosaic Handprint

•Oct. 29: Music at the Bank: Part Time Ex’s, 7:30 p.m.

•Nov. 1: Fused glass painted snowflake quilt

•Nov. 4: Dreamcatchers by Beth Hamilton

•Nov. 10: Duo Beads Wrap Bracelet jewelry class

•Nov. 16: Uncork and Create: Truck

•Dec. 2: Fold forming leaf earrings jewelry class

•Dec. 6: Uncork and Create: Let it snow

•Dec. 14: Kids fused glass Santa

•Dec. 15: Clay wheel throwing for various skill levels part 1

•Dec. 22: Clay wheel throwing for various skill levels part 2