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Hello again!

I don't have anything cute or funny to say this week, because I want to keep it concise — a journalism professor in college once told me I was too verbose anyway. 

We list upcoming shows at the bottom of this newsletter every week, but it's not often they hit so close to home in the figurative sense. This Saturday, Sept. 19, The Kessler Theater is hosting the second annual Louder Than Stigma benefit show. The concert raises money to support Amplified Minds, a Dallas-based nonprofit that provides free mental health resources to artists in North Texas.

For many working musicians, healthcare (of any sort, really) is not common, so organizations like Amplified Minds are a crucial lifeline for our homegrown artists. Plus, the show will also feature an auction of custom pieces made by local visual artists, which means there are ~layers~ to supporting local, here.

Oh, and September is National Suicide Prevention Month. So, I implore you to consider catching some good music for a good cause this weekend. I actually caught up with Louder Than Stigma headliner Tye Harris, but you can read about that below. You can get tickets to the show right here.

See ya in the pit,

— Alec Spicer, Music & Culture Editor

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"The View" - Sunrise Academy

Maybe it's the slower, waning days of summer (I really don't care what the calendar says, September is still summer in Texas), but lately I've been gravitating toward easy, breezy listening. This week that has manifested in the new record titled "Don't Miss the Field Trip" from Dallas indie-pop duo Sunrise Academy. "The View" is a balmy track that works well for a walk around the neighborhood at sunset. What's more, you could press play on this record and just let it play from start to finish for the entirety of a warm stroll. Observer contributor Preston Barta caught up with the band in June to talk about the inspirations for the album, and spoiler alert: a lot of it is rooted in East Dallas pride. Happy listening!

Know a band, musician or venue we should feature? Use the contact button at the top of this email.

In the next few days

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