“I think music is a human right,” says Kate Waters. It’s an ethos that drives her art as well as her professional life; Waters is a neurologically-trained and Board-Certified music therapist, using music to bring healing and hope. And it’s hope—specifically the kind that’s hard fought-for—that is the undercurrent of Waters’ sophomore album of soulful Americana and first studio release, ‘Some Comfort’. On it, she finds light in every hardship, and never spares us the dirty, difficult work of searching for it. That honesty to the process lends even her most anthemic offerings a human authenticity, the feeling that we’ve stood by her side in every battle, and she, ours.

@Cactus_Music is excited to host @Maisy0wen on 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟯𝟭𝘀𝘁, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝗮𝘁 𝟱:𝟯𝟬 𝗣𝗠 with a live set to celebrate the release of her debut album, 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘺 𝘋𝘢𝘺, out now on CD & vinyl via @Tompkins_Square. As always, free refreshments courtesy of @SaintArnoldBrewing.

‍

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲‼️“For a debut album, ‘𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘺 𝘋𝘢𝘺’ arrives with remarkable assurance. Maisy Owen writes and performs with the confidence of an artist who has spent years quietly refining her craft, absorbing influences without becoming beholden to them. The result is a record that embraces folk traditions while refusing to be confined by them, balancing intimacy and expansiveness through songs that are emotionally direct yet rich with ambiguity.” -@BigTakeOverMag𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙈𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙮 𝙊𝙬𝙚𝙣:“Her high, clear, quite lovely, sometimes haunting voice is gently backed by harmonies, a lonely guitar, and a brush of drums. A timeless sound, easy to sink into.” - MOJO“There’s more to her than crystalline acoustic picking, her darkly poetic songs stand out from the throng. The sparse, melancholic purity of “On My Way Down” and “Letters” and the surging folk-rock of the title track are a testament to her versatility.” – UNCUT

Leslie Waugh didn’t just find her voice; she reclaimed her identity through the craft of the song. A Texas troubadour, Leslie’s journey began with a "yes" at a workshop that paired her with industry legends Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines. That fateful weekend transformed a curiosity into a calling, leading her to become the first woman to be given the dual honor of Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year in the same year by the Houston Songwriter Association.

‍

Her discography is a testament to resilience and evolution. After her debut, The White Cat Sessions, she collaborated with Maines and Hendrix as co-producers for the critically acclaimed on.ward. Known for a "woman’s perspective" that balances folk intimacy with Americana grit, Leslie recently completed her ambitious Vignettes from a Woman’s Serenade trilogy—a series of EPs co-produced with Pat Manske at the renowned Zone Recording Studio.

‍

In 2026, Leslie returns to the full-length format with her upcoming album, Night Bloom. Working once again with Manske, the new record explores a rich tapestry of driving alt-country and bittersweet folk tales. For Leslie, songwriting isn't just a career—it is an empowering assertion of self. "I am a songwriter," she says. "This is what I do, it’s who I am, and nobody can take that away from me."

‍

Houston guitarist Kelly Doyle returns with Thieves, a vivid, genre-defying instrumental album that plays like a film score for a movie that doesn't exist, but should. The record shifts effortlessly between ambient jazz, psychedelic exotica, and noirish Western motifs.

Recorded and mixed by Steve Christensen (Khruangbin, Steve Earle, Paul McCartney), the album’s raw, spacious sonics allow each track to breathe, expand, and evolve—letting personality and tension seep through every note. This is music for late drives, strange dreams, and the clarity that sometimes follows chaos.

‍

Purchase "Land of The Neon Sun" on CD or LP from our website, and receive a Priority Wristband for the In-Store Performance.

‍

Kam Franklin is ready for us to listen closer. She’s always had something to say, but years of critically acclaimed collaborations on music’s biggest stages pushed her toward a clear epiphany: The voice of Gulf Coast soul had to make something that was just hers.

“I needed something that’s mine,” Franklin says. “To create a space where I am able to challenge myself.”

With Land of the Neon Sun, Franklin clinches a personal win and delivers a 12-song joyride that honors Americana roots while embracing experimentation, individuality, and vulnerability. Co-produced by Franklin with sly alt-country hero Margo Price, the album marks Franklin’s first full-length solo record. It offers a snapshot of a brilliant artist who’s learned to lean into her perspective instead of to contort it into what anybody else has in mind. Franklin serves as her own muse, wielding a stubborn conscience that blurs the lines between art and advocacy. “This is my baby––my vision, my colors, truly my sound,” Franklin says. “I decided, okay, let me show people what I can do.”

‍

🗣️Calling all my Houston-area @BillyStrings fans! Join us here at @Cactus_Music on 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝗮𝘁 𝟲 𝗣𝗠 for a 𝓹𝓻𝓮-𝓻𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓮 listening party 🕺🎉 for his highly anticipated fifth studio album, 𝘚𝘰 𝘔𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘣𝘺𝘦𝘴. It is officially out 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟴𝘁𝗵, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 via @RepriseRecords / @WarnerRecords.

•𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 & 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱! ⠀⠀⠀

•𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁 for attendees. 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵.

•𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 of the album on release day

•𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝗻 prize for attendees. ⠀

•𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 include pizza from @StarPizzaHoustonTX and drinks from @SaintArnoldBrewing 🍕🍻 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲‼️The project is dedicated to his late mother, Debra Apostol, whose artwork graces its cover.“I made this record to honor my mother,” Strings said in a statement. “To notice and embrace this very significant period of grief in my life and make art from it. To turn my heartbreak into songs while using my guitar as a coping mechanism as I always have. It’s always been there for me to lean on through the hard times, and I figure it always will…until it’s my time to say goodbye.” Apostol died in 2025 of methamphetamine intoxication.

The Solar Flare Music Fest Mixtape is a snapshot of Houston's thriving independent music scene, featuring 30+ artists performing at this year's festival. Released by Club Juliette, the compilation spans indie rock, singer-songwriter, cyberfolk, psych rock, electronic, and everything in between, offering a chance to discover the artists bringing the festival to life.

🗣️Calling all my Houston-area @SaraBareilles fans! Join us here at @Cactus_Music on 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟮𝗻𝗱, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝗮𝘁 𝟰 𝗣𝗠 for a 𝓹𝓻𝓮-𝓻𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓮 listening party 🕺🎉 for her highly anticipated seventh studio album, 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧. It is officially out 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟴𝘁𝗵, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 via @EpicRecords.

• 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 & 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱! ⠀⠀

• 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁 for attendees. 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵.

• 𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 of the album on release day

• 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝗻 prize for attendees. ⠀⠀⠀

• 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 include pizza from @StarPizzaHoustonTX and drinks from @SaintArnoldBrewing 🍕🍻 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲‼️As the title implies, the 14-track collection is deeply informed by loss. It comes in different varieties, some belonging to Bareilles, some borrowed in service of beautiful storytelling. Sometimes the loss is more one of equilibrium or the inability to search for silver linings in storm clouds. But as the title also implies, 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧 has, even at its darkest depth, a glimmering golden lifeline that runs through the album pointing toward hope on the surface. “My deepest hope,” Sara says, “is that 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧 just provides some kind of comfort or catharsis for somebody. It feels like it’s really close to me, and my hope is that people feel closer to themselves listening to this record.”