The Wheel Workers are a Houston-based band that combines the social consciousness of The Clash and Fugazi with musical influences like The Flaming Lips, The Decembrists, REM, The Shins, and Arcade Fire.

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The Wheel Workers can be described as less of a singular band and more of a Texas-based underground indie music collective that spans two decades and more than 15 contributing members.

The group is currently composed of lead singer, guitarist, keyboardist, violinist Steven Higginbotham (the longest standing member and group founder), guitarist and keyboardist Craig Wilkins, keyboardist and singer Erin Rodgers, bassist Zeek Garcia and drummer Kevin Radomski. Their latest project, “Harbor,” released August 2022, was recorded over the span of a three year period (interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that Higginbotham was in law school while recording) in Higginbotham’s home recording studio. It also comes after Higginbotham fractured his larynx and thought he would never sing again. Now, nearly three years after the fracture, Higginbotham feels stronger vocally, due to all the work he put in during speech therapy and tailored voice lessons. The record was produced and mixed by their long-time pal, acclaimed producer Dan Workman, who helped shape and craft the songs into their final form, creating a record that showcases the band’s eclectic underground indie rock prowess with fuzzy guitars and synthesizers.

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Houston Friends, we are happy to welcome Elektra artist @MaisieHPeters to the @Cactus_Music stage for an intimate wristband in-store performance & signing on Thursday, October 5th at 1 PM!⠀⠀⠀⠀

𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀:👇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

1. Starting TODAY, Saturday, September 16th, you can buy your copy of ‘The Good Witch’ on our online store 👉(HERE) to get a wristband to attend the event—one wristband per item per person. 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗗 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗣 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

2. 𝗜𝗡-𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗞-𝗨𝗣 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬 for the event. No shipping. 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟭𝟬/𝟬𝟱/𝟮𝟯, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝟭𝟬 𝗔𝗠! ⠀⠀⠀⠀

3. 𝗡𝗢 𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗦!⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

4. Fans will also receive a commemorative poster of the event. 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟭𝟬/𝟬𝟱/𝟮𝟯! ⠀⠀⠀

5. Capacity is limited. So don't miss out on this intimate event. 𝗠𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 @𝗛𝗢𝗕𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 for #TheGoodWitchComesToNorthAmerica Tour!

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With her tuneful acoustic folk-pop songs and youthful charm, British singer/songwriter Maisie Peters earned a widespread YouTube following in the mid-2010s. In 2017, when Peters was 17, her debut single, "Place We Were Made," became a viral hit, amassing millions of streams. Over the next couple of years, she released a pair of EPs, Dressed Too Nice for a Jacket (2018) and It's Your Bed Babe, It's Your Funeral (2019), all of which found her embracing an ever more sophisticated pop aesthetic. In 2022, she hit the Top Ten in the U.K. with her full-length debut, You Signed Up for This, before delivering more-effusive singles like "Cate's Brother" and "Body Better."

A natural storyteller who wrote her first song when she was nine, the West Sussex native began uploading her songs to YouTube in 2015, quickly earning fans and comparisons to artists like Birdy and Taylor Swift, the latter of whom Peters cites as an early influence. By the time she released the winsome "Place We Were Made" in the summer of 2017, her already loyal fan base helped the song go viral, resulting in widespread exposure and millions of streams. She followed up later that year with the similarly stripped-down piano ballad "Birthday" before returning in 2018 with the more polished and pop-oriented "Worst of You." By year's end, she had delivered her first EP, Dressed Too Nice for a Jacket.

The 2019 single "Favorite Ex" saw Peters reconnecting with her acoustic folk side, while her EP It's Your Bed Babe, It's Your Funeral was a full-on pop release. A slew of singles arrived in 2020, including "Smile," "Daydreams," and "Sad Girl Summer," and in 2021, she released "Funeral" featuring James Bay, which appeared on her soundtrack for Season Two of the Apple TV+ original series Trying. Finally, in August of that year, Peters delivered her debut full-length, You Signed Up for This. A success in the U.K., it reached number two on the album chart, thanks in part to its lead single, "Psycho." Several non-album tracks followed, including "Cate's Brother" and "Not Another Rockstar" in 2022 and "Body Better" in 2023.

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Batty Jr. is a psychedelic-freak-folk-scrap-dish-music band, born and raised in Austin, TX. Fronted by songwriter Tansen "Zeke" Jarmon (guitar), they have been captivating audiences in Austin and beyond since 2015.  Sadie Wolfe (cello), Conner Church (drum kit), and Ry Black (bass) round out the sound - often described as high-pitch, barely audible screeches that they project onto the walls in order to locate objects in the room.

‍Their albums have been warmly received by the local music community- described as having "brilliant lyrics, identity, melody, humor" (Shakey Graves),  and “the freshness and the authenticity of someone who probably doesn't look in the mirror too much," (Do512). After having composed and recorded their first score for film, The Batt's will be on tour this summer in support of their new album "DO A U E!"

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Since its founding in 2002, Musiqa has performed the works of nearly 300 living composers, including over seventy world premieres, across the Houston area and beyond. We've commissioned music from a wide range of national and international composers, but nothing is more important to us than supporting emerging composers shaping the music of tomorrow - and especially those making work in our hometown. The six compositions on our new album - "Made in Houston: Volume 1" - were all commissioned by Musiqa.  Join us at Cactus for the release of this record and a performance of "Burning" for string quartet by Nicky Sohn.

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Buxton will release a completely remastered version of their 2008 album, A Family Light, for the first time on vinyl to celebrate the record's 15 year anniversary on Friday, 9/15/23.

“Despite the old cliché, the inspiration for this album stemmed from heartbreak,” describes band member Sergio Trevino. “Fresh out of a failed relationship, I took to writing, resisting the temptation to create bitter or angsty love songs. I tried to channel my emotions into something larger. Looking back, with the benefit of time and distance from the album, I realize that it kinda became a response to my observations of the family dynamics, and how strange and complicated those predetermined roles are.”

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Houston, you are invited to an early listening event for #KylieMinogue’s new album before its official release date of 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 September 22nd! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

‘𝗧𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻’⠀𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆⠀⠀⠀
𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟭𝘀𝘁, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 ⠀
𝟱:𝟯𝟬-𝟲:𝟯𝟬𝗣𝗠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Enter to win a Kylie Tote Bag⠀
• Attendees will receive an event poster⠀
• Free refreshments provided ⠀⠀⠀
• A chance to pre-order a copy of the album 🫶⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲‼️⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

‘Tension’ is a record of euphoric, empowered dance floor bangers and sultry pop cuts. Discussing ‘Tension,’ Kylie says, “I started this album with an open mind and a blank page. Unlike my last two albums, there wasn’t a ‘theme’; it was about finding the heart or the fun or the fantasy of that moment and always trying to service the song. I wanted to celebrate each song’s individuality and to dive into that freedom. I would say it’s a blend of personal reflection, club abandon, and melancholic high.” ⠀

The Classic Rock Bob Reader collects 130 interviews with musicians conducted over a span of nearly 35 years by longtime music journalist Bob Ruggiero, whose specialty is the genre.

This book includes frank and revealing talks with Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and/or A-list artists like Gregg Allman, Ian Anderson, Alice Cooper, Ronnie James Dio, Ray Davies, Don Felder, Peter Frampton, Sammy Hagar, Rob Halford, Joan Jett, Meat Loaf, Kenny Loggins, Graham Nash, Joe Perry, Todd Rundgren, Boz Scaggs, Rick Springfield, Eddie Van Halen, Joe Walsh, Ann Wilson, Brian Wilson. Also members of: Bad Company, Blue Öyster Cult, Box Tops, Buckinghams, Buffalo Springfield, Byrds, Cactus, Chicago, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Doobie Brothers, E Street Band, Foghat, Genesis, Go-Go’s, Grand Funk Railroad, Journey, Little Feat, Loverboy, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker Band, MC5, Moody Blues, Nazareth, Night Ranger, Pablo Cruise, Paul Revere & the Raiders, Ramones, Rascals, Santana, Sonics, Steppenwolf, Styx, Talking Heads, Thin Lizzy, Three Dog Night, Traffic, Toto, Turtles, Vanilla Fudge, WAR, Wishbone Ash, Yes, & the Zombies.

Bob Ruggiero has contributed features to print and online publications including The Houston Press, The Houston Chronicle, The Village Voice, Texas Music, Creative Loafing, ClassicRockRevisited.com, and RocksBackPages.com. He is also the author of Slippin’ Out of Darkness, an unauthorized biography of the band WAR, also available at local retailers. See more of his work at ClassicRockBob.com.

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The Mighty Orq & Allen Hill will be performing together on the Cactus Music stage during Bob Ruggiero's Book Event!

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The Mighty Orq is one of Texas’s most exceptional and hardest-working talents. Born in Houston, Orq has a sound that is as diverse and unique as his home town. His music is a blend of delta blues, bluesgrass, folk, roots and psychedelic rock. Or more succinctly, Gulf Coast Roots Music.

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Long known as a stand-out singer and guitarist, Orq has matured both as a writer and arranger as heard on his 2016 release, “Love In A Hurricane,” and as a solo performer on his 2019 album “Solo at the Bugle Boy,” a live album recorded at the famed central Texas listening room and released on YAWP Records.

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During the pandemic  Orq developed a live streaming series called The Stay at Home Sessions, that allowed him to continue performing. The concert series became a staple of Mighty Orq fans, and hosted Texas music luminaries such as  SHINYRIBS, Guy Forsyth,  and New Orleans harmonica virtuoso, Jason Ricci.

Orq continues to perform throughout the region, and is currently recording a new album set for release in 2023.

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