Musical mainstays Brian Keane and Rachel Loy are relocating to Nashville. Our friends at Fat Caddy Records are throwing a farewell party in their honor next Thursday at the Continental Club.

The intimate show will include performances from both Brian and Rachel, but will also host special guest performances from many of Brian and Rachel's musician friends here in Austin. We can't reveal the list to you yet, but trust us: they have ridiculously talented friends.
 
The show starts at 9:30 p.m. with a performance from Rachel, and Brian will follow at 10:45 p.m. At midnight, Brian and Rachel will invite those previously mentioned friends to join them on stage for an epic jam session that you will someday relate to your grandchildren as one of the greatest nights of your life.
 
One last reminder: the space in the Continental is friendly, but tight. The club is small and they have many, many friends. Make sure you get there early because we can't promise you'll be able to wish Brian and Rachel goodbye in person. It's sad, but true. Lonely hearts may search in vain, but the bustling commerce of Tennessee is where our heroes lay.

Sounds like a show that's not to be missed.

Stereogum gets the word out on yet another best of 2007 list, this time Harp's top 50 CDs. Artists with Texas ties include:

• 1: Okkervil River, The Stage Names
• 3: Iron & Wine, The Shepherd's Dog
• 4: Future Clouds & Radar, Future Clouds & Radar
• 6: Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
• 23: Bill Callahan, Woke On A Whaleheart
• 26: Steve Earle, Washington Square Serenade
• 33: St. Vincent, Marry Me
• 39: Patty Griffin, Children Running Through
• 43: Explosions In The Sky, All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone

I may have again missed a few while scanning through, so be sure to check out the full top 50 list.

I was excited yesterday to see that Justin Townes Earle has signed with Chicago's trend-setting Bloodshot Records. His feature-length debut, The Good Life, will be released next spring. In the meantime, Bloodshot will re-distribute Yuma, an EP from earlier this year.

With Justin Townes Earle's pedigree comes mixed blessings. As the son of legendary singer/songwriter Steve Earle, high expectations are the name of the game; but he's shown that he is up to the task, crafting stark portraits with elements of acoustic blues and folk. After a misspent youth in bluegrass/ragtime combo The Swindlers and the louder, more rocking The Distributors, the 25-year-old cleaned up his act, dropped his self-destructive habits and began to focus on songcraft. With inspirations as diverse as Townes Van Zandt (he was named in honor of the elder Earle's hero), The Replacements, Ray Charles and The Pogues, Justin forged his own brand of American roots music. His self-released EP Yuma received great notice in Nashville Scene, Leo Weekly, The Bohemian, Twangville and others, attracting the attention of Bloodshot Records. Look for Yuma to become available in wide release through Bloodshot soon.
 
The Good Life is produced by RS Field, who has made his mark on critically acclaimed albums by Billy Joe Shaver, Sonny Landreth, Webb Wilder and Buddy Guy. Recording is underway at House of David studios, the legendary room that has hosted sessions with George Jones, Yo La Tengo, Elvis Presley, Neil Young and countless others. Joining Earle in the studio are a cast of all-star players including longtime cohort Cory Yountes (Bobby Bare, Jr) on banjo and mandolin, pedal steel player master Pete Finney (Dixie Chicks, Patty Loveless), bassist Bryn Davies (Patty Griffin, Guy Clark), drummer Bryan Owings (Buddy Miller, Shelby Lynne), keyboardist Skylar Wilson and fiddle player Josh Hedley.

I first fell for Justin's music with his "Time You Waste" from Just An American Boy, and then lucked into a copy of his demo CD at SXSW in 2006. I'm already looking forward to The Good Life.

Stereogum spills the beans on Paste Magazine's top 100 CDs. This year's list includes several notable releases by artists with Texas ties, including:

• 10: Iron & Wine, The Shepherd's Dog
• 18: Miranda Lambert, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
• 24: Patty Griffin, Children Running Through
• 28: Mary Gauthier, Between Daylight and Dark
• 29: Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
• 44: Norah Jones, Not Too Late
• 67: St. Vincent, Marry Me
• 76: Okkervil River, The Stage Names
• 86: Ruthie Foster, The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster

I'm sure I missed a few while scanning through, so be sure to check out the full top 100 list.

I wish I was in Austin
In the Chili Parlor bar
Drinkin' mad dog margaritas
And not carin' where you are
 
But here I sit in Dublin
Just rollin' cigarettes
Holdin' back and chokin' back
The shakes with every breath
 
Forgive me all my anger
Forgive me all my faults
There's no need to forgive me
For thinkin' what I thought
I loved you from the get go
I'll love you till I die
I loved you on the Spanish steps
The day you said goodbye

I've been struggling with my music focus of late. There's just not much that's been grabbing my attention, and I've been questioning why I even care in the first place.

Now, after watching Guy and then finding some Heartworn Highways clips to share with these same friends, I remember what it is I love so about music.

Thanks, Guy. We each drank a mad dog margarita in your honor.

If you're around Austin this weekend, I highly recommend you check out the Texas Book Festival.

Now in its 12th year, the two-day event is a sprawling celebration of reading, writing, and culture. And you'll find plenty of music, too — from themed panel discussions to live performances and even family sing-alongs. And the best part is, it's all free.

Here's a quick run-down of the musical happenings in and around the state capitol this weekend.

Saturday panels

1:30-2:15
Jazz historian Dave Oliphant discusses his book Texas Jazz Mavericks, moderated by KUT's Jay Trachtenberg
Capitol Extension Room E2.026
 
2:00-2:45
Joe Ely performs from his book Bonfire of Roadmaps
Capitol Auditorium Room E1.004
 
3:00-3:45
New Yorker music critic Alex Ross on his new, critically acclaimed book The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century
Capitol Extension Room E2.010

Saturday performances in the Music Tent

10:00-11:00
Djembabes
 
11:00-12:00
Gypzee Heart
 
12:00-1:00
Joel Guzman and Sarah Fox
 
1:00-2:00
Ernie Mae Miller
 
2:00-3:00
Steven Fromholz
 
3:00-4:00
Jesse Sublett

Saturday performances in the Children's Entertainment Tent

11:00-12:00
Atash
 
12:00-1:00
Island Rhythms Hula Dance Company
 
1:00-2:00
Laura Freeman
 
2:00-3:00
Mr. Johnny and Sharon
 
3:00-4:00
Sara Hickman and the Super Pal Universe

Saturday performances on the South Steps of the Capitol

4:00-6:00
Concert on the Steps featuring Johnny Bush, Miss Lavelle White, and Joe Ely

Sunday panels

2:30-3:15
David N. Meyer discusses his new book Twenty Thousand Roads: The Ballad of Gram Parsons and His Cosmic American Music
Capitol Extension Room E2.014
 
3:30-4:30
Author Gail Folkins and photographer J. Marcus Weekley on their book Texas Dance Halls: A Two-Step Circuit
Austin Museum of Art

Sunday performances in the Music Tent

12:00-1:00
Women in Texas Music: Stories and Songs with author Kathleen Hudson and musician Ruthie Foster
 
1:00-2:00
Ephraim Owens
 
2:00-3:00
Kasey Lansdale and the Daletones
 
3:00-4:00
Kinky Friedman (performance and book discussion)
 
4:00-5:00
Marcia Ball

Sunday performances in the Children's Entertainment Tent

12:00-1:00
Kim Lehman
 
1:00-2:00
Joe McDermott
 
2:00-3:00
Rochelle Rabouin (storytelling and songs)
 
3:00-4:00
Chaski

See the official schedule for the full list of panels and performances.