SXSW may be getting the bulk of the music buzz right now, but two shows happening this Tuesday, March 12, remind us that it's all right to stay in Dallas this week: Alabama Shakes, which is as hot as any group out there right now, and They Might Be Giants, which doubles as 1990s nostalgia and children's act.
Like Fun and The Lumineers, Alabama Shakes has rocketed to fame over the last year. After releasing their debut album Boys & Girls in 2012, they were nominated for three Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist and Best Rock Performance for their hit song "Hold On." They play at the Palladium Ballroom at 8 pm, with Michael Kiwanuka, Sam Doores and Riley Downing as opening acts.
They Might Be Giants gained acclaim in the early '90s for songs like "Birdhouse in Your Soul," "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" and "Particle Man." They've recruited a different audience in recent years, making four children's albums since 2002.
Their last two albums have been aimed at adults, though, including the just-released Nanobots. Dallas is one of the first cities to see the band live since the album's release on March 5; they hit House of Blues Dallas alongside Moon Hooch at 7:30 pm.
Alabama Shakes plays at Palladium Ballroom on March 12.
Photo courtesy of Austin Rodeo
Alabama Shakes plays at Palladium Ballroom on March 12.
Making of a Million: Daytripping with The Nature Conservancy in Texas is free to watch online.
Thanks to a new three-part PBS docuseries, you don't need to go to all of Texas' protected lands and waters to appreciate their breadth. Making of a Million: Daytripping with The Nature Conservancy in Texas follows host of The Daytripper, Chet Garner, from West Texas to the coast, discussing conservation efforts by The Nature conservancy (TNC) along the way.
"Making of a Million" refers to the 1 million acres in Texas that fall under TNC's protection. The 1 million figure is a milestone TNC is celebrating with the series, but it's not the full extent of its work; actually, according to the 2025 annual report, its total impact is 1.6 million acres.
The Daytripping project has been rolled out slowly in 2026, from YouTube previews to an official release on PBS in April to events in Texas' biggest cities that formally introduced the works.
The 26-minute video shows off striking aerial images of mountains, close ups of plants and wildlife, and even a quick feature of an archeological find. Water, of course, is a big topic in the desert, and it's a large topic across the series. Fresh water even has its own dedicated episode.
Although conservation experts are consulted throughout the series, viewers can do more than passively watch other people solve environmental problems. One story, toward the end of the West Texas episode, highlights how a rancher directed researchers to a habitat for an endangered species of fish on his property, simply because he overheard a scientist at a café claim they were extinct.
Garner recently spoke on a panel after an Austin screening with TNC director of land protection Jeff Francell, spatial analyst Jacqueline Ferrato, and director of land protection/stewardship Dan Snodgrass. They discussed the series and the broader conservation topics it connects to.
“This new series really captures the spirit of our efforts and collaborations to protect Texas lands and water,” said Snodgrass in a recap for press. “Chet’s storytelling skills spotlight our partners and projects in a unique, engaging way — we’re excited for more Texans to see why conservation matters and learn how they can get involved.”
“Daytripping with The Nature Conservancy in Texas allowed us to visit some of the most amazing places in Texas and to meet people who are making a real difference for conservation,” said Garner. “Folks will love traveling with us across wildly diverse landscapes and learning the solutions shaping the future of our state’s biggest environmental challenges.”
While the series has already aired locally on KERA-TV, Dallas-Fort Worth viewers can check listings for encore presentations and watch the series for free on the Nature Conservancy's website or on YouTube.
