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More than a simple weekend fest, this smorgasbord of live ensembles lays out your April calendar with 10 days of free, family-friendly music at one beloved Austin patio: outside the Central Market on North Lamar. Presented by the Austin Civic Wind Ensemble since 2006, this event’s ethos is all in the no-stone-unturned names: Try Armadillo Swing Band, ACC Jazz Ensemble I, Girl Scout Harp Ensemble, Austin Banjo Club, Kat’s Porch Jam, the Skylarks, or Blowcomotion. Friday kicks off the 17th edition with a night of Austin blues under singer-songwriter Woot Talley’s band and the horn-fueled Rhythm Congress. – Rachel Rascoe

If Daniel Johnston had suffered from Red Bull addiction, the ensuing aural chaos might’ve sounded something like freak-folk patron saint Emperor X. The brainchild of Jacksonville-bred nomad Chad Matheny, the project combines glitchy tape looping with the verbose songwriter’s nasal charm. Prismatic 2011 bender Western Teleport stands out as a strange and beautiful vision that could only come from the mind of a Berliner by way of Florida. Opener KindKeith provides virtuosic piano support with ultra-danceable recent drop “Can You Trust Me?”, while shoegazey DIYers Middle Mass round out the bill with a potent dose of melodic post-punk. – Genevieve Wood

Philadelphia-born/Brooklyn-based Ari Hoenig established himself early on as a drummer to watch. His dedication to both polyrhythmic exploration and drumming as co-lead of the music, rather than mere timekeeping, has made him a savvy leader, respected educator, and a side person par excellence with artists as diverse as veteran ivory-tickler Kenny Werner, Cameroon-born multi-instrumentalist Richard Bona, and French piano powerhouse Jean-Michel Pilc. As demonstrated on most recent album Golden Treasures, the drummer’s trio with pianist Gadi Lehavi and bassist Ben Tiberio plays with empathy, communication, and a commitment to experimentation without losing track of melody and groove. – Michael Toland