One of my favorite free music series, the kind that can brighten up that routine lunch hour, is Sonidos del Barrio, sponsored by the Austin Latino Music Association (ALMA). These will be every Friday in May, from noon to 1 pm, outdoors at the new city hall.

May 07: Ruben Ramos and the Texas Revolution
May 13: Patricia Vonne
May 20: Los Texas Wranglers
May 27: Alfonso Ramos y su orquesta

Ruben Ramos, el mero mero gato negro, always has real, not synthesized, brass, sometimes just a trumpet and sometimes more. This group is unusual in that the accordion is piano, not button.

Patricia Vonne is the sister of Robert Rodriguez and has been playing around town more and more, but I keep missing her gigs.

The Texas Wranglers are a very good local conjunto and they’ll be playing often around town for the next month or so. In the Austin traditional style of Johnny Degollado and his conjunto, there’s a saxophone with this group.

Alfonso Ramos and su orquesta (as is true also of Ruben Ramos) practically is never to be heard for free. He and Ruben are brothers.

Not having Patricia Vonne, I can’t say, but the other three play for people to dance. It’s reported that there’ll be some food for sale at these events.