Highway Lights Perform "The Power of a Planet"

Austin ambient classical group Highway Lights returns to Alembic to perform their new album Power of a Planet. This 50-minute performance of meditative cello and ambient synthesizer is themed around Saturn, with each movement inspired by a different moon of the ringed planet. Spiritual minimalism meets astral projection. Real space music.

Doors at 7:30, show at 8pm. This event is in-person and streamed online.

Highway Lights is pianist Justin Sherburn (Okkervil River) and cellist Sara Nelson (David Byrne, Austin Symphony). Their performances have been called “stunning and transcendent” by the Austin Chronicle. Influenced by Brian Eno, Arvo Pärt, and modern ambient artists such as Stars of the Lid, their music blends sweeping cello solos with immersive drone soundscapes—an ideal accompaniment for meditation or any mindful listening environment.

Sara Nelson is a member of the Austin Symphony Orchestra and has performed with world-renowned artists such as Stevie Wonder, Lyle Lovett, and Terry Bozzio. A founding member of the Tosca String Quartet, she has recorded and toured extensively with David Byrne. Her cello work has been featured in films such as Waking Life and the TV series From Dusk Till Dawn.

Justin Sherburn has had a varied career as a recording artist and touring musician, working with Okkervil River and 8 1/2 Souvenirs, among others. He has shared the stage with legends including Willie Nelson, Roky Erickson, Brian Setzer, and Wilco, and has appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, as well as performing at major festivals worldwide.

Preview the first track on Power of the Planet

Learn more about Highway Lights

Host or Publisher The Berkeley Alembic Foundation