Sara Hickman, Dolly Parton, SIMS benefit and more this week in Austin

Saturday: Sara Hickman at El Mercado Backstage. Though this is being billed as the longtime local singersongwriter’s “final Austin performance,” it’s not the ultimate arrival of the retirement she announced earlier this year, as dates in Arlington and Houston remain on her itinerary for early 2017. And somehow we expect that Hickman will still pop up now and again. But for her most devoted fans, this clearly is a night not to miss. $20. 8 p.m. 1302 S. First St. elmercadorestaurant.com. — P.B.

Saturday: “Heart of the City” SIMS Foundation benefit at Emo’s. The full title of this event is “True stories, sordid confessions, and music from the heart of the city,” which means the musicians will not just be playing songs, but also sharing tales about them. This could get interesting. Participants include Charlie Sexton, Erika Wennerstrom, Israel Nash, Nakia, Kathy Valentine, Riders Against the Storm, the Grupo Fantasma Horns and the Jones Family Singers. Proceeds benefit the SIMS Foundation, which provides mental health services for Austin musicians and music industry professionals. $50. 8:30 p.m. 2015 Riverside Drive. simsfoundation.org. — P.B.

Monday: Bottle Rockets, Marshall Crenshaw at 3Ten. Some of the best pure-pop songs of the 1980s came from Crenshaw, whose knack for a classic melody on the likes of “Cynical Girl” and “Mary Anne” and his bespectacled boyish visage made him the perfect choice to play Buddy Holly in the Ritchie Valens biopic “La Bamba.” With a similar gift for catchy tunes but working more in the vein of dirtroad roots-rock, the Bottle Rockets became standard-bearers of 1990s altcountry with genre classics including “Welfare Music” and “Kerosene.” $25. 6:30 p.m. doors. 310 Willie Nelson Blvd. 3tenaustin.com. — P.B.

Tuesday: Dolly Parton at the Erwin Center. When Dolly Parton received the Country Music Association’s Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award a few weeks ago, it seemed like a no-brainer, as if you could just as easily give a Dolly Parton Lifetime Achievement Award to Willie Nelson. The two became good friends when they wrote for the same Nashville publishing company in the 1960s. Her current tour supports her new “Pure and Simple” album, but she’ll be playing songs from all phases of the six-decade career that made her an icon of American popular music. $49-$150. 7:30 p.m. 1701 Red River St. uterwincenter.com. — P.B.

Wednesday: Project ATX: Bringing It All Back Home at Stateside at the Paramount. In its third year, Project ATX has helped 18 local musicians perform at music festivals in Europe and Canada, increasing the visibility of Austin music abroad while helping to foster community among hometown players whose paths might not cross otherwise. This finale for the hometown crowd, a welcome new addition this year, will feature performances by 2016 participants Jai Malano, Elijah Ford, Grace Park, Andy Bianculli, Beth Chrisman and Tate Mayeux. The evening also will include guest appearances by ATX6 alumni Carson McHone, Leo Rondeau, Dana Falconberry and Mrs. Glass, as well as a short documentary screening about the project. $15. 8 p.m. 719 Congress Ave. projectatx6.com. — P.B.

Wednesday: Sad13 at Mohawk indoor. If you’ve never heard of Sad13, you might still know who it is: Massachusetts indie band Speedy Ortiz has played Austin many times, earning raves for performances at SXSW and at Fun Fun Fun Fest, and Sad13 is a new side-project of singer Sadie Dupuis. “Slugger,” the first Sad13 album, came out last month; there’s enough common ground between Sad13 and Speedy Ortiz that if you’re a fan of the latter, you’ll probably want to catch this show, too. $10. 9 p.m. 912 Red River St. mohawkaustin.com. — P.B.

Good Vibrations III at Barracuda and Hotel Vegas

Weary Boys at Continental Club (with Leo Rondeau Friday, Croy & the Boys Saturday) Steve Vai at the Paramount Michael Martin Murphey’s Cowboy Christmas at One World Theatre Yelawolf at Empire George Porter Jr. & the Runnin’ Pardners, Conjunto Los Pinkys at Antone’s

Bonnie Bishop, Graham Wilkinson at 3Ten Metalachi at Stubb’s Ooze Fest 2K16 with Ringo Deathstarr, Troller at Beerland Dubfire at Kingdom Dale Watson, Rosie Flores at White Horse

Joe King Carrasco at El Mercado Backstage Tomar & the FC’s at ABGB Greezy Wheels at Cactus Cafe

Eve & the Exiles at Evangeline Cafe Keb’ Mo’ at the Paramount David Halley CD release at Townsend

David Wax Museum at Cactus Cafe

Kabaka Pyramid at Flamingo Broncho at the Sidewinder Moving Panoramas, Lowin at ABGB

Atash, Bonnie Whitmore at One-2-One Bar

Deadhorse, Black Thorn Halo at Grizzly Hall

Mike Stinson at Little Longhorn Saloon

Gary Clark Jr. at the Paramount (Sunday-Monday sold out, limited availability Tuesday)

Seu Jorge (“The Life Aquatic” Bowie Tribute) at ACL Live

A Gospel According to Jazz Christmas with Kirk Whalum, Norman Brown and Keiko Matsui at One World Theatre

Sect, Body Pressure at Mohawk indoor

Ian Moore acoustic duo at Strange Brew

Soul of a Musician series with Daisy O’Connor & Shawnee Kilgore at Iron Cactus North

Josh Fulero, Miss Lavelle White at Antone’s

Sophia Johnson Band at ABGB

Timberos del Norte at One2-One Bar

Michael Koppy at Opa Coffee & Wine Bar Asleep at the Wheel at Waterloo Records

Samantha Fish, Lightnin Malcom at Antone’s

Church on Monday with Elias Haslanger & James Polk at Continental Gallery

Mystery Monday with Shake Russell & Michael Hearne at El Mercado Backstage

Chris Duarte Group at One2-One Bar

Kathryn Legendre at White Horse

Oh Hellos Christmas Extravaganza at Emo’s

Durawa with Los Jazz Vatos at Strange Brew

David Bromberg at One World Theatre

The Sounds, Zipper Club, My Jerusalem at Emo’s

Israel Nash, Duncan Fellows at Antone’s

Octopus Project at Beerland

The Sounds, Zipper Club, My Jerusalem at Emo’s Warren Hood at ABGB Texas Radio Live fifth birthday party at Guero’s

James Hand at Threadgill’s North King’s X at Parish Mark Hummel’s Golden State-Lone Star Revue featuring Anson Funderburgh & Little Charlie Baty at Antone’s Jeff Black at Cactus Cafe Mr. Lewis & the Funeral 5, Saints of Second Chances, Bluebonnets at Townsend

Nightowls Christmas party with Kalu James at Continental Club

Jaimee Harris, John Inmon at One-2-One Bar

Jai Malano, Los Coast, Paul Oscher at C-Boy’s