Sara Hickman

Sara Hickman plays McGonigel's Mucky Duck on Saturday, October 24, at 6 PM. For anyone who's followed the Houston folk and pop scene over the years, the name is likely familiar. Hickman is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter whose career has spanned more than three decades, and this is a homecoming of sorts—she was born here to visual artist parents.

Her background is a bit wider than most people realize. She earned a BA in painting from the University of North Texas and worked as a music and art therapist, eventually receiving a lifetime achievement award from the National Association of Music Therapists. Since she launched her career in 1988, she's released more than 20 albums, appeared twice on The Tonight Show, and hosted programs for VH-1. She's also acted in film and on stage, lent her voice to national ad campaigns, and runs her own music catalog. On top of all that, she's an accomplished visual artist in her own right.

Much of her work has gone toward charity. Her music has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for nonprofits including Habitat for Humanity, SAFE, SPCA, the Ugandan Fistula Fund, and Hill Country Youth Ranch. In 2019, her hand-drawn Texas Musicians Coloring Book (Volume 1) brought in over $12,000 for charity. Beyond the music, she leads restoration efforts for the historic Sanford Community Center and directs MossFest at Austin's Zilker Park.

It's an early show, so you can be in and out before the night really gets going. The set is at McGonigel's Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk St, Houston, TX 77098, starting at 6 PM on Saturday, October 24.