Kenny Dorham’s East End 4th Friday’s have become a standard affair for Friday happy-hour chillers; blues lovers, and East-side pub crawlers looking for a music groove away from the choas created by downtown scenesters. On Friday, September 26th, Kenny Dorham’s spotlights Afrofreque for evening session of backyard hip hop, soul and funk.

From NowPlayingAustin:

Austin’s East End Fourth Fridays! is a unique art and culture-driven monthly community-oriented event developed by DiverseArts to showcase the very specific cultural attributes and historical identity of Austin’s East End - the Soul in the heart of the City. The East End has been recognized by the City of Austin as an African-American Cultural Heritage District, and East End Fourth Fridays! helps showcase this cultural legacy for the benefit of the community. In partnership with neighborhood artists and businesses, cultural, civic, commercial, and governmental groups, this monthly event is designed to bring a relaxed, communal, open-air art and culture experience to the newly revitalized East End.

The venue was listed in the Stateman’s top 100 places to hear live music list a few years back. Read what they had to say:

Funny how any soft dip in the land can become a music venue in Austin. This grassy lot next to the Victory Grill bloomed into a family music spot this summer for blues, jazz and other delectibles. Multiethnic toddlers danced in toddler frenzy, mothers and aunts monitored from lawn chairs, while barbecue beckoned from behind the revelers. The stage, set against the midnight blue of the club’s walls, is low and long, but the lighting and sound are adequate. By the way, BYOB.

Kenny Dorham’s Backyard is located next door to Victory Grill in East Austin at 1106 E 11th St. The Backyard opens at 6pm. Cover is only $5 after 8:00pm and free for the kiddos under 12.