Born from a desire to give back to their beloved city, the Purgatory Players call The Backstage at El Mercado their new home, where a Sunday morning atmosphere often begins with sleepy affection and grows to full-throttle merriment, groove, and shenanagans. Founders Scrappy Jud Newcomb and Jeff Plankenhorn are no strangers to sharing a stage. As members of the Resentments, the two guitarist/songwriters are familiar with the take-turns-singing-and-back-up-everyone style of show. Before long they added legendary Jon Dee Graham and eventually Seela to the mix as well as Jon Greene whose masterful drumming pulls everything together. Performing originals, covers, tributes, and sing-alongs - anything with a “spiritual vibe,” as Plank likes to say – this weekly show has been 3 years running. Fill-in artists and guests include stellar musicians from Austin and beyond: Guy Forsyth, Chuck Prophet, Warren Hood, Slaid Cleaves, David Halley, Nick Connley, Malford Milligan, David Grissom, Ephraim Owens, Miss Lavelle White, Sarah Elizabeth Campbell, Alex Ruiz, David Hamburger, Marvin Dykhuis, Noelle Hampton (The Belle Sounds), Rich Brotherton, …
Through the primitive ritual of passing a tip jar, the Player’s benevolent, breakfast taco-munching, mimosa-sipping patrons have provided over 60,000 meals to Central Texans in need via the efficient tendrils of the Capital Area Food Bank. The Purgatory Players Gospel Brunch – Sundays from 11 am – 1 pm at The Backstage at El Mercado 1302 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704
Proceeds benefit the Capital Area Food Bank.
