Corbyn Besson takes Emo’s Austin on August 12 — a co-headline slot with Soulidified that signals exactly where both acts stand right now. Besson, the Dallas-born co-founder of Why Don’t We (he was 17 in 2016 when the band formed), has built a credible solo trajectory with breakthrough singles like “Summer” and “Tied Up,” plus his debut EP HEAD FIRST, which landed the TYUZU (TWICE) feature “BLINK.” He’s not arena-ready yet, and he’s not a tiny-room discovery anymore. Emo’s is the right stage for watching what comes next.
Soulidified, his co-headliner, occupies that same space — they emerged directly from Netflix’s Building the Band in 2024. The four-member group (Landon Boyce, Malik Heard, Shade Jenifer, Bradley Rittmann) pulls from 90s R&B and pop, and they’ve released “One & Only” (2025) and “What’s Your Name” (2026). Both acts are on identical touring arcs: serious production ambitions, serious momentum, not quite ready for the big rooms but close. The booking makes immediate sense.
Emo’s, located at 2015 East Riverside Drive, is the right room for this moment — state-of-the-art sound and lighting that gives both acts space to prove they belong bigger. Doors at 7 p.m.
If you tracked Besson through Why Don’t We and want to know where he’s landed solo, or you’re keeping tabs on pop’s next rising wave, this is worth your time. Tickets on Ticketmaster.