As a crowd gathered at Republic Square Park to watch the University of Texas football team take on New Mexico on Saturday night, another group came together around the corner at ACL Live for a much different reason to pay tribute to Brent Grulke, the longtime creative director for SXSW music who died on Aug. 13 at age 51.

"Brent used to say things like ‘rock is for kids' — but it also makes you feel like a kid," KUT DJ Jeff McCord, who served as emcee for the night, said from the stage.

Sixteen Deluxe, Wannabes, Fastball, Wild Seeds, the Reivers, Doctors' Mob, Glass Eye and True Believers performed. Grulke worked with many of them directly as a sound man, producer, or manager. All proceeds from Grulkefest: A Celebration of Brent will go to an education fund set up for Grulke's young son, Graham.

Despite the sad circumstances for the gathering, the bands confirmed what McCord said. People on the floor in front of the stage danced, practically moshing at times, like ACL Live was one of the small, poorly lit rock clubs where the bands played decades ago.

When the Reivers took the stage at 9 p.m., people filled the lower two levels of the theater. McCord explained that though they'd been "hiding out under an assumed name," the band has been in the studio and will be back with a new album by the end of the year.

Doctors' Mob delivered punky bar rock; Glass Eye guitarist Kathy McCarty pointed to a different side of Grulke — one that always treated female musicians seriously as artists.

True Believers wrapped up with a set that stretched over an hour. Alejandro Escovedo and Jon Dee Graham wielded guitars side by side in an electric finish to the night. "If Brent was here right now he'd be laughing his (expletive) off," Graham said.

Then a somber note, with Alejandro and Jon Dee remaining on stage together. "Shhhh," Graham whispered. "For Graham." Then, in his gravelly voice, he began "Sleep Enough to Dream": "My father died on a bed of fire."

To donate to the Graham Grulke Education Fund, visit sxsw.com/brent-grulke.

HAAM benefit day scheduled. The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians has set its annual benefit day as Tuesday, Oct. 2. The daylong event will feature performances from more than 230 local bands at businesses and clubs in town. Participating businesses donate 5 percent of the day's proceeds to HAAM, which provides low-cost health care to Austin musicians. Last year's HAAM benefit day raised $235,000 from more than 200 businesses.

Marcia Ball, Erin Ivey, Kevin Russell, Carlos Sosa and The Tripps will appear in television spots promoting the event. Visit www.myhaam.org for more information.

Fun Fun Fun Fest announces schedule. Fun Fun Fun Fest, which takes place Nov. 2-4 at Auditorium Shores, has announced the daily schedule of performances. The recently reunited Run-DMC will headline on the Orange Stage Friday night. X performing "Los Angeles" overlaps with that set on the Black Stage.

On Saturday, Girl Talk, Refused, Diamond Rugs and A$AP Rocky all close out the night at the same time. Public Image Ltd. plays from 7:50 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. on the Orange Stage.

On Sunday, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Etienne De Crecy and Turbonegro all play in the final time slot. The schedule for FFF Nites is also up.

Single-day tickets ($75) and a limited number of discounted three-day passes for students ($140) are also on sale at funfunfunfest.com.

In brief: ACL Fest will sell a limited number of three-day passes to high school and college students on Friday, Sept. 21. The sale will take place at the H-E-B Plus at 2508 Riverside Drive. Tickets are $185 and can be purchased with cash only.

A valid school ID is also required and there is a two-ticket limit for each person. Numbers guaranteeing a spot in line will be handed out at 6 a.m. For more information visit www.aclfestival.com. ... New shows at ACL Live include Steve Winwood (Nov. 25) and Erykah Badu (Oct. 11).

Contact Peter Mongillo at pmongillo@statesman.com; 445-3696