It’s almost South by Southwest time. The multi-day festival takes place every March in Austin, Texas and if you’re a die-hard music fan, you’ll have tons of opportunities to see big bands in small venues.
You also can discover a bunch of new favorites like I have the last two years. A lot of bands release new music around SXSW. I got to see Courtney Barnett a few days before her critically-acclaimed album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit came out in 2015. I got to see British rockers Wolf Alice play a bunch of shows that year a few months before their album dropped.
You can do SXSW without spending hardly any money. When I went in 2015, I didn’t plan my trip in time to get an official wristband through the blog I wrote for at the time. Instead, I RSVP’d to all of the parties that were unofficial ones — many of which had free food and free beer. Keep this page bookmarked and check it periodically.
FREEBIES:
Sign up for the Mazda Express at SXSW now to get free rides throughout Austin.
MONDAY, MARCH 13
A.V. Club & The Onion Present: Just Another Manic Monday
Mohawk Austin, 912 Red River St.
Performers: Sylvan Esso, SOHN, Noname, Lizzo, Mothers
3:30 PM to 12 AM midnight (FREE)
TUESDAY, MARCH 14
Stereogum Mazda Studio
Empire, 606 E. 7th St.
Performers: 8PM – MOTHERS, 9PM – Hurray For the Riff Raff, 10PM – Julie Byrne, 11PM – Girlpool, 12AM – Real Estate, 1AM – Sleigh Bells
7 PM to 2 AM (FREE, RSVP)
SPIN day party
Empire, 606 E. 7th St.
Performers: 1PM – Kweku Collins, 2PM – Sofi Tukker, 3PM – The Drums, 4PM – Lil’ Yachty
Lagunitas presents Austin Bug Out
Scoot Inn, 1308 E. 4th St.
Performers: Thee Oh Sees, Lizzo, Night Beats, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Diet Cig
11 AM (FREE, RSVP)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15
Waterloo Records showcase
600 N. Lamar Blvd.
Performers: 12PM – Hurray For the Riff Raff, 1PM – TBA, 2PM – Robyn Hitchcock & Emma Swift, 3PM – Modern English, 4PM -Gabriel Garzon Montano, 5PM – Jo Jo, 6PM – Nick Grant
FREE, no RSVP required
COLLiDE at Bar96 Presented by TWIX
Bar 96, 96 Rainey St.
Performers: 2PM – Ten Tonnes, 3PM – Smoke Season, 4PM – Yoke Lore, 5PM – Kweku Collins, 6PM – Bridgit Mendler, 9PM – Lillie Mae, 10PM – San Fermin, 11PM – BANKS
1 PM to 7 PM, 8:30 PM to 12 AM (FREE, RSVP)
Noisey presents BonFire Sessions
Cheer Up Charlies, 900 Red River St.
Performers: Lil’ Yachty, Noname, Tei Shi, Ian Sweet, No Win
8:30 PM to 2 AM (21+, FREE, RSVP)
StubHub Live Soundstage
Banger’s, 79 Rainey St.
Performers: Sleigh Bells, Hamilton Leithauser, Wild Belle, Betty Who, Mondo Cozmo, The Shelters, Dams of the West, Alex Lahey, Sundara Karma
DOORS at 1 PM (FREE, RSVP)
Taco Bell Feed the Beat night party
Lustre Pearl, 94 Rainey St.
Performers: 8:30PM – Beach Slang, 9:30PM – Bleached, 10:30PM – Minus the Bear, 11:30PM – Bishop Briggs, 12:30AM – Marian Hill
8PM to 2 AM (FREE, RSVP)
Taco Bell Feed the Beat day party
Lustre Pearl, 94 Rainey St.
Performers: 1PM – Maybird, 2PM – The Big Moon, 3PM – Mondo Cozmo, 4PM – San Fermin, 5PM – Jay Som, 6PM – Lewis del Mar
12PM to 7PM (FREE, RSVP)
House of VANS night party
Mohawk, 912 Red River St.
Performers: 7:15PM – The Big Moon, 8:15PM – Temples, 9:05PM – Denzel Curry, 10:15PM – At The Drive-In, 11:45PM – Polica, 1AM – The Black Angels
6 PM to 2 AM (FREE, priority to wristbands/badges)
British Music Embassy party
Latitude 30, 512 San Jacinto Blvd.
Performers: 2:10PM – Meilyr Jones, 3PM – Charlie Cunningham, 3:50PM – Let’s Eat Grandma, 4:40PM – Mt. Wolf, 5:30PM – Flamingods
2 PM to 6 PM (FREE, RSVP, priority to wristbands/badges)
Stereogum Mazda Studio day party
Empire, 606 E. 7th St.
Performers: 1PM – Tkay Maidza, 2PM – Hand Habits, 3PM – Jamila Woods, 4PM – The New Pornographers
12 PM to 5 PM (FREE, RSVP)
SPIN evening showcase
Empire, 606 E. 7th St.
Performers: 8PM – Allison Crutchfield & The Fizz, 9PM – Hippo Campus, 10PM – Japanese Breakfast, 11PM – Bibi Bourelly, 12AM – DJ Esco, 1AM – Danny Brown
7 PM to 1 AM (FREE, RSVP)
UO Live in Austin
Space 24 Twenty, 2420 Guadalupe St.
Performers: 12PM – Hoops, 1PM – Slow Dancer, 2PM – Savoy Motel, 3PM – Diet Cig, 4PM – Alex Cameron, 5PM – Minus the Bear, 7PM – Kodie Shane
12PM to 8 PM (FREE)
The Showtime House celebrates I’m Dying Up Here
Clive Bar, 609 Davis St.
Performers: 3PM – Zipper Club 4PM – The Wild Reeds 5PM – The Relationship (Brian Bell of Weezer) 6PM – Bleached 9PM – Magic Giant 10PM – Nick Waterhouse 11PM – Grandmaster Flash (DJ set)
2PM to 12 AM (FREE, RSVP)
Lagunitas presents Austin Bug Out
Scoot Inn, 1308 E. 4th St.
Performers: Sylvan Esso, Bleached, Hippo Campus, Paul Thorn & the McCrary Sisters, The Shelters
11 AM (FREE, RSVP)
South by San Jose
Hotel San Jose parking lot, 1316 S Congress Ave.
Performers: Barbara Lynn, Sara Watkins, Chastity Belt, Allison Crutchfield, Jay Som, The Dove and The Wolf, Emily Gimble
12PM (FREE)
Secret Sounds
The Sidewinder, 715 Red River St.
12 PM to 6 PM (FREE, RSVP)
Celebration by Beardbrand
Rattle Inn, 610 Nueces St.
Performers: Durand Jones & The Indications, A Giant Dog, Rusty Razors, and more
6 PM to 11 PM (FREE, RSVP)
The Midcoast Takeover
Shangri La, 1016 E. 6th St.
Performers: Not a Planet, Vigil and Thieves, Verbose, Tok, and more
12 PM (FREE, RSVP)
THURSDAY, MARCH 16
Luck Reunion
Willie Nelson’s Luck, TX Ranch
Performers: Willie Nelson & Family; Conor Oberst & Friends ft. M. Ward, Felice Brothers; Margo Price; Valerie June; Big Thief; Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real; Parker Millsap; and more
GA tickets $70.00 + fees
Waterloo Records showcase
600 N. Lamar Blvd.
Performers: 12PM – Minus the Bear, 1PM – Dams of the West (of Vampire Weekend), 2PM – Real Estate, 3PM – Chicano Batman, 4PM – Spiral Stairs (of Pavement), 5PM – TBA, 6PM – TBA
FREE, no RSVP required
VIBE day party
Performers: 1PM – R.Lum.R, 2PM – Rapsody, 3PM – Jojo, 4PM – Talib Kweli (with live band)
12 PM to 5 PM (FREE, RSVP)
We Are One pres. by GIRLSCHOOL LA + TOMS
TOMS, 1401 S. Congress Ave.
Performers: Kate Nash (acoustic), Madam Gandhi, The Regrettes, Overcoats
5 PM to 9 PM (FREE, RSVP)
StubHub Live Soundstage
Banger’s, 79 Rainey St.
Performers: 2PM – Dude York, 3PM Matt Meason, 4PM – Gutxi Bibang, 5PM – NE-HI, 6PM – Pell, 9PM – Bleached, 10PM – Sofi Tukker, 11PM – Electric Guest, 12AM – BANKS
DOORS at 1 PM (FREE, RSVP)
Pitchfork Day Party
French Legislation Museum, 802 San Marcos St.
Performers: 12PM – Downtown Boys, 12:30PM – Julie Byrne, 1PM – Priests, 1:30PM – PWR BTTM, 2PM – Kweku Collins, 2:30PM – Vagabon, 3PM – Jamila Woods, 3:30PM – Jay Som, 4PM – Noname, 4:30PM – Lydia Ainsworth, 5PM – Jidenna
12 PM to 6 PM (FREE, SET TIMES)
COLLiDE at Bar96 Presented by TWIX
Bar 96, 96 Rainey St.
Performers: 2PM – Hideout, 3PM – Kaiydo, 4PM – Overcoats, 5PM – POWERS, 6PM – James Harvey, 9PM – JAIN, 10PM – Betty Who, 11PM – White Denim
1 PM to 7 PM, 8:30 PM to 12 AM (FREE, RSVP)
Southwest Invasion
Rooftop of Whole Foods, 525 N. Lamar Blvd.
Performers: 11AM – Durand Jones & The Indications, 11:35AM – The Skins, 12:10PM – Ggoolldd, 12:45PM – The Dig, 1:25PM – Party Baby, 2:05PM – Youngr, 2:50PM – Jjuujjuu, 3:40PM – Froth, 4:30PM – Deap Vally, 5:20PM – Night Beats
11 AM to 7 PM (FREE, RSVP)
House of VANS day party
Mohawk, 912 Red River St.
Performers: 12PM – Klyne, 12:30PM – Bleached, 1PM – Billie Eilish, 1:30PM – Sofi Tukker, 2PM – Potty Mouth, 2:30PM – San Fermin, 3PM – Sundara Karma, 3:30PM – The Drums, 4PM – Blaenavon, 4:30PM – Hippo Campus, 5PM – Khruangbin, 5:30PM – Betty Who
11 AM to 7 PM (FREE, SET TIMES)
British Music Embassy party
Latitude 30, 512 San Jacinto Blvd.
Performers: 2:10PM – Fizzy Blood, 3PM – The Sandinistas, 3:50PM – Chain of Flowers, 4:40PM – Life, 5:30PM – False Advertising
2 PM to 6 PM (FREE, RSVP, priority to wristbands/badges)
UO Live in Austin
Space 24 Twenty, 2420 Guadalupe St.
Performers: 12PM – Alex Izenberg1PM – Nick Hakim, 2PM – Gabriel Garzon-Montano, 3PM – Duckwrth, 4PM – Khalid, 5PM – Elhae, 7PM – D.R.A.M.
12PM to 8 PM (FREE)
House of VANS night party
Mohawk, 912 Red River St.
Performers: 8PM – Femdot, 8:15PM – Dreezy, 8:45PM – Malcolm London, 9PM – Saba, 9:30PM – Valee, 9:45PM – Joey Purp, 10:20PM – Kami, 10:45PM – NoName,11:15PM – Kweku Collins, 11:50PM – The Cool Kids, 12:30AM – Taylor Bennett, 1AM – French Montana
11 AM to 6 PM (FREE, SET TIMES)
VIBE presents showcase
Empire, 606 E. 7th St.
Performers: 8PM – Swift, 8:35PM – Kodie Shane, 9:10PM – Nick Grant, 9:50PM – Divine Council, 10:30PM – Kent Jones, 11:15PM – special guest, 11:55PM – Yo Gotti, 12:35AM – Rick Ross
7 PM to 2 AM (FREE, RSVP)
FLOODfest
Cedar St. Courtyard, 208 W 4th St.
Performers: 1PM – Ten Tonnes 2PM – Tei Shi 3PM – Karen Elson 4PM – Temples 5PM – Frenship
11AM-1PM free Nordic brunc, performances 1PM – 6PM (FREE, RSVP)
The Showtime House celebrates Twin Peaks
Clive Bar, 609 Davis St.
Performers: 3PM – Alexandria Savior 4PM – L.A. Salami 5 PM – Aldous Harding 6 PM – Alex Cameron 9 PM – Julie Byrne 10 PM – Agnes Obel 11 PM – Real Estate
2 PM to 12 AM (FREE, RSVP)
NoiseTrade + Pledgemusic FRYEDAYS
The Blackheart, 86 Rainey St.
Performers: 11:30AM – Future Thieves, 12PM – Banditos, 12:30PM – Cory Branan, 1PM – Muddy Magnolias, 1:30PM – Knox Hamilton, 2PM – Baskery, 2:30PM – The Molochs, 3PM – Ron Gallo, 3:30PM – Major and the Monbacks, 4PM – The Weeks, 4:30PM – Alice Jemima, 5PM – Rainbow Kitten Surprise
11:30 AM to 5 PM (FREE, RSVP)
South by San Jose
Hotel San Jose parking lot, 1316 S Congress Ave.
Performers: Temples, The Drums, The Lemon Twigs, The Big Moon, Nick Hakim, Savoy Motel, High Up
12PM (FREE)
Burger Records Presents: Wienermania III
Spiderhouse Cafe & Ballroom, 2908 Fruth St.
Performers: Cosmonauts, The Sloths, Trementina, White Fang, Death Valley Girls, Roya, Boogarins, The Memories, and more
2 PM to 2 AM (FREE, RSVP)
Mischief Magazine presents: The Pop Up
Dirty Bill’s, 511 Rio Grande St.
12 PM noon to 8 PM
Drinks, music, exclusive merchandise (FREE, RSVP)
FRIDAY, MARCH 17
StubHub Live Soundstage
Banger’s, 79 Rainey St.
Performers: 2PM – Foxtrax, 3PM – Mullally, 4PM – Sigrid, 5PM – Duckwrth, 6PM – Cherry Glazerr, 9PM – Tkay Maidza, 10PM – Benjamin Booker, 11PM – Talib Kweli, 12AM – D.R.A.M.
DOORS at 1 PM (FREE, RSVP)
Waterloo Records showcase
600 N. Lamar Blvd.
Performers: 12PM – PWR BTTM, 1PM – Allison Crutchfield, 2PM – TBA, 3PM – Diet Cig, 4PM – Tkay Maidza, 5PM – Middle Kids, 6PM – Spoon
FREE, no RSVP required
SPIN day party
Empire, 606 E. 7th St.
Performers: 1PM – Diet Cig, 2PM – Vagabon, 3PM – Saba, 4PM – Kelela
12 PM to 5 PM (FREE, RSVP)
We Are One pres. by GIRLSCHOOL LA + TOMS
TOMS, 1401 S. Congress Ave.
Performers: Phoebe Bridgers, Weaves, T-Rextasy, special guests
5 PM to 9 PM (FREE, RSVP)
Southwest Invasion
Rooftop of Whole Foods, 525 N. Lamar Blvd.
Performers: 11AM – Reality Something, 11:35AM – Muddy Magnolias, 12:10PM – The Weeks, 12:45PM – The Relationship (Brian Bell of Weezer), 1:25PM – Warbly Jets, 2:05PM – Moon, 2:50PM – Kate Nash, 3:40PM – Smoke Season, 4:30PM – The Regrettes, 5:20PM – In the Valley Below, 6:15PM – Modern English
11 AM to 7 PM (FREE, RSVP)
StubHub Live Soundstage
Banger’s, 79 Rainey St.
Performers: 2PM – Slotface, 3PM – Dear Boy, 4PM – Kid Wave, 5PM – Colony House, 6PM – Hippo Campus, 9PM – Hayley Kiyoko, 10PM – Electric Guest, 11PM – MUNA
DOORS at 1 PM (FREE, RSVP)
UO Live in Austin
Space 24 Twenty, 2420 Guadalupe St.
Performers: 12PM – Living Hour1PM – Molly Burgh, 2PM – Jay Som, 3PM – Dream Wife, 4PM – Vagabon, 5PM – Sui Zhen, 7PM – Chloe x Halle
12PM to 8 PM (FREE)
Pitchfork Day Party
French Legislation Museum, 802 San Marcos St.
Performers: 12PM – Snail Mail, 12:30PM – Girlpool, 1PM – Frankie Rose, 1:30PM – Ne-Hi, 2PM – Anna Meredith, 2:30PM – Zaytroven, 3PM – Lizzo, 3:30PM – Cherry Glazerr, 4PM – S U R V I V E, 4:30PM – Beach Slang, 5PM – Kodie Shane
12 PM to 6 PM (FREE, SET TIMES)
The Showtime House celebrates Twin Peaks
Clive Bar, 609 Davis St.
Performers: 2:15 PM – Holly Macve 3PM – Gabriella Cohen 4PM – Let’s Eat Grandma 5PM – Tim Darcy (of Ought) 6PM – Cameron Avery 9PM – Annie Hart (of Au Revoir Simone) 10PM – M. Ward 11PM – Neko Case
2 PM to 12 AM (FREE, RSVP)
FLOODfest
Cedar St. Courtyard, 208 W 4th St.
Performers: 1PM – Mondo Cozmo 1:50 PM – Jain 2:40 PM – Middle Kids 3:30 PM – San Fermin 4:20 PM – The Districts 5:20 PM – Special Guest
Tune in Tel Aviv 11AM-1PM, performances 1PM-6PM (FREE, RSVP)
SPIN evening showcase
Empire, 606 E. 7th St.
Performers: 8PM – The Regrettes, 9PM – Potty Mouth, 10PM – Chastity Belt, 11PM – Beach Slang, 12AM – Mastodon, 1AM – Show Me the Body
7 PM to 2 AM (FREE, RSVP)
NoiseTrade + Pledgemusic FRYEDAYS
The Blackheart, 86 Rainey St.
Performers: 11:30AM – Middle Kids, 12PM – The Whiskey Gentry, 12:30PM – Brent Cobb, 1PM – River Whyless, 1:30PM – Andrew Combs, 2PM – Hurray For the Riff Raff, 2:30PM – Slow Dancer, 3PM – The Wild Reeds, 3:30PM – Sara Watkins, 4PM – Nicole Atkins, 4:30PM – Christopher Paul Stelling, 5PM – Chicano Batman
11:30 AM to 5 PM (FREE, RSVP)
South by San Jose
Hotel San Jose parking lot, 1316 S Congress Ave.
Performers: Hurray For The Riff Raff, Spiral Stairs, Downtown Boys, Tribu Baharu, The Dexateens, The Deslondes, Valley Queen, Tender Things
12PM (FREE)
Burger Records Presents: Burger’s Pearl St. Co-Op Pool Party
Pearl St. Co-Op, 2000 Pearl St.
Performers: The Memories, Cosmonauts, Trementina, Sarah Bethe Nelson, and more
8 PM to 2 AM (FREE, RSVP)
Music Tastes Good SXSW Party
Valhalla, 710 Red River St.
Performers: ALL DAY – DJ Lance Rock, 12PM – Vagabon, 1PM – Rudy De Anda, 2PM – Minihorse, 3PM – The Sandinistas, 4PM – Frankie Rose, 5PM – Broncho
12 PM to 6 PM (FREE, RSVP)
SATURDAY, MARCH 18
UO Live in Austin
Space 24 Twenty, 2420 Guadalupe St.
Performers: 12PM – RG Lowe, 1PM – Marika Hackman, 2PM – The Japanese House, 3PM – Eli Sostre, 4PM – Tommy Genesis, 7PM – The Internet
12PM to 8 PM (FREE)
We Are One pres. by GIRLSCHOOL LA + TOMS
TOMS, 1401 S. Congress Ave.
Performers: Aye Nako, Morgxn, Saro, Gizzle
5 PM to 9 PM (FREE, RSVP)
Waterloo Records showcase
600 N. Lamar Blvd.
Performers: 12PM – Matthew Logan Vasquez (of Delta Spirit), 1PM – Colony House, 2PM – Cherry Glazerr, 3PM – Hippo Campus, 4PM – The Shelters, 5PM – Mike Posner, 6PM – Ron Gallo
FREE, no RSVP required
South by San Jose
Hotel San Jose parking lot, 1316 S Congress Ave.
Performers: Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, Merchandise, Cherry Glazerr, PWR BTTM, Khruangbin, Ron Gallo, Slow Dancer, Peterson Brothers Band
12PM (FREE)
Southwest Invasion
Rooftop of Whole Foods, 525 N. Lamar Blvd.
Performers: 11AM – Brent Cowles, 11:35AM – Tribu Baharu, 12:10PM – Ariana and the Rose, 12:45PM – Run River North, 1:25PM – Gutxi Bibang, 2:05PM – The Unlikely Candidates, 2:50PM – Angela McCluskey, 3:40PM – Colony House, 4:30PM – Sundara Kamara, 5:20PM – Bridgit Mendler, 6:15PM – Hanson
11 AM to 7 PM (FREE, RSVP)
Burger Records Presents: Burgermania VI
Hotel Vegas, 1502 E. 6th St.
Performers: Dead Meadow, Meatbodies, Roya, Sarah Bethe Nelson, The Memories, Cosmonauts, and more
2 PM to 7 PM (FREE, RSVP)
