I’ve been able to attend SXSW the last two years. Unfortunately my regular gig at the NFL runs through the end of March this year and I won’t be able to make it out to Austin this year. But I’ve still been compiling a list of all the free unofficial SXSW showcases around town and now I’ve narrowed it down to a list of five you shouldn’t miss. Check it out below and make sure to RSVP before it is too late!
TUESDAY, MARCH 14
Stereogum Mazda Studio
Empire, 606 E. 7th St.
21+, 7 PM to 2 AM (RSVP HERE)
The Stereogum Mazda Studio will be running dope shows all week long, beginning on Tuesday night. Tuesday is a pretty light day in terms of musical showcases, making this one the easy choice to check out. The lineup features Sleigh Bells at 1 AM, who are dynamic live performers armed with a dope album they put out in 2016. Also on the bill is a diverse mix of performers, including Real Estate, Girlpool, and Hurray for the Riff Raff. If you have a MAZDA key you can skip the line completely.
8 PM – MOTHERS
9 PM – Hurray for the Riff Raff
10 PM – Julie Byrne
11 PM – Girlpool
12 AM – Real Estate
1 AM – Sleigh Bells
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15
Taco Bell Feed the Beat
Lustre Pearl, 94 Rainey St.
21+, 8 PM to 2 AM (RSVP HERE)
It was either last year or the year before, but Taco Bell was involved with Hype Hotel and handed out free tacos during the showcase and there were also free drinks to boot. The Wednesday night showcase is stacked with talent. The show is headlined by Marian Hill at 12:30 AM, who were one of my favorite acts at CRSSD Fest last weekend with their electro-R&B jams. If you’re trying to get those sexy vibes to end the night, they’re the obvious choice. Also on the bill are LA garage rockers Bleached – who will be playing tunes from their new EP – and Coachella act Bishop Briggs, one of the fastest-rising alt-pop acts currently out there.
8:30PM – Beach Slang
9:30PM – Bleached
10:30PM – Minus The Bear
11:30PM – Bishop Briggs
12:30AM – Marian Hill
THURSDAY, MARCH 16
GIRLSCHOOL LA + TOMS present: We Are One
TOMS, 1401 S. Congress Ave.
5 PM to 9 PM
One of our favorite groups based in Los Angeles, the collective GIRL SCHOOL LA, is throwing a three-day unofficial showcase during SXSW that you must check out. Though all three days are stacked, we recommend checking out Thursday’s show, which will feature a rare and special acoustic set from certified punk rock bad ass Kate Nash, as well as a set from up-and-coming teenaged punk rockers The Regrettes. Madame Gandhi and the Overcoats also appear on this bill.
FRIDAY, MARCH 17
Pitchfork Day Party
French Legislation Museum, 802 San Marcos St.
All ages, 12 PM to 6 PM
Pitchfork is bringing back their epic SXSW day party, which features two stages and a slew of awesome bands. The lineup includes one of our current favorites Cherry Glazerr, who we tabbed as a band who will enjoy a major breakthrough this year. You can also check out S U R V I V E, the group behind the epic tunes from Netflix’s original series Stranger Things. Also on the bill are Kodie Shane, Jidenna, Beach Slang, and Lizzo among others.
12:00 p.m. Snail Mail
12:30 p.m. Girlpool
1:00 p.m. Frankie Rose
1:30 p.m. NE-HI
2:00 p.m. Anna Meredith
2:30 p.m. Zaytoven
3:00 p.m. Lizzo
3:30 p.m. Cherry Glazerr
4:00 p.m. S U R V I V E
4:30 p.m. Beach Slang
5:00 p.m. Jidenna
5:30 p.m. Kodie Shane
SATURDAY, MARCH 18
UO Live in Austin
Space 24 Twenty, 2420 Guadalupe St.
12 PM to 8 PM
Urban Outfitters is closing out their week of SXSW showcases with a killer party, featuring a headline performance from The Internet. The showcase also features sets from up-and-coming synthpop act The Japanese House, multi-instrumentalist Marika Hackman, and several others. Saturday is usually a slim day as far as shows go, but UO is saving their best for last. The show benefits VH1’s Save the Music Foundation.
12 PM – RG Lowe
1 PM – Marika Hackman
2 PM – The Japanese House
3 PM – Eli Sostre
4 PM – Tommy Genesis
7 PM – The Internet
LISTEN TO A PLAYLIST OF ALL THESE ACTS BELOW:
