As always, the South by Southwest Music Festival anchors the spring music calendar, while the Austin City Limits Music Festival tucks in the fall. In between, long-running local festivals like Austin Reggae Fest and Old Settlers Music Festival return, while new events like Georgetown’s Two Step Inn, Austin Blues Festival and Country Music Television Awards prepare for their first run. is proceeding.
Here’s what I’ve written about music festivals in Austin so far:
January 5-7: Free Week at Red River Cultural District
Scenario 1: You just moved to Austin and are interested in the local music scene, but don’t know how to start exploring. Scenario 2: You’ve always been on the go, but you’re just starting out and on a tight budget. Scenario 3: You and your buddies rule these streets. If any of these scenarios describe your life, we have good news: Over the course of three days, his 12 venues in the Red River Cultural District will open their doors to over 100 locals. We will hold an uncovered show by the act. Clubs on the roster include classics such as Cheer Up Charlie’s, Mohawk, Empire and Flamingo Cantina (on Sixth Street next to Red River). Latin dance club Mala Vida, vampire hangout Elysium and 13th Floor will also be in the mix, with special food and drink offerings at restaurants and bars throughout the district. Bands on the roster include up-and-coming soul artist Chief Cleopatra , Sweet Spirit Sabrina Ellis, and Bright Light Social Hour. redriver cultural district.org.
March 13-18: South by Southwest Music Festival
Even before the pandemic, the sun was setting on the heyday of music fest celebrities in March. Over the past few years, SXSW organizers have refocused the event’s original purpose as an international discovery fest. Does your wristband include Lady Gaga playing Stubbs or Megan Thee her Stallion pop-up showing up in her Austin parking lot? But this year’s Wet Leg could take advantage of the spring flutter to become a sensation in the spotlight before the summer touring season. There are plenty of other opportunities to capture talented up-and-comers from around the world, including the new Future of Music series aimed at pegging breakouts produced in partnership with Rolling Stone. 695 dollar badge. Wristbands will be released this year. sxsw.com.
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March 30-April 2: HonkTX! Community Street Band Festival
The location and line-up for the Scrap Street Band Festival are still unknown, but the brassy Merrymaker ragtag band will be marching through town throughout the weekend. Honk TX! The event is a free, family-friendly jam that celebrates street music traditions, from NOLA’s second line to European Klezmer acts. Last year’s events included a Friday night show at his Jo’s Coffee at South Congress and an all-day party at Mueller Lake Park on Saturday and Pan Am Park on Sunday. honktx.org.
April 1: Austin Urban Cultural Fest at Auditorium Shores
Scheduled to coincide with the Texas Relays Track Meet at the University of Texas, the event, formerly known as the Urban Music Fest, has become the premier annual R&B event in Central Texas. In recent years, organizers have expanded their vision for the event. As well as music, Afro-centric food, clothing, dance, and visuals from the Austin area will be spotlighted on his art. ’70s electro-funk influencer Zapp tops Mint Condition’s music roster, which includes his Stokley Williams, Lyfe Jennings, Chrisette Michelle, and more. $75 to $150. Urban Music Fest.com.
April 2: CMT Music Awards at Moody Center
For the first time in history, the only fan-voted country music awards show is leaving Nashville. Thousands of tickets to the ceremony hosted by Kelsey Ballerini will soon be available to the public. But even if you can’t get a seat, you might be able to boot up and boogie with the country music television crew. Beyond what happens in the arena through shows and red carpet ceremonies, CMT is planning a citywide acquisition,” Moody general manager Jeff Nickler told The Statesman in December. CMT Live His show will be broadcast on location from Austin, and Nikler said he expects pop-up parties and other events ahead of the show. moodycenteratx.com. — DSS
April 15-16: Two Step Inn at Georgetown’s San Gabriel Park
Brought to you by the team that produces ACL Fest, this new fest in northern Burb has a mission to unite “old school and new school country” and “everything in between”. Headliners Zach Bryan and Tyler Childers represent the new school. By this analogy, T-Pain and Diplo’s country-inspired sets are “everything in between.” I think it falls into the category of. Technically sold out. twostepinn.com.
April 20-23: Dale’s Old Settlers Music Festival
After a significant staff replenishment during the pandemic shutdown, organizers say the 36-year-old roots and Americana musical extravaganza will return to its roots as a family-friendly campfire jam. In this case, it’s a jam that includes British singer-songwriter Yola, who has one of the most powerful voices of her generation, and her Wood Brothers, who are top pickers. Americana duo Her Shovels and Rope and her Austin favorite Her Shinyribs round out the top tier of the roster. Festival organizers have also scaled back to daytime activities only on the campground stage and removed fences to allow campers to bring their own beverages throughout the festival grounds. 100 dollars. $175 for 3 days. 4 days for $225. oldsettlersmusicfest.org.—DSS
April 21-23: Austin Reggae Festival (Auditorium Shores)
This mellow groove bash line-up hasn’t been released yet, but let’s be real. In Austin, where he’s been reggae’s home for over 30 years, Sixth Street Club’s Flamingo Cantina helped with bookings, and at least he has one or two international reggae heavyweights on the roster. But this year he misses the Stoner Holidays on April 20. The event isn’t just about music. This is a celebration of old-fashioned Austin vibes, with a large multicultural vendor he market, diverse food offerings, and an overt celebration of certain plants that have recently been decriminalized in the city of Austin. austinreggaefest.com. — DSS
April 23: Austin Blues Festival at Waterloo Park
Back in 1999, famed nightclub founder and Austin’s biggest blues patron Clifford Antone launched a short-lived festival. For over three years, the Anton’s Blues Festival has brought Ray Charles, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker and more to Waterloo Park. Decades later, the team at the club that bears his name have joined forces with the staff of his Greenway Waterloo to revive the festival in the park’s beautiful new amphitheater. This festival traces how the blues has changed within our culture. There is a diverse line-up led by Stax Revue of Booker T, an ensemble led by Latin rock giants Los Lobos and the most famous Hammond B3 player in history. Adrian Quesada presents his excellent performance alongside his BLK Odyssy, one of his best albums of 2022, the breathtaking extended release “BLK Vintage: The Reprise”. He brings a live rendition of his new album ‘Jaguar Sound’ to the stage. Up. waterloogreenway.org. — DSS
May 6-7: Pecan Street Festival
Now in its 48th year, this free event on Sixth Street is not only the largest arts and crafts festival in Central Texas, but one of the oldest of its kind in the country. is. In addition to art vendors and street food, the festival runs multiple stages featuring live music from his top local and regional acts. The fall edition of the Fest will take place on his September 16-17th. pecanstreetfestival.org. — DSS
May 25-28: Hot Luck Fest at Red River Cultural District
Created by Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue, James Moody of The Mohawk and Mike Thelin, co-founder of Feast Portland, the real draw here is the food. But organizers usually provide a solid soundtrack to your nothing.No 2023 line-up has been announced, but past artists include Mots, Robert Ellis and DJ Jazzy Jeff. increase. All Access “All Enchiladas” packages are priced at $450 plus fees. A la carte tickets are available near the event. hotluckfest.com
May 19-20: Seismic Spring Lite Edition at Concourse Project
Sister to Seismic’s fall event, one of Texas’ biggest underground house and techno festivals. In two days she cost over $119. — DSS
June 16-18: Oblivion Access Festival at the Red River Cultural District
The cult-favourite festival is steadily expanding, and the 2023 edition will bring noise to seven venues in the Red River Cultural District, including both the Empire and Mohawk stages. The line-up has yet to be announced, but the organizers will offer a curated mix of eardrum-shattering metal, hip-hop and experimental music. All-access passes are sold out, but tickets for individual events will be sold online this year. oblivionaccessfestival.com.—DSS
October 6-8 and 13-15: Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park
Massive, multistage eruptions attract approximately 75,000 people to the highest peak in Austin’s park system each day. The line-up won’t drop until late spring, but it’s a cross-genre mix of chart-toppers playing songs you’ve heard on the radio and gyms, and up-and-coming artists playing songs you’ve heard in the gym. It’s safe to expect Jim in a few months. Also expect some legacy rockers for Silver Fox and his TikTok star that Silver Fox has never heard of in the mix. The first round of tickets went on sale and sold out in November. 3-day passes start at $300. aclfestival.com. — DSS
October 26-29: Levitation in the Red River Cultural District
Your local experimental music festival returns with four days of music pushing boundaries. The line-up hasn’t been announced for a while, but past headliners have included The Jesus and Mary Chain, L7, King Gizzard, Lizard Wizard and host band Black His Angels. levitation.fm.—DSS
November 10-12: Earthquake Dance Fest at Concourse Project
The line-up for the two-day, multi-stage house and techno festival in southeast Austin remains to be announced, but past headliners have included international stars such as Jamie XX, Black Coffee and Fatboy Slim. . In addition to music, the event will include art his installations, food his tracks and more. Over $169 for 3 days. concourseproject.com. — DSS
