Every morning, we send you a free email packed with Austin news, business, and entertainment. Join 16,000+ readers who wake up to Austonia's newsletter.
Cautious Clay performing during SXSW 2020. (Aaron Rogosin)
No matter if you’re a SXSW badge holder or not attending at all, the music, arts, culture and tech festival is a 10-day timeframe to celebrate Austin, especially after its virtual hiatus.
With hundreds of free and unofficial SXSW events popping up all over the city over the next weekend, businesses are sharing the festival love with everyone.
SXSW attendees and bystanders alike are welcome at these unofficial events.
A post shared by Central Machine Works (@central.machine.works)
See some SXSW musicians for free and without the badge at Central Machine Works Brewery, 4824 East Cesar Chavez St., on Friday. Presented by The Black Austin Musicians Collective and Ovrld, Jonny Jukebox kicks off the showcase at 2 p.m., followed by SXSW artist Urban Heat at 3 p.m., then Alesia Lani at 4 p.m. Big SXSW names of the night include Geto Gala, a collaboration between local artists Jake Lloyd and Deezie Brown, at 5 p.m. and Jackie Venson at 6 p.m. Expect more free live music through this weekend and next!
A post shared by Bad Larry Burger Club (@badlarryburgerclub)
Don’t miss one of four opportunities to grab some of Bad Larry’s famous award-winning burgers. First up, New York bar Ray’s, which is eyeing an Austin expansion and run by Hollywood star Justin Theroux, will hold a two-day popup on March 11-12 on 607 Blanco St. Bad Larry is cooking up free food after 7:30 p.m., with cocktails on deck from Little Brother, live music and T-shirts. You can also catch Bad Larry at Fareground Austin Saturday from noon-4:00 p.m. on Saturday or at Little Brother, 89 Rainey St, on Monday.
Try something different every day at Neighborhood Goods’ unofficial SXSW celebration, 1007 S. Congress Ave., starting with a launch party for D.S. & Durga’s fragrance, “Bistro Waters,” complete with pear martinis and hors d’oeuvres. Meet with Tempo’s Head Coach Melissa for a fireside chat and meet up on Saturday and Sunday, then stay for customizable bouquets from Flower Peddler from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.
Connect with other Black innovators, creators and investors for a lowkey networking brunch at Half Step, 75 1/2 Rainey St. Hosted by the Plain Sight app, app users can connect with other attendees prior to the event. Admission is free and you can RSVP here or through the app.
Grab a daiquiri to sip and stroll through the 20+ vendor market, while DJ LostNFound starts the tunes at the Austin Daiquiri Factory. Fire dancers, handcrafted goods, tarot readings, gems and more await at this family-friendly event. Attend for free or grab a GA+ ticket, which includes a goodie bag giveaway from local artists, or VIP, which includes access to the VIP lounge and raffle tickets.
A post shared by Hole In The Wall (@hitwatx)
More than a dozen local artists will pass through Hole in the Wall’s halls, 2538 Guadalupe St. Starting at noon, the 21+ showcase will bring (deep breath) Hover, Stunts, Lady Dan, Shooks, Half Dream, Sad Cell, Party Van, Tearjerk, Dice House, Quiet Light, Dewey Ivy, Being Dead, Hall Johnson, Otis Wilkins, Bad Markings and Glasshealer.
A post shared by Scholz Garten (@scholzgarten)
Celebrating alongside the SXSW commencement, Scholz Garten, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd., has a full lineup of musicians each day through Monday. Catch A. Sinclair and Brother Thunder among others on Saturday, David Ramirez and Jonathan Terrell on Sunday. The events are free but RSVP here.
Swing by Love, Tito’s, the explosively popular local vodka brand’s retail store, during SXSW for a free bandana or T-shirt screen printing session with Raw Paw and live music from Miggy & Zack, DJ Josie Lockhart, Shawn Pander, Batty Jr. and more. Net proceeds from purchases at the store go to nonprofits partnered with Tito’s. Bring the dog for a photo in the puppy-friendly space—view the full music schedule here.
A post shared by Hotel Vegas (@hotelvegastexas)
There’s going to be live music all day and late into the night at Hotel Vegas & The Volstead on Saturday. The day will begin with Mutiny Market vendors on the patio from 1-6 p.m. and live music starting with Honky Tonk Machine at 3 p.m. on the patio. Artists will rotate all day and performances will be free until 7 p.m., when Chief Cleopatra takes the stage, followed by Calliope Musicals, Sweet Spirit and Golden Dawn Arkestra. There will be a cash cover at the door.
A post shared by Lustre Pearl Rainey (@lustrepearlrainey)
Expect drinks, music, snacks, innovation conversations and advice for using Twitter Spaces at the Lustre Pearl, 94 Rainey St. No badge needed for a discussion on Meditation in the Metaverse with Deepak Chopra. RSVP here.
Claiming to be the “longest-running DIY experimental & outsider music fest,” in the U.S., Yeast By Sweet Beast has been running since March 2000. Taking place at the unforgettable circus-themed Carousel Lounge, YBSB will kick off on Friday with a mini-showcase from Heterodox Records of Portland, Oregon. Musicians include enereph, noyouyesme, Lost Cat Magnet, Production Unit Xero, followed by a show from San Antonio’s Coach Campa. Admission is $5 at the door each night and all ages are permitted.
A post shared by Adriene Mishler (@adrienelouise)
Join Austin native Adriene Mishler for an official SXSW yoga sesh at the Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd., fit for wellness enthusiasts of all ages. Try Mishler’s unique style of mindful movements, physical and spiritual connection from a diverse pool of influences. Bring your own mat. This event is free and open to the public.
San Antonio FC beat Austin FC 2-1 in an underdog upset Wednesday night. (San Antonio FC/Twitter)
We may never know whose tacos truly are better, but one nagging Central Texas question was answered Wednesday as an underdog San Antonio FC beat Austin FC 2-1 in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup at San Antonio's Toyota Stadium Wednesday night.
Austin's shortest road trip ever also produced the club's longest match to date as the MLS and USL sides fought through 120+ minutes of gritty play.
As a higher-division professional team, Austin FC clearly had the upper hand as it entered the match, even when some of Austin's less-experienced players took to the starting pitch.
And it was Austin who struck first, weaving through enemy lines for a clean cross and goal from favorites Sebastian Driussi and Diego Fagundez to start off the second half.
Austin's comfortable lead faltered with a near-goal that was called offsides and finally crumbled as the home team pulled off a close-up pass and shot to tie the game with less than ten minutes left in regulation.
The two were then given thirty more minutes to decide the match, and San Antonio capitalized on that chance early with a double-header shot to score the final goal of the match.
Red and green enemy lines were evident, but chants for each city's area codes were sometimes interchangeable in the stadium's dueling stands as the final 26 minutes came to an end. And just like the two San Antonio FC season ticket holders who held their own Alamo-style in the middle of the Verde crowd, San Antonio weathered the storm, taking shot after shot from Austin before coming back from behind and taking the match 2-1.
Austin FC is now eliminated from th will look to recoup at its home fortress with its third match in an eight-day stretch against the San Jose Earthquakes at Q2 Stadium on Saturday.
Things are looking uphill for Tesla following the Giga Texas grand opening.
The ability to run factories at full capacity this year has been limited by global supply chain constraints that the company expects will persist through the year. But still, Tesla reported strong revenue growth in the first quarter of 2022.
Highlights from the start of Tesla’s year:
If you’re ordering an EV, don’t expect a quick delivery or last year’s costs. CEO Elon Musk noted inflation pressures and said the waitlist extends into next year. Plus supplier and logistics cost growth are now reflected in prices. But he emphasized the high-quality production at the company’s headquarters.
“I’ve never been more optimistic or excited about Tesla’s future than I am right now,” Musk said.