2nd Street Soundcheck: Shopping, Food, Free Music Downtown

2nd Street Soundcheck is an opportunity to experience local food, shopping and free music (Credit: 2nd Street Soundcheck)

If you’re familiar with Austin at all, you know March brings the music loving masses to our city during SXSW, one of the biggest music festivals around. What better way to prepare for the madness than by attending 2nd Street Soundcheck for free music, food, shopping and just plain fun?

2nd Street Soundcheck takes place February 28, 2015, from 1-8 PM and admission is free! The event features 22 artists downtown on Second Street, spanning three city blocks from San Antonio Street to Colorado Street.

We are fortunate to live in a city with so much musical talent surrounding us, and this is an excellent opportunity to experience it for free. Below are a few of my favorite artists who will be playing during the festival.

Ben Kweller

Ben Kweller (Credit: Ray Lego)

I was ecstatic when I found out Ben Kweller was added to this year’s lineup. He’s been a favorite of mine since college and his shows are always some of the most fun to attend. Ben has been a Texan since he was young and his sets range from rock to country to folk and back to rock again. He always makes sure the crowd has a good time, and it’s hard not to when he’s up on stage with his band.

Catch Ben Kweller on the 2nd Street District Stage from 7-8 PM.

T-Bird and the Breaks

T-Bird and the Breaks (Credit: 2nd Street Soundcheck)

If you’re looking to get funky, T-Bird and the Breaks is your band. They play funk and soul music grounded in the 1960s and 1970s that will make you dance and sweat your butt off. The group hails from Austin and has played with the likes of the Flaming Lips and Sting. I’ve been to a few of their shows and always left smiling.

Catch T-Bird and the Breaks on the 2nd Street District Stage from 5:30-6:10 PM.

Gina Chavez

Gina Chavez (Credit: 2nd Street Soundcheck)

I first saw Gina Chavez at Orb Recording Studios and she absolutely blew me away. Seeing her in such a small space left me curious to see what she would do with a much bigger venue and audience. 2nd Street Soundcheck will show me just that. She’s a native Austinite with Latin roots, and her vocals and talent deserve to be heard on the big stage.

Catch Gina Chavez on the 2nd Street District Stage from 3:30-4:10 PM.

Wildcat Apollo

Wildcat Apollo (Credit: 2nd Street Soundcheck)

Wildcat Apollo is based in Austin and can be classified as psychedelic electronic rock. They’ve managed to accomplish a lot in such a short time as a band – their debut was released in 2013. They like to describe themselves as producing “the feeling of complete unadulterated joy and happiness from sound.”

Catch Wildcat Apollo on the Austin Monthly stage from 3-3:40 PM.

Daisy O’Connor

Daisy O’Connor (Credit: Daisy O’Connor)

Daisy O’Connor is a social worker turned singer/songwriter and will be playing a pop-up concert at Hacienda Austin (204 Colorado St) at 3:30 PM. She taught herself how to play guitar and she sure can sing, too. Her whimsical style will leave you happy and fulfilled.

See the full 2nd Street Soundcheck lineup, as well as details about vendors and the festival itself, on the event website. Proceeds from 2nd Street Soundcheck will benefit local nonprofit Austin Music Foundation.

@theAustinot wants to know:

Have you ever been to 2nd Street Soundcheck?