• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Write
  • Intern
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover the Best Things to Do in Austin, Food & Drink deals and more!

  • Things To Do
    • Things To Do This Weekend
    • Kids Events in Austin this Weekend
  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

15 Must-see Austin Artists at SXSW Music 2018

March 9, 2018 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

Austin Bands at SXSW Music 2018

Clockwise: Austin bands Charlie Faye & the Fayettes, Los Coast, The Lagoons

It’s a week before SXSW Music 2018 and I’m already exhausted. I also couldn’t be more stoked. In a few days, I get the opportunity to cannonball into a maelstrom of sights and sounds, showcases and songs. For seven days, Austin literally becomes the “Live Music Capital of the World.”

Over 2,000 bands will play official SXSW showcases this year. Among them are over 260 locals, ready to rep ATX and highlight what’s amazing about the greatest music city ever.

To help you prepare to listen local, I’ve listened to every Austin band playing official SXSW shows and hand-picked 15 must-see artists. Done right, SX is an incredible experience, and these musicians will help you celebrate what’s good and beautiful about Austin music.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Entertainment, Music Tagged With: sxsw

14 Crazy Stories From Locals That Prove SXSW Is the Best Festival Ever

March 8, 2018 by Samantha Saenz Leave a Comment

Bill Murray on Jimmy Kimmel Show at SXSW

Bill Murray on Jimmy Kimmel Live during SXSW 2015 (Credit: Getty)

Brace yourselves. SXSW is coming! The popular meme floating around the interwebs was inspired by the festival’s legendary reputation. And with good reason, considering everyone has an epic SXSW story. With approximately 400,000 participants, attendees, and celebrities descending on Austin from all over the world, it’s hard to not have a crazy tale about what I refer to as “adult Spring Break.”

To celebrate the return of the festival for another year, here are 14 quotes from Austin locals that perfectly explain the phenomenon that is SXSW.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Entertainment, Events Tagged With: sxsw

Top 6 SXSW Music Venues for 2018

March 7, 2018 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

Top SXSW Music Venues 2018

Walk downtown on a Saturday night in Austin, and you’ll find yourself in a mixtape. Songs and tunes of every genre swirl together to create a kaleidoscope of sound. As the entertainment lifeblood of our fair city, live music holds a special place in our hearts. During SXSW, the vibe is amplified by a factor of 10.

But what about the venues that house this wonderful music? While each official SXSW venue has its own charm and style, here are six I make a point of visiting every year, regardless of who’s playing. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Entertainment, Events, Music Tagged With: sxsw

Street Lamps Are Now Recording and Replaying Your Shadow in Austin

February 12, 2018 by Amanda Sayers Leave a Comment

Shadowing Austin Installation

Experience Shadowing through March 18, 2018 (Credit: Chomko and Rosier)

Austin is a unique city, with a vibrant culture that can be directly attributed to our embrace of the arts. So it should come as no surprise that an interactive art exhibit has chosen Austin as home for the next five weeks. In the tradition of keeping it weird, Austin Cultural Arts Division is hosting “Shadowing,” an interactive art installation, through March 18, 2018.

This fun art exhibit will be incorporated into several locations across the city. Shadowing is sure to be a crowd pleaser and conversation starter for residents and attendees of SXSW this year. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Arts, Austinot Loves, Culture, Discoveries Tagged With: sxsw

My Favorite Moments Covering SXSW Comedy 2017

March 24, 2017 by Ashley Alkek Leave a Comment

Keep Comedy Weird SXSW Comedy 2017

Comedians and comedy fans alike worked hard to make SXSW 2017 memorable. It paid off because nearly all the comedy events were PACKED. In fact, you could hear the hearts breaking among those who didn’t make it in, after waiting an hour or more to see a show.

My main objective this year, while covering SXSW Comedy for The Austinot, was to witness raw, unadulterated comedy. I did just that, and the experience was electric. In case you missed the events this year, these were my favorite moments–a glimpse into what SXSW Comedy 2017 was all about. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Entertainment, Events, Nightlife Tagged With: comedy, sxsw

Who Wins the SXSW Music 2017 Superlative Awards?

March 23, 2017 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

SXSW Music 2017 Superlative Awards

The stages are down; the attendees are gone; and Sixth Street has been cleansed as much as humanly possible. SXSW Music 2017 is officially a memory. And from a local standpoint, the Austin SXSW Class of 2017 was an exceptional one.

To celebrate last week’s musical mayhem, we’re celebrating the best of the best like a high school yearbook would. Time to dust off that letter jacket, grab your backpack and toss some AA batteries into your Discman. Welcome to The Austinot’s SXSW Music 2017 Superlative Awards! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Entertainment, Music Tagged With: sxsw

SXSW Red Carpet Musings With Todrick Hall, Nick Offerman

March 22, 2017 by Kelli McDonald Leave a Comment

Todrick Hall SXSW Red Carpet

From the “audio only” side of the red carpet, press members tend to get photos of the stars in profile once they’ve made their way over to the “photos” section

SXSW red carpets are paraded on by people buzzing about their film projects. This year, I spoke with the stars and directors behind two world premiere films at ZACH Theatre, “Behind The Curtain: Todrick Hall” and “Infinity Baby.” In the spirit of keeping things local, I asked each person if Austin tickles their creative side, and whether they have any advice for Austinites who want to walk a red carpet some day.

Todrick Hall and Katherine Fairfax Wright

The documentary “Behind The Curtain: Todrick Hall” follows the American Idol singer turned YouTube sensation and Broadway star as he plans and executes a tour for his musical “Straight Outta Oz,” based on [Read more…]

Filed Under: Entertainment, Film Tagged With: sxsw

You Don’t Need a Badge to See 5 Innovative SXSW Art Installations Here

March 14, 2017 by Kelli McDonald 3 Comments

SXSW Art Installations

Tiny dancers form a circle in Akinori Goto’s piece

This year, SXSW extends its reach into the art world with the new, expansive SXSW Art Program. By highlighting documentaries focusing on art (like “The Secret Life of Lance Letscher,” based on an Austin artist), art happenings (like the walls of HOPE Outdoor Gallery represented on the Trade Show floor in the Convention Center) and sessions (like a panel on Museums of the Future), SXSW aims to showcase creative freedom across disciplines.

The SXSW Art Program has also curated an incredible lineup of art installations. Here’s a look at five of the most immersive, exciting and innovative installations of 2017. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Arts, Culture Tagged With: sxsw

The Evolution of SXSW Comedy

March 14, 2017 by Ashley Alkek Leave a Comment

Jenny Slate Performing at SXSW

Jenny Slate performing at SXSW (Credit: Rebecca Adler via Flickr CC)

In my opinion, comedians are the new rockstars of SXSW. It’s about time, since SXSW Comedy is celebrating its tenth edition during the multi-track festival. Over the past 10 years, SXSW has showcased the comedy industry’s influential and up-and-coming comics.

There were amazing comedians around in 1987 when SXSW started, but it wasn’t considered a necessity at a festival that put its primary focus on music. Back then, the organizers considered SXSW to be a regional event. They expected around 150 people to attend, but over 700 showed up.

Let’s take a quick journey back in time, to examine how comedy came to be an undeniable part of SXSW. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Entertainment, Events Tagged With: comedy, sxsw

Your SXSW Music Survival Guide

March 13, 2017 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

SXSW Music Survival Guide

SXSW is a war. Locals curse invading tourists. Business types attending the conference rub elbows with media-loving millennials. Downtown becomes choked with product placement, badge-only lounges and swarms of ads for tech startups. It’s madness.

It’s also a blast if you do it right. During SXSW Music, the eyes of an entire industry are focused on our fair city. Hopefuls trek thousands of miles to play 1 a.m. showcases, hoping a record exec attends their gig, digs their sound and changes their life forever. Dreams fuel the festival, and it’s that sense of discovery that makes SXSW Music special.

After covering SXSW Music last year, I’ve learned valuable lessons on how to ease your experience. Get prepared, valiant festival goer, and get ready for a fantastic SXSW! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Entertainment, Events, Music Tagged With: sxsw

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • Next Page »

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Popular Right Now

4th of July Fireworks Austin

Where to Watch 4th of July Fireworks in Austin (2025)

4th of July Deals Austin

Best 4th of July 2025 Deals Austin: Dining, Retail & More

What's Open on 4th of July Austin

What’s Open on the 4th of July in Austin (2025)

4th of July Events Austin

4th of July Events in Austin Area 2025 | Parades, Live Music & Family Fun

Recent Posts

  • Best Fun Events in Austin this Weekend of July 4 Include Star Spangled Fest, Divine Carnival: Reimagining the Odyssey, and More!
  • Top Kids Events in Austin July 4 – July 6 include Star Spangled Fest, Kids Day, and More!
  • Where to Watch 4th of July Fireworks in Austin (2025)
  • Best 4th of July 2025 Deals Austin: Dining, Retail & More
  • What’s Open on the 4th of July in Austin (2025)

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · Log in