After two years of COVID-19 cancellations, South by Southwest has returned to Austin. The arts, culture, and tech festival kicks off festival season in the United States, with Coachella coming the month after in Indio, California. For two weekends through March 20, SXSW will take over the state’s capital with a series of official and unofficial events.
Whether you are a seasoned veteran or first timer, it is always good to plan in advance, especially if you elected to not purchase a festival badge, which range from $1,595 to $1,925. However, there are plenty no badge events if you know where to look. Here are the best Instagram accounts to follow for free SXSW events.
WHO TO FOLLOW
@sxunofficial
@thedirtyteam
@whenwherewhataustin
The trio of Instagram pages post up to date, accurate information about which celebrities and musicians will be in town for the festival; where to RSVP for a free concert or arts showcase; and sponsored experiences to decompress and charge your phones after a long day of walking. The crowd-sourced pages are the golden ticket to a successful SXSW experience without breaking the bank. (If you prefer the traditional route, badges are available for purchase.)
WHERE TO GO
With more than 10 days of exhibitions, film screenings, concerts, and parties, it can be hard to pinpoint which event to attend and where to start. As your unofficial tour guide and fierce advocate of Dallas’ arts and culture, I say start local. Sure, you can see the assorted artists and musicians in Dallas at any time. But your attendance at a SXSW event will inform and show non-Dallasites that we have a rich cultural arts scene, worthy of being in the room with national and international acts. Here is where you can catch Dallas at SXSW.
ARTS
The exhibitions are free to the public.
Painter JD Moore found inspiration in ancient Egyptian floral designs and geometric shapes to compose his open-air, accessible mural at The LINE Hotel (111 E. Cesar Chavez, in downtown). The mural’s purpose is to ease visitors from the everyday pressures of anxiety and stress. Also, in the West Lobby of the LINE Hotel, find Desireé Vaniecia’s installation that explores her fear of motherhood and acceptance of situations out of her control. Her work is a love letter to Black women, and aims to challenge historically held stereotypes about Black women. A short walk away at the Austin Convention Center is Ciara Elle Bryant’s installation of Nike Air Force 1s. Composed of used, worn, and dirty Forces, the piece reminds visitors about the Black origins of streetwear culture and the impact of Blackness in pop culture.
“Repose” by JD Moore
Mar. 15 – 19 | The LINE
“Server: Checks on the Block” by Ciara Elle Bryant
Mar. 15 – 19 | Austin Convention Center, Room 3
“Offer Them Comfort. Offer Them Rest.” by Desireé Vaniecia
Mar. 15 – 19 | The LINE, West Lobby
ENTERTAINMENT
The artists showcases and dance parties are free to the public.
Austin-based artist Norman Ba$e organized a statewide celebration of assorted DJs and musicians for his “Texas Has Something To Say” showcase. The title, a play on Andre 3000’s speech from the 1995 Source Awards, highlights creatives from across the state. DJ Save Aves, Cush With A C, Banco, and Shoose McGee represent Dallas on the multi-artist lineup. Two days later, Vibes Texas and The Waiting List will host their Dallas-centric day party at The Coconut Club.
DJ Bambi, DJ Saucy D, Ish D, DJ Sensei Blue, DJ HubbledVision will provide the tunes for the inaugural “No Days Off” event. Later in the day, Coconut Club transforms into a 10 hour dance party for “Love Me Like You Love The Nu Wave”, a musical experience with sets from Zayland, Devy $tonez, Yak The Mack, Christy Ray, and DJ Rizkilla. However, it’s not a party if Paradise is not involved. The monthly Oak Cliff dance party takes over Cuatro Gato with James Harcow of Growth in Decay, Storm, Babi Melodi, and more for a sexy, sweaty perreo in an intimate, bodega-styled bar.
Texas Has Something To Say
Mar. 15, 1 p.m. | Coconut Club, 310B Colorado St.
No Days Off
Mar. 17, 12 p.m. | Coconut Club,310B Colorado St.
Love Me Like You Love The Nu Wave
Mar, 17, 6 p.m. | Coconut Club,310B Colorado St.
Paradise SXSW: Puro Perreo
Mar. 17, 6 p.m. | Cuatro Gato, 310 Colorado St.
MUSIC
All of the following events require a badge – Music, Platinum, Music Festival Wristband, Artist Wristband, Film Badge , Interactive Badge – for entry.
Over 20 Dallas artists from different genres and decades will be performing during the last week of SXSW events. Some acts like Luna Luna, DJ VRYWVY, and Sara King have been covered by D Magazine in the past, so their performances at SXSW should be a secondary introduction to readers and subscribers of FrontRow. However, there is a wide and diverse selection of genres among the Dallas musicians at SXSW, which gives visitors to sample the best of Dallas’ music scene.
Here’s what to see.
Tuesday, March 15
Jacks Haupt
Mar. 15, 7:30 – 8:05 p.m. | The Iron Bear, 301 W. 6th St.
Billy Star
Mar. 15, 8 p.m. | Chess Club
Luna Luna
Mar. 15, 12 – 12:40 a.m. | Speakeasy, 412 Congress St.
Rosegarden Funeral Party
Mar. 15, 12:15 – 12:55 a.m. | Valhalla, 710 Red River St.
Wednesday, March 16
Muriel
12 p.m. | Pour Choices, 401 E. 6th St.
Sara King
8:25 p.m. | Higher Ground, 720 Congress Ave.
The Dirty Shirts
9:45 p.m. | San Jac Saloon, 300 E. 6th St.
A-Wall
11 – 11: 40 p.m. | Esther’s Follies, 525 E. 6th St.
Nezi Momodu
11:20 p.m. | Speakeasy, 412 Congress St.
Thursday, March 17
Bayleigh Cheek
8 – 8:40 p.m. | Esther’s Follies, 525 E. 6th St.
Skirts
9:20 p.m. | Cheer Up Charlie’s Inside, 900 Red River St.
Friday, March 18
SRSQ
1 – 1:50 a.m. | Higher Ground, 7290 Congress Ave.
ericthechosen
8:05 – 8:30 p.m. | Vaquero Taquero, 104 E. 31st St.
Ehsan Matoori / Borderless Band
10 p.m. | House Nazdorovye, 307 E. 5th St.
Harry Edohoukwa
10 – 10:40 p.m. | Sheraton BackYARD, 701 E. 11th St.
The 40 Acre Mule
11 – 11:40 p.m. | Continental Club, 1315 S. Congress Ave.
Saturday, March 19
The Texas Gentlemen
12 – 12:40 a.m. | Mohawk Outdoor, 912 Red River St.
VRYWVY
7 p.m. | Waterloo Park, 500 E. 12th St.
Cure For Paranoia
8 p.m. | Half Step, 75 1/2 Rainey St.
The WRLDFMS Tony Willams
10:30 p.m. | Half Step, 75 1/2 Rainey St.
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