Plus, Waymo launches limited driverless ride-hail services.
 
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32 ways to do SXSW for free in 2024

A band on stage, as seen from the front row to the left. Above the musicians, a tan shade cover looms.
South By San José has been a free SXSW tradition for 25 years. | Photo by ATXtoday
SXSW is an investment — an investment in amazing music, thought-provoking panels, and mind-boggling art showcases, but an investment, nonetheless.

The good news is, there are dozens of ways to enjoy one of Austin’s biggest festivals without a badge. Here are 32 events you can attend for free.

Live music

Marshall Funhouse | Wednesday, March 13-Friday, March 15 | Parish, 501 Brushy St. | RSVP required
  • Wednesday: Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls, Shannon and the Clams, Die Spitz, and more
  • Thursday: Dry Cleaning, Therapy?, Provoker, and more
  • Friday: The Black Angels, The Armed, Fugitive, and more
The SXSW Community Concerts at Lady Bird Lake | Thursday, March 14-Saturday, March 16 | 800 W. Riverside Dr.
  • Thursday: Bob Schneider, Vallejo, Ian Moore, and more
  • Friday: Riders Against the Storm, Zapp featuring Bootsy Collins
  • Saturday: Waco Brothers, Parker Woodland, Sugar Free Allstars, and more
A sign with the SXSW logo and a map of auditorium shores takes up space to the left of the image, which depicts Auditorium Shores during SXSW. Crowds fill the grassy field, and a stage and the Austin skyline are visible in the background.

Hundreds of Austinites convene for SXSW’s free Community Concerts.

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Photo by ATXtoday

Spaceflight Records | Thursday, March 14-Saturday, March 16 | Central Machine Works, 4824 E. Cesar Chavez St.
  • Thursday: Kalu & The Electric Joint, Night Glitter, Slomo Drags, and more
  • Friday: Big Bill, SL Houser, Anastasia Hera, and more
  • Saturday: Garrett T. Capps & NASA Country, The Tender Things, Wil Cope, and more

Expos, Exhibitions, and Pop-ups

Wellness House | Saturday, March 9 | Other Racquet Social Club, 2717 Manor Rd. | RSVP required | Join influencer Jane Ko at this day full of wellness-centered panels, also featuring a morning workout and happy hour.

SXSW Pop-Up Market | Sunday, March 10 | Waterloo Greenway, 1111 Red River St. | Check out the new mural by Ruben Esquivel and Kat Talley and shop good from women and LGBTQ+ creatives at this family + dog-friendly market.

Out by South East | Tuesday, March 12-Sunday, March 17 | Meanwhile Brewing, 3901 Promontory Point Dr. | Looking to avoid Downtown traffic? Head to south Austin for six days of programming at the popular local brewery, with activities ranging from live music to a vendor market.
20 more free events
 
Events
Thursday, March 7
  • Artist Talk with Aimée M. Everett | Thursday, March 7 | 6-8 p.m. | George Washington Carver Museum Cultural and Genealogy Center‎, 1165 Angelina St., Austin | Free | Take a mid-week break to learn firsthand from the artist behind “Two Births and the Afterlife,” currently on display at the Carver museum.
  • Guster | Thursday, March 7 | 8 p.m. | ACL Live, 310 W. Willie Nelson Blvd., Austin | $20-$100 | Hear songs from the band’s eighth album, “Look Alive,” which was recorded in a vintage keyboard museum.
Friday, March 8
  • Fall Out Boy | Friday, March 8 | 6:30 p.m. | The Moody Center, 2001 Robert Dedman Dr., Austin | $61-$800 | Hear hits like “Thnks Fr Th Mmrs” and “Centuries” live — Jimmy Eat World, The Maine, and Daisy Grenade will also perform.
Saturday, March 9
  • Bakery’s Pain Au Chocolat | Saturday, March 9 | 12-6 p.m. | Bakery HQ, 1301 S. I-35 Frontage Rd., Austin | Cost of purchase | Take in a live Mexican Luchador wrestling exhibition + live music at this event, also featuring drinks for purchase.
Sunday, March 10
  • Family Day: Art in Bloom | Sunday, March 10 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum, 605 Azie Morton Rd., Austin | Free | The sculpture garden will celebrate the arrival of spring with interactive activities including flower-themed crafts, a story-time, and a sculpture scavenger hunt.
Monday, March 11
Events calendar here
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News Notes
Closing
  • Rooster Teeth, an Austin-based entertainment studio with more than two decades of production under its belt, is shutting down. General Manager Jordan Levin said in a memo that the business is closing due to challenges caused by “fundamental shifts in consumer behavior.” (KVUE)
Award
  • Longhorn Madison Booker is the first freshman in Big 12 history to be named Big 12 Player of the Year, sharing the title with Oklahoma’s Skyler Vann. The Mississippi-born basketball player has scored double digits in 20 games straight. (KXAN)
Now Open
  • Malaysian food restaurant Wee’s Cozy Kitchen reopened at the Royal Blue Grocery on Congress Avenue this week after closing its former location last year. The new space offers the old menu favorites like rendang, nasi lemak, and chicken satay. (Eater Austin)
Plan Ahead
  • Olympic gold-winning gymnast Simone Biles will perform at the Moody Center this October as part of the “Gold Over America” tour. The family-friendly gymnastics show will also feature Shilese Jones and Fred Richard — information on ticket sales will be announced soon.
Announced
  • “Hamilton,” “Clue,” and “Les Miserables” will come to Bass Concert Hall for the 2024/2025 season of Broadway in Austin, the organization announced this week. See the full theater lineup, which also includes “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” and “Peter Pan.”
Biz
  • Austin-based Steamies Dumplings recently began selling its dumplings nationally, with orders already as far-reaching as California and Washington. The dumpling shop sells both fresh and frozen dumplings at 6929 Airport Blvd. (Austin Business Journal)
Sports
  • The NFL season may be over, but a Cowboys fan never rests. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Dallas Cowboys with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Pets
  • Wonder Paws’ Omega Max Drops for dogs are veterinarian recommended, support healthy joints, and reduce itchy skin and shedding. Get 15% off with code DQMRME3N.*
TEGNA
 
Biz

Incoming: more Austin AVs

Waymo launches a limited version of driverless ride-hail in Austin this week

ATX_Waymo
Waymo, currently in the process of rolling out driverless cars in Austin, uses GPS maps and sensor data to operates its vehicles. | Photo via Waymo
Waymo’s driverless cars returned to Austin streets yesterday — sans humans.

The autonomous vehicle company, one of several players using ATX as a testing ground for the futuristic technology, officially opened up driverless rides to Waymo employees Wednesday ahead of launching to the general public later this year.

At that time, Austin will become Waymo’s fourth hub for driverless ride-hail, following similar services in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. Of note: Austin was the site for Waymo’s first-ever fully self-driving ride.

Autonomous vehicles — which operate using cameras, radar, GPS, and lidar sensors — are no strangers to Austin roadways: more than a dozen companies have previously operated or plan to operate AVs in ATX.

This includes California-based Cruise, which paused all driverless operations nationwide last fall after an accident with a pedestrian in San Francisco.

Lyft launched autonomous rides in Austin in 2022, and Volkswagen also has plans to bring a self-driving fleet in ATX.
The Buy

The Buy 3.07.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

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The Wrap
 
London Gibson

Today’s edition by:
London

From the editor
We know you’ve heard a lot about SXSW from us this year, but there are several other, smaller festivals you should also have on your radar this spring. Here are some we’re excited about:
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