SXSW 2013: A Guide to the Best Parties, Performances and Showcases. Part 2
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Photograph taken at SXSW 2012 by Lauren Down
Planning for SXSW can be an insanely daunting task. With thousands of acts and hundreds of parties boasting everything from free breakfast and booze to vinyl and ipad giveaways, prize packages, surprise performances and more, it’s hard to decide what to attend.
So we’ve decided to lend a helping hand and hook you up with a list of parties providing a guide to the music you should check out, the freebies you should nab and of course those unique events that we know you won’t want to miss. Yesterday, Part 1 of our guide provided you with a list of weeklong parties that cover one, if not all, of the elements listed above and well Part 2 pretty much does the same, but now we’re focussing on the best one off day/night parties that Austin has to offer.
Let us take us through next week, day by day…
Tuesday 12 March
Terrorbird Media’s 7th Annual SXSW Day Party
Widowspeak + IO Echo + Young Dreams + Fear Of Men + Part Time + Hands
Perks: PBR specials
Bottomline: Free, open to the public
12pm @ Red 7
Jansport Bonfire Sessions @ Viceland
Divine Fits + Japandroids + Wavves + Skaters + Team Spirit
Perks: Food trucks + Free drinks + JanSport giveaways + Limited edition silk-screened concert posters + Every session will be streamed live on Jansport’s Youtube channel
Bottomline: Free with RSVP
8pm @ 401 E Cesar Chavez St.
#FEED powered by Twitter and Flavorpill
Visual design artists from The Meta Agency + @Night + Flying Lotus + TOKiMONSTA + Teebs + B. Lewis
Perks: Free Corzo Tequila Cocktails
Bottomline: Free with Flavorpill RSVP or Badge
Music from 9pm @ AMOA Arthouse at the Jones Center
Surefire Sound Official SXSW Show
JETS (Jimmy Edgar & Machinedrum), Dark Sky, Kastle, Nick Hook, Starship Connection, House Shoes, Tyler Tastemaker
Bottomline: Free and open to the public
6pm @ Barcelona
Pitchfork Official Interactive
John Talabot + Icona Pop + Cloud Nothings + Azari & III + Marnie Stern + Blue Hawaii + Torres + Indians +Night Beds
Perks: the lineup
Bottomline: Free to public or Badgeholders
8pm @ Mohawk
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Wednesday 13 March
KEXP Live Broadcasts
Palma Violets + Unknown Mortal Orchestra + Bleeding Rainbow + Robyn Hitchcock
Bottomline: All performances are free and open to the public.
3:30pm @ Mellow Johnny’s
Consequence of Sound CoSigns Day Party
Chelsea Light Moving + Mac DeMarco + Ex Cops + St. Lucia + TEEN + Wampire
Bottomline: Free with RSVP
12pm @ The Parish/Beale
HELLA NATIONAL: Forcefield/Stonesthrow Day Party
Peanut Butter Wolf + Alex Bleeker & The Freaks + PAWS + Parenthetical Girls + Mister Lies + Young Galaxy
Perks: Drinks by Casa Noble Tequila & Sailor Jerry’s, sunglasses giveaways by Crap Eyewear, and additional giveaways to the first 100 coming through the door.
Bottomline: Free with RSVP
12pm @ Red 7
Disco Naivete/Crack In The Road Day Party
S O H N + Eddi Front + Pacific Air + Young Dreams + Mozart’s Sister + NO + GEMS + DENA
Perks: Great music from two of our favourite websites!
Bottomline: Free with RSVP
12pm @ BD Riley’s
Pretty Much Amazing Presents: The Danger Village Day Party
ALPINE + MØ + Empress Of + Goldroom + TORRES + FALLULAH + DJ sets by: Computer Magic, Noise Problem & more
Perks: Free #PMAVILLAGE Survival Kit goodie bags if you arrive in time
Bottomline: free and open to the public
1pm @ Empire Control Room
GvsB x Yours Truly Hype Hotel Day Party
Disclosure + Ryan Hemsworth (DJ Set) + Shlohmo + John Talabot (DJ Set) + Charli XCX
Perks: Free food & booze
Bottomline: RSVP for all the freeness you can handle
1pm @ Hype Hotel
YVYNYL and Ears of the Beholder Present #MEGABLAAG SXSW Day Party Sponsored by Exfm
Alpine + DIANA + Autre Ne Veut + High Highs + Jerome LOL
Perks: You get to meet your favorite bloggers while watching great live music
Bottomline: Free with RSVP
8pm @ Empire Control Room
Life or Death PR Showcase
Worlds Fair + Bass Drum of Death + Wavves + Mac Demarco + Unknown Mortal Orchestra + Earl Sweatshirt & Captain Murphy, + Trash Talk & MellowHype
Perks: killer lineup
Bottomline: tba
8pm @ Scoot Inn
The Windish Agency SXSW Music Kickoff @ Refinery29
Poolside + CHVRCHES + Flume + The Thermals + NO CEREMONY + Peace, Dan Croll + Blessed Feathers
Bottomline: Free with RSVP
8pm @ Red 7
Resident Advisor Official SXSW Showcase
John Talabot + Optimo + HUERCO S. + Andy Stott + Blue Hawaii + Archie Pelago
Perks: RA are SXSW newbies but pros when it comes to the best in bass music
Bottomline: Official show but all are welcome.
8pm @ Elysium
NPR Official Showcase
Alt-J + Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds + Yeah Yeah Yeah’s + Waxahatchee + LE1F + Youth Lagoon + Cafe Tecvba
Perks: Amazing lineup + the official showcase will be available on air, online and on mobile to audiences worldwide, in a broadcast on NPR member stations across the country, and live video stream on the site and in the NPR Music apps
Bottomline: The show is open to SXSW Music and Platinum badge holders. You can increase your chances of getting in by entering the SXSW lottery. A limited number of SXSW Wristbands may also be eligible for tickets through a separate process which will be announced closer to the dates of the show.
7pm @ Stubbs
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Thursday 14 March
KEXP Live Broadcasts
True Believers + Olafur Arnalds + Iron and Wine + Chelsea Light Moving (w/ Thurston Moore)
Bottomline: Free and open to the public + a chance to see these acts in an intimate setting
9:30am @ Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop
Home Slice Pizza’s Music By The Slice Charity Event
Slow Magic + High Highs + Young Galaxy + Psychic Friend + On an On + BOY + Roadkill Ghost Choir
Perks: Buying delicious pizza for a good cause + beer specials and free snacks
Bottomline: Just show up
1pm @ Home Slice Pizza
Pitchfork Day Party
Youth Lagoon + Toro y Moi + Foxygen + Unknown Mortal Orchestra + Parquet Courts + Merchandise + Mikal Cronin + Autre Ne Veut + California X + Rhye
Bottomline: Free and open to the public
12pm @ 1100 Warehouse
Live For The Funk Day Party
The Underachievers + Ryan Hemsworth + Ratking + Cashmere Cat + Samo Sound Boy + Grown Folk + Tommy Kruise
Perks: Free booze all night
Bottomline: Free with RSVP
2pm @ Joie De Vie
We Listen for You & sonaBLAST! Records Day Party
Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone of The Zombies (acoustic Set) + Et Tu Brucé + Nerves Junior + Shugo Tokumaru + Royal Bangs
Perks: You won’t find another free lineup like this all week
Bottomline: Free and must RSVP to attend
12pm @ Kenny Dorham’s Back Yard
Insound Presented by Oh My Rockness Day Party
Marnie Stern + Cheatahs + The Soft Moon + Bleeding Rainbow + Widowspeak
Perks: Throw down $5 for a Brooklyn Brewing bracelet and enjoy free beer throughout the day
Bottomline: Free and open to the public
12pm @ Club DeVille
Neon Gold Day Party
Wardell + Swim Deep + Ambassadors + HAERTS + Everything Everything + Jamie N Commons + Kodaline + MØ + Sky Ferreira
Bottomline: Free with RSVP on Do512
12pm @ Red Eyed Fly
IAMSOUND/House of Vans Day Party
Disclosure + Charli XCX + Palma Violets + Peace + DIIV + Hunters
Bottomline: Free with RSVP
12pm @ Mohawk
Ninja Tune SXSW Party
Richard Henry + Hot Sugar + Evy Jane + Bonobo + Toddla T + a Surprise Guest
Perks: Bonobo!
Bottomline: You don’t want to miss this show
8pm @ Elysium
SEXBEAT/LANZAROTE SX Party
Kid Congo Powers & The Pink Monkey Birds + The Soft Moon + Audacity + VIRALS + Fear Of Men + Eagulls + Nu Sensae
Bottomline: Free with RSVP
7pm @ Cheer Up Charlie’s
Fourth Annual Audible Treats Official SXSW Hip-Hop Showcase
Souls of Mischief + Prince Paul + Hot Sugar, A.Dd+ + Dizzy Wright & Jarren Benton + SL Jones +The Doppelgangaz + BLK HRTS
Bottomline: Free to badge and wristband holders, $8 for everyone else
8pm @ The 512 Bar
Pitchfork Official Showcase
Rustie + Disclosure + Ryan Hemsworth + Zebra Katz + Sky Ferreira + Savages + Pissed Jeans + FIDLAR + Doldrums
Bottomline: Official Badges Only
8pm @ 1100 Warehouse
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Friday 15 March
Windish/House of Vans Day Party
Alt-J + Sir Sly + Guards + Icona Pop + SOHN + Doldrums + Jetta + Empress Of + MØ + Soley
Perks: Tito’s Vodka drinks that might be free
Bottomline: Free with RSVP
12pm @ Mohawk
Nylon/DubFrequency Day Party on The Terrace @ The W Hotel
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (dj set) + Baio of Vampire Weekend (dj set) + Willy Moon + Capital Cities, + Youngblood Hawke + Citizens! + Skaters + Hits + more tba
Perks: Pool Party in the middle of SXSW
Free with RSVP
MOKB + Knucklerumbler Present “Vaya Con Tacos 3″ Day Party
Solid Gold + Cayucas, Lucius + Fol Chen + Wake Owl + Helado Negro + Indians
Perks: Food and drink specials
Bottomline: Free with RSVP on Do512
12pm @ Peckerheads
AFTER THE GOLD RUSH Day Party: Presented by Noise Pop and Another Planet Entertainment
Youth Lagoon + Surfer Blood + Metz + Phosphorescent + Wild Belle + Caveman + The Sam Chase
Perks: Beer and vodka drink specials
Bottomline: Free with RSVP
12pm @ Red Eyed Fly
The A.V. Club’s March Into Softness SXSW Day Party
Frightened Rabbit + Baths + The Thermals + METZ + Paws + Telekinesis + Valleys
Bottomline: Free and all ages
12pm @ Mohawk
Rhapsody Rocks Austin 2013 Day Party
The Walkmen + Foxygen + Inc + True Panther DJ set
Perks: Almost always free swag
Bottomline: Free with RSVP
12pm @ Club DeVille
Father Daughter x Gold Robot x Small Plates Records Day Party
GEMS + Mutual Benefit + Body Parts + Night Panther + Levek
Perks: Grackle-famous Bloody Mary and Brooklyn Lager specials, vinyl giveaways
Bottomline: Free and open to the public
12pm @ The Grackle
The Tumblr House + Gap Present Filter Magazine on Rainey Showcases
Andrew W.K. + FIDLAR + Kitten + Shout Out Louds + Peace + Ducktails + Vacationer
Perks: It’s Tumblr so let’s hope everything just runs smoothly
Bottomline: Free with RSVP
2pm @ Clive Bar
Dickies SXSW Party
Diamond Rings + St. Lucia + Icona Pop + Big K.R.I.T. + The Crystal Ark
Bottomline: Free with RSVP but the Toro y Moi and Divine Fits sets are for Badge holders only
3pm @ Lustre Pearl
XLR8R/Icee Hot Official SXSW Party
Bicep + Ghosts On Tape + South London Ordnance + Shawn Reynaldo + Grown Folk + Nautiluss
Perks: It’s XLR8R’s party
Bottomline: Badge/Wristband and limited tickets at the door
8pm @ Barcelona
Panache Booking Official SXSW Party
Thee Oh Sees + Bleached + Marnie Stern + Delicate Steve + Jacco Gardner + Idiot Glee
Perks: Panache always puts on a great show, it’s what they do
Bottomline: Free with Badge/wristband or $8 without
7pm @ Hotel Vegas
DJ Dials: LuckyMe x Yours Truly Secret Warehouse Party
Baauer + Just Blaze + Obey City + Eclair Fifi + S-Type + 10 Other Special Guests
Perks: It’s a warehouse party with the best from LuckyMe’s roster, the same place TNGHT played their first show ever @ SXSW 2012
Bottomline: Free with RSVP or pay $20 for guaranteed entry
9pm @ Secret Warehouse
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Saturday 16 March
MWTX Day Party
We know it’s coming. Hosted by the guys that put on the always stacked weekend event known as FYF Fest and Fun Fun Fun Fest, and always boasting one of the largest and most insane lineups in Austin every year, this day AND night party is not to be missed. Everyone from Pure X, Odd Future, The Men, Purity Ring, A$AP Rocky and Tycho have played in the past.
Perks: Unheard of lineup packed with acts on the top of your list to see on two stages + surprise performances, swag, free drinks, cheap food and booze
Bottomline: Free but worth so many dollars
1pm @ TBA
Check Yo Ponytail x Fool’s Gold x Mad Decent: Super Party
The Drums+ Diplo + Trash Talk + Digitalism + Andrew W.K + Wavves +Zebra Katz + Caveman +Teengirl Fantasy + TRUST + Hudson Mohawke
Perks: It’s the most ridiculous lineup at SXSW
Bottomline: Free with RSVP
12pm @ Emo’s East & Beauty Ballroom
All Things Go x Indie Shuffle SXSW Day Party
The 1975 + HAERTS + Youngblood Hawke + Darwin Deez + Ghost Beach + MØ + The Neighbourhood
Perks: Free sandwiches, chips and cookies, free Lone Star beer
Bottomline: Free with RSVP
11am @ Club DeVille
WeDidIt Rooftop Party
Salva x Pusha T + Shlohmo + Daedelus x Ryan Hemsworth + Groundislava + Jerome LOL + special guests
Bottomline: Free with badge, $10 tickets
8pm @ Emo’s East
Ray-Ban x Boiler Room SXSW Warehouse Broadcast
Death Grips + Mount Kimbie + Lunice + Shlohmo + very special guests
Perks: If you’ve ever wanted to be part of the live/streaming London experience known as the Boiler Room, now you can, lots of acts playing exclusive sets just for Boiler Room TV, maybe Ray-ban giveaways?
Bottomline: free with RSVP
8pm @ Secret Warehouse
NMBRS SXSW Party
Rustie + Jackmaster + Oneman + SOPHIE
Bottomline: Just show up
8pm @ Barcelona
The Austin Imposition
White Lung + Single Mothers + Wiccans + Ex-Cult + Parenthetical Girls + Sam Flax + Idiot Glee + Gold Bear + The Loom
Perks: PBR specials + this party gets crazy and goes super late
Bottomline: 100% free and 100% open to everyone but be sure to RSVP
8pm @ The Yellow Jacket
- BADBADNOTGOOD share “Poeira Cosmia” featuring Tim Bernardes
- Say Now present their new single, "Makeup Sex"
- lilo release new single, "Crash The Car"
- Barry Can’t Swim to headline All Points East Festival 2025
- Pem unveils standalone single, "Ellipsis"
- Celeste returns with the release of brand new single, "This Is Who I Am"
- SQUARE reveals 20 new additions to its music showcase lineup
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