The Lights Stay On at Red River

Ethan McConnell  

Live Music Director  

With the new year coming in, there comes a new wave of music to flourish through into the world. Not only with  release of new music, but also announcements of festival line ups come out to help the people determine which will be more worth it branching from SXSW, the Gov ball or Sick New World, Coachella, etc. Regardless though, there are things to be looking forward to and it’s only the first month. But let me draw you in to something on a much smaller scale but still brings in a massive impact on the community.  

 Yes, festivals and concerts are cool, but you know what’s better, one that’s completely free of charge. Free week hosted in the Red River Cultural District of Austin has been a festival dating back two decades, curating a vibrant scene throughout the music venues surrounding to help support the local scene and artists. Usually, I’ve gone alone to these things, but I was finally able to bring some of my good friends along with me. With an event like this it felt like the perfect opportunity to experience the local music scene stress-free. Let me walk you through the night and highlight the artists and moments that showed just how powerful Austin’s local scene can be. 

What is Free Week? 

All the new faces reading this who aren’t used to the annual Austin festivities might be sitting there wondering what this festival is. Oh, what would you guys do without me? Usually in the wintertime for artists, promoters, and venues, the beginning of the year is usually the slowest time with not a lot of commotion going on. The city of Austin took it upon themselves to help its community prosper through the steady times by hosting a two-night event with over ninety artists spread across 12 music venues in the city. There are no days off here in the city of Austin, and I am not complaining. Not only do you get to see a free show, but there’s also an economic boost that helps not only the artist get their name in the door but to those who make this possible, all thanks to you just being there. Local artists get paid by the venues; they get more exposure to the scene and help venues stay open to employ staff during all of it.  

Life Cycles 

After rounding up my friends from KTSW we all set out to Austin excited for what was to come. We arrive downtown and do the rounds of finding a good reasonably priced parking spot. We found a spot under the bridge, and it looked sketch but hey, can’t beat $10 for the night. 

Walked around the venues to see if there was anything catching our ears, stood in a line at Stubbs that felt like it was never going to move, and just ended up at Mohawks. When I tell you there is an artist of every genre for you to experience at this thing, I am not lying. First band we see is a 5-piece Texas metal band based out of San Antonio and that crowd was moving. These guys were grateful to be out in Austin to showcase their talent, and they were all in sync up on stage moving together.  

 The sound was a dense blend of pounding 808s, double bass layered into every drop, and screams waiting to erupt. The drummer was so locked with such driving fills matching the rhythms of the chuggs from the guitar. Don’t even get me started on the vocalist Xavier Rios and Jeremy Cuevas. They were able to sustain such long notes, and I sat there in such awe going, “Boy ain’t no way boy”. And the crowd wasted no time getting rowdy with arms flailing, two-steppers, and head bangers of all kinds. I have no idea why there was no line to get into Mohawks because this was definitely the move with how much energy was swarming the venue. 

CorMae 

Now after getting warmed up, we head out to check out what else the night had to offer. We made it back into the Stubbs line because I couldn’t miss out on CorMae. A mostly female Garage/Punk band that has energy for days.  

While we waited for them to take the stage, I sat outside and met with some older friends that came out and talked about how the night was going so far. Soon after the ladies took the stage, cheers swarmed in from below and on top. It was jam packed inside of Stubbs with not a lot of wiggle room (I literally stood in a tiny corner of the room). The set started with punchy guitar tones and drum hits and all the things punk with politically charged lyrics from lead vocalist Amber. You had iconic songs performed like, “VACAY”, “Sry Mom” and their own rendition of “Purple People Eater” keeping that high intensity going from start to finish.  

The lead vocalist was so interactive with the crowd too, pointing out people in the crowd. I will never forget seeing her locking eyes with a little girl in the crowd who had a denim vest on singing every word and jumping around and seeing a spark inside go off. That is exactly what these shows are all about, and I sat there seeing this interaction and couldn’t do anything but smile. You have people of all ages attending these shows because there should be no age limit to enjoying good music.  

Till Next Year 

There were countless acts during Free Week, far too many to fit on one page. The nights were unforgettable, especially since it was my first Free Week experiencing it with a group. Reconnecting with friends in the scene like Stefan from Almost Heaven, chatting with local bands after their sets, and letting loose in the Swan Dive pit to Grocery Bag, even earning a scolding for “doing too much,” made it all feel personal. From Alma Muñeca’s Latin-infused grooves to Chancla Fight Club’s buzzing alt rock, two nights proved that Free Week delivers every sound imaginable while keeping the city wide awake on a budget-friendly high.