Unofficial guide to unofficial SXSW 2026

By Lillian Jones

Station Manager

It’s that time of year again! From March 12th- March 18th, the annual South By South West (SXSW) festival will be taking place in none other than Austin, TX. Every year, people from all over gather for conferences, film screenings and my personal favorite, live music showcases. While official showcases get the spotlight with big names such as Lola Young and Passion Pit, the real soul of SXSW are the unofficial events happening around town showcasing the smaller and local musicians. 

These are shows with no badge required and little-to-no entry fees, allowing music lovers in the area access to the musical artistry that Austin is known to house and love. From established venues to town-favorite dive bars to student housing cooperatives, I’ve compiled a list of every “unofficial SXSW” showcase I could find!  

THURSDAY MARCH 12TH 

The Nothing Song at Cheer Up Charlies

Lineup: Almost Heaven, Congratulations, Night Ritualz, Lauren Lakis, Turbo Goth, Pink Breath of Heaven, Stalefish, French Film, CDSM, Glaze, Feet

Time: 12pm

 

Happen Twice Presents Webbervillage at Webberville Food Truck Park

Lineup: Leo Napoleon, Redbud, DD Island, Forty Feet Tall, Ella Ion, Stalefish and a secret guest

Time: 12pm-6pm 

 

15th Anniversary Party at Hotel Vegas & Volstead

Lineup: Osees, Surfbort, American Sharks, Holy Wave, J’Cuuzi, The Bad Lovers, Haha Laughing, Amplified Heat, Gus Baldwin & The Sketch, Tear Dungeon, Grocery Bag, Kind Keith, Queen Serene, Magic Rockers of Texas, Prehuman, Suxxy Puxxy, Ulovei, King Louie, No Kid$, Boozwa

Time: 2pm-2am

Hotel Vegas and Volstead are kicking off their “Spring Break Boogie” with legendary, insane Austin acts such as punk band Tear Dungeon, psych rockers Grocery Bag and experimental duo Haha Laughing. Along with the musicians will be a drag show, a vintage market and live screen printing. If you are looking for the true “Austinite” experience, this is the showcase to attend. 

 

The Sound of Convenience at Rio Market

Lineup: Alexalone, Amelia’s Best Friend, Avery Friedman, Fish Hunt, Forrest Philpot, Forty Feet Tall, Halfmass, Melaina Kol, Pam3, Shmoo, Virginia Creeper, Wesley Wolffe

Time: 2pm-9:45pm

 

SXYJ Pre-Party at Yellow Jacket Social Club 

Lineup: Devil Woman, Trucha Soul, DJ Coquito Papi

Time: Swap Meet @4-8pm, Music @8-11pm

 

Annual Irons House Show

Lineup: Dodo, DJ Rodeo Void, Elsie Fisher, Blue Bongo Bobby Band, Why Yes

Time: 6pm 

DM @theironsband on Instagram for address. 

 

FRIDAY MARCH 13TH 

Happen Twice Presents Webbervillage at Webberville Food Truck Park

Lineup: Sasha and The Valentines, Balaclava, Jonny Tex, Wilby, Spirit Ghost, The Citie, Bershy

Time: 12pm-6pm 

 

Dechico Worldz Launch Party 

Lineup: 60Juno, Foliage, Eddie Angel, Mid-Range Jumper

Time: 3pm

 

Smash By Smash West at Alienated Majesty Books

Lineup: Dear Maryanne, Arcadia Grey, Dear Cincinnati, Pretty Bitter, Shmoo, Clementine, Jesus Christ II, Genuine Mustard

Time: 6pm 

 

Evans Hall

Lineup: Amelia’s Best Friend, Mah Kee Oh, Foster Pettit, People I Love, A Mourning In Heaven

Time: 7pm

 

KVRX at Pearl St. Co-op 

Lineup: Badger Hunt, Jesus Christ II, French Film, Good Flying Birds, Guyscrapers, TV Buddha, The Dutch Kills, Pons, Comet

Time: 12pm-9pm

The friend of KTSW 89.9, KVRX 91.7(UT’s on-campus radio station) is having not one, but two showcases this year! The first one being hosted at the student housing cooperative, Pearl St. Co-op, featuring a mix of local, national and used-to-be-local-but-moved-elsewhere bands. For a mix of DIY indie rock and twee, this is the place to be.  

 

Julia’s War & Friends at 29th St. Ballroom 

Lineup: Glaze, Fish Hunt, Stab, Cashier, People I Love, A Mourning In Heaven, Wesley Wolffe

Time: 12pm-8pm

 

29th St. Block Party at Tweedys

Lineup: Annabelle Chairlegs, Slash Need, Thelma & The Sleaze, Gus Baldwin & The Sketch, CDSM, Ewe, Commercial Breaks

Time: 12pm

 

Night Show at 29th St. Ballroom 

Lineup: Surfbort, Sailor Poon, Haha Laughing

Time: 8pm

 

DJs at Highland Lounge 

Lineup: Babidoll, Pinkstar, Horrorchata 

Time: 12pm-3:30am

 

OneBee Presents at 21st Co-op

Lineup: Comet, Pons, Pipe, Taraneh, Xoe Haze, Empty Shell Casing

Time: 8pm 

 

SATURDAY MARCH 14TH 

29th St. Block Party at Tweedys

Lineup: Sheer Mag, Touch Girl Apple Blossom, Good Flying Birds, Guiding Light, TV Buddha, Godsend, Last Days of Disco, Badger Hunt, Cashier, Parking, Paper Jam, Guyscrapers, Blue Ribbon

Time: 12pm

If hanging around in college student housing doesn’t suit your fancy, you’re in luck. The lineup from the KVRX party mirrors the lineup at Tweedys; plus some more! 

Touch Girl Apple Blossom, Paper Jam and Blue Ribbon are my personal favorite female-fronted Texas bands, all equally sweet sounding and danceable. Along with the locals, there’s also out-of-towners Good Flying Birds whose recent debut album, Talulah’s Tape, I’ve had on repeat as the weather gets more beautiful. As well as Cashier, bringing the angst to the lineup from our neighboring state, Louisiana. 

 

Howdy Gals Present Howdyfest at 29th St. Ballroom 

Lineup: Big Bill, Bloodsports, Careabout, Couch Dog, Feet, Forty Feet Tall, Swapmeet, Victoryland

Time: 12pm-8pm

 

Happen Twice Presents Webbervillage at Webberville Food Truck Park

Lineup: Pretty Jane, 60 Juno, Mer Marcum, Trophy Wife, Victor Jones, Creature Canyon, Cardinal Bloom

Time: 12pm-6pm 

 

Friendship Fest at Chess Club

Lineup: CDSM, Team Trust, Hot Garbage, Pippy, Hunch, The Dutch Kills, Ewe

Time: 12pm-6pm

 

Firehouse Hostel & Lounge 

Lineup: Worlds Worst, Zastava, Bloodsports, Shmoo, Wesley Wolffe, Proun, Jesus Christ II, Some Fear, Wonderedya, Jake From Texas

Time: 3pm

 

Hidden Path & SuperH*llaRad Present at 2105 Pearl St. 

Lineup: Comet, Reserv, Audiachain, palefire

Time: 3-8pm 

 

Pearl World at Pearl St. Co-op

Lineup: Amish Swans, DilesQueNoMeMaten, Shallowater, Plume Girl, Semiwestern, Vi

rginia Creeper, Amelia’s Best Friend, Book Reports, The Opera 

Time: 5pm-2am

Nina Protocol is an up-and-coming streaming service based in NYC for independent artists to keep 100% of their revenue. You can stream and purchase artists’ music directly through Nina’s website or app. This is a platform that I’ve been following for a while after their interviews with artists such as The Dallas Cowboys, Crochet and The Only Thing Stopping Me were shown in my Instagram algorithm. I believe that this is a platform that truly cares about artists and making sure they get what they are worth! 

It was a smart call for Nina to branch out to Texas and this lineup is truly beautiful. The overall genre walks the lines of experimental, folk and shoegaze with most of these bands being a mix of the three. Perhaps I am biased, but I know where you can find me on March 14th! 

 

Friends of Keeled Scales Party at Alienated Majesty Books

Lineup: Sarah Meth, Haylie Davis, Carriers, Wilby

Time: 6:30pm

 

DOA x Seraphim at 29th St. Ballroom 

Lineup: Sassy09, Taraneh, Hexparter and more

Time: 8pm

 

Locket Magazine Issue 003 Launch Party at Walter’s Tavern

Lineup: Taraneh, J’Cuzzi, The Opera, Almost Heaven

Time: 8pm-2am

 

SUNDAY MARCH 15TH 

Don’t Look Now at Hole In The Wall 

Lineup: Bloodsports, Cashier, Dylan Earl, Forty Feet Tall, Gus Englehorn, Hot Garbage, Johnny Falloon, Parking, The Pink Stones, Zastava

Time: 12pm-7pm 

 

Welcome To The Jangle at 29th St. Ballroom

Lineup: Ancient Greece, Balaclava, CDSM, Drook, Endearments, Forty Feet Tall, Hot Garbage, Joyeria, Honey I’m Home, Nightbus, Lucid Express, Nug, Oscar Twins, Pippy, Radium Dolls, Semisoft, Two-Man Giant Squid, Victoryland

Time: 1pm 

 

SWASS NITE Day Show at Volstead

Lineup: Maldosa, Heartknit, Shams, Godsend, Tamsen, Blue Ribbon & DJs

Time: 2pm-7pm

 

Suero Sunday at Tweedys

Lineup: Rudio Selecto, Animaleja, DJ Los, Trucha Sol, ¡Viaje!, My Cousin Vinny

Time: 5:30pm-10:30pm

 

New Now & Nitroglycerine at Alienated Majesty Books

Lineup: Badger Hunt, Guyscrapers, Little Mazann, Blank Hellscape, Touch Girl Apple Blossom, TV Buddha, Parking, Talulah God

Time: 7pm

 

TUESDAY MARCH 17TH 

Press House at Community Garden 

Lineup: Meg Elsier, Mid-Range Jumper, Jake From Texas, Victoryland (solo set) 

Time: 2pm-6pm

An intimate atmosphere behind a sweet cafe by day & bar by night. Personally, I have had Victoryland’s recent album, My Heart Is a Room With No Cameras In It, on repeat. It’s sound is somehow a mixture of LCD Soundsystem and Coconut Records, making it the perfect listen for days filled with sun exhaustion and touching grass or days where I’m yearning for that same feeling. However, this will be a solo set, so assumingly a laid back and unique experience compared to the other Victoryland sets throughout the week. Alongside Victoryland, are local musicians Mid-Range Jumper and Jake From Texas who teeter on the genres of indie rock and folk. 

 

Doom Records at Alienated Majesty Books

Lineup: Knocked Up, Born Savage, Swiss Up

Time: 

 

Superh*llarad x Julia’s War at Rio Market 

Lineup: Cashier, MX Lonely, Stab, Marni Ct., Total Wife

Time: 6pm-9pm

 

WEDNESDAY MARCH 18TH 

KVRX: It’s Not Music As Usual at 29th St. Ballroom

Lineup: Bikini Beach, Qiensave, Hot Garbage, Grocery Bag, Cootie Catcher, CDSM

Time:  12pm

 

Locket Magazine Day Party at La Volta 

Lineup: Victoryland, Hunch, Hysteria, Careabout, Amelia’s Best Friend, DJ Cupid Shuffle & DJ Tommy John

Time: 12pm – 7pm

 

Julia’s War & Friends at Alienated Majesty Books

Lineup: Virginia Creeper, Marni Ct.,Shallowater, MX Lonely, Cashier, Stab

Time: 7pm

Ending the week off are artists under the independent label, Julia’s War, based in Philly started by They Are Gutting A Body Of Water’s frontman, Doug Dulgarian. Throughout the week, they have multiple showcases with varying lineups. Alongside the Julia’s War artists are local “friends” of the record label such as Stab. Stab is an artist that I was listening to before even knowing they were based in central Texas. Their 2023 album, Quarter Life Crisis, is angsty and gut-punching, making a great addition to the Julia’s War lineup. 

This show in particular will be held at Alienated Majesty Books, a bookstore known for small presses, indie comics and punk shows! Making for a unique experience, you can browse books and enjoy live music at the same time. 

Remember to have fun and support unofficial shows!