SXSW Announces Free Public Events Featuring Bootsy Collins, Bob Schneider

South by Southwest has announced the lineup for this year’s Community Concert series at Lady Bird Lake. Bootsy Collins, Bob Schneider, and more are slated to play free gigs March 14-16, with all shows open to the public (not just SXSW badge holders).

Doors open at 2pm, and music runs 3 to 7pm at 800 W, Riverside at Auditorium Shores. Joe “King” Carrasco, Patrice Pike & Friends, Ian Moore, Vallejo, and Bob Schneider perform Thursday – otherwise known as “Spurs Night,” thanks to a partnership between SXSW and the San Antonio Spurs. The event doubles as a celebration of Steamboat 1874 Austin, the Sixth Street venue that shuttered at the turn of the century.

The next night, Bootsy and fellow R&B influencers ZAPP! bring the funk alongside Austin locals Riders Against the Storm. Set times for the event have yet to be announced.

Saturday sees the return of KUTX’s Rock the Shores, a spinoff of the Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child radio show’s Mueller concert series, Rock the Park. Providing family friendly indie rock programming, the show features local artists SaulPaul, Parker Woodland, and A Giant Dog’s Sabrina Ellis and Andrew Cashen, as well as the Waco Brothers, Storey Littleton, Superhero Peppermint Patti Collins, Sugar Free Allstars, and the Dinosaur’s Skin.

Moving away from the water, Nonprofit EQ Austin takes over the Grackle on Thursday and Friday for two days of local programming that start later in the evening. Co-sponsored by the Austin Music & Entertainment Division, Thursday’s show features sets by EXOTIC FRUITICA, Danny Bonilla, Tameca Jones, and Stephanie Bergara, debuting as a solo artist after years of fronting Bidi Bidi Banda. On Friday, the Music & Entertainment Division teams with the Diversity & Ethnic Chamber Alliance to present Kalu James, Midnight Navy, Como Las Movies, and Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band.

Flatstock 92 also returns to the Convention Center each day from 10am to 5pm, displaying works by national poster artists available for purchase or viewing.

Check out the lineup for each day of SXSW’s free music programming below.

Thursday, March 14
Lady Bird Lake:
3pm – Joe “King” Carrasco
3:45pm – Patrice Pike & Friends
4:30pm – Ian Moore
5:25pm – Vallejo
6:30pm – Bob Schneider

The Grackle:
7pm – Exotic Fruitica
8pm – Stephanie Bergara
9pm – Danny Bonilla
10pm – Tameca Jones

Friday, March 15
Lady Bird Lake:
Bootsy Collins
ZAPP!
Riders Against The Storm

The Grackle:
7pm – Kalu James
8pm – Midnight Navy
9pm – Como Las Movies
10pm – Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band

Saturday, March 16
Lady Bird Lake:
KUTX Rock The Shores
3 pm – The Dinosaur’s Skin
3:30pm – Sabrina Ellis & Andrew Cashen from A Giant Dog
4pm – Storey Littleton
4:30pm – Superhero Peppermint Patti Collins
5pm – SaulPaul
5:30pm – Sugar Free Allstars
6pm – Parker Woodland
6:30pm – Waco Brothers