(Sponsored by Becky Beaver)
Drive-in concerts never showed up on the planner … until pandemic hit.
Like many of 2020’s philanthropic upstarts, Love & Lightstream’s drive-in concert series reacted to COVID’s near-obliteration of the homegrown music industry. Origin org Austin Love & Light planned a stacked local showcase at Scholz Garten during South by Southwest, and when everything canceled, the event pivoted to livestream-only, closed to the public.
Fast forward to August: The group relaunched as Love & Lightstream alongside production partners the Werd Company and announced a one-off drive-in music festival at Cedar Park’s Haute Spot, 120-car cap, anchored by local heavyweights …Trail of Dead, Jackie Venson, and David Ramirez (all broadcast online). Safety protocols solidified and public interest piqued, so producers expanded to five consecutive weekends (Oct. 23-Nov. 15) starring more than 40 of ATX’s finest, plus out-of-state notables like Mt. Joy and Lion Babe. With few (safe) in-person performances available and an altruistic angle to boot (shows benefited performers, Black Fret, HAAM, and Austin Justice Coalition), Love & Lightstream seeded hope during a bleak year and aided more than 100 essential music workers.
They’ve got more planned for 2021. – David Brendan Hall
RUNNERS-UP: ACL Live week of weddings, Emo’s election polling station, Mobley’s curbside tour, Mosaic Sound Collective’s livestream facility
This article appears in March 5 • 2021.