For five years running, locals Nathan Lankford of music blog and label Austin Town Hall and John Laird of culture blog Side One Track One have championed Austin’s music scene by staging 30 bands for free at Hotel Vegas and Volstead. The former says the sonically diverse local sampler pulls a mix of acts from ATH Records with new music in the works, while the latter, who also curates Homegrown Live weekly on 101X, prognosticates what will keep a crowd there for the full 12 hours beginning at 1pm.: “I definitely have my taste, which is the weirder, punkier side of things, but John’s an all-around indie rock guy, so it’s really good that we have that balance,” admits Lankford. “John and I both have differing opinions on what’s great.”: This year, local heavy hitters weigh in behind Moving Panoramas’ hazy, shoegaze-infused rock; bluesy swagger from Emily Wolfe; the visceral punk of Blxpltn; Quiet Company’s earnest, emotive guitar rock; and more. The bookers avoid having the same acts play year after year, and Lankford and Laird make sure to highlight newer acts. The Infinites, Hermits, Being Dead, Pelvis Wrestley, and Fanclub are all offered as artists to watch for 2019.: Lankford says the gig historically hits capacity between 7:30-9:30pm, with the inside stages constantly packed. A longtime champion of the scene between his tireless efforts at the label and highlighting more in his written work, he considers it an “all-Austin party” before everyone else swarms town for South by Southwest – plus a chance to show off local talent.: “We’re able to still grab some of the South By Interactive and Film people that are here and say, ‘Hey, I know that your city’s cool, but this is what we have to offer,’” Lankford says, then quickly adds, “Not that we necessarily want more people to move here.”