Scattered across different venues Downtown and snugly packed into just one week, it’s no secret South by Southwest will look different this year. There’s one place, though, where the party’s staying the same. The 11th annual Austin Chronicle Hair of the 3-Legged Dog Party returns to Hotel Vegas on Friday, March 13, with a lineup of local acts from 12-4pm. As always, it’s free with RSVP and packed with emerging talent.
Mixtape master Free Hamze brings his sample-melding tracks and quick-witted rapping to the stage first. His latest release, FREETAPE 5: the Shadow & the Self, is a 17-minute missive led by twinkling piano and commanding spoken-word samples that scored him a Best Hip-Hop/Rap nomination in the Austin Music Poll. The Lebanese American has a knack for easy-flowing rhythms and a style the Chronicle described as “a go-getter rhyming over cool, underground production.”
Égaux Sells twists dream pop into deliciously punchy dance beats that make for an electrifying live performance, to say nothing of the experimental pop artist’s charismatic dance moves. Their 2025 EP I HATE FIGHTING!! is an “Eighties-meets-indie-sleaze heaven” celebrated in last year’s Top 10 Albums list.
Art-punk trio Team Trust are as serious about making asymmetrical, earworm-filled compositions as they are about their value-oriented namesake. Discussing the trust exercises that have become a signature of their live shows, guitarist/vocalist Elday Kornberg told the Chronicle: “[We] encourage other people to try things that maybe they’re not super good at, or maybe they’re not super comfortable with, because I think that’s also where the magic happens.”
Former Calliope Musicals frontwoman Carrie Fussell didn’t just launch her new project in 2025, she catapulted it. BRUCE’s debut album Must Love Teeth was introduced to the world with a live-taped concert film – which garnered her a Most Creative Event nod in the Austin Music Poll – and a flurry of costumes and performances as colorful as this reestablished Austin art-pop staple. BRUCE captures Fussell’s theatrical flair and love of multi-genre exploration, showcasing her dynamic, expressive voice, also nominated for Best Vocalist this year.
It is a celebration of the hair of the dog, after all, so grab a Bloody Mary from sponsors Bloody Revolution and Goodnight Loving Vodka to get the day drinking started. Tacos from Eldorado Cafe and complimentary brews from Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. will keep you refreshed and energized for a whole afternoon of dancing on Vegas’ shady patio. Plus snag surprise swag from Pinballz and CapMetro. All proceeds benefit Austin Pets Alive!
Editor’s Note: A previous version of story incorrectly stated that Free Hamze is Lebanon-born. While Lebanese American, he was not born in the country. The Chronicle regrets the error.