Celebrating Black Austin, Telling Stories, and Ducks Galore in This Weekend’s Events

Our arts and culture recommendations to keep you busy

"...the Christian High School Academy. Horny teens and hypocritical leaders! What could go wrong?   – Cat McCarrey “Dog..."

May 23, 2025 Arts Feature by James Scott

A Free Show, Holiday Hootenanny, and More Crucial Concerts

Gary Clark Jr., Geto Gala, Robert Earl Keen, and more recommended shows

"...fiery punk newcomers Grocery Bag and theatrical masked jazz collective Grandmaster. At 10pm, the shindig moves indoors, where noise..."

Dec. 13, 2024 Music Feature by Carys Anderson

In Politics to Win, Again and Again

Introducing the passionate people who get our local politicians elected

"...the same idea for Jacob Aronowitz, the founder of Collective Campaigns, which bills itself as the first political consultancy..."

Sept. 13, 2024 News Feature by Brant Bingamon

Some Local Arts, Pride, and More Recommended Events

Plan your Austin weekend

"...Ofrendas and Forbidden Fruit; and a Q&A with community leaders moderated by me. Party on, y’all.   – James..."

Aug. 9, 2024 Arts Feature by James Scott

Taking Austin’s LGBTQ Temperature

Getting the hot and cold scoop from local LGBTQ community members on queer Austin

"...of Austin’s queer scene by chatting with local community leaders – the folks who make Austin as queer as..."

Aug. 9, 2024 Features Feature by James Scott

Austin African American Book Festival Gives Youth Revolutionary Programming

The 18th annual AAABF offers youth avenues for expression

"...Festival has been a paragon of the eloquence of Black culture...."

July 3, 2024 Arts Post by Cy White

South by Southwest Falls for Ryan Gosling With The Fall Guy World Premiere

3 Body Problem, more announced for 2024 festival

"...The Black Sea (United States, Bulgaria) Director: Crystal Moselle, Derrick B...."

Jan. 10, 2024 SXSW Post by Richard Whittaker

Unofficial Parties & Free Shows to See During South by Southwest

The Chronicle’s recommended concerts for the coming week

"...The bill also includes a solo set from the Black Angels’ dark prophet Alex Maas (7pm) and riff-heavy metallurgists..."

March 10, 2023 Music Feature by The Music Staff

Crucial Concerts for the Coming Week

The Linda Lindas, Momma, Caramelo Haze, JaRon Marshall, and more highlight our recommended shows

"...cost to get there: mocking kissing up to industry leaders on "Rip Off" and fame disillusionment on "Rockstar." Polished..."

Jan. 13, 2023 Music Column by Alejandra Ramirez

Art Heals Festival Aims to Eliminate HIV, Mental Health Stigma Through Artwork

Black, queer-led event highlights healing creative space

"...be the artistic displays from this year’s Southern Arts Collective Cohort, there will also be music from queer rapper..."

Sept. 28, 2022 Qmmunity Post by James Scott

The Verde Report: In Gut-Check Time, True Colors Shine Through

What’s the secret sauce in this turnaround squad?

"...expansion year, but few instances where the Verde and Black actually rose to meet the challenge. This time around,..."

April 22, 2022 Sports Column by Eric Goodman

Three Music Writers Descend Into the NFT Craze at SXSW

One NFT-fatigued, one NFT-Curious, and NFT-skeptical

"...CatchTwentyTwo while I see a swirl of red and black goo. The other one is a WWE logo...."

March 18, 2022 Music Feature by Kevin Curtin

Exploring Black Digital History Through the Legacy of the Nike Air Force 1

Ciara Elle Bryant wonders when a shoe becomes an icon?

"...of the library, where she found no books about Black artists. This glaring omission in the historical record, and..."

March 11, 2022 Features Feature by Vivie Behrens

Closing AISD Middle Schools, One Grade at a Time?

Two historically Black and Latinx middle schools set to lose sixth grade

"...for Education and Youth's Eastside Memorial Vertical Team, a collective that advocates on behalf of Eastside schools, including Martin...."

March 11, 2022 News Feature by Morgan O’Hanlon

hellsite.austin.gov

Everything needs to be online now. Austin is a world-renowned tech capital. Why can’t the city get it right?

"...vaccine portal, its failure is the responsibility of city leaders. As one said, "If you're going to use a..."

June 11, 2021 News Feature by Brant Bingamon

As Clock Ticks, Council Bites the Campsite Bullet

Post-Proposition B work to find places for unhoused Austinites continues

"...how some locations could ever be considered. A historic Black cemetery? The vacant Home Depot whose neighbors spent years..."

May 28, 2021 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Unpopular No. 2 Likely to Lead APD

Chief of Staff not popular within APD or with local justice advocates

"...to City Hall, a coalition of 20 progressive justice leaders and groups writes that a "reform­-oriented Interim Chief who..."

March 19, 2021 News Feature by Austin Sanders

SXSW Online: Recommended Programming

Must-catch panels, films, music showcases, and more at this year's all-virtual Fest

"...5pm:  Black Fret — Music Showcase Featuring Buffalo Hunt, Ley Line,..."

March 12, 2021 Features Feature

Buttigieg Back for SXSW, Plus Kenan Thompson and More

New speaker list adds keynotes and notables to virtual conference

"...with Franklin Leonard: Filmmaker and founder of narrative change collective ARRAY Ava DuVernay in conversation with film and television..."

Feb. 24, 2021 SXSW Post by Richard Whittaker

Faster Than Sound: Sun June’s Emotional Landscapes

Songwriter Laura Colwell discusses atmospheric sophomore effort Somewhere

"...Chair Jonathan "Chaka" Mahone recited a poem to honor Black History Month. The new leader's "Fourth of No Lies"..."

Feb. 12, 2021 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

AFS Invites You to a Sundance at Pioneer Farms

Festival brings drive-in screenings plus special streaming panels

"...The Pink Cloud digs deeply into the underbelly of collective loneliness to offer us a way out...."

Jan. 7, 2021 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

The Sword and the Shield Shows Malcolm X and MLK Were More Alike Than Different

Dr. Peniel E. Joseph's book argues that the civil rights leaders are two sides of the same revolutionary coin

"...public affairs at UT-Austin. According to Joseph, the two leaders represent different facets of the same project for Black..."

Nov. 6, 2020 Arts Feature by Sara Hutchinson

Austin Theatres Are Moving the Stage Beyond Zoom

Companies thinking outside the boxes bring theatre to your radio, your mailbox, and your neighbor's yard

"...audiences in fresh ways this fall are Heartland Theatre Collective, which is premiering a new audio drama, Passage; and..."

Sept. 11, 2020 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Faster Than Sound: R&B Innovator Nayome Gets Personal

Sade-loving local Naomi Sutton previews sophomore EP, Latin music enters Live Music Fund conversation, and more music news.

"...Vice Chair Jonathan "Chaka" Mahone's June push for a Black Live Music Fund, recently supported by local industry in..."

Aug. 14, 2020 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

Top 20 Austin Breweries

Gird your liver for our annual Central Texas brewery power rankings

"...north and Valentina's in the south. Best White Claw? Black Cherry, son. Bitchin'-est sax solo? Duran Duran's "Rio." Nuclear..."

Nov. 12, 2019 Food Post by Eric Puga

Faster Than Sound: 12 Years of Peligrosa Drives ¡Eso Es!

Local DJ collective sets a mood at Margin Walker’s new fiesta-val of all Latinx talent

"...García's pioneering DJ collective, Peligrosa, powers monthly parties every third Friday at the..."

Aug. 30, 2019 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

Faster Than Sound: Cutting Up on Tuesday

Queer nightlife gets a new clubhouse, SIMS Foundation faces spiked membership, Spoon’s greatest hits, and more

"...beloved meme moment among the crew of Austin nightlife leaders. The stars of the underground now align in a..."

June 28, 2019 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

Qmmunity

Plus new music from Krudxs Cubensi and a Cinco de Mayo drag brunch

"...Dustin Lance Black has a confession. "Milk really became the film that..."

May 3, 2019 Column by Beth Sullivan

Faster Than Sound: 15 SXSW Buzz Bands to Cure Millennial Burnout

By legs, Lyft, or Lime scooter, get to the following 15 acts

"...boasting pub poetics under Grian Chatten's Dublin parlance. Ezra Collective..."

March 8, 2019 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

Pet Sematary Remake to Close SXSW Film

Midnighters, Festival Favorites, plus shorts all announced

"...first-time directors in the Midnighters, alongside British filmmaker Abigail Blackmore (Tales From the Lodge) and Roxanne Benjamin (who gets..."

Feb. 6, 2019 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

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