Happy’s Survival Guide to (un)SXSW – Part 1: RSVP Madness
By Happy on Mar 11 Filed In Activities, Austin, Texas, Events, Live Music, SXSW, Uncategorized 2 Comments
ATTENTION FELLOW MUSIC LOVERS & FREE-DRINK ENTHUSIASTS: PLEASE, PUT YOUR PARTY PANTS ON AND BUCKLE YOUR SAFETY BELTS. THIS COULD GET BUMPY.
SXSW: The thought either makes you shudder or gets you all giddy. Or both. It’s okay — that’s natural. Whether you’re a SXSW noob or a vet, there’s plenty to learn about surviving the craziest week that essentially kicks off festival season every year. I’m not even going to attempt to school you on everything there is to know (some things you have to learn for yourself), but I’d be glad to share with you some tips and picks.
I’ll kick things off with a slew of RSVP madness, some of my personal unofficial event picks for the week. Of course, you’ll definitely want to check out the ones at the top (hint hint, they’re sponsored in part by Sweet Leaf Tea), but I’ve also included a few other parties going on that are cool in their own right…
SWEET LEAF TEA SANCTIONED PARTIES THAT YOU SHOULDN’T MISS OUT ON:
- EASTBOUND & FOUND (presented by Ziegenbock, Dos Lunas Tequila, and Sweet Leaf Tea)
Featuring GZA, Delorean, Here We Go Magic, Maluca, and many more
WHERE: 1001 E 6th St (Corner of San Marcos & 6th)
WHEN: Thursday, 3/18 from noon to 9pm
RSVP / LINEUP / INFO: http://sweetleaftea.com/eastbound - MESS WITH TEXAS PARTY
Featuring Man Man, Billy Bragg, Frightened Rabbit, GWAR, Neon Indian, and so many more
WHERE: 1001 E 6th St (Corner of San Marcos & 6th)
WHEN: Friday & Sunday, 3/18-19 from noon to 9pm
RSVP / LINEUP / INFO: http://mwtxparty.com/ - THE RUMBLER LOUNGE
Featuring The Hood Internet, Glitch Mob, Cool Kids, Rye Rye, and many more
Four day parties with impressive lineups! Plus our good friends from Knuckle Rumbler are responsible for all this fun.
WHERE: Peckerheads (402 E 6th St)
WHEN: Wednesday thru Saturday, 3/17 – 18, Noon to 8pm daily
RSVP / LINEUPS / INFO: http://knucklerumbler.com/category/therumblerlounge/
OTHER NON-SLT SPONSORED PARTIES WORTH CHECKING OUT:
MUSIC
- THE PUREVOLUME HOUSE
Featuring Ringo Deathstar, Jacob Dylan & Neko Case, Movits!, Woodhands, The XX, Holy F**k, and many more
WHERE: 504 Trinity St. (the old Coppertank Brewery)
WHEN: 3/12 thru 3/20, daily/nightly (hours vary)
RSVP / LINEUPS / INFO: http://www.purevolume.com/thehouse - LEVI’S FADER FORT
[Headliners TBD, but its always HUGE]
WHERE: 1001 E 5th St (adjacent to Eastbound & Found + Mess With Texas, Progress Coffee, etc)
WHEN: Wednesday thru Saturday, 3/17-20, 1 to 8pm daily
RSVP / LINESUP / INFO: http://apps.thefader.com/pages/rsvp/levi-s-fader-fort-2010 - FILTER MAGAZINE’S SHOWDOWN AT CEDAR STREET
Featuring Miike Snow, Dr. Dog, Frightened Rabbit, and many more
WHERE: Cedar Street Courtyard (208 W. 4th St)
WHEN: Thursday thru Saturday 3/18 – 20, 1 to 6pm daily
RSVP / LINESUP / INFO: http://filtermagazine.com/index.php/rsvp/sxswVIP/ - DICKIES SOUNDS
Featuring Dr. Dog, Surfer Blood, Sondre Lerche, and many more
WHERE: Lustre Pearl (97 Rainey St)
WHEN: Thurs thru Sat 3/18 – 20, 3pm to 1am daily
RSVP / LINESUP / INFO: http://filtermagazine.com/index.php/rsvp/dickies - MUSIC BY THE SLICE
Featuring Bright Light Social Hour, Lou Barlow, Admiral Radley, and many more
WHERE: Homeslice Pizza (S. Congress)
WHEN: Thurs thru Sat 3/18 – 20, noon to 8pm daily
INFO: http://homeslicepizza.wordpress.com/music-by-the-slice-2010/ - GONNA GONNA GET DOWN V (AUSTINIST & WOXY.COM)
Featuring White Denim, Besnard Lakes, Washed Out, and more
WHERE: The Mohawk
WHEN: Wed 3/17, 11am to 6pm
INFO: http://austinist.com/2010/03/01/gonna_gonna_get_down_v_white_denim.php - THE BIG ONE: PRESENTED BY DO512 & SHINER
Featuring [TBA], Holy F**k, The Hood Internet, Dan Black, Warpaint, and many more
WHERE: 4th & San Jacinto
WHEN: Saturday, 3/20 11 to 9pm
INFO / RSVP: http://do512.com/c/sx2010/event/2010/03/20/do512-presents-the-big-one-2010
INTERACTIVE / OTHER EVENTS
- FLATSTOCK 24
Probably my favorite event throughout all of SXSW.
“Co-presented by the American Poster Institute (API) and SXSW, Flatstock 24 will display the works of more than 100 artists from across North America and the globe. Posters representing decades of styles, colors and techniques will be on display and for sale as well as additional merchandise. Show up early and be ready to be overwhelmed with amazing posters. (You might want to bring some dough since you won’t want to leave empty handed!) The exhibition is free and open to the public.”
WHERE: Austin Convention Center Level 1, Exhibit Hall 1
WHEN: Thurs. 3/18 1 – 6pm & Fri. 3/19 – Sat. 3/20 10am – 6pm
MORE INFO: http://sxsw.com/music/collectors/flatstock - AMERICAN APPAREL FLEA MARKET
“Tens of thousands of your favorite garments to choose from. Up to 85% off, with prices starting at $1. Inventory will be constantly replenished throughout the weekend. RSVP on this event page to receive updates, tips, and be the first to know when new inventory arrives!”
WHERE: Mexican-American Cultural Center (600 River Street, Austin, TX 78701)
WHEN: THURS – SAT (3/18-20) 12:00pm – 10:00pm daily
MORE INFO: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=363185902145&index=1 - BIKE HUGGER MOBILE SOCIALS
“Bike Hugger’s Mobile Social is a Texas-sized bike culture event. We’ll ride around Austin arriving at Mellow Johnnys for a BBQ and Variety Show.”
WHEN: March 13, 2010, 2pm-6pm
WHERE: Brush Square Park >> Mellow Johnny’s
Who: SXSW Attendees, Austin Locals, cyclists
RSVP now at Upcoming or Facebook - GOWALLA PRESENTS THE TIKI ROOM FEATURING DIPLO
This year, it’s all about location-based social networking, and Gowalla is leading the pack. You won’t want to miss this, but you’ll have to earn your way in if you don’t have an official badge.
WHERE: The Belmont (305 W 6th St)
WHEN: Monday, 3/15 9-11pm
COMPLETE INFO: http://gowalla.com/sxsw
RESOURCES FOR OTHER PARTIES & RSVP’S (YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN, KID):
- Do512: http://do512.com/c/sx2010/events/all-music-parties/2010/03/12/?time
- Republic of Austin: http://republicofaustin.com/sxsw-party-rsvps/
- Showlist Austin: http://showlistaustin.com/
- SXSW 2010 FREE NOMS: http://sxswfreenoms.tumblr.com/
- PlanCast Party List (mostly interactive events): http://plancast.com/sxswparty
- Austin Eavesdropper (expansive survival guides):
Godspeed, everyone. You’ve been warned!






















Whee!!! Thank you for the blog shout-out, Happy! I LOVE this post – so helpful!
(I also love Danny’s cat below. She is totally working the camera!)
[...] two includes my tips for survival (see part one for RSVP madness). Some of these are a personal matter of opinion, but some you’ll definitely [...]