Can't Miss Events At SXSW 2018
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The world’s biggest music industry conference and festival, SXSW, is going down this week in Austin, TX and DCWS will be there for the action! Everything and anything having to do with music happens at SXSW, and the event sets the pace for the whole year in the industry. From revealing breakthrough technologies, to surprise performances by A$AP Rocky and Drake, SXSW is an opportunity for everyone in the music ecosystem to come together to show off what they’ve got in store for the coming year.
If you’re attending SXSW, you’re guaranteed to get three things if you do it right: free food, free drinks, and spontaneous run-ins with your favorite music stars. With everything popping off all over the city of Austin, it’s pretty much impossible to catch everything, but if you make your way to these events, we promise you that you’ll get at least one of the three mentioned perks per location.
March 14 – 16, 1501 East 7th St.
This is the SXSW party of myth and legend. The one where Amy Winehouse performed her only show ever in Austin, TX. The one where Kanye West jumped on stage out of nowhere. The one where only couple years ago, Drake made a surprise stage appearance.
This year is heavy on rising talent, featuring SOB X BRE, Now, Now, YBN Nahmir, and Soccer Mommy.
The only way to get into this event is via Fader’s private RSVP link, even if you have a badge, but if you don’t even know where to start to gain access to that, it might not be too late to get one by subscribing to their email list. If you’re going to be hitting the streets of Austin this week, politely asking a venue staffer before the night starts, who you can talk to for the list has been effective in previous years.
It may sound like hoops to jump through, but if any event is worth the jumping, it’s this one.
Bud Light X The Roots & Friends Jam Session
March 17, Fair Market, 8 p.m.
This has become an annual thing starting in 2016 when The Roots brought legend after legend to the stage to jam, from Too $hort, to Big Boi, to Naughty By Nature, and more, all in a small capacity intimate bar setting. The energy was raw fun, so it’s an absolute treat for the fans that they’ve been keeping it going every year. This year The Roots will be joined by Ludacris, and Raleigh, NC’s very own Rapsody, along with a variety of other musical acts. Get here early, because the line gets extremely deep.
TBA
Events hosted by SXSW Takeover feature lineups that are crammed with hip hop’s biggest names and rising stars. Past years’ showcasing artists included Ghostface Killa w/ MF Doom, Travis Scott, Flatbush Zombies, DJ Mustard, Dave East, Rapsody, and Lil Wayne. SXSW Takeover has yet to release their lineup, but their social media handles @sxswtakeover are worth a follow if your hitting SXSW or if you’re watching from afar.
Saturday, March 17 10AM – 4PM, Stubb’s BBQ (open to the public)
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 3PM – 10PM, 1102 East Cesar Chavez St. (Badges Only)
If you’re looking for free food and free drinks, this is the day party to hit up. Rachel’s whipping up fresh Tex-Mex street food munchies like nachos and “queso on the cobb” for attendees which will probably be far better than the free food offerings at other SXSW day parties. Action Bronson has been known to consistently pop up at this one (go figure). This year the main event on Saturday is headlined by Salt-N-Pepa. Get there early because even if you have a badge, it’s almost impossible to get into this one if you arrive right when the gates open.