Free SXSW Country & Roots Showcases for 2016
Screw spending somewhere between $700 to upwards of four figures for some official SXSW badge or wristband just to get turned down at most of the shows you want to get into because you’re not on some VIP list. The smart and frugal SXSW goer knows that the free, all access day parties and unofficial showcases is where it’s at, and many of the events even provide free beer and food.
Of course you still have to fight through terrible crowds and expensive parking, but one can easily hit up SXSW without spending a dime on badges or admission fees. You just have to know where to go. Besides, all the cool acts are playing the smaller showcases anyway.
So here’s a start of where to find some cool, free showcases with incredible lineups. There’s WAY more where this came from. There are hundreds and hundreds of showcases. So if you know of another cool free showcase, feel free to share it below in the comments.
Grand Ole Austin
Brooklyn Country Cantina
For more info on Brooklyn Country Cantina, check out Saving Country Music’s recent profile on the event.
Conqueroo & Jenni Finley Present: Rebels and Renegades
Luck Reunion
For more info on the Luck Reunion, check out Saving Country Music’s recent profile on the event.
Bloodshot Records Yard Dog Showcase
NOTE: Only the Yard Dog Day Party is free to the public. The official showcase will require either a badge or an entry fee. The Yard Dog party is always packed, but is always a great time.
American Songwriter & Newport Folk’s Austin Shindig
NOTE: Kacey Musgraves was just added to this event last minute.
Americana Pandora Day Party
NOTE: Only the Day Party portion is free to the public.
Lafayette Live
RSVP at lafayettelive2016.eventbrite.com to receive free food and drink at this event.
March 15, 2016 @ 8:45 am
Fuck man…maybe next year (I tell myself every year)…great lineups at most all of these, lots of folks I been wanting to catch live – it’d be hard to decide which ones to go to!
March 15, 2016 @ 9:25 am
Another Good read here, I live in northwest NC, and you will Never hear those bands on fm radio, it is imperative for someone to have pandora or outlaw channel 60, on the satellite radio, round here it’s bro-kountry, or rap, and not to forget, the classic rock station out of Greaseboro, playing that 72 song playlist.
March 15, 2016 @ 1:56 pm
I’m just outside of Newton – Don’t forget WNCW – you can always stream them
I’m with you on channel 60
Really like you name – was just thinking about that guy the other day
March 15, 2016 @ 2:51 pm
Been to Newton-Conover a bunch, carpet truckmount dude up there, that fixes shit, yea Gaines, was Super Bad Ass!
March 16, 2016 @ 2:58 am
best handle on the site.
and trigg, why does a carpet bagger like jenny lewis get second billing at a country show that includes rwh?
March 16, 2016 @ 10:14 am
Jenny Lewis is a weird case. She gets a lot of respect from the independent roots community, and it’s probably deserved. I don’t know much about her music, but it seems to be of for the upper crust of the female pop vocal crowd. In the end, this is a SXSW event, which regularly put people from different genres together with more ease. A lot of showcases are built around artists on the same booking agency or publicity agency, etc., so that could be how Jenny found her way on to the line up. I agree it’s curious, but it also kind of makes sense.
March 15, 2016 @ 9:35 am
Lucy”™s Fried Chicken “Fried Chicken Revival” is free and will include Otis Gibbs, James McMurtry, Brennen Leigh, John Doe, Mike & the Moonpies, and Ray Wylie Hubbard among many others.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1122515997793097/
March 15, 2016 @ 9:43 am
Wow, I wish I could go to a bunch of those. I visited Austin last week, and the bluebonnets were in full bloom, and the city seemed so full of energy. I’d be like a one-eyed kid at the three-ring circus with all the great music listed above.
March 15, 2016 @ 9:52 am
Wreckroom Records party, 3 days of free music/drinks at Arlyn Studios 3/17-/3/19. Eclectic lineup with some rock/punk along with country/Americana acts like Daniel Romano, Band of Heathens, Green River Ordinance, Dirty Diver Boys, Rob Baird, Jonathan Tyler, Paul Cauthen, etc. RSVP: http://2016.do512.com/wreckroomrecords
March 15, 2016 @ 10:46 am
Thanks for posting this, didn’t really know how to luck up Americana/Country showcases. But you nailed it again, no need to pay for a badge, hit up a cool bar and you can’t go wrong. So many great artist, I always like finding a bar that has something cool playing and just hangout. You will hear so many good bands that you would never come across otherwise.
March 15, 2016 @ 1:38 pm
Wish I was in the area, looks like quite a few stacked shows!
March 15, 2016 @ 2:39 pm
Hit up south congress all day every day during SXSW, not all Americana but a ton of great free shows some with free food and or beer. I am not going this year, but usually do and never have a badge amazing music everywhere. The dogtown conguroo party on the first night is always good and the party on Fridays from noon to 7 at maria’s taco express is always really good.
March 15, 2016 @ 2:41 pm
heres the lineup for tomorrows party at dogwood always free.
OUTDOOR STAGE
11:55 ”“ 12:25 Ted Russell Kamp
12:50 ”“ 1:20 Oh Whitney
1:45 ”“ 2:15 Caleb Caudle
2:40 ”“ 3:10 Scott Davis
3:35 ”“ 4:15 The Band of Heathens
4:40 ”“ 5:15 Jon Dee Graham & William Harries Graham
5:40 ”“ 6:20 Mike Stinson
6:45 ”“ 7:25 Brian Whelan
7:50 ”“ 8:30 Kevin Gordon
INDOOR STAGE
12:25 ”“ 12:50 Jaimee Harris
1:20 ”“ 1:45 Bonnie Whitmore
2:15 ”“ 2:40 Jon Byrd
3:10 ”“ 3:35 John Evans
4:15 ”“ 4:40 The Statesboro Revue
5:15 ”“ 5:40 National Park Radio
6:20 ”“ 6:45 Flatland Cavalry
7:25 ”“ 7:50 James Hand
March 16, 2016 @ 5:01 pm
looks like no web broadcasts or stage cams.
too bad.