Free Week

Austin's annual Free Week will actually be 10 days this year, with free shows happening every night at Mohawk, The Sidewinder, and The New Movement from January 1 - 10. This year's lineup, featuring mostly Austin bands, has been announced and includes Ringo Deathstarr, Sweet Spirit, Matthew Logan Vasquez (Delta Spirit), Surfer Blood, Spray Paint, Residual Kid, Indian Jewelry, Leftover Crack, American Sharks, Golden Dawn Arkestra, and lots lots more. There will also be comedy events this year. The 2016 Free Week schedule will be released December 18. Until then, check out the lineup of bands playing. below...

The troubles on Red River continue. The Austin Chronicle confirms that Holy Mountain is closing on October 1st.Casualties of the pricing boom, owners were confronted with a 45% rent increase, putting their monthly bill at $8,000 plus "triple net" fees - taxes, insurance, and maintenance - totaling in the thousands...

Cheer Up Charlies closed its Eastside locale last week and will soon take over the Club DeVille space on Red River beginning late Febraury...

Free Week continued on Saturday (1/11) with a late start (for me), catching great sets from Royal Bangs and The Sour Notes at Mohawk before heading over to Hole In The Wall for Bobby Jealousy Sweet Spirit...

It's now 2014, which means Free Week is about to be underway in Austin. Like in years past, a bunch of mostly local bands will be playing free shows in local venues from January 2-January...

Ume at Fun Fun Fun Fest 2012 (more by Glen Brown) It's that time of year again. In Austin, the first week (well a little more than a week actually) of January is free week, which is a week of mostly local bands playing free shows in local venues...

"Our friends in @GentlemenRogues did a really great @tedleo cover as tribute to Esme last night. A nice start to their set." - Ume Gentlemen Rogues @ Mohawk on 1/8 for Free Week A bit belated...

Here are some pictures and a video from the Gerard Cosloy-approved Free Week show that went down at Beerland on Sunday, January 8th. Donations were collected at the door for Esme's family...

As the police are still searching for clues, Esme Barrera was laid to rest in her hometown of El Paso Tuesday, and this week there will be several benefit shows (both in Austin and in Brooklyn) to celebrate Esme's life, and support the causes she participated in, and to help support her family and help with the memorial expenses...

Another Free Week post, this one with pictures from the show that happened Friday at Red 7 (the show Eagle Claw also played). More pics below...