Thursday, January 14, 2016
Free Comedy Show at Hops and Grain
Start 2016 right with great beer and a FREE comedy show: Gutbusters. Starting at 8 p.m., the lineup includes Lashonda Lester, Andrew Polk, Terance McDavid, Kat Ramzinski, MK Paulsen, Adam Weightman, Yusef Roach. Hosted by Nathan Ehrmann. The show is FREE for 21+. (Hops and Grain, 507 Calles Street, Austin)
Finite Fidelity EP Release Party at Swan Dive
Enjoy a FREE party as Finite Fidelity celebrates the release of their new EP at Swan Dive. Doors open at 9:30 p.m. The Echoes will perform at 10:30 p.m., Finite Fidelity at 11:30 p.m., and Dayeater at 12:30 a.m.. (Swan Dive, 615 Red River Street, Austin)
Austin comedy captains Kath Barbadoro, Joe Hafkey, and Mac Blake have started up a new FREE show, Triplane! The lineup for their 8 p.m. show includes Zac Brooks (Moontower, Peep Show), Ella Gale (Naughty Bits), Tom Dunlap (NYC), Kelsey Caine (NYC). (Companion, 908 E 5th St, Austin)
Throwback Thursdays with Jack Burton Trio
Come throw back a drink while JB3 plays your favorite throwback tunes and original music for booty shakin! Starts at 8 p.m. No cover, drink specials, and killer grooves! (Icenhauer’s, 83 Rainey Street, Austin)
The Free Fringe at The Hideout
The Austin improv scene is bursting with creativity. A never-ending parade of improv experiments. There are hundreds of performers, and every single one of them is prone to saying things like “Wouldn’t it be crazy if…?” or “I just had the most insane idea.” This is where those dreams go, not to die, but to live gloriously on the stage for one night only at the FREE Fringe. Show at 10 p.m. Get tickets here. (The Hideout, 617 Congress Ave, Austin)
Friday, January 15, 2016
Kick Out The Jams presents a Tribute to Bob Dylan
Kick out the Jams is hosting a FREE party at Hotel Vegas to tribute Bob Dylan. Jared Copland will perform Dylan solo, the DJ set starts at 7 p.m., and the live set begins at 9 p.m. (Hotel Vegas, 1500 East 6th Street, Austin)
4th Anniversary of The Institution Theater: The Five Families Show
Join Institution Theater for a special weekend as they celebrate their 4th anniversary! Enjoy FREE shows, FREE cake, and FREE fun! The Institution is One of Five Amazing Improv Houses in Austin, and for one night there will be representatives from ColdTowne, The Hideout, Merlin-Works, The New Movement, and Institution staff each taking the stage in turn to perform their own improvised morsel for a five-course extravaganza! Doors open 7:30 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m. (Institution Theater, 3708 Woodbury Drive, Austin)
LEVITATION presents FREE WEEK: Ringo Deathstarr with Annabelle Chairlegs, Hollow Trees, Goldbloom
As part of the final few last shows of Free Week, come out and enjoy the psychedelic rock styling of Ringo Deathstarr, Annabelle Chairlegs, Hollow Trees, and Goldbloom. The show is FREE and doors open at 9 p.m. (Barracuda, 611 East 7th Street, Austin)
Weekly comedy open mic every Friday from 8-10 p.m. Sign-up is FREE and starts at 7:30 p.m. Hosted by Montgomery Wayne and Tiffany Stepp. (Cenote, 1010 East Cesar Chavez, Austin)
FREE Comedy: In the Treehouse with Chris Castles
One of the longest running FREE comedy shows in Austin, this week’s featured comics include JT Habersaat, Kristin Ryan (Chicago), Andrew Polk (NOLA), Carma Nibarger (Chicago), Chris Cubas (Hollywood), and Arielle Norman (Juiceland). Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. (Austin Java, 1608 Barton Springs Road, Austin)
Jitterbug Vipers at C Boys Heart & Soul
The Jitterbug Vipers specialize in a beloved cult jazz offshoot called “viper jazz,” a screeching U-Turn back to the party where jazz music packed the dance floor and dazzled the audience with brilliant streams of improvisatory musicianship. This musical heritage pulls from the cherished musicality of Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Fats Waller, Cab Calloway, and Slim Galliard. Show is FREE and starts at 6:30 p.m. (C Boys Heart & Soul, 2008 South Congress, Austin)
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Saint Arnold Pub Crawl: Rainey Street Edition
Saint Arnold’s self-proclaimed world famous Pub Crawl is hitting the road again, and this time they’re making a triumphant return to Rainey Street. If you’re a pub crawling veteran, join in! If you’ve never pub crawled before, worry not – it’s easy. And FREE! The pub crawl is open house, meaning you’ll visit the first four stops in any order, and you’ll get your ticket at whichever stop you decide to visit first. They will only be handing out the tickets between 2:00 and 3:00. Thus, you need to begin crawling by 3 p.m. At 6 p.m., everybody will gather at the final stop, and that’s where Saint Arnold’s will award the prizes. The prize for making all five stops will be a beautiful Saint Arnold pint glass. As always, designated drivers are both eligible for the award and encouraged to attend! Here’s where to be between 2 and 6 p.m.: Bar 96, Clive Bar, Bangers, Icenhauer’s. The final stop at 6 p.m. will be Craft Pride. (Various Rainey Street Bars, Rainey Street, Austin)
KUTX Winter Jam with Sweet Spirit, Moving Panoramas, Walker Lukens & The Side Arms
Having trouble coming up with some good resolutions for 2016? If you are, KUTX would like to offer up a few that are sure to strengthen both body and mind: 1) Eat more pizza, 2) Drink more beer, and 3) Consume lots of live rock ‘n’ roll. Join KUTX and The ABGB for the first ever FREE Winter Jam, with live music from Moving Panoramas, Walker Lukens & The Side Arms, and Sweet Spirit. This family-friendly event starts at 3 p.m. (AGBG, 1305 West Oltorf Street, Austin)
4th Anniversary of The Institution Theater: The 2016 Preview Show
Join Institution Theater for a special weekend as they celebrate their 4th anniversary! Enjoy FREE shows, FREE cake, and FREE fun! The Institution is very excited about the programming it has lined up for the coming year, so much so that they’re offering this special evening of sneak peeks. It’s a plate of amuse-bouches, heavy on the amuse. There will be performances from the casts of the Magic Mike-inspired HARDISH BODIES, the pirate storytellers of TALL TALES FROM THE HIGH SEAS, the Oscar Bait cinematics of AWARD WINNER, a song from the upcoming BEYONCÉ Jukebox Musical Project, and so much more! Doors open 7:30 p.m.; show starts at 8 p.m. (Institution Theater, 3708 Woodbury Drive, Austin)
SURE THING Comedy at Austin Java Parkway
Founded in 2012, SURE THING has grown to become Austin’s most popular and acclaimed stand-up showcase. Kristin Ryan, Andrew Mayer, Josh Lathe, Andrew Polk, and JT Habersaat. The FREE show starts at 8 p.m. and doors open at 7:30 p.m. (Austin Java Parkway, 1206 Parkway, Austin)
Sunday, January 17, 2016
4th Anniversary of The Institution Theater: The Rubber Room Bonanza
Join Institution Theater for a special weekend as they celebrate their 4th anniversary! Enjoy FREE shows, FREE cake, and FREE fun! As always The Rubber Room begins with a no-pressure jam session in a safe, welcoming environment where anyone can join in the fun led by The Institution’s own teachers. Those same teachers then take the stage, first with three lottery-winning members of the audience and then with special friends of the Institution in a one-of-a-kind improv set. Doors open 7:30 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m. (Institution Theater, 3708 Woodbury Drive, Austin)
Psychedelic Soul Sundays with James Robinson, Hilary York
Head on over to C-Boys for groovy psychedelic soul that will surely put you in a good mood for Monday. Doors open at 5 p.m. James Robinson performs 7 p.m. and Hilary York at 10 p.m. FREE show! (C Boys Heart & Soul, 2008 South Congress, Austin)
Super Soul Sundays with The Nightowls
Every Sunday, Icenhauer’s hosts the Nightowls – Austin’s own 10-piece soul band that was recently named one of the “Best New Bands of the Year” by Austin Chronicle and the Austin Music Awards. They play a unique blend of vintage and modern soul music that results in a high-energy, foot-stomping performance. This FREE show is 3-6 p.m. (Icenhauer’s, 83 Rainey Street, Austin)
Open Mic Hosted by Kacy Crowley
Can’t get enough of the weekend? Catch a FREE late night open mic hosted by Austin’s own Kacy Crowley at 10 p.m. (Strange Brew, 5326 Manchaca Rd, Austin)
