Whether you want to enhance your ACL experience or avoid the fest altogether, here are some events that will let you keep your party going and cost little or nothing to attend.

Thursday, Sept. 15
Grand Opening of Prize
5–8pm • Prize, 202 Colorado St. • Free, RSVP required
Complimentary cocktails and sushi. RSVP by emailing info@prizeaustin.com

LePA Grand Re-Opening Cocktail Party
7–10pm • LePA Skincare, 2520 Longview St. #314 • Free
Complimentary wine, hors d’oeuvres, treats, and giveaways.

Art Disaster 15
8pm–2am • Beauty Bar, 617 E. 7th Street • $3 RSVP / $5 Door
Eight bands and three DJs on two stages: Crooks, Wild Child, SORNE, The White White Lights, Schmillion, Boyfrndz, Sleep Good, Sundress; DJ sets by Thick as Thieves and DJ Orion; Miller Lite drink specials all night.

Free ACL Kick Off Show at The Parish
9pm–2am • The Parish, 214 East 6th Street • Free
Free show with performances by Eyes Burn Electric, Electric Touch, The Canvas Waiting, Bk and Mr E.

The Soapbox Spellbinders Live at Red Eyed Fly
11:30pm–2am • Red Eyed Fly, 715 Red River • $5
Full disclosure: These guys are friends of ours. But we’ll be damned if Tristan Shinnick is not the best guitarist in Austin right now. Prove us wrong.


Friday, Sept. 16
Deep Eddy Vodka Garden (Event of the Week)
11am-Midnight; Friday, Saturday, Sunday • 1707 Barton Springs Rd. • Free, RSVP required
This one is not to be missed – a three-day, all-day party with free cocktails, snacks, live music, and god knows what else. For now, all you have to do is Like the Deep Eddy page on Facebook and you’re on the list. We’ll update with more details as they become available.

On the WAYCL
Time TBD; Friday, Saturday, Sunday • 1800 Barton Springs • Free
Free shows all weekend long, including: FM Campers, Knifight, The Nouns, Bali Yaaah (Friday); Diagonals, Kay Leotard, Sleep Good, Night Viking (Saturday); Shakey Graves, Holy Wave, The Act Rights, Zoltars (Sunday) — plus several others.

GAYCL: The Independent Alternative
6pm–Midnight • Cheer Up Charlie’s, 1104 East 6th St. • Free; donations welcome
Free show with performances by Follow That Bird, Rickey Jean Francois, Boy Friend, Kay Leotard, Agent Ribbons, and The Great Aware. All proceeds benefit Equality Texas.

Peligrosa with Chief Boima
9pm • Scoot Inn, 1308 East 4th St. • $5
Even more dance party goodness.

Disco Dive Party ACL Edition
10pm–2am • Dive Bar & Lounge, 11th and Guadalupe • Free
DJs Czech One and Zack Highwire playing Indie Rock/Pop, 80’s, Old School Hip Hop, R&B, Nu Wave.

80s Dance Party at The Highball
11pm–2am • The Highball, 1142 S. Lamar • Free
A free 80s party for those who didn’t get their fill of dancing on ACL Day 1.


Saturday, Sept. 17
Shiner Biergarten
10am–3pm, Saturday and Sunday • Flipnotics parking lot, Barton Springs Road @ Kinney • Free
Live music, $2 Shiners, and a chill place to hang out when you need a break from the fest.

Ditch the Fest Fest 2
2pm–2am • Cheer Up Charlie’s, Red 7, Beauty Bar, Scoot Inn & Club De Ville • $2 at each venue or $5 for a wristband to get into all venues
Ridiculous amount of bands for ridiculously little money. Free Shiner Bock (while it lasts). Video games, black light painting, performance art, photobooth, screen printing… is this real life?!

Echotone Remix: A Louder Fight for a Louder Night
9pm–2am • The ND at 501 Studios, East 5th and Brushy St. • Free
Three teams of DJs and VJs remix footage and music from the film on a 25-foot screen. Featuring: DJ Orion, 4th Wall, Manolo Black, Jay Smith, and Kid Slyce

Learning Secrets and Silverton Partners Present: Metro Area
10pm–2am • Beauty Bar, 617 East 7th St. • $5 RSVP / $8 Door
Dance party with Metro Area DJ set; performances by Indian Jewelry and Rickey Jean Francois; photo booth

Karaoke Underground Post-ACL Party
10pm–2am • Dive Bar & Lounge, 1703 Guadalupe St. • Free
Free karaoke night with more than 500 punk and indie classics to choose from


Photo by Kevin H. (Flickr)