Case Cockrell

Live music review: The best music we saw at SXSW 2026

March 21, 2026 Case Cockrell 1768 Views American Sharks, Annabelle Chairlegs, Big Bill, Bikini Beach, Caitlin King, Geordie Greep, hard rock, Holy Wave, Hot Garbage, Hotel Vegas, indie rock, jazz, Killer Kaya, live music, Nug, Osees, Panic Shack, Pink Breath of Heaven, punk rock, Review, rock n roll, So Many Cults, South by Southwest, Surfbort, SXSW, SXSW 2026, This is Lorelei, Tropa Magica, Water From Your Eyes

The 2026 edition of South By Southwest (SXSW) music festival launched last Thursday with its inaugural all-concurrent format. Conferences ran from kickoff Thursday to the following Wednesday. The festival allows attendees to discover new acts, revisit favorites, and expand their horizons. Miles of walking and a steady food truck diet defined a packed SXSW featuring both legacy acts and emerging stars. The Cosmic Clash team covered highlights throughout the event and wanted to share what stuck out to us over the long week of music. Despite a shortened music schedule and no second weekend, there was plenty to see as we navigated around Austin throughout the seven-day expedition.

Case Cockrell Live Music Preview

Live music preview: Six SXSW 2026 day parties music fans should show up for

March 12, 2026 Case Cockrell 1964 Views 13th Floor, Bikini Beach, Caitlin King, Club X, Cosmic Plants Clash, day parties, Fleet Coffee, Grocery Bag, J Graves, Killer Kaya, live music, Megan From Work, mohawk, music festival, Nug, Pink Fuzz, preview, Semihelix, So Many Cults, South by Southwest, Sunshine Spazz, SXSW, The Cavalier, This is Lorelei, Water From Your Eyes, Webberville Block Party

What’s South By Southwest (SXSW) without daytime shenanigans? For each year’s SXSW installment, different activations pop up all over the city to bring SX-goers daytime programming before things switch over to an all-official format. These “Day Parties” mostly feature cover-free programming, sometimes featuring official SXSW artists who give non-credentialed music fans opportunities to join in the festivities during the week. All listed events occur between 12 p.m. and 7 p.m., are free for attendees, require no badge, and are subject to capacity. Make sure to RSVP for seamless entry to the events. For a larger list of SXSW day parties, head to our curated list of the best events to hit up.

Case Cockrell Live Music Preview

Live music preview: Six more buzz bands to see at SXSW 2026

March 10, 2026 Case Cockrell 2288 Views Annabelle Chairlegs, Austin Music, Bikini Beach, buzz bands, electronic music, experimental music, garage rock, live music, Marijuana Death Squads, new music, Nug, Pink Breath of Heaven, post-punk, preview, psych-rock, punk rock, rock n roll, shoegaze, SXSW, SXSW 2026

The 2026 South By Southwest (SXSW) music festival is days away. The roster of music festival artists can seem overwhelming at first glance. With a lineup that can satisfy every kind of music lover, The Cosmic Clash is bringing you six more buzz bands you should put on your list for the upcoming long week of music in Austin. All set times, along with venues, can be found on the SXSW website and the SXSW GO mobile application.

Case Cockrell Live Music Preview

Live music preview: Six buzz bands to see at SXSW 2026

March 5, 2026 Case Cockrell 2744 Views buzz bands, Geordie Greep, goth, gothic music, Hot Garbage, Jacuzzi, no wave, Pons, progressive jazz, psych-rock, rock n roll, Rosgarden Funeral Party, shoegaze, South by Southwest, Spoonbenders, SXSW

The 2026 edition of South By Southwest (SXSW) is fast approaching with the festival running March 12-18. The list of acts making their way to Austin for the seven-day music festival spans multiple genres and geographic origins. With this in mind, The Cosmic Clash team has curated a group of official artists or buzz bands we think you should put on your list for the long week of around-the-clock music. With a smaller setup than previous years, the SXSW music programming will offer a touch-and-go path for locals and travelers alike to see an array of both tenured and up-and-coming talent. All set times, along with venues, can be found on the SXSW website and the SXSW GO mobile app.

Case Cockrell Interviews Music News

Interview: The Sword’s Bryan Richie works hard to sustain the Austin music scene

February 22, 2026 Case Cockrell 1575 Views Austin Music, bryan richie, electronic music, Galactic Protector, heavy metal, Interview, Interviews, live music, music news, music scene, new music, rock n roll, Spaceflight Reecords, The Sword

If you’ve spent any real time in the Austin music trenches, you know the difference between hype and longevity. Bryan Richie has been on the longevity side for over 20 years. Between his work with The Sword, Spaceflight Records, and his electronic outlet Galactic Protector, he’s watched the local ecosystem evolve through boom cycles, venue shakeups, and the streaming era’s slippery slopes. We caught up with him to talk about staying busy, supporting artists the right way, and why Austin’s scene, while ever-changing, is far from dead. Richie is gearing up for a European tour this year while celebrating the 20th anniversary of The Sword’s triumphant debut Age of Winters, and will release the sequel to his 2019 solo record on February 24. We caught up with him to discuss the upcoming release and why the Central Texas music system still matters and how every bit of fan support is crucial to making it all happen.

Blackwater Holylight Radio East Troy Gonzales

Case Cockrell Live Music Review

Live music review: Blackwater Holylight drew diehards in droves to Radio East Tuesday

February 20, 2026 Case Cockrell 1108 Views Austin Psych Fest, black metal, Blackwater Holylight, doom metal, Far Out Lounge, Glassing, Levitation, live music, psych-rock, Radio East, Review, rock n roll, shoegaze, Suicide Squeeze, The Well

The industrial area of southeast Austin carries a unique vibe. With no gentrification within yelling distance (or amplified music distance) in our case, there’s not much worry about noise complaints and the fuzz coming with the decibel reader to dock the venue for “Rock and roll mischief.” For Los Angeles-based via Portland shoegaze outfit Blackwater Holylight, an early-week bill on Tuesday evening at Radio East drew Austin diehards in droves to experience the Austin Psych Fest alums alongside local favorites, Glassing and The Well. With new LP Not Here Not Gone showcasing their multi-layered brand of luscious psych-infused soundscapes, the Blackwater quintet accounts for all the sounds that make up their dreamy biome.

Case Cockrell Live Music Preview

Live music preview: Austin Psych Fest returns to Far Out May 8 with stacked lineup

February 5, 2026 Case Cockrell 1143 Views Adrian Quesada, Al-Qasar, Annabelle Charles, APF, Austin Psych Fest, Boogarins, DIIV, Dumbo Gets Mad, Flaming Lips, Glaze, Grocery Bag, La Lom, Latin psych, Levitation, live music, Momma, Money Chicha, New Candys, Night Beats, preview, psych-rock, rock n roll, The Black Angels, Thee Sacred Souls, Trish Toledo

Austin Psych Fest returns this Spring on May 8 – May 10 to the Far Out Lounge & Stage, bringing yet another Spring festival edition to South Austin and a stacked three-day lineup. The 3-day festival will feature APF legacy acts and underground picks that showcase yet another year of reverberation appreciation from the Austin homegrown festival. The lineup features acts from all over the world to commemorate its fourth Spring edition since the return to an annual Springtime, one-location, two-stages, no-overlap festival experience. This one is a music fan’s dream format. All tickets can be purchased on the Levitation website.

Case Cockrell Live Music Review

Live music review: Screamo legends Orchid led stacked bill at Mohawk

January 29, 2026 Case Cockrell 1616 Views concert, emo hardcore, grindcore, live music, mohawk, Orchid, Porcelain, Portrayal of Guilt, post-harcore, Review, Screamo, Uniform

Amherst, Massachusetts screamo legends Orchid came through Austin and led a stacked bill on January 20, a show that felt

Parker Woodland Free Week 26 Troy Gonzales

Case Cockrell Live Music Review

Live music review: Free Week returned in 2026 with cover free showcases

January 13, 2026 Case Cockrell 2454 Views Austin Music, Cheer Up Charlie's, concert, Cormae, Elysium, Emo rock, Free Week, Grocery Bag, J'Cuzzi, jam band, Je'Texas, Killer Kaya, Lauren Lakis, live music, mohawk, Mountain Time, Parker Woodland, power pop, psych-rock, punk rock, Red River Cultural District, Review, rock n roll, shoegaze, Stubb's, Super Snatch, Swan Dive

Free Week returned to the Red River Cultural District last weekend, marking another successful year of cover free showcases that benefit local businesses throughout downtown Austin. The RRCD non-profit presents Free Week to keep venues and other establishments running during the slow period in both the service and music industries for employees and musicians until the Spring. With 80+ artists across 10+ venues, Free Week 2026 proved a massive success, as thousands attended to welcome yet another year in the vibrant Austin scene. The Cosmic Clash team participated in both days of the festival and wanted to highlight what stood out to us about the extravaganza.

Case Cockrell Live Music Preview

Live music preview: Free Week starts January 9 with over 80 bands

January 6, 2026 Case Cockrell 1504 Views 13th Floor, Billy King and the Bad Bad Bad, concert, Cormae, Elysium, Free Week, Grocery Bag, live music, Mineral, mohawk, Mountain Time, music festival, Parker Woodland, preview, Red River Cultural District, RRCD, Stubb's, The Bright Light Social Hour, The Oxys, Valhalla

Free Week in Austin’s Red River Cultural District returns this coming weekend on January 9 and 10, bringing yet another array of cover-free showcases to the downtown area to kick off 2026 with live music from the city’s fruitful scene. The event will feature a baker’s dozen venues and over 80 performing artists to showcase Austin’s nightlife. The RRCD is managed by the Red River Merchants’ Association, a coalition of over forty local small businesses found within the District, which include not only live music venues, restaurants, hotels, retail shops, and other small businesses, but also the Austin Symphony Orchestra, First Baptist Church, German-Texan Heritage Society, and Waterloo Greenway.

Mugger 2 mini fest Empire Garage Troy Gonzales

Case Cockrell Live Music Review

Live music review: Electronic duo Sextile returned to Austin with stacked local bill

December 30, 2025 Case Cockrell 846 Views Austin Music, concert, electronic rock, Empire Garage, garage rock, Gus Baldwin, hardcore, J'Cuuzi, live music, Mugger, punk rock, Review, rock n roll, Sextile, Snooper, The Opera

Los Angeles by way of Brooklyn electronic duo Sextile returned to Austin for a third time in 2025 to end the year with a loaded bill on Saturday night at Empire Control Room and Garage. The stacked lineup included Nashville egg punk extraordinaries Snooper along with local band appearances from Gus Baldwin & The Sketch, Alma Muneca, Mugger, and The Opera who are Cosmic Clash SXSW Webberville Block Party vets.