Cormae – The Cosmic Clash

Parker Woodland Free Week 26 Troy Gonzales

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

January 13, 2026 Case Cockrell 1346 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 991 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.

Big Bill BBB 8 6 Radio East Troy Gonzales

Case Cockrell Live Music Review

Live music review: Big Bill Ball 8 at Radio East offered accurate snapshot of Austin music scene

December 4, 2025 Case Cockrell 1268 Views art punk, Austin Music, Big Bill, Big Bill Ball, concert, Cormae, experimental rap, Haha Laughing, hardcore, indie rock, live music, mini fest, Neo-psychedelia, noise rock, Pooneh Ghana, Pooneh Presents, Porcelain, post hardcore, psych-rock, punk rock, Radio East, Review, rock n roll, shoegaze

The eighth annual Big Bill Ball at Radio East in the Southeast part of town, marked another celebration of the Austin scene, offering a snapshot of local music in 2025 with a six-band bill featuring some of the best active acts in the Austindie sphere. For this year’s installment, the philosophical art punk mainstays celebrated the release of their new studio LP, Sick Myth. Continuing the Big Bill way of inclusive activism through comedic lyrical punchlines and a variety of punk rock angles, the one-day event gave attendees one of the most coveted evenings of live music in 2025 during Saturday night’s (November 22) gig at the southeast Austin backyard venue. The mini-fest was co-sponsored by famed photographer and show promoter, Pooneh Ghana for the annual showcase.

Live Music Review Troy Gonzales

Live music review: Of Montreal sold-out Radio East for 20th anniversary of The Sunlandic Twins album

July 25, 2025 Troy Gonzales 3946 Views art rock, Cormae, garage rock, indie rock, Kevin Barnes, LBGTQA+, live music, Of Montreal, Pelvis Wrestley, Radio East, Review, rock n roll, The Sunlandic Twins

There comes a time in every music fan’s life, when the band or musical artist who they once viewed as hip and innovative, suddenly becomes seen as a nostalgic act. Which might be hard to argue when said band, of Montreal, founded by Kevin Barnes in 1996, is now celebrating the 20th anniversary of one of their most seminal and popular albums, The Sunlandic Twins with an ongoing tour. While it has never been my favorite album, (Satanic Panic in the Attic or Hissing Fauna and Are You The Destroyer both vie for that honor), I’ve rarely missed one of their live shows. There was no way I was going to pass up a chance to enjoy this 2oth anniversary celebration with new and old fans for what turned out to be a sold out show at Radio East on July 16.

Greg Ackerman Live Music Photos

Live music photos: Pinky Fest by The Pinky Rings at Far Out Lounge featured eight bands

June 13, 2025 Greg Ackerman 3677 Views Cormae, Die Mart, Dregs, Far Out Lounge, indie rock, live music, Molly Ringworm, photos, Pinky Fest, punk rock, rock n roll, The Pinky Rings, Think No Think, Tied Up

On Saturday, June 7 Pinky Fest organized by Austin punk band The Pinky Rings took place at South Austin venue The Far Out Lounge and Stage. The event featured live music from eight local bands. Besides the all-female foursome hosts a raft of Austin acts including Molly Ringworm, Think No Think, Die Mart, Cormae, NSFWHO, Tied Up and Dregs performed on an unusually hot Spring weekend in Central Texas.