Lite + Brite Monthly: April
Hello, what’s up, and welcome to the April monthly edition of the Lite + Brite newsletter.
Sure, SxSW is over but as we know, April is the month Spring really hits its stride. The mean ol’ yellow orb up there in the skies is about to get upstaged + I have a feeling he’s not gonna take things sitting down for long. So let’s enjoy occasionally going outside and doing stuff before that danged endless summer gets here. April this year is full of eclipse celebrations + fests of all kinds.
For our part, we’re traveling some of the month so we’re only hosting one event of our own (a single No Lights No Lycra). But we’ll still be pumping out the weekly editions of stuff to do in April starting on Friday, and as an extra special treat, Leila has made a list of some events across the state that sound good enough to take a roadtrip of your own. Beyond that, we hope you’ve enjoyed some of the absurd number of great bands who came through town last month. Listen to our own favorite new discoveries here; it’s truly an embarrassment of riches.
If you’re not already a subscriber to this newsletter and you want to be, click here. We send out one email a week, usually on Fridays, plus this bonus monthly edition around the start of each month. Please support us by contributing to our Patreon and by forwarding this email to your friends who enjoy things like listening to music and leaving the house sometimes.
Let’s do fun stuff!
—Leila + Brian
liteandbriteatx.com
Looking Back at March Events / What We’re Listening to
We hosted our absolutely delightful subscriber meetup and weird YouTube watch party, BYOT. Watch the playlist of every YouTube video that we screened.
We went to SXSW and saw a ridiculous number of bands. Out of everyone we saw, our favorites made it into playlists so we can share them with you. Even if you didn’t go see any bands there’s lots of new stuff to discover. Lots of music in here is by mostly newer up-and-coming acts; if anyone ever tells you that “music isn’t good anymore,” just show them these playlists and stun them into silence.
Brian’s playlist on Spotify
Brian’s playlist on Apple Music
Brian’s playlist on YouTube
Leila’s playlist on YouTube
Looking Ahead to Upcoming Events
Our weekly newsletters will include many more listings, but here are a handful of events that we know will be coming up over the next month. We’re giving you the heads up now in case you want to pre-buy tickets or block off the time.
- April 3-8: REST Fest at Dougherty Arts Center
Light+dark-themed fest w/dining, art, music, + more performers - April 4-7: Lysistrata Comedy Festival at ColdTowne, the Hideout, and Rozco’s
Female stand up + improv comics improving the world w/comedy - April 5-7: HONK!TX at various Austin locations
A raucous outdoor celebration of brass with a LOT of bands - April 6: Books & Bees at the Bee Cave Library
Author talks (feat. Leila!) n signings, live music, + bee activities / education - April 6: Texas Veg Fest at Fiesta Gardens
Vegan food, vendors, cooking classes, demos, + also live music - April 6, 13, and 20: Overheard on a Train at the Downtown CapMetro Station
Enjoy immersive theatre while you ride on board a train - April 7: The Universe in Verse at Waterloo Park
Explore the intersection of science + nature w/authors, podcasters, + musicians - April 7-14: Fusebox Festival at various Austin locations
“Adventurous performances from local, national, + international artists” - April 8: Eclipse Viewing Party at Bobo’s Snack Bar
Enjoy the eclipse w/atmospheric live music composed for the occasion - April 8: Total Eclipse Viewing Party at the Long Center
Free eclipse watch w/Radiolab live taping, free glasses, + more - April 9-10: Trust. News. Democracy. at the LBJ Auditorium
Conference on government + media w/big name speakers - April 10-21: Moontower Comedy Festival at various Austin locations
Big names in the world of standup descend upon Austin - April 10: 32 Sounds at Bass Concert Hall
Immersive headphones-on documentary exploring sound + memory - April 11: No Lights No Lycra at West China Tea
Our own dance party in the dark - April 11: Celebrating Fusebox at the Contemporary Austin
Exhibition of 20 years of Fusebox + bday party w/cake + live music - April 11-13: Elysian Heights at dadaLab
UT students create an immersive experience exploring the dark side of AI - April 12-13: The Way of Water at the Onion Creek Greenbelt
Walk the greenbelt w/immersive audio + watch dance performances - April 13: Slow Fashion Festival at Austin Cinemakers Space
Speakers, fashion show, + photo op pop up for considerate consumption - April 13: Squirrel Fest at Pease Park
Nature-centric activities, workshops, DJs, + film screening - April 13: Teen Bands Showcase at UT Lab Theater
Celebrate Austin’s youth w/teenaged live bands - April 13-14: ART Bus Cruise at various Austin locations
Curated tour of Fusebox art while being chauffeured in a bus - April 13-14: STAPLE! At St. Edwards University
Panels, presentations, + vendors of zines + DIY published works - April 14: ABC Kite Fest at Zilker Park
Celebration of all things kites w/contests, live music, + kids’ activities - April 14: Anything for Selena’s at the Brewtorium
Celebrate the music of Selena w/DJs, drag performers, + vendors - April 20: Food Fight at Hi Sign Brewing
Comedic pro wrestlers + drag performers unite for a good cause - April 20: Art Prom at ICOSA
Raise money for art w/live music, DJ, photo ops + Erica Nix - April 20: Fashion Show at Luxeart
Vintage fashion show w/music curated by KUTX DJs - April 20: Pancakes and Booze at the Far Out Lounge
“Balls to the wall” art show w/ pancakes + adult bevs - April 20-21: Preservation Austin Homes Tour at various Austin homes
Explore homes in Austin w/notable history + architecture - April 24: The Amazing Acro-cats at the Long Center
Watch as acrobatic cats act catty + sometimes do tricks (if you are lucky) - April 24-25: Prismatic Listening at the Museum of Human Achievement
Immersive art show combining live music, sound manipulation + lasers - April 27: Eeyore’s Birthday Party at Pease Park
Uniquely Austin celebration w/body painting, jam sessions, live music - April 27: Sunset Valley ARTFEST at the Toney Burger Center
Art n food vendors, live music, family activities + a bike zoo - April 27: Touch the Art at Almost Real Things HQ
“Finally, you can touch all of the art on the walls” – couldn’t agree more - April 27: Emerge at Cloud Tree
DJs, B-boys + b-girls, + live graffiti painting - April 27-28: Wiener Dog Races at the Buda Amphitheater
The crown jewel of Buda: the speediest wieners you ever did see - April 28: Austin Witchfest at the Palmer Events Center
“A day full of workshops, shopping, divination, entertainment + more”
April Feature: Other Texas Fun
Sometimes we see events that we would 100% list in this newsletter, but then we realize that they’re actually happening in Amarillo or Granbury or something and it is DEVASTATING. For whatever reason, this month seems especially full of them. Every one of our April weekends is spoken for, so we cannot roadtrip to any of these events, but perhaps YOU CAN. If you do, we will be jealous; please report back.
April 11-14: Art Car Parade in Houston (170 miles from Austin)
The Art Car Parade started in 1988 and now it consists of 250+ tricked-out vehicles (from cars to “bicycles and unicycles to lawnmowers to cars and go-carts”). If there’s one thing we love, it is an unlikely repurposing. Take something normal (a car) and turn it into something unique (a rolling rhinoceros). This is what we live for!
April 13-14: Lubbock Arts Festival (370 miles from Austin)
The “Texas Festivals & Event Association,” an institution we had never heard of before this moment, selected this fest as the BEST IN TEXAS in 2021, 2022, and 2023! Will they defend their crown in 2024? What went wrong in 2020? WE DON’T KNOW. But please go admire “paintings, drawings, pottery, fiber goods, jewelry, glass, woodworking, and sculpture” from 100+ artisans. While you’re in Lubbock, say hi to Buddy Holly for us.
April 27: Thru the Chute in New Braunfels (50 miles from Austin)
OK, here’s the deal: People build themed cardboard boats. Then they send them down the tube chute on the Comal, and many of them disintegrate but some of them survive and those we guess are the winners? Look at these photos of hand-crafted boats and tell us this isn’t genius.
All-the-Time Austin Artsy Fun
Our weekly newsletter features upcoming events, but sometimes the activity you’re looking for isn’t an event at all—it’s a place that’s always there. Next time you find yourself on an afternoon when nothing special seems to be going on, you could consider checking out one of these evergreen options.
- Tiny Minotaur
Drinking and costumed LARPing, Dungeonsynths performing in the dungeon w/lots of lore - The Eureka Room
Uniquely goofy, silly, + fun immersive games you play with a group. No spoilers! - Escape the Box on South Congress
So you think you can escape boxes. Sure, but what about time traveling boxes? - We Luv Video
The Alexandria Library of video rental. It’s community-run, you can rent movies or watch them in a cinema while literally surrounded by VHS tapes and DVDs. - The Goats at Jester King Brewery
More a theme park geared towards folks who like refermented cherries in their beer (me) than a brewery. I have not experienced the Goat Experience, but I have seen their goats, and I approve. - Cathedral of Junk
A towering achievement to collecting weird old stuff that will spark nostalgia and cause you to wonder at your last tetanus shot timing - West China Tea House
In addition to their events, West China is a wonderful place just to chat with interesting and welcoming people and drink some delicious tea - Mayfield Park and Nature Preserve
A lovely park + nature walk that is protected by a crack corps of dedicated peacocks and peahens. Good luck escaping without some flashy, feathery displays. - Laguna Gloria
The Contemporary Austin’s outdoor sculpture garden. Culture + Nature = Profit. - Austin Creative Reuse Center
A nonprofit shop where you can get any art, craft, or office supplies you can imagine for literal pennies. Eat your heart out, Office Despot. - Museum of the Weird
It’s right there on Dirty 6th but worth a visit. From famous fake paleontology to recreations of horror film sets, there’s lots to see. - James Turrell’s Skyspace
Like Turrell’s best works, this is an art experience which unfolds slowly over time. Watch as the changing colors of sunset remake the space.
Thanks to our Patreon subscribers
A huge thank-you to our Patreon subscribers Amy Hayes, Katie Green, Christina Jue, Colleen MB, Lilly Ettinger, Lena Long, Amalia Litsa, Alexander Freed, Spencer, Kristen Backor, Timon A., Kate Murray, and Amy Wilde. We’re deeply grateful for your support, which allows us to do things like “pay our Mailchimp fee” and “spend hours researching Austin events when technically we should be working.”
If you’d like to support us on Patreon and get access to exclusive member-only benefits, you may do so here.
Socials
Recent weeks found us hitting SXSW hard and promoting our subscriber meetup and YouTube party at Bobo’s Snack Bar. Follow Lite + Brite on Instagram to keep up with our adventures. And come chat with us and the rest of the L+B community on our Discord server!
About Us
How do we choose which events to feature?
Honestly, it’s pretty random. We might include anything in Austin that we, personally, would conceivably want to go to, generally excluding normal concerts, comedy shows, and movie showtimes because there are many other good resources for finding those. (We especially recommend Showlist for live music, The Darker Side of Austin for goth and metal stuff, and the 60+ Weirdest Things in Austin for exactly what it sounds like). This list is by no means exhaustive; it’s just stuff that caught our eye this week. If you have an event that you want us to consider including, send it over.
Who are we?
We are Leila + Brian. We make this newsletter. We do our own events, most often No Lights No Lycra (every second and fourth Thursday of the month), + also BYOT, a party where we share very good YouTubes (here’s a playlist from the last one). We go very hard seeing bands at SxSW (here are playlists of our favorites from 2024). We once got called “local Austin couple” by KXAN. We do some other stuff here and there. We love going out to creative events in Austin, and we want you to join us. Visit us at liteandbriteatx.com, and support us on Patreon if you like what we do.