Lite + Brite Monthly: April
Hello, what’s up, and welcome to the monthly edition of the Lite + Brite newsletter.
This email is NOT an April Fool’s newsletter with a bunch of fake events like a haunted house full of goats, aerialists, and drag performers. Oh that actually sounds fun, someone write that down. No, we are here with a bountiful and 100% true April’s worth of fun things for you to do. Not only that, but we’ve got our monthly playlist, which this time is full of the many bands we saw + loved at South by Southwest (completely different from the playlist of bands we were excited to see). Also, Leila has drafted an extensive Guide to Moviegoing in Austin with all of the cinemas, festivals, + more that we love to list here. As usual you’ll be getting our weekly newsletter sometime around the Thursday/Friday nexus of the week, so til then, enjoy.
And if SXSW just isn’t for you, we’ve found plenty of other events coming up this month. Scroll away.
Let’s do fun stuff!
—Leila + Brian
liteandbriteatx.com
Looking Ahead to Upcoming Events
Our weekly newsletters will include many more listings, but here are a handful of events that we know are planned for the next month. We’re giving you the heads up now in case you want to pre-buy tickets or block off the time.
- Apr 4, 11, 18, + 19: Quest Night at Scare for a Cure
“Immersive, medieval fantasy experience” involving dice + giant spiders - April 5: ABC Kite Fest in Zilker Park
Celebration of all things kites w/contests, live music, + kids’ activities - April 5: Austin Independent Book Fair at Radio East
Readings, drag story hour, + independent press books for sale - April 5: Texas Veg Fest at Fiesta Gardens
Celebrate vegan food w/vegan vendors, speakers, live music - April 5: Pop-Up Picnic at Waterloo Park
En masse picnic w/baskets from restaurateurs + a good cause (parks!) - April 5: Austin Dance Festival at Ballet Austin
Modern + improvisational dance performances, dance classes at many levels - April 5-6: Greater Austin Clay Festival at studios throughout Austin
Tour studios + buy art from artists working in clay all across Austin - April 8: The Austin Salon at 1109 Angelina St|
Discussions about whether we’re better off with or without AI - April 9: No Lights No Lycra at 3rd Eye Meditation Lounge
Our very own dance party in near complete darkness - April 9-13: Indie Meme Film Festival at AFS
A film fest celebrating independent Indian + South Asian cinema - April 10-13: Ventanas by Cirque Vida at Indra’s Awarehouse
Circus arts, dance, + acrobats perform in the windows of an imaginary apartment - April 11: Tiniest Dog Party in Texas at Hotel Vegas
Fundraiser w/“puppy market,” “petite doggie pageant” + normal size hot dogs - April 12: Touch the Art at Almost Real Things HQ
“Finally, you can touch all of the art on the walls” – couldn’t agree more - April 12: Squirrel Fest at Pease Park
“Creative workshops, outdoor DJ sets” + squirrely vibes - April 12: Texas Mushroom Conference at UT-Austin
Get scientific with fungi experts in topics like “mycoremediation” - April 12: Books and Bees at the Bee Cave Public Library
Learn about bees, + listen to adult, YA, + kids author talks - April 12: Wimberley Film Fest at Blue Hole Regional Park
Texas-made short films, live music, + swimming w/natural backdrop - April 12: Bring Back the Weird Fest at Delilah’s Front Porch
“Weirdos assemble” for circus games, burlesque, drag, DJs, + live music - April 12: Art Under $100 at Propaganda HQ
Artists selling their work at extremely approachable prices - April 12-13: The Austin Book Trail at bookstores throughout Austin
Explore 29 local bookstores w/prizes, activations, + discounts - April 12-13: Staple! At St. Ed’s
Panels, + vendors of zines + DIY comics, crafts, + games - April 12 + 19: Adult Easter Egg Hunt at Sweet Eats
Not kid’s stuff, this is real-ass adults looking for eggs in the pitch black - April 12, 19, + 26: Six Mexicans Named Gonzalez at a secret location
“Satirical multimedia solo show” w/one man portraying six characters - April 12 + 26: Overheard on a Train on the Red Line
Participate in immersive theatre while exploring public transit - April 13: World’s Largest Golden Retriever Meetup at Star Hill Ranch
Will there be hundreds of Goldens or thousands? Only one way to know - April 13: Fright Gallery at Come and Take It Live
Horror-themed art show w/presentations, live demos, shadowy environs - April 13: Bidi Bidi Bday at Ani’s Day and Night
“Selena themed drag performances, DJs, photo ops” + vendors - April 19: Trad-ATX Archery at Tiny Minotaur
“Inclusive traditional archery club” for the “archery-curious” - April 19: Legislate THIS at Sky Candy|
Watch aerialists, burlesque, + drag to raise money for repro rights - April 19: Art Explosion at 4211 Todd Ln
Art, circus performers, live dance music performers, + dancers - April 22: Live in the LIM at UT-Austin
Musicians, dancers, + visuals based on motion cap effects - April 23: No Lights No Lycra at 3rd Eye Meditation Lounge
Help us ring in Leila’s birthday at our dance party in the dark - April 25-27: Austin Psych Fest at the Far Out Lounge
Killer lineup of psych + indie bands w/trippy visuals - April 25-27: The Comedy Film Festival at Galaxy
“A film festival just for funny“ w/indie comedy films - April 26-27: Austin Blues Festival at Moody Amphitheater
Big names in blues, soul, + R&B help celebrate Antone’s’ 50th bday - April 26: Eeyore’s Birthday at Pease Park
Old Austin celebration w/body painting, jam sessions, live music - April 26: Gothic Prom at Elysium
DJs spinning goth + synthpop say “join us in the dark, cold grasp of Prom” - April 26: Texas Foremothers Brunch at Hold Out Brewing
Learn about the women of Texas political history (+ eat brunch) - April 26: Art Prom at ICOSA Collective
Prom-themed fundraiser w/DJ, live music, photo booth, tarot - April 26: Thru the Chute in New Braunfels
Handmade cardboard boats float the river. What could go wrong? - April 26-27: Wiener Dog Races in Buda
The crown jewel of Buda: the speediest wieners you ever did see - April 26-27: Preservation Austin Homes Tour at homes throughout Austin
Explore homes in Austin w/notable history + architecture - May 1-4: Texas Dungeon Siege at Elysium + Tiny Minotaur
Dungeon synth artists from all over the world invade Austin’s stages
L+B Playlist 11
Post-SxSW 2025
Last month we featured a playlist of songs by bands we were excited about from South by Southwest, and this month we’ve got a new playlist packed with artists we saw, loved, and have enjoyed listening to after the fest is over. There’s some overlap and plenty of artists we hadn’t realized how much we’d like.
Listen on: Spotify / Apple / YouTube
Tracklist
Fantasy of a Broken Heart – “Ur Heart Stops”
Foliage – “One Side Waits While the Other Fakes”
Levin Goes Lightly – “Kindness & Destruction”
Radio Free Alice – “Johnny”
Consumables – “Great Design”
Klypi + Buddy Crime – “When You’re Not Around”
Modernform – “Hourglass”
La Sécurité – “Serpent” (Standard Emmanuel Remix)
Holy Fuck + Lucia Tacchetti – “Lost Cool”
Spike Hellis – “Slices”
CDSM – “This Is My New Hell”
J’cuuzi – “Big Machine”
Slash Need – “Worm”
Night Drive – “Vultures”
Confidence Man – “Does It Make You Feel Good?”
Lite + Brite’s Guide to Moviegoing in Austin
If you consider yourself to be a cinéaste, or perhaps a cinephile, or even just a regular ol’ moviegoer, Austin is the town for you. We’ve got an uncountable number of cinemas, film series, and film fests all over town. Despite this fact, we did in fact attempt to count many of them in this month’s feature. Here’s an overview of the Austin scene–if we left out anything you love, let us know and we’ll add it to the web version of this guide.
Established Cinemas
Chances are very good that you’re familiar with the Alamo Drafthouse since it’s now a national chain, but it’s still worth noting that it was founded in Austin, has five Austin locations, and is home to Master Pancake, which is like Austin’s homegrown version of MST3k. Getting a full menu of food delivered to your seat in the cinema feels like an almost unremarkable luxury these days, but when we first experienced it at the Alamo it blew our minds, and it’s worth reclaiming that childlike wonder.
AFS is Austin’s nonprofit arthouse theater and an incubator for filmmakers, founded by legendary local screenwriter and director Richard Linklater. Pretty much anything AFS screens–whether it’s a new release, a recently restored classic, a forgotten gem, an indie doc, a foreign film, or some other category that I can’t even conceive of–is worth checking out. Brian is an AFS member and regularly just goes to whatever they have on, and it’s always something interesting.
Independent Movie Spaces
We Luv Video is a “non-profit video rental library, screening space, and cultural center.” In our all-the-time Austin fun list, we describe it as “the Alexandria Library of video rental,” which we stand by; the screenings there are also delightful and often weird, including screening series Blood Shed Theater, Sungays, Animondays, and Odd World (“a monthly series of weird shit”).
Hyperreal Film Club is a “clubhouse” for so many types of movies, from campy blockbusters to thought-provoking documentaries, with introductions and contextualizations by their programming team. They’re big into using pop culture as a lens through which we can understand society; we still refer fondly to the summer when Hyperreal Film Club screened every Fast + Furious movie with the Museum of Human Achievement, accompanied by compelling lectures on why The Fast and the Furious franchise is Important for Society.
Blue Starlite is an urban drive-in with a couple unique locations. (On hiatus as we write this piece, but they bring such a good Austin experience, we hope they come back soon!)
Moveable Movie Events
Rocket Cinema sets up their big screen and sound equipment at mostly outdoor spaces all over town, from parks to bars to backyards. They partner with many excellent local venues and event promoters to screen a mix of classics and cult classics. And if you’re ever doing an event of your own and need a movie at it, they’re your guys.
Recurring Film Series
The Paramount runs three annual film series: their summer classic film series (NB last summer we saw Josie and the Pussycats there, so the word “classic” can mean a number of things); their scary movie series in October; and their holiday film series in December.
ATX Short Film Showcase happens on the second Monday of every month, showing “eight local short films, followed by a Q&A session with the filmmakers.”
Every third Thursday at the Highball, film “professors” at Queer Film Theory 101 “explore the movies we all grew up with that helped them realize they were queer.”
The Carver Museum periodically hosts films in their “That’s My Face” series, which celebrates Black stories and filmmakers.
Throughout the summer, Austin Parks Foundation screens movies in neighborhood parks all over town. Be aware that this is usually a very hot experience.
For film resources + a comprehensive list of film fests, read the full guide here.
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 with an afternoon when nothing special seems to be going on, you could consider checking out one of these evergreen options.
- Mesmerize
An interactive dream-like world made of site-specific installations by 15+ local artists - Hyperreal Film Club
A clubhouse for weird cinema, with oddball screenings four nights a week - 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 Molly Fonseca, Lilly Ettinger, Michael Sales, Zach, Gino Scaramuzza, Erica Speegle, Jarrett Holtz, Thomas Refferson, Dale Markowitz, Bones Malones, Amy Hayes, Katie Green, Christina Jue, Colleen MB, Lena Long, Amalia Litsa, Alexander Freed, 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.
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, Concept Animals’ ATX Art for You for gallery openings + artist talks, 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 Wednesday 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.