Lite + Brite: 47 Tiniest Austin Events 4/11
Hello, what’s up, and welcome to the Lite + Brite newsletter.
Spring is full swing, and that means this newsletter is packed with stuff for you to do. Get into a Hook-inspired food fight, assemble with weirdos, hear live quadrophonic electronic music, watch a movie about dogs with your dog, role play while rolling giant dice, meet fungi and fun guys, hunt for eggs like a real-ass adult, dress like a pirate, get medieval, get bookish, get affordable art, or you could go ahead and touch all the art.
Here’s the thing, we can’t make you get out of the house. Hey, houses can be nice sometimes! We like ours, and sometimes we hang around inside of it. But if your place is anything like ours it is severely lacking in Hook-themed cool whip food fights, so we can at least fill you with some world class fomo. Enjoy!
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Let’s do fun stuff!
—Leila + Brian
liteandbriteatx.com
OUR STUFF
We held No Lights No Lycra last week, and we’ve got a recording of it up here or you can scroll below for a tracklist. We’ll be back at 3rd Eye on April 23rd where we’ll be celebrating Leila’s birthday with some of her favorite songs. Reserve your spot here, or just show up to 3rd Eye Meditation Lounge starting at 8:15pm and get ready to get down.
On No Humans Allowed, Brian did a radio show about italo disco and how it connects to other genres like house and eurodance. You can stream Italo Connections in the Kpiss archives, or catch No Humans Allowed on the air live on Tuesdays at 6pm.
ASF THE STARS AT NIGHT
// A true statement paid for by the sponsor of this week’s newsletter. //
We are not regular gala-goers; however, if we attend a single gala in the course of a year, it is American Short Fiction’s The Stars at Night. Coming up on May 3 at Umlauf Sculpture Garden, The Stars at Night honors local literary luminaries and celebrates Austin’s community of writers and readers.
Writing and reading are by and large solitary pursuits (she types while sitting alone at her computer in yoga pants), which is why this party feels so special and out-of-the-ordinary: You get to put on non-yoga pants (if you so choose), spend the evening in a beautiful and artistically inspiring outdoor space, and connect with other people who value the written word and who contribute to making Austin’s literary scene all that it is.
Also there’s free food and drinks. And it’s, like, FANCY free food and drinks.
It’s not the easiest time to be a fiction fan. Book bans are on the rise, and our state is one of the worst offenders. Literacy rates have taken a hit. AI is producing text without acknowledging or compensating the original authors. But those forces don’t have to overtake us. The Stars at Night is a party for Texans who believe in the power and the future of fiction—like us, and maybe like you—and that’s a pretty stellar place to be.
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EVENTS WE’RE EYEING
Friday 4/11
- Tiniest Dog Party in Texas at Hotel Vegas
Fundraiser w/“puppy market,” “petite doggie pageant” + normal size hot dogs - The Cohen New Works Festival at UT-Austin
Multidisciplinary UT art students perform + create installations on campus - Quest Night at Scare for a Cure
“Immersive, medieval fantasy experience” involving dice + giant spiders - College Houses Block Party at 21st and Pearl
UT Co-op houses combine forces for a block party w/DJs, pool, vendors - The Jigglewatts Burlesque Revue at the 29th St. Ballroom
Burlesque that’s a Dalí-inspired “surrealist spectacle of honky tonk glamour” - To Be a Stranger at WCP Black Box
“Avant-garde theatre” performers examine the strangeness of the desert - MotherTree at the Vortex
“Weaving Dance, Music, + Magic” to examine our relationships to trees - Indie Meme Film Festival at AFS
A film fest celebrating independent Indian + South Asian cinema - Ventanas by Cirque Vida at Indra’s Awarehouse
Circus arts, dance, + acrobats perform in the windows of an imaginary apartment - Pulse at UT-Austin
UT Immersive students create a scifi experience exploring humanity’s nature
Saturday 4/12
- Touch the Art at Almost Real Things HQ
“Finally, you can touch all of the art on the walls” – couldn’t agree more - Squirrel Fest at Pease Park
“Creative workshops, outdoor DJ sets” + squirrely vibes - Texas Mushroom Conference at UT-Austin
Get scientific with fungi experts in topics like “mycoremediation” - Books and Bees at the Bee Cave Public Library
Learn about bees, + listen to adult, YA, + kids author talks - Wimberley Film Fest at Blue Hole Regional Park
Texas-made short films, live music, + swimming w/natural backdrop - Bring Back the Weird Fest at Delilah’s Front Porch
“Weirdos assemble” for circus games, burlesque, drag, DJs, + live music - Art Under $100 at Propaganda HQ
Artists selling their work at extremely approachable prices - The Burden of Legacy at Riches Art Gallery
Live podcast taping + art show set in original BIPOC-centered fantasy world - Free Throw Shoot-out at Holiday
Basketball free throw contest for prizes/charity, w/DJ, hot dogs, + gatorade - Pirate Night at Tiny Minotaur
“No blaggards or bilge-rats allowed,” for scallywaggery, pirate costumes + sea shanties - Quadrant v7.0 at dadaLab
Quadrophonic live electronic music w/live visual artists - Texas Roller Derby at the Buda Thunderdome
Roller derbyists murderously smash their way through a banked track - The Song of Water at Vesper
Water ritual + sound meditation experience inspired by indigenous traditions - Record Store Day at record stores throughout Austin
Support Austin’s record stores by buying collectible limited vinyl - Literary Costume Ball at the Pflugerville Public Library
“Afterhours bookish fun” w/DJ, cosplay contest, storytime, “book flowers” - Adult Easter Egg Hunt at Sweet Eats
Not kid’s stuff, this is real-ass adults looking for eggs in the pitch black - Six Mexicans Named Gonzalez at a secret location
“Satirical multimedia solo show” w/one man portraying six characters - Overheard on a Train on the Red Line
Participate in immersive theatre while exploring public transit - The Austin Book Trail at bookstores throughout Austin
Explore 29 local bookstores w/prizes, activations, + discounts - Staple! At St. Ed’s
Panels, + vendors of zines + DIY comics, crafts, + games - To Be a Stranger at WCP Black Box
“Avant-garde theatre” performers examine the strangeness of the desert - MotherTree at the Vortex
“Weaving Dance, Music, + Magic” to examine our relationships to trees - Indie Meme Film Festival at AFS
A film fest celebrating independent Indian + South Asian cinema - Ventanas by Cirque Vida at Indra’s Awarehouse
Circus arts, dance, + acrobats perform in the windows of an imaginary apartment - Pulse at UT-Austin
UT Immersive students create a scifi experience exploring humanity’s nature - (weekly thru 4/20) Sherwood Forest Faire
Central Texas’ renaissance faire w/medieval food, arts, fun, + dress - (weekly thru 5/31) Doom Metal Goat Yoga at Jester King
“We call out to the beasts of the land to come forth and JOIN US!”
Sunday 4/13
- World’s Largest Golden Retriever Meetup at Star Hill Ranch
Will there be hundreds of Goldens or thousands? Only one way to know - Hook Potluck and Food Fight at an unannounced location
A potluck inspired by the movie Hook followed by a whipped cream-fueled food fight - Fright Gallery at Come and Take It Live
Horror-themed art show w/presentations, live demos, shadowy environs - Bidi Bidi Bday at Ani’s Day and Night
“Selena themed drag performances, DJs, photo ops” + vendors - Auntie’s House at Pershing
Family gathering-themed party w/DJs, vendors, “jig off competition” - Como La Flor Loteria at Cheer Up Charlie’s
Selena-themed DJs, vendors, Selena competition w/themed prizes - The Austin Book Trail at bookstores throughout Austin
Explore 29 local bookstores w/prizes, activations, + discounts - Staple! At St. Ed’s
Panels, + vendors of zines + DIY comics, crafts, + games - MotherTree at the Vortex
“Weaving Dance, Music, + Magic” to examine our relationships to trees - Indie Meme Film Festival at AFS
A film fest celebrating independent Indian + South Asian cinema - Ventanas by Cirque Vida at Indra’s Awarehouse
Circus arts, dance, + acrobats perform in the windows of an imaginary apartment - Pulse at UT-Austin
UT Immersive students create a scifi experience exploring humanity’s nature - (weekly thru 4/20) Sherwood Forest Faire
Central Texas’ renaissance faire w/medieval food, arts, fun, + dress
Monday 4/14
- ATX Short Film Showcase at the 29th St. Ballroom
The films are short, the filmmakers are Texan + of varying heights
Tuesday 4/15
- Astronomy on Tap at Celis Brewery
Gather and talk astronomy w/UT profs while surrounded by beer
Wednesday 4/16
- Kennel Club Dog Show at Lazarus Brewing
Watch a dog-themed film w/your canine, plus “Red Carpet Dog Show,” vendors - MotherTree at the Vortex
“Weaving Dance, Music, + Magic” to examine our relationships to trees
Thursday 4/17
- ARCOS Presents: Short Form at Crashbox
New modern dance works by artists in a mentorship program - Weird Science Theater at Elysium
Drag performers inspired by stoners + Dazed and Confused - Fusebox April Salon at dadaLab
Two artists in dialogue w/short performances + curated cocktails - Backpacker Radio at Capt. Quack’s
Live taping of hiking podcast w/giveaways, Q+A, + door prizes - Astronomy Uncorked at C.L. Butaud
Learn about astronomy + the night sky while surrounded by wine - MotherTree at the Vortex
“Weaving Dance, Music, + Magic” to examine our relationships to trees - (weekly thru 4/24) Movies on the Lake at Mozart’s
Float + watch a big film on the lake
No Humans Allowed 230
Italo Connections
What happened when italo ended? Where did the producers go? It turns out a lot of different directions, from new beat to italo house to hi-NRG. This week we took a look at some of the transitions and connections between these genres. Was it a giant excuse to listen to a bunch of italo disco? Eh, kinda.
Tracklist
Mike Francis – Features of Love (Apiento Edit)
My Mine – Hypnotic Tango (Frankie Knuckles Remix)
Chip E. – If You Only Knew
Key Tronics Ensemble – House of Calypso
Disy – Dynamite (H&S Radio Mix)
Say When! – Save Me (Jean Claude Gavri Refix)
Corona – The Rhythm of the Night
Pineapples – Come on Closer
The Age of Love – The Age of Love (Flying Mix)
Fred Ventura – Factory Life (RFX Rework)
Effetto Joule – Robespierre
No Humans Allowed is Brian Blackout’s award-winning, dodgy European news coverage receiving, weekly robots-themed radio show on internet station KPISS.fm. Machine vibes 4 machines. Songs for robots, androids, mandroids, cyborgs, AIs, cylons, skinjobs, roombas, wifi routers, smart devices, anything colored Bondi blue, and virtual assistants. Humans not required. Broadcasts live every Wednesday at 6pm CT on kpiss.fm, with over 200 episodes now streamable in the archives on topics like and Beach Simulations, Roomba dance parties, undersea adventures + Cyber Texas.
No Lights No Lycra ATX 182
w/Brian Blackout
Recorded live in the dark in 3rd Eye Meditation Lounge on April 9th, 2025
Listen to NLNL ATX 182 on Mixcloud
Tracklist
Justine & the Victorian Punks – Still You
Davide Franca – Love Devotion & Logomotion
The Avalanches – Subways (In Flagranti Extended Edit)
Dealer – Star Dance (Maximilian Blanc Edit)
Haruomi Hosono – Sports Man
Heaven 17 – Let Me Go
Arthur Russell – This Is How We Walk on the Moon (Youth Edit)
Penguin Prison – Don’t Fuck With My Money
Ciara – Love Sex Magic
Bonnie Tyler – Married Man (Lauren Murada Edit)
Eddy Grant – Walking on Sunshine (Tim Simenon Mix)
The Units – High Pressure Days (Todd Terje Remix)
Talking Heads – Road to Nowhere
Liquid Gold – My Baby’s Baby (Claap & Santana Edit)
Dolly Parton – 9 to 5 (Butch le Butch Remix)
LCD Soundsystem – Disco Infiltrator
Bizarre Inc. – I’m Gonna Get You
Confidence Man – C.O.O.L. Party
Martin Solveig – Hello
Charli xcx & Billie Eilish – Guess
Home – All at Once
What is No Lights No Lycra?
Austin’s twice-monthly, judgment-free, substance-free, high-impact dance thing in the dark. It’s a DJ night that’s not at the club, a workout that’s not at the gym, a personal meditation that’s anything but silent. It’s produced by us, your kindly L+B overlords, and usually one or the other of us is on the hook for DJ duties. Read more about it in the Austin Chronicle. You can listen to the kind of music we play over on Brian’s Mixcloud.
PATREON THANKS
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.
SOCIALS
Recent weeks found us seeing 75 bands at SXSW, DJing and co-hosting a party at the Sapien Center, and building a giant Lite Brite in our backyard. Follow Lite + Brite on Instagram to keep up with our adventures. We’re now on Bluesky too. Yay federation! 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, 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, + 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 2025). 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.