Lite + Brite: 43 Fluffy Austin Events 7/25
Hello, what’s up, and welcome to the Lite + Brite newsletter.
As I (Brian) write this, fresh off a gig at Hot Summer Nights we’re 1/3 of the way into the yearly fest. At L+B we love to extoll the virtues of big fests like South by Southwest and Levitation, and Hot Summer Nights has a similar feel. But unlike other fests, all of the music at Hot Summer Nights is homegrown. Every musician + DJ on the lineup hails from here in Austin or from a nearby Texan city. Because the bands are local, maybe they have less name recognition, but make no mistake: Austin’s musicians continue to be impress, and you should really take chances like this to dive in. After all, it’s free. My personal picks: Nuclear Daisies, J’cuuzi, + Past Model are all great live. I’m hoping to catch Sexpop + Night Ritualz, who sound great on record. And lastly there’s a few Austin mainstays like the Octopus Project + Night Drive who are always a good time.
Obviously, not everyone is looking to go downtown and see some live music, so we’ve also got our usual insane mix of fun for you to enjoy. Attend a rave in the shadow of an enormous LED cloud (more of a jellyfish if you ask me), or check out a Matrix-themed rave and hope it isn’t interrupted by an incoming wave of murderous robots. Take part in a potluck where everyone brings their favorite fast food. Watch a musical about Toxie the Toxic Avenger written by members of Bon Jovi, or maybe you’d prefer a documentary about sticker culture + street art? Or go watch the purple martins or Jaws on the Water before those recurring events end. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Lastly, this coming Thursday we’ll be joining forces with Roi33 once more at Elysium for another edition of Prick Up Your Ears, our favorite way to revisit 00s indie dance parties.
Finally, a reminder that we have been curating a guide to local events for flood relief. The flood-related newscycle has slowed down but people whose lives were disrupted are still struggling, and there are still many ways to help while engaging in activities you like. (And if you know of other events, please send them to us + we’ll add them.)
If you’re not already a subscriber to this newsletter and you want to be, click here. We do one newsletter a week, usually on Fridays, plus a bonus edition around the start of each month. If you enjoy this newsletter, 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
OUR STUFF
Prick Up Your Ears returns this month on July’s final Thursday, now with no cover. Come dance to 00s indie sleaze, nu disco, + electroclash for free. Brian Blackout once again joins Roi33 to relive and occasionally reimagine the early 00s. Brian put together a playlist of some of his favorite PUYE tunes if you’re curious to hear what the night sounds like.
Episode 242 of No Humans Allowed, Brian’s radio show for our silicon-based pals, covered machinelike sounds of Belgian New Beat, EBM, early techno, + other music inspired by that era. Listen to it on demand in the Kpiss archives or scroll below for more info + tracklisting.
EVENTS WE’RE EYEING
Friday 7/25
- Summer Nights Dance Party at Mesmerize
DJs + cocktails after-hours at an immersive installation crafted by local artists - The Fluffy Cloud Experience at the Concourse Project
Dance to surround-sound DJs in the shadow of an enormous LED-lit jellyfish-looking blob - Pearl St. Derby at the Pearl St. Co-op
Live bands + Kentucky Derby-centric games, races, + bevs - Sticker Movie Premiere Party at TexPop
Party w/local street artists + commemorative sticker zines for doc unveiling - High Fidelity at the Austin Motel Pool
Float in a pool + watch the best film about music nerds and record stores - Jinkies! at the Vortex
Teenagers reimagine Scooby Doo in a campy theatrical modern context - Purple Martin Party at Round Rock Crossing Shopping Center
Half a million migratory birds flying in big ol clouds. Nature is cool - Hot Summer Nights at various Red River venues
Three free nights of local bands + DJs performing in Red River venues - Free Week at the Jones Center
Free last-minute chance to see some contemporary art exhibits - Toxic Avenger, the Musical at Austin Playhouse
Watch a local musical production of the play retelling the story of Toxie + his cult film
Saturday 7/26
- Arraia da Fazendinha at Ani’s Day and Night
Brazilian farm party w/live music, traditional food + dance - Jaws on the Water at Volente Beach
Enjoy classic nautical horror flick while watching for deadly lake sharks - Pancake Art Brunch at 517 N. I-35
Live music, “live pancake artist,” swag, + photo ops - Japan Fes at Republic Sq. Park
Big festival of vendors offering Japanese street food, culture, + treats - The Matrix Rave at 4211 Todd Ln.
Recreating that one scene from the Matrix Reloaded minus impending doom via killer robots - Splurge at East End Ballroom
“Luxury farmers market” w/DJ + lots of local vendors - Tour de Splash at the Conley-Guerrero Center
Social bike ride exploring some local swimmin holes + swimmable spots - Renaissance World Tour at Cheer Up Charlie’s
Beyoncé-themed “two-woman drag show” promises “C*nty robots” - Sticker Movie at Hyperreal Film Club
Premiere of new street art doc about sticker culture - Keep Austin Artsy at ArtUs Co.
Live art + local art show, DJ, + bevs included with cover - Summer Kickoff at Austin Farm Sanctuary
Vegan bbq, farm animal meet n greets, live music, + waterslide for kiddos - Fast Food Feast at the Museum of Human Achievement
Bring your fave fast foods to a fast food only potluck + make childhood dreams come true - Drag Me to the Tavern at Tiny Minotaur
Drag kings, queens, + knights in fantasy costumes - Summer Vibe Market at Distribution Hall
Big ol’ vendor market w/freebies, activations, included bevs, + DJ - Jinkies! at the Vortex
Teenagers reimagine Scooby Doo in a campy theatrical modern context - Purple Martin Party at Round Rock Crossing Shopping Center
Half a million migratory birds flying in big ol clouds. Nature is cool - Hot Summer Nights at various Red River venues
Three free nights of local bands + L+B DJs performing in Red River venues - Free Week at the Jones Center
Free last-minute chance to see some contemporary art exhibits - Toxic Avenger, the Musical at Austin Playhouse
Watch a local musical production of the play retelling the story of Toxie + his cult film
Sunday 7/27
- Magical Mind Mysteries at the Vortex
Alliterative magic show for adults w/Magical Mystical Michael - Pump King’s Carnival at the Vortex
Inclusive drag performers cavort in a carnival atmosphere - Mario Kart Tournament at Shangri-La
Celebrate Mario + Peach’s “good friendship” w/Mario Kart-ing - Viva Pachanga at the Cathedral
Vendor market, art show, live music + traditional dances - Skinfolk Reunion at the Pershing
Family reunion themed vendor market, live music, nostalgic activities - Summer Vibe Market at Distribution Hall
Big ol’ vendor market w/freebies, activations, included bevs, + DJ - Free Week at the Jones Center
Free last-minute chance to see some contemporary art exhibits - Toxic Avenger, the Musical at Austin Playhouse
Watch a local musical production of the play retelling the story of Toxie + his cult film - (weekly thru 8/31) Splashdance at the Austin Motel
Poolside aerobics with Austin’s most creative aerobics instructor
Tuesday 7/29
- Heroes in a Half Slice at La Volta Pizza Club
Eat pizza + watch the OG TMNT movie, proceeds go to filmmakers - Many Directions at Cheer Up Charlie’s
Drag performers combine to pay tribute to boy bands
Wednesday 7/30
- Memory Static at Tiny Minotaur
Live taping of a podcast about old childhood movies + time travel
Thursday 7/31
- Prick Up Your Ears at Elysium
Brian+ Roi33 spinning 00s dancepunk, electro, + indie sleaze - Rotating Signals at We Luv Video
Watch ten contemporary South Korean short films - Arcane: Drag of Legends at Cheer Up Charlie’s
League of Legends + Arcane-inspired drag performances - Don’t Let Me Go at the 13th Floor
Drag performers inspired by the band Cigarettes After Sex - Nerd Nite at Barrel O’ Fun
Hear nerdy high-caliber talks on a variety of topics - PowerPints at Radio East
“Drink + learn things” at comedic talks on a variety of esoteric topics - Opun Mic Night at Coldtowne
Take the stage w/puns, improv, + other forms of comedy - Swim Session at the Line Hotel
Nighttime swimming Veracruz tacos, + poolside DJs - Malum Malus at the Vortex
Wicca-inspired “occult-based burlesque performance art” - Pan-African Film Fest at AFS
Curated films from the “largest Black film + arts festival” - (weekly) Float-In Theater at Mozart’s
Watch movies deck-side or while floating on the lake
No Humans Allowed 242
Creation Kit
Episode No. 242 finds No Humans Allowed exploring some Belgian-heavy, overtly mechanical New Beat, Acid, Techno, + EBM (get it?). We went full extended mix this episode with a full 90 minutes.
Tracklist
Harsh Symmetry – Stained Glass
A Split-Second – Flesh
Robotiko Rejekto – I Don’t
RFX – Yankee Doodles
Ghostdance – Ghostbeat (Captain’ Edit)
Front 242 – Never Stop!
Axodry – Feel It Right
Borghesia – Scream (Kompleks Edit)
Factory Floor – (R E A L L O V E)
Superski – Positive Energy
Transparent Sound – Music Noir
Cybex Factor – Die Schöpfung
Decius – Y U Look at Me That Way?
My Boy Roy – Makes Me Shudder
Body Count – Trax
Musical Reporters – Blow Job (Jim “Hip Hop” Hopkins Edit)
The Overlords – Sundown (Sunshine & the 909 Remix)
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.
PATREON THANKS
A huge thank-you to our Patreon subscribers Robert B., Roman Gonzalez, Nick Ivons, Molly Fonseca, Lilly Ettinger, Michael Sales, Zach, Gino Scaramuzza, Erica Speegle, Jarrett Holtz, Thomas Refferson, Bones Malones, Amy Hayes, Katie Green, Christina Jue, Colleen MB, Lena Long, 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 getting ready for Prick Up Your Ears, watching the Buda Wiener Dog Races, and experiencing a toy art exhibit at Collection Rert. 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 (where we sometimes post stuff early too).
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.