Lite + Brite Monthly: January
Hello, what’s up, and welcome to the monthly edition of the Lite + Brite newsletter.
Happy New Year! We’re kicking off 2026 with a reader survey and an in-person L+B subscriber meetup, so if you have any thoughts on how Lite + Brite can be more helpful to you this year—including when the meetup should be—please fill that out.
We’ve also got for you some of the top Austin events that are on our radar for January; a wintry playlist to cool down your 70-degree days; and recommendations for 2026 events from some of our most plugged-in local luminaries.
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 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 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.
- Jan. 9-10: Free Week on Red River
Free local live music at Austin’s finest downtown venues - Jan. 10: Bowie Bash at Drinks Lounge
DJ Sue breaks out all her Bowie vinyl to mark his bday - Jan. 10: Annual Elvis Jubilee at the Continental Club
Long-running musical tribute to the King on his birthday - Jan. 10: Honk!TX Winter Ball at 29th St. Ballroom
“Dress to impress” w/marching bands, raffles, silent auction - Jan. 10-11: Cello Fest at the Cathedral
Cellists perform classical + modern pop music in intimate setting - Jan. 11: Manual Cinema at the Paramount
Mind-boggling shadow puppet adaptation of kids book - Jan. 13 – Feb. 14: FronteraFest at Hyde Park Theatre
“Alternative, offbeat, new, + just plain off-the-wall fringe theatre” - Jan. 15: Metropolis with Live Score at 29th St. Ballroom
Watch the scifi silent film w/live re-scored soundtrack - Jan. 15: Mountains on Screen at AFS
See films about folks who climb up mountains (+ back down) - Jan. 16: Soul Clap Dance Off at the 13th Floor
Feted NYC (by way of ATX) soul DJ visits w/45s + live music - Jan. 16-17: The Improvised Shakespeare Company at McCullough Theatre
Touring improvisers concoct a Shakespeare play on the fly - Jan. 17: Edgar Allan Poe Ball at Elysium
Poe ball w/themed drinks, costumes, DJs, + “Edgar Allan Hoes” - Jan. 19: Dolly Parton’s 80th Birthday Blowout at VINYL Beauty Bar
Live musicians + drag performers honor Dolly, plus lookalike contest - Jan. 19: MLK Community Festival at Huston-Tillotson University
March + rally celebrating the legacy of MLK w/vendors, live music - Jan. 20: The Spirit Lamp + Celebration of David Lynch at Radio East
Lynch collaborator performs his music w/16mm visuals - Jan. 22: City Pop Nite at Elysium
DJs spinning Japanese city pop, future funk, + vaporwave - Jan. 23-25: WEIRD Open at Austin Sports Academy
Fight historically at “Adult Sleep Away Sword Camp” - Jan. 24: BookWoman 50th Anniversary Party at Cheer Up Charlie’s
“Rock & read” to celebrate two bdays w/DJ, live music, + remarks - Jan. 24-25: Le Garage Sale at the Palmer Events Center
Fashion shopping bonanza with an eye for gallic naming - Jan. 25: Lord of the Rings Day at BookPeople
Cultivate your inner hobbit w/costume contest, trivia, + sav hunt - Jan. 30: Sperm Racing at UT
Sperm enthusiasts go mano a mano in “the world’s smallest sport” - Jan. 30: Winter Gothic Ball at Sans Bar
Celebrate dry January w/mocktails + goth DJs - Feb. 1: Fortlandia Closing Day at Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center
Annual interactive installation art exhibition w/play fort theme
Austin may not be known for its blustery cold winters, but you can still conjure some cozy vibes by listening to this playlist of winter sounds we love. Icy synthesizers, walls of sound, warm piano + choral arrangements remind us of chilly days and warm beverages.
Listen on: Spotify / Apple / YouTube
Tracklist
Soulwax – “Distant Symphony”
Dusty Springfield – “I Can’t Wait until I See My Baby’s Face”
Joe Bataan – “Ordinary Guy”
Broadcast – “Message from Home”
Northern Picture Library – “Love Song for a Dead Che #1”
Goddess in the Morning – “Ucraine”
Cocteau Twins – “Heaven or Las Vegas”
Slowdive – “alife”
Goldfrapp – “Hairy Trees”
Yumi Zouma – “Alena”
Star You Star Me – “A Place in My Heart” ft. Erlend Øye
Saint Etienne – Shower Scene
Mouse on Mars – Send Me Shivers
Röyksopp – “Eple”
L’Equipe du Son – “Lesson 1”
Joesef – “It’s Been a Little Heavy Lately”
Soviet – “Photographs”
Nick Heyward – You’re My World
Future Bible Heroes – “Lonely Days”
Mayer Hawthorne – “Green Eyed Love” (Classixx Remix)
Dollar – “Give Me Back My Heart”
The Smile – “Foreign Spies”
Trans Am – “Runners Standing Still”
HNNY – “Til Dig”
The Free Design – “Dorian Benediction”
The Favorite Events of Your Favorite Event Producers
As we enter 2026, we asked local luminaries to tell us about Austin events that they’re looking forward to this year. The only requirement was that it be something that they’re not personally involved with—just an event they’re a fan of. Here’s what they told us:
“Every year I look forward to Music Gear Swap Meet at Knomad Bar. You can find some really unique instruments, amplifiers, and accessories, but it’s also fun just to see what toys have been living in the dark corners of other people’s closets.”—Justin Sherburn, Rocket Cinema
“I will go to literally anything Minor Mishap Marching Band is putting on or a part of. Their canoe show on Town Lake is always one of the highlights of my summer, and I was thrilled to finally make it out to my first Lantern Parade on the winter solstice (solst-ish this year) at Pease Park. And, I would be remiss to not mention HONK, which marks the start of spring for me—dancing in the park to sweet brass tunes with so many Austin friends. They are a community treasure.”—Winnie Hsia, Sky Candy
“As a die-hard reader and frequenter of locally owned bookstores in Austin, The Austin Book Trailis yet another excuse for me to spend money on my favorite things. It’s wholesome, and family friendly, and maybe best of all—it’s a whole lotta books.”—Zac Solomon, The ATX Writing Club
“Iconic feminist bookstore BookWoman is celebrating 50 years on Saturday, January 24th, at Cheer Up Charlies! Never has there been a better time to gather wisdom and inspiration from our queer, feminist elders. Plus, a reunion show by lesbian, sex-positive punk band Girls in the Nose!”—Becky Bullard, Democrasexy
I’m looking forward to the premiere of Frutos de la Muerte (or, The Breakdown Play) by Khristián Méndez Aguirre and co. Khristián’s work is “shaped by land & imagination” and last year Beto, Beto, El Abeto at Zilker Botanical Gardens had me unexpectedly and uncontrollably sobbing as I sat criss-cross-apple-sauce on the floor with a good friend sooooooo…. I’m expecting a similar sensation of vulnerability to be cracked open through this show. AND! I’ll also be making sure I attend any of the Austin Unconducted concerts when their new season is announced. I haven’t missed a single one since their founding, and they’re all a unique delight, reflecting different local curator’s perspectives.”—Kate Murray, Unfine Arts
“I love the creative and strange light displays on 37th Street. I always look forward to what the Stuffed Animal Rescue Foundation does!”—Mike Michaels, Austin Events Wall Calendar
“Improvised Shakespeare—literally, a Shakespearean play improvised tip to tail in iambic pentameter—is bar none the funniest (and most intellectually impressive) improv I’ve ever seen. The Bard would approve.”—Dale Markowitz, the Austin Salon
“I recommend the annual ColdTowne bit show. It happens in October, and it’s all high-concept and often really dumb bits. It takes place during ColdTowne’s anniversary. Last year I loved “major league tape measuring” and all it was, was extending a tape measure until it buckled under its own weight.”—Matthew Stoner, Hyde Park Storytelling
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! - 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 Melissa Dunn, Kat, James Gray, Emily Heddleson, Andrew Creswell, Robert B., Roman Gonzalez, Nick Ivons, Molly Fonseca, Lilly Ettinger, Michael Sales, Zach, Gino Scaramuzza, Erica Speegle, Thomas Refferson, Bones Malones, Katie Green, Christina Jue, Colleen MB, Alexander Freed, Kristen Backor, and Timon A. 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, like No Lights No Lycra and 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’s a playlist of some 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.