In this period of late capitalism, most of us are used to exchanging our effort and time in exchange for money, which we then use to purchase the stuff we want. But as anyone who has spent thirty dollars at a rigged carnival game trying to throw a ring around a janky milk bottle in order to win a stuffed animal valued at something around fifty cents, it's just more fun to win something than to just buy it. Giving you the opportunity to showcase your skills at water sports(...) this coming Day That We Will Never Forget, Fun Fun Fun Fest are hosting a Water Olympics featuring: paddleboard and canoe jousting, a tug of war across the lake "pitting fans of the old festival location, Waterloo Park, against those in favor of the move to Auditorium Shores", a relay race, and much more. more ›

Ozomatli will headline the fest, and their spin-off children's group Ozokidz will be featured on the ninos stage. Adrian Quesada's newest project, The Echocentrics, will also perform, along with Chingo Bling “The Versace Mariachi," Chico Mann and Los Skarnales. See the rest of the lineup as it stands so far here. more ›

The fabulous annual fiesta that is the Pachanga Latino Music Festival takes over Fiesta Gardens this Saturday, and as promised earlier this week, we’re giving away two more tickets today to one loyal reader. Pachanga co-producers Rich Garza and Alex Vallejo have established a tremendous event that cultivates a wonderful family atmosphere and of course, offers loads of quality live music. Having attended the first two editions of the fest, we can attest that this is truly an excellent way to cherish and celebrate Latino culture in town come May each year. more ›

The third edition of Pachanga, scheduled to take place on Saturday at Fiesta Gardens, promises to be this emerging festival’s most spectacular installment yet. The lineup is truly mouth-watering, the rain gods will surely stay away, and the venue has been spruced up thoroughly. The stage is set. Do you have your tickets yet? more ›

Leading up to Pachanga (May 22nd at Fiesta Gardens), we’ll be spending five minutes with many of the artists scheduled to perform at the festival. Today, we catch up with San Antonio’s Girl In A Coma. more ›

Leading up to Pachanga (May 21st and 22nd at Fiesta Gardens), we’ll be spending five minutes with many of the artists scheduled to perform at the festival. Today, we catch up with L.A.’s Pilar Díaz. more ›

Leading up to Pachanga (May 21st and 22nd at Fiesta Gardens), we’ll be spending five minutes with many of the artists scheduled to perform at the festival. Today, we catch up with Austin’s Davíd Garza. more ›

Leading up to Pachanga (May 21st and 22nd at Fiesta Gardens), we’ll be spending five minutes with many of the artists scheduled to perform at the festival. Today, we catch up with Austin’s Brownout. more ›

Leading up to Pachanga (May 21st and 22nd at Fiesta Gardens), we’ll be spending five minutes with many of the artists scheduled to perform at the festival. Today, we catch up with San Antonio’s Piñata Protest. more ›

Leading up to Pachanga (May 21st and 22nd at Fiesta Gardens), we’ll be spending five minutes with many of the artists scheduled to perform at the festival. Today, we catch up with Austin’s Vallejo. more ›

Set to take place at the Fiesta Gardens in East Austin again this year, Pachanga will kick off on Friday, May 21st at 6:30 p.m. on one stage, and then revert to the usual multi-stage bonanza we’ve come to expect the following day. The lineup boasts Columbia’s Bomba Estéreo and Mexico’s Carla Morrison, along with a whole slew of Texas talent such as Bobby Pulido, Grupo Fantasma (scheduled to perform with New York legend Larry Harlow), Davíd Garza, Girl In A Coma, and Brownout, to name a few. We’re especially pleased to note that underrated local rockers Amplified Heat and exciting San Antonio popsters Hacienda are also on the bill, and we’re delighted that Mariachi Las Alteñas is back to woo more hearts this year. Arizona’s Y La Orkestra and Brian Lopez, California’s Pilar Díaz, and Missouri’s Making Movies ensure that other U.S. states are represented as well. more ›

This Saturday, the Pachanga Latino Music Festival takes over Fiesta Gardens and closes out Austin Latino Music Month with a full day of music and arts inspired by the Latin culture. Festival co-founders Rich Garza and Alex Vallejo have assembled quite a fine line-up for the second year of this fest, including Mexican Institute Of Sound, (read out interview with Camilo Lara here), Michael Salgado, Brownout!, Mariachi Las Alteñas, Maneja Beto, David Garza, Ocote Soul Sounds, among many others. We touched base with Rich Garza last week and learned that he is especially looking forward to the sets by M.I.S., Salgado, and Mariachi Las Alteñas (a thirteen piece all female mariachi band). Garza is pleased with the new venue for the festival as well -- “Fiesta Gardens is worthy of its own signature festival. It's in the middle of the East Austin, the heart and soul of the Latino community in Austin and it's on the water.” more ›

After a decade of relentlessly jaunty indie-pop and nine albums, there is no indication that Of Montreal intends to put away the facepaint and hang up their flamboyant costumes anytime soon. Frontman Kevin Barnes, easily one of the most industrious human beings in the music industry, appears capable of cranking out the psychedelic sausage well into the next decade, if not further. more ›

The American craft beer industry will converge on Austin tonight for this year's Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America. Black Star Co-op - the world's first cooperatively owned and worker self-managed brewpub - will be hosting a Craft Beer Celebration to raise startup capital for their beer-boasting business. The event, tonight at Fiesta Gardens from 8PM to midnight, will feature live music from local bands PONG and Opposite Day, funky beats from The Second... more ›

FRIDAY [20] benefit/music • Ashera-Blare-A IV with All In the Golden Afternoon, The Heirs, The Minderchucks, and The Otters at Club DeVille beer/party • Black Star Co-op's Craft Beer Celebration with Pong, Opposite Day, The Second Line Social, and fine craft beer from around the country at Fiesta Gardens (8pm-Midnight, $10) comedy • Punchline, open mic stand up comedy at ColdTowne Theater (10pm) dance • Room, part of Refraction Arts' Fuse Box Festival at The... more ›

Come celebrate indigenous and mestizo contributions in the 3rd Annual Dia de la Raza celebration tonight from 7-10:30 at the Pavilion at Fiesta Gardens, featuring East L.A. band Quetzal and Austin-native Maneja Beto. Poetry readings, a Latino community group fair and refreshments are included. The latest hot-button issue: Christian Deitering, president of the Longhorn Hellraisers, used his Capitol connections to destroy the Texas A&M University pep rally traditionally held on the South side of... more ›

MONDAY [1] [music] Islands, Why?, Cadence Weapon, Wilderneess, Year Future, Parts & Labor at Emo's (info) [art] Opening reception for hovel jumbles, with works by Paul Gigliotti at End of an Ear (Free, 6pm) (info) [music] Richard Buckner with Doug Gillard (Guided by Voices) at Cactus Café ($12, 8pm) (info) [film] The Boys of Baraka at Alamo Downtown (7pm) (info) [film] The Wild Angels at Alamo Downtown (9:45pm , $1) (info) [film] Anime Movie Monday... more ›

FRIDAY [Music] Rilo Kiley 7pm @ Stubb's - $14 [Film] TriPartIte Film Festival (benefitting SafePlace) 8:30pm @ Jo's - Donations encouraged SATURDAY [Art] The Portrait Show: You Don't Know Us 7pm-11pm @ Camp Fig [Dance!] KVRX Prom Night w/ Clap!Clap! 8pm @ Iron Gate Studios - $5 [Music] Spring Fling for SafePlace 8pm @ Velvet Spade - $30 at the door [Art] The Works of Peter Beste 7pm-Midnight @ The Space (Beste will be in... more ›

If you had too much fun celebrating Cinco de Mayo yesterday and don’t want the party to stop, don’t fear. Besides this weekend’s activities over at Fiesta Gardens, Mexic-Arte Museum is having its Festival Mexico party this Saturday from 6-11PM. Festivities will include Taste of México -- delicious cuisine from over 30 of the area's finest restaurants. This family-friendly event will provide attendees with hours of live music from leading regional bands, a silent auction... more ›

Cinco de Mayo is a national holiday in Mexico that for many Americans means drinking Corona and eating salsa. But many people don’t know that this day marks the victory of the Mexican armies over the French in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. And no, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican independence day, that would be Dieciséis de Septiembre. more ›