Austin Weekend Guide: July 10-12

It's mid July and Austin is doing its usual thing, triple digit afternoons and a calendar that refuses to slow down. Antone's is deep into its 51st anniversary run, Zilker has a free musical on the hillside, and there's a conjunto festival most people still haven't heard about. Here's the plan.

Saturday Morning Pick

Barton Springs, but early. The pool opens at 5 a.m. for swim-at-your-own-risk hours, and once guards come on around 8, admission runs about $5 for Austin residents and $9 for everyone else. The water holds 68 degrees year round, which in July feels like a cheat code. Get in before 9 and you'll beat both the heat and the towel-to-towel crowd that rolls up by noon.

Brunch Worth the Wait

Paperboy's brick-and-mortar spot on the east side does a sweet potato hash and a basic breakfast taco that outclass most of the fancier plates in town. Get there before 10 on Saturday or plan on a 30 to 45 minute wait, and in July that wait happens outside. If you want air conditioning and less line stress, Bouldin Creek Cafe on South First seats you fast even when it's busy, and the El Tipico with veggie chorizo is the order.

Live Music This Weekend

Friday has options. Wavves plays the Mohawk outdoor stage with Bass Drum of Death, doors at 7, tickets around $25. A few blocks over, Antone's keeps its 51st anniversary month going with Bun B, tickets from $35, doors at 8. If you'd rather sit on a lawn, Young the Giant headlines Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park with Cold War Kids starting at 6:30. Saturday night, Soulhat plays Antone's at 9 with The Moeller Brothers opening, a solid bet if you remember when they were on every bill in this town.

Sunday Chill

The Zilker Summer Musical is doing Singin' in the Rain at the Hillside Theater, and Sunday is the quietest night to go. It's free, it starts around 8:15 once the sun finally backs off, and you bring your own blanket and cooler. Show up an hour early for a decent spot on the hill and drop a few bucks in the donation bucket at intermission.

Local Hidden Gem

The Rancho Alegre Conjunto Music Festival runs all weekend and somehow still flies under the radar. It's free, all ages, and pulls accordion and bajo sexto players from across Texas, with Los Enmascarados and Gilberto Perez Jr. on the bill. Cold margaritas, decades of Tejano history, no cover. This is the kind of thing people move to Austin for and then never find out about.

ATX Weekly App Tip

💡 ATX Weekly Tip: Every show above is on the Live Music map in the ATX Weekly app, with door times and cover charges updated day-of. Tap the heart on a venue and the app will ping you when its shows are close to selling out.