Austin Weekend Guide: October 16-18

ACL is behind us and the city can finally breathe. This weekend is a quieter, better kind of busy, with big Moody Center and Stubb's shows, a free songwriter festival in the Hill Country, and no Zilker traffic to plan around. Here is how to spend October 16 to 18.

Saturday Morning Pick

Head out to Dripping Springs for the Songwriters Festival. It runs Friday through Sunday in the historic downtown, and every show is free. Saturday starts at noon, so you can get there for a late lunch and still catch sets until 8 PM. The format is songwriters in the round, trading songs and telling the stories behind them, across seven stages and about 70 shows. It is a 30 minute drive from South Austin. Park early, since downtown Dripping is small and fills up.

Brunch Worth the Wait

Two Hands on South Congress (1011 S Congress Ave) is the Australian-style spot to book ahead. Reservations open a few weeks out, and the walk-up line moves slowly on weekends. Order the lemon poppyseed waffle with vanilla mascarpone and strawberries, and get a flat white on the side. If you did not plan ahead, try Industry on East 5th (1211 E 5th St). The chilaquiles and the biscuits and gravy are the move, and the tater tots with smoked paprika hollandaise are worth splitting. Go before 10 AM either way.

Live Music This Weekend

Friday night, Phoebe Bridgers plays Moody Center at 7:30 PM. Expect resale pricing at this point, so compare listings before you buy. For something smaller, Devon Gilfillian is at Antone's, and Alejandro Escovedo plays Central Machine Works. Check each venue for door times and prices, since neither had them posted when I looked. Saturday, Basement plays the Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater (801 Red River St) with Momma, Big Boy and Febuary. The show starts at 6 PM and face value tickets run from about $50.75 to $160. Kishi Bashi is also at Mohawk's outdoor stage that night, which is the better pick if you want a smaller room.

Sunday Chill

The Songwriters Festival wraps up Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM, so it doubles as a slow Sunday outing. Grab a spot on a lawn, listen to a few sets, and drive home before dinner. If you would rather stay in town, a walk around Lady Bird Lake and a late taco lunch does the job. Sunday mornings on the trail are the least crowded of the week.

Local Hidden Gem

The Austin String Band Festival is happening this weekend at Camp Ben McCullough in Driftwood. It is a camp-style bluegrass and string band gathering, far from the downtown crowds and easy to miss because it gets almost no advertising. Check the festival site for ticket pricing and camping options before you drive out, since I could not confirm those details.

💡 ATX Weekly Tip: Open the events calendar in the ATX Weekly app and filter by Saturday to see every show in one list, so you can compare Basement at Stubb's with the smaller rooms before you pick a night.