The SXSW Community Concerts at Lady Bird Lake is our largest stage at SXSW and is free and open to the public. Located at 800 W Riverside Dr., the Austin skyline serves as the perfect background to special live music showcases. Bring a picnic or enjoy food from some of Austin's local food trucks, and grab a cold beverage in The Beer Garden.

Past performers at the Outdoor Stage include The Strokes, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Patti Smith, The Flaming Lips, Childish Gambino, Bright Eyes, Garth Brooks, The Shins, Spoon, Explosions in the Sky, Ice Cube, Beach House, Norah Jones, Cheap Trick, Echo & The Bunnymen, Public Enemy, Ozomatli, Charles Bradley, Iggy Pop, Jim James, Erykah Badu, The Cult, Cold War Kids, Deftones, and more.

For SXSW 2023, a three-day charity beneficiary concert included performances by Thao, The Zombies and the Circle, Honk!TX, and more.

Stay tuned for more information throughout the season. Read through Entry Rules & Conditions and Getting There tips before you go.

This page may be updated. Please check back regularly – contents are subject to change.

Credentials

The Community Concerts at Lady Bird Lake event is free and open to the public.

Personal Safety

Private security personnel and Austin Police Department officers will be present at the event. A first-aid tent staffed by medical personnel is located near the main entrance. If you or someone you are with feels unwell, or uncomfortable please make contact with a member of staff or head to the first aid tent. For further general safety advice while at SXSW, please visit the SXSW Attendee Safety page.

Accessibility

Community Concerts at Ladybird Lake is a large outdoor venue with natural terrain. Attendance may require covering large distances over grassy, uneven and sometimes muddy ground. The accessible viewing platform is available to patrons who use mobility devices, plus one adult companion and/or minor children, as applicable. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The music performances at Community Concert at Ladybird Lake will be ASL interpreted, featuring professional and certified ASL interpreters.

Accessible portable toilet facilities are provided at all outdoor SXSW produced events where there are portable toilets.

Know Before You Go

Bags

We encourage all attendees of the SXSW Community Concerts to travel light and leave valuables at home, or secured in your hotel. Larger bags and coolers may be subject to search.

Prohibited Items

For the safety of all attendees , the following items are prohibited:

• Any and all weapons
• Alcohol
• Unleashed or aggressive pets
• Glass containers
• Umbrellas
• Chairs are permitted in designated areas
• Tents
• Drones/UAV
• Professional and personal video, streaming, and audio equipment without proper SXSW credentials for content capture
• Sounds systems
• Illegal substances and associated paraphernalia
• Materials for staging and engaging in protests
• Smoking, vaping or using electronic cigarettes is prohibited throughout the Community Concerts event site (per City of Austin ordinance.)

SXSW reserves the right to ask any person(s) to leave or request their removal by security or Police if they:

• Are found to be in possession of any prohibited item and refuse to surrender such item to security for disposal.
• Fail to abide by the SXSW Code of Conduct.
• Engage in any behavior determined by a City of Austin Police Officer or SXSW Event Organizers to be illegal, immoral, or disruptive.
• Appear to be too intoxicated.

Transportation Resources

Check out these helpful resource links and learn more information about getting to the Outdoor Stage below.

• City of Austin Bike Information and Map

• City of Austin Trail Directory and Map

• CapMetro Suggested Bus Routes: 1, 3, 7, 20, 30, 801, 803

• City of Austin Parking Garage and Lot Map

• State Parking Garage and Lot Map

Walking or Biking

Take the Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail and the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge to the main entrance at Riverside Drive and South 1st Street. Bicycle parking is available at the corner of Riverside Drive and South 1st Street. See the City of Austin Bike Map for other options.

Dockless Scooters

A dockless scooter parking area is available next to the bike parking at Riverside Drive and South 1st Street. Please do not leave dockless bikes or scooters outside of the designated area.

Public Transportation

The SXSW Outdoor Stage is serviced by the following CapMetro bus routes within a short walking distance:

• Route 10
• Route 801
• Route 20
• Route 7
• Route 803

Find out more and plan your trip at the CapMetro website.

SXSW Festival Shuttles

A free circulating shuttle service runs from Downtown and points south. Let the SXSW Shuttle staff know that you are heading to the Outdoor Stage.

Parking

Ample, paid parking is available across the street in the Palmer Events Center parking garage. When possible, avoid driving. Please respect our neighbors by not parking in residential areas.

See You in 2024

Get ready to experience more opportunities for discovery, networking, learning, and career-enhancing connections than ever before at SXSW 2024 from March 8-16 in Austin, TX. Learn more about SXSW participation opportunities. Registration and housing for SXSW 2024 are now open.

Subscribe to Event Updates and the Music Community Newsletter to stay in the SX know.