The first weekend of ACL Fest 2023 was not only filled with amazing music and fun times for all, but we had what was probably the BEST weather in Central Texas in six months! A very welcome change indeed, and the perfect atmosphere for our favorite music festival.

But there was so much more than just live music, great weather, and amazing food at ACL. So if you’re planning to be out there for weekend 2, don’t forget to check out all the sponsor activations going on around the park. Did we mention FREE swag?!

Let’s start with Tito’s Stardust Experience (Located just to the right of the Tito’s Tent stage)

Test your skills and win Tito’s swag playing their infamous claw machine. Or take a break and set a meet-up spot for your pals just outside the activation area on some comfy chairs under shady umbrellas. And remember… for the FIRST TIME EVER, all festival goers (21+) can purchase liquor, including a refreshing Tito’s Sparkling Lemonade at ANY of the bars around the park! No longer is the booze reserved for the VIPs, y’all!

Don’t forget to stick around and enjoy some amazing bands under the shady Tito’s Tent stage.

HULU at ACL!

Head into the Hulu House for that free Hulu gear AND a cool spot to catch all the live streaming ACL Fest content from the best seat in the house.

Party with T-Mobile at “Club Magenta”

Chill out and charge up at the ultimate FREE backstage experience located behind the T-Mobile Stage (entrance is to the right of the stage). Gain instant access if you’re a current T-Mobile customer by adding your “Club Magenta” pass to your mobile device via the T-Mobile Tuesdays app (an amazing baller way to get exclusive discounts btw!). When you get inside, you’ll find charging stations, upgraded (A/C!) restrooms, a private (cash) bar, and a chance to see your favorite bands playing the T-Mobile stage with exclusive side-stage access!

…and more!

Be sure to check out the AMEX lounge and get access to the VIP upstairs viewing area (for AMEX cardholders), or the Honda Retreat (across from the Honda stage) to recharge with friends and enter for a chance to win a 2024 Honda HR-V Sport! There’s also the Coke Studio, the Wrangler Ranch, and the Topo Chico Hard Seltzer Experience (21+) where you can score all the swag and recharge in between sets. All of these spots are easy to find on the festival map, and provide far less populated areas to meet up with friends when those crowds get CRAZY! Hey, you paid a lot for those wristbands, so take advantage of everything ACL (and its sponsors) have to offer! Happy Weekend Two everyone!

If you’re a live music fan, I think you can agree that it’s been the longest 18 months EVER! Here at Baller ATX, we are SO READY to get back out there and enjoy what we love most… live music in Austin, TX! That’s right, y’all… we’re heading out to ACL Fest Weekend 2 to hear some amazing bands, eat some incredible food, and experience all the other fun stuff we have come to know and love from our favorite little hometown music festival!

Yes, there is way more than just live music and food at ACL. So many of their sponsors have some pretty sweet activations going on inside Zilker Park. Some to keep you cool, some to give away that coveted swag, and all of them help you make new friends along the way!

Let’s start with Tito’s “Party in the Shack” (Located just to the right of the Tito’s stage)

Show some love!
Festival goers can write a thank you postcard to a festival crewmember & hang it on the “Love, Tito’s” wall. For every card that is signed, Tito’s donates $5 to Crew Nation (up to $10,000) to support production crew who were out of work during the pandemic. (Tito’s has always been a generous company, and this is amazing!)

Play to win!
Stock up on Tito’s swag playing Plinko (Sunglasses! Bandanas! Koozies!) or test your hand-eye coordination at the infamous Tito’s claw machine (where you can win a pair of wristbands granting access to the exclusive, private Stillhouse Lounge backstage at the Tito’s tent!)

Get a souvenir for your dog you left at home!
Create a personalized dog tag at the Tito’s custom dog tag machine

Relax and recharge!
People can enjoy a taste of free WIFI and find a spot to relax in the chairs outside the “shack”, which is actually a tiny version of Mockingbird Distillery, where Tito’s was created! There is also a phone charging station and lawn games to play with friends.

Don’t forget to stick around and enjoy the shady Tito’s tent where you can catch some amazing artists like one of my new faves, Claud, who is playing at 1:45pm on Friday!

It’s Miller Time!

Head over and enjoy Miller Lite’s new Miller Time Social space near the ACL Fest Photo Frame! This is THE spot to connect with your friends, enjoy a Miller Lite (21+ only please), cool off with their fan walls, and recharge yourself and your phone!

And don’t forget about the incredible artists playing the Miller Lite stage over by the Lady Bird Lake entrance to the festival. Check out the incomparable Erykah Badu at 7pm on Friday, or local faves Nane at noon on Sunday.

Party with T-Mobile at “Club Magenta”

Chill out and charge up at the ultimate FREE backstage experience located behind the T-Mobile Stage (entrance is to the right of the stage). Gain instant access if you’re a current T-Mobile customer, or snap and share a selfie to score entry. When you get inside, you’ll find charging stations, upgraded (A/C!) restrooms, a private (cash) bar, and a chance to score epic prizes thanks to T-Mobile. You’ll also find a water refill station, a giant misting fan, and seats in a shady space where you can watch the bands appearing on the T-Mobile and Lady Bird Lake stages on a huge screen. That private bar will certainly come in handy when the bar lines around the park are 50 people deep!

…and more!

Be sure to check out the Bumble Hive to charge your phone and snag some swag, or the Honda Trading Post (across from the Honda stage) to recharge with friends and get a free tattoo! So many of the activations this year are not only giving away free stuff, but are providing phone charging, a space to relax a bit in the shade, and lots of “meetup” spots to gather with those friends who tend to get lost in the crowd. Hey, you paid a lot for those wristbands, so take advantage of everything ACL (and its sponsors) have to offer! Happy fest-ing everyone!

If you had only one day to attend Riot Fest 2021, would you go? I sure did and it was one of the best days I’ve had in a long time. Having a day job and getting very little notice of my approval for a press pass meant I would only have one day (Friday) to attend. Thankfully three of my favorite bands were playing one after the other with no conflicts on that day. Motion City Soundtrack, Coheed and Cambria, and The Smashing Pumpkins: the bands that made up most of my high school playlists circa 2004. I couldn’t ask for a better lineup for my first event coming out of the pandemic. Riot Fest really brought the heat on this one.

COVID precautions also took center stage, with vaccine cards or negative results being a prerequisite to gain entry. I felt better about attending and being in such a large crowd with those guidelines in place. Riot Fest also went one step further and even had a rapid test station on-site (for $50), as well as a local hospital administering free COVID vaccines for those who wanted one. For us photographers, we had to wear a mask in the pit and in our press area when not eating or drinking. It wasn’t that big of a deal to me and I am glad they were thinking of everyone’s safety.

It’s been two years since my last festival, Intersect, and it was great to be back again. The lines to get in seemed to move quickly, the VIP line even faster. This being my first Riot Fest, I was impressed by the sheer size of it. However, trying to get from one stage to another can get tiring, and I’m not sure if I could have done all 3 days. I definitely got all my steps in for the week! The food vendors were great, most of which consisted of carnival-themed food, which I love, and the VIP area had an even better selection. I will admit being able to use VIP bathrooms was great. Upgraded (cleaner) bathrooms are where it’s at.

I started my day with Circa Survive, not a band I really listened to but still a pretty great show. Anthony Green was very energetic and it made for some great photos. After that, I went to see Anti-Flag, where I got to see some excellent moshing after we left the pit. I went to the ferris wheel during the remainder of their set where I got to witness one of the largest circle pits (seen in the cover photo of this post). Soon after, it was time for a band I’ve been into since I saw them at my first concert ever (Warped Tour 2004)… Motion City Soundtrack. Seeing them took me all the way back to high school, and they still had the same classic sound and energy as if they hadn’t aged a day. I took some of my best shots of audience members after crowd surfing; some of the happiest faces I’ve seen in such a long time.

Next up was a band just as close to my heart, Coheed and Cambria. While we were standing outside the pit, there were so many of us photographers who were split into two groups having 7 minutes each, and I thought to myself… what, so 1 song? And of course, the first song they played was In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3, but damn what a song to open with, and to be that close! I found myself getting lost listening and headbanging with the crowd. Who can’t resist shouting “MAN YOUR OWN JACKHAMMER!!!”?

I couldn’t have picked a better way to end my night and the whole reason why I would make such a journey for one day of the fest… The Smashing Pumpkins! I was born in ‘87 so I wasn’t quite old enough to see them in the beginning. It wasn’t until they released Zeitgeist and went back out on tour that I finally got to see them live. I had fond memories of watching MTV (when it played videos) waiting for Tonight, Tonight, or 1979 to air. Billy Corgan still has those pipes. They played pretty much all classics and some new songs from CYR. However my favorites had to be EYE with Meg Myers stepping in, and then Shame, two rarities I haven’t heard live before. It even rained and it only added to the magic of the night.

Trying to leave Riot Fest was madness that took hours, albeit through no fault of the festival. So many people using the same rideshare app made for long delays and surging prices. Also, downtown was mostly shut down due to celebrations of Dieciseis de Septiembre (Mexican Independence Day), another wild sight to see. All in all, it was a great day and an amazing festival. I would like to thank the staff at Riot Fest and congratulate them for pulling this off during the most difficult times for live music in our lifetime.

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Photos by Terry Flemings

This year Amazon decided to up the madness by not having just one or two activations but three all in one giant area. I was invited to a special press preview on Wednesday to see the madness first hand and without all the lines. The installations for this year consisted of The Expanse, returning for another season, and two brand new shows, The Boys and Carnival Row. Upon entering you are greeted by the extra friendly staff who give out tokens that could be used for a variety of snacks, such as kettle corn, fruit cups, pretzel bites, and my favorite Churros.

And an extra special treat for the media folks was the free Carls Jr burgers and fries. I was in heaven and even tried the new beyond burger because let’s face it at Comicon this would be my only healthy meal.

The first Activation was based on their hit show the Expanse. We were loaded into what looks like a spacecraft after a briefing from our commanders we exited and were transported to an alien world as un peacekeepers to find out what’s going on with the “belters” who were accused of attacking settlers. After some conversations with prisoners, we heard loud inhuman noise and quickly had to leave. Once over we received this lovely show branded mugs. After that, I went to The Boys installation. A brand new show coming out this week based on the Comic book by the same name (top comic in my list). We went inside to a full setup electronic store where a car had crashed through. We were briefed that we were to help the boys hide the crime of defeating a superhero. Once over we got a nice branded pin.

Unfortunately, I was not able to complete carnival Row due to prior engagements but I hear it was the best one. Smack dab in the middle of the area was the large glass pyramid structure where we were treated to special acts based on the three shows. If the shows are even half as good as the activation Amazon prime will be a force to reckon with when it comes to streaming televison.

Photos by Terry Flemings

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This is my third Comic-con in a row being from Austin and a party blogger for SXSW, you could consider me an expert at parties off-site from the conventions. I was disappointed to find out the Wired CAFE would not be returning for their 3-day bash and had to find something. Thankfully I was able to find an event at the luxurious Fluxx night club in San Diego. Xlevelent hosted a 3-day party from Wednesday to Friday night each day had its own theme.

The club itself was set up each night to represent the theme for each event. My first night there I was thrust into the world of ready player one. The second (my favorite) I was transported to the upside-down. And for the final third night, we were treated to the awesome mixer that was themed after Marvel and the guardians of the galaxy. What set this event apart was the sheer star power that these events were able to obtain. Each night there was a red carpet for special guests such as RJ Word, Dan Fogler and King of Rap, Darryl “DMC” Mcdaniels. An even better surprise was the Celebrities that came to the party with the Vip crowd. From the cast of Agents of Shield to the Workaholics Crew.

Everyone wanted to show up to these parties during ComicCon. Of course, the best part was not needing a badge to attend just a ticket purchase. The music was top-notch several different Dj’s, the 80’s cover band the Flux capacitors, Dan Fogler and Darryl “DMC” all performed for us. We can’t wait to see what they will do next year. Hopefully, they will think about coming to my neck of the woods and doing an event for SXSW but not sure if they’re ready for 14 days of madness…or are they?

Photos by Terry Flemings

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Here’s the RSVPS we have been waiting for hope to see you all there.

IGN’s Official SDCC Party featuring The Expanse: Belter Party
What: Dedicated to our fellow humans born on the Asteroid Belt, this party will feature cosmic cocktails and delicious eats that are out of this world. Attendees will dance the night away with select cast members of The Expanse.
When: Thursday, July 18 Time TBD
Where: The Amazon Prime Video Experience at Comic-Con, MLK and 1st, San Diego, CA 92101
Important Info: For our parties, 21+ to attend, ID required.

The Boys: World Premiere Fan Screening and Party
What: Cast & creators of The Boys will join fans for an exclusive 2-episode sneak preview ahead of the series premiere.
When: Friday, July 19 from 7 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. PT
Where: The Amazon Prime Video Experience at Comic-Con, MLK and 1st, San Diego, CA 92101
Important Info: For our parties, 21+ to attend, ID required.
The series is rated MA.
PUBLIC / GENERAL ADMISSION RSVP: https://rsvptheboys.eventbrite.com

Carnival Row: Come As You Are Party
What: Come as you are! Whoever you choose to be, your individuality will be celebrated at this closing celebration of the 50th Annual San Diego Comic-Con. As you enjoy a drink or a few, be on the lookout for characters from Carnival Row, enjoy a sneak peek of the upcoming series, and dance to live DJ performance.
When: Saturday, July 20 from 7 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. PT
Where: The Amazon Prime Video Experience at Comic-Con, MLK and 1st, San Diego, CA 92101
Important Info: For our parties, 21+ to attend formal ID required.
PUBLIC / GENERAL ADMISSION RSVP: https://rsvpcarnivalrow.eventbrite.com

Fans will be Transported into the Worlds of the Amazon Original Series The Boys, The Expanse and Carnival Row through an Immersive Activation Designed to Captivate Customers with Live Performances and Experiences Inspired by the Shows

The Amazon Prime Video Experience will also Host Exclusive Parties and The Official Fan Premiere of The Boys
Amazon Prime Video’s Panel Line-up Includes Cast & Creators from New and Returning Series, Including Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne from Carnival Row, Karl Urban and Jack Quaid from The Boys, the stars of The expanse, Undone, The Man in The High Castle and More.

THE AMAZON PRIME VIDEO EXPERIENCE
The Amazon Prime Video Experience will celebrate the new Amazon Original series The Boys and Carnival
Row, as well as the upcoming fourth season of The Expanse, with an immersive 60,000 square-foot activation
located across from the San Diego Convention Center. The Amazon Prime Video Experience will be open from
Thursday, July 18 through Sunday, July 21, with a special preview day open, to press on Wednesday, July 17.
Located on the corner of MLK and 1st, fanboys and fangirls will be drawn into the Amazon Prime Video
An experience by the sight of a 40-foot tower adorned with giant LED screens that will be playing scenes from The
Boys, Carnival Row, and The Expanse. Comic-Con attendees will also be treated to live, show-specific
performances taking place atop the multi-level tower.

Once inside, attendees will receive collectible gold and silver coins which they can use to further explore the activation. Fans can begin their day covering up the crime scene of a superhero kidnapping at the Audio Visual shop where Hughie works on The Boys. On the opposite end of the space, a Rocinante spaceship is positioned that will take adventure-seekers on a United Nations peacekeeping mission to a newly colonized planet seen in The Expanse. Guests can also discover the Carnival Row universe in which humans and exotic creatures coexist before entering The Forbidden Lounge, a neo-Victorian decorated hideaway venue, to enjoy a special performance. Amazon Prime Video collaborated with LG within the series activations to provide a premiere viewing experience for attendees.

After exploring the shows, guests can escape the summer heat and relax under a tented awning with refreshing beverages and a selection of mouthwatering bites, including Carl’s Jr., which will provide burgers on-site for press and fans as part of The Boys campaign. Cosplayers can even find a Cosplay Photography
Corner within the walls of the Amazon Prime Video Experience, where a lifestyle photographer will be onsite to take professional portraits as digital takeaways.

images provided by Prime Video

   

FB: /AmazonPrimeVideo
IG: AmazonPrimeVideo
TW: @PrimeVideo

Hometown Pachanga for a Great Cause

Eeyores Birthday Party

by Dominic Mondragon

Eeyores 56th annual celebration will be held from 11:00 a.m. to dusk on April 27th, 2019 at Pease Park (1100 Kingsbury St, Austin, TX 78705) in Austin, TX.

Eeyore’s Birthday Party is a day-long festival taking place annually in Austin, Texas since 1963. It typically occurs on the last Saturday of April in Austin’s Pease District Park. It includes live music, food and drink vending, which benefit local non-profit organizations, attendees in colorful costumes, and very large drum circles. The event is frequented by children and families, with specific events presented for them by the event organizers. The festival is named in honor of Eeyore, a character in A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh stories. (from wiki).

This is probably one of the first free events I went to when I first moved to Austin and still one of my favorites. Drum circles, Adam and Steve, The silver guy, the maypole, a real Eeyore, people dancing everywhere, and these days, a great way to support nonprofits by purchasing beer and food from them on site. Bring cash, sunscreen, instruments, love, dogs, blankets, friends, etc. Yes these days this has become a family friendly event with kids running everywhere, but make sure you understand this is Austin, and people will be weird and fun!

 

Eeyore’s Parking: The best way to get to the fest is to use public transportation. Since it is located in West Campus off of Lamar, the park is not parking friendly. Cap Metro Route 5 stops at Lamar & MLK right next to the event.  Also Route # 18 stops at Enfield/West Lynn (6 blocks walk). It runs until 11:00pm. You can also always bike it, or ride share.

If you drive: There is always free parking which includes a free shuttle on 16th street and Colorado at the State parking garage “E” and “J”. ,Shuttles run every 10 minutes, but it may take a little longer to get there later in the afternoon using the shuttle. Click here for a map to the FREE Shuttle Bus Pickup location.

Eeyores Birthday Party is a fundraiser to benefit non-profit groups in Austin. Some of these groups will be selling hot and cold food (including vegetarian), beer, soft drinks, juices, spring water, and Texas beer. Look for commemorative Eeyore’s Birthday Party T-shirts.

• Wear a costume. There will be costume contests and other games with prizes for children of all ages.
• Artists will be doing face painting, henna, and temporary tattoos.
• Musicians playing non-amplified instruments are invited to play.
• There will be Maypoles for the young and young at heart.
• Children’s Area from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
• LIVE MUSIC from 11am to 6 p.m.
• Eeyore’s 2019 Birthday celebration will feature live performances by the following bands:11-12pm Fun Bunch / World Gone Mad
  12-12:45pm Bat Forest
  1-1:45pm Isistren
  2-2:45pm Nokken and the Grim
  3-3:45pm Tex Offenders
  4-4:45pm Warren Moon Band
  5-5:45pm Black and White Yea
• ALWAYS FREE ADMISSION

Remember:

NO bottles, cans, or coolers will be allowed in the park.
Please keep all dogs on leashes.
An ID will be required to purchase alcoholic beverages.
No Tents

 

Volunteer:

 If you would like to volunteer, there is this Volunteer information link from eeyores.org. Volunteers work in shifts and are offered free beverages and food when they are not working. It is a great way to meet new people and network, and they have many returning volunteers come back each year.

 

 

The third and final day. I must admit that I am very sad to see this epic party come to a close. Day 3 at the WIRED Café included celebrity guests Holland Taylor (Mr. Mercedes), David Harbour and Matthew Modine (Stranger Things), Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy), Graham McTavish (Preacher), Ricky Whittle (American Gods) and more! DJ Artistic helped bring the house down by starting an amazing dance party worthy of any good con. I’ve been to countless parties for SXSW with some of the biggest brands sponsoring them and Wired is king among them. Thank you for having us out a our first comic and showing us Texans a great time.