Red River Free Week helps bands and venues, raises awareness about overdose deaths
According to organizers, Free Week started in 2003 at the original Emo’s at Sixth and Red River streets.
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Red River Cultural District's Free Week returned to downtown Austin this week. The festival offers free concerts from Thursday, Jan. 5 through Saturday, Jan 7.
The group behind Safer Together puts on a concert series each year to help raise awareness about overdose deaths in Travis County. The series also helps local bands and venues during a time that's not typically active and leads to a slump.
More than 100 bands are playing at these 12 music venues:
- Cheer Up Charlies
- Chess Club
- Elysium
- Empire Control Room & Garage
- Flamingo Cantina
- Mala Vida
- Mohawk
- Stubb’s Bar-B-Q
- Swan Dive
- The 13th Floor
- Valhalla
- Vaquero Taquero
Organizers say festival-goers will get discounts on food and drink from nearby places including:
- Hoboken Pie
- Stubbs Bar-B-Q
- Vaquero Taquero
- Shawarma Point
- Pelon's
- Central District Brewing
According to organizers, Free Week started in 2003 at the original Emo’s at Sixth and Red River streets.