As Austin readies for a weekend of music and culture, the city is also steeling itself against the potential for severe weather. South by Southwest (SXSW) is taking no chances – shifting its free outdoor Saturday concerts indoors to the Palm Door on Sixth Street. As reported by KXAN, the move is a strategic play to keep the tunes playing and the festival-goers safe.
The change comes ahead of some scheduled outdoor shows on Friday and Saturday that might fall victim to the temperamental skies. While plans for Friday still hold strong, the move to the indoor venue for Saturday’s Community Concerts was communicated through an email from SXSW organizers on Thursday afternoon. Friday's Funk Not Fight theme event at Lady Bird Lake is going on as planned, with doors swinging open at 2 p.m. and the vibe starting from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. according to KVUE.
Believing in the ethos of rain or shine, the SXSW concerts lined up at the Moody Amphitheater seem undeterred by the forecasts. Meanwhile, Rodeo Austin, also marching to the beat of its drum, has declared that its ProRodeo and Concert are firmly booked in indoor facilities and will proceed, weather be darned. The Show Barn, too, offers shelter from the impending storm, with a spokesperson noting that any necessary updates will make their way onto Rodeo Austin’s website and social media platforms.
Tami Richter, SXSW vice president of event operations, rallied the organization’s sense of preparedness. "Obviously we'll continue to monitor the weather. If it changes, we'll make adjustments to our plans, but right now we are going to move on like we had already planned to do. All of our Billboard shows are going on. All of our shows in out[door venues are going to continue as planned," Richter said, signaling an unyielding spirit to ensure the show's press on. Even as the storm brews, SXSW patrons are advised to skip the umbrellas and perhaps suit up in ponchos instead. "We want to make sure that everybody is staying safe," said Richter, prioritizing visibility and the avoidance of sharp objects. That quote is brought to us by KVUE.
Riders Against The Storm are poised to take the stage Friday, with the full lineup available for perusal. In response to how tumultuous the weather may become, SXSW is set to adjust its plans on the fly. Festival-goers should keep an eye on SXSW’s social media pages for any last-minute changes. Adaptability, it seems, is the unsung headliner of this weekend's show.
