Hot Summer Nights’ 2024 Lineup Has Arrived

The lineup for this year’s Hot Summer Nights has arrived. More than 125 local acts will perform across 14 venues for the Red River Cultural District’s annual free summer music festival, slated for July 18-20.

Pulling from all genres, the fest offers something for everybody. Alexalone, Proun, and Porcelain check the heaviest sides of the alt-rock sphere, while Half Dream, Hey Cowboy!, Gummy Fang, and Stalefish offer breezier indie alternatives. Post-punks Borzoi and Exotic Fruitica, Latin trio the Tiarras, and Prince devotees the Past Lives land somewhere in between.

Elsewhere on the bill, rappers Ben Buck, Cha'keeta B, Norman Ba$e, and Ms. Gold rep local hip-hop, while Deezie Brown and Moody Bank$ dole out lush R&B. DJs Mira Mira, Napalm, Sinsekt, Vanessa Burden, and Vee Vee are slated to spin, while pianist Kind Keith plays a jazz-soul blend.

Don’t discount Austin’s rising country and folk scenes. Twang rockers should note upbeat quartet Lotería, while Middle Sattre, Other Vessels, Nova, and Creekbed Carter Hogan skew toward quieter, introspective songwriting.

Launched in 2017 as a summertime complement to longtime winter jubilee Free Week, Hot Summer Nights offers free live music programming as a jumpstart to the entertainment industry in the midst of an annual, temperature-induced business slowdown. Thanks to corporate sponsors and public donations, the nonprofit Red River Cultural District guarantees artists and venue workers are paid for their work during the three-day affair.

This year’s festivities take place at returning venues Cheer Up Charlies, Chess Club, Creek and Cave, Elysium, Empire Control Room and Garage, Flamingo Cantina, Mohawk, Stubb’s, Swan Dive, the 13th Floor, Valhalla, and Vaquero Taquero. The refurbished Waterloo Park participates for the first time – as does “Liberty Lunch,” which Stubb’s technically revived thanks to a trademark deal in 2017.

In light of recent calls for city funding, the Red River Cultural District has launched a giveaway campaign to incentivize donations. An RSVP to the festival, along with a $5 donation, enters attendees to win a Red River Prize Package consisting of $500 worth of concert tickets and festival passes. Learn more about the giveaway here.

Last year, four Chronicle writers shared their Hot Summer Nights musical discoveries. Revisit our reviews of Grace Sorensen, Witches Exist, Vermin the Villain, and Ariel & the Culture.