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Hot Summer Nights Is Back With 140+ Free Shows in Downtown Austin

Austin’s Red River Cultural District returns with three nights of live music, day parties and night markets

The Ghost Wolves perform at The 13th Floor during Hot Summer Nights 2024 in Austin, Texas.
The Ghost Wolves perform at The 13th Floor during Hot Summer Nights 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jay Ybarra)

The free music festival, Hot Summer Nights, returns to downtown Austin on July 24–26 with over 140 performances across more than 15 venues. Now in its eighth year, the event features local artists across a wide range of genres and offers fans the chance to venue-hop without a cover charge. 

Created by the Red River Cultural District as a community-first initiative, the annual summer festival was designed to fill a gap during one of the slowest stretches of the year for local venues and musicians. 

“Hot Summer Nights is more than just a music festival – it’s a homegrown solution to keep our creative economy alive during one of the slowest times of year,” said Nicole Klepadlo, Executive Director of the Red River Cultural District and Festival Director for Hot Summer Nights. “Every show you see is powered by a local band, a local venue, and local workers getting paid to do what they love – something every fan gets to be part of, for free. That’s the true spirit of Red River.”

The official music lineup poster for Hot Summer Nights 2025, a free multi-venue festival held July 24–26 in Austin, Texas. (Courtesy Red River Cultural District)
The official music lineup poster for Hot Summer Nights 2025, a free multi-venue festival held July 24–26 in Austin, Texas. (Courtesy Red River Cultural District)

Who’s playing at Hot Summer Nights?

The lineup spans indie rock, hip-hop, Latin, punk, electronic and experimental, showcasing the full range of Austin’s homegrown talent. Acts include local favorites such as The Octopus Project, Jane Leo, The Tiarras, Night Drive, Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band, The Teeta and dozens more.

What’s new this year?

The 2025 festival introduces several new venues and expanded programming:

  • New venue partners: Kingdom, Marlow, Feels So Good and The Side Bar
  • Daytime events: Sets at Waterloo Park, Mohawk and Feels So Good
  • Early evening matinees: The 13th Floor and Chess Club
  • Night market: A larger lineup of local vendors, curated with nonprofit Future Front Texas
  • Hotel discounts: Hyatt House Austin (901 Neches St.) is offering rooms starting at $119/night using promo code HOTSUMMERNIGHTS
Festivalgoers wait in line outside Empire during Hot Summer Nights 2024 in Austin.
Festivalgoers wait in line outside Empire during Hot Summer Nights 2024 in Austin. (Photo by Jay Ybarra)

How to RSVP

All shows are free and open to the public, but attendees can RSVP here to receive event updates and perks throughout the weekend. Fans can opt to donate $5 during RSVP for a chance to win:

  • Skip-the-line Homie Badges
  • 2025 concert tickets
  • Festival merch and giveaways

Festival maps, set times, and more information will be released in the coming weeks. To learn more, visit their website or follow on Instagram at @redriverculturaldistrict.

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