South Congress Nightclub Superstition Brings Top DJ Performances and Disco Vibes

Unlike any other nightclub in Austin, Superstition is transforming evening entertainment. Partnered with C3 entertainment and Elevate Development Partners, the club books top musical talent for live performances that bring a certain level of sophistication. Co-founder Charles Ferraro of Noco Hospitality, alongside Paolo Soriano, hopes these measures establish a venue that reflects the changing nature of Austin as the city becomes larger and more metropolitan, while retaining a sense of “old Austin soul” and tradition.

Ferraro is very fixated on the 1970s, which is apparent as soon as you walk into Superstition. Shiny disco balls line the ceiling along with reflective mirrors on the walls, including what the club owners have dubbed as the “Big Room” with sleek, metallic surfaces throughout in what’s also now Austin’s largest dance floor.

“I kind of like doing everything in a retro vain,” explains Ferraro. “The 70s decade is very attractive to me. I love the culture, the music, the design.” Superstition’s location is also very significant as it sits in a once partially vacant building — right where South Congress and Riverside intersect.

“It has a bit of an allure to it,” says Ferraro. “It’s an extension to South Congress, and we added a few elements to kind of give a nod to its musical history.”

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By design, Superstition is half music venue, half nightclub, and offers something for everyone. An upstairs VIP room pays tribute to South Congress by modeling a 1970s recording studio, complete with records. You can also go downstairs and hit the dance floor, or you can venture into the six-day-a-week cocktail lounge, the Gold Room, described as a little more mid-century modern. This is a room with more earth tones, casual and relaxed, where you can sit and sip one of Superstition’s signature cocktails, which are a craft take on the decade.

“The 70s are considered the ‘dark ages’ of the cocktail,” explains Ferraro, who bases his claim on less enthusiasm for mixology back then. “So we reimagined craft versions of the cocktails to challenge that idea.” The venue’s Harvey Wallbanger is an excellent example of that. A milk wash with gelato and orange juice creates a flavorful profile that’s clean with a delicious take on a traditional cocktail. The VIP area upstairs also includes a mezzanine where patrons can sit and enjoy live musical acts or a live DJ with a variety of musical influences, depending on the time of night.

“It does have a very succinct nightclub element to it, which I think is a huge part of what sets Superstition apart from other spaces in town,” says Ferraro. “There are a lot of great venues, but we think this is a really unique addition to the live music landscape. Our partnership with C3 is really valuable in their ability to bring in extraordinary artists on a weekly basis. That’s something that kind of puts us over the top.”

Since Superstition opened in December of 2022, musical acts including Chromeo, James Hype, Afrojack, Poolside, Neil Frances and Matoma have graced the stage. “Chromeo is one of the experiences that was probably my favorite so far,” says Ferraro. “I love the music, but the space is very visual too. We have the huge screen behind the DJ and the light system. Chromeo’s video package was unbelievable, so that night I felt that both visually and musically, it was something that was really special.”

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Of course, if Ferraro could have any musical artist grace his stage, that’s an easy decision. The club is named after Stevie Wonder’s famed song, “Superstition.”

“The song is how the name kind of popped in my head. Beyond that, it’s a word that kind of personifies the 70s to me,” says Ferraro. “It was a transformative decade where people started thinking in different ways, so the name is kind of layered and works on a few different levels.”

Superstition plans to have a packed lineup for Austin’s upcoming SXSW festival.

“It’s going to be insane. We’re going to have fantastic acts, huge crowds, very cool parties,” says Ferraro. “Depending on what experience you want on a big night, come early. The gold room opens at five p.m. so there’s an opportunity to come and have a cocktail and have a more intimate experience in there. Then, as a show gets going in the Big Room, move over and dance and enjoy the energy of that.

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