On this episode, we talk with Austin legend Sertified about his upcoming shows in Australia for SXSW. We also discuss if the song “Still Tippin” is a hip-hop classic or not. Hip-hop facts include facts about Bryson Tiller, Prince, Mobb Deep, and 2pac. Fresh and Unpopular Opinion is that rapper Nas is the biggest fan of the culture of hip-hop.
sxsw
Austin Hip-Hop Heads To Australia!
On this episode we interview the College of Hip-Hop Knowledge before their trip to Sydney, Australia for SXSW. We also discuss the Federal Trade Commission FINALLY going after Live Nation and Ticketmaster. Hip-hop facts include facts about 2pac, Faith Evans, Beyonce and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion is that Chief Keef is the most influential child rapper since Lil Bow Wow.
The Future of Music at SXSW
South by Southwest is changing. The festival has been shortened to 7 days. There is no dedicated music weekend. The convention center is being renovated and won’t be finished for 3 years. So what will music at SXSW 2026 look like? Brian Hobbs, VP of Music at SXSW, sits down to talk about the future of the festival.
Pause/Play is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support our work by donating at supportthispodcast.org.
Confession & Song: Rayland Baxter, “Albatross”
What’s up party people! Have you listened to our new song, “Albatross” from Nashville hero Rayland Baxter yet?
Inspired by a confession taken at Newport Folk Festival all the way back in 2019, “Albatross” is an extremely intimate and reflective look into a young woman’s tragic experience and how she’s managed to keep a positive outlook despite all odds. Here’s a little spoiler…it directly involves Rayland himself! This is probably one of our most powerful episodes yet.
Don’t miss our interview with Rayland out this Sunday on our Substack!
Thank you to the City of Austin for bringing us to Newport Folk, probably the best festival in the country!
Song Confessional is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support our work by becoming a sustaining member at supportthispodcast.org.
The post Confession & Song: Rayland Baxter “Albatross”appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios — Podcasts.
Good Hair and Music In The ATX
On this episode we interview Geto Gala, fresh off their trip from London for SXSW London. We also interview artist Chakeeta B about her upcoming new album and her hair festival the Kinky Curly Coily Festival. Hip-hop facts include Lil Kim, K-Camp, Rapper’s Delight and more. Fresh, and Chakeeta B’s, Unpopular opinion includes Lil Wayne’s current standing in the culture of hip-hop.
Confession & Song: Vapor Caves “Sis, is this your man?”
helllllllo world! We’ve got a new song, “Sis, is this your man?” from neo-funk soul husband & wife outfit, The Vapor Caves. Inspired by a confession taken at SXSW Sydney, “Sis, is this your man?” turns one woman’s ongoing love affair with a philandering plagiarizing f-boy into a v chill 2 part dance jam.
Our interview with Vapor Caves is up on our substack!
Thank you to the City of Austin and Brand USA for taking us to SXSW Sydney!
Song Confessional is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support our work by becoming a sustaining member at supportthispodcast.org.
Is SXSW Over? (feat. B. Hobbs of SXSW)
On this week’s episode we interview B. Hobbs who is the Director of Programming for SXSW to discuss the changes for next year. We also have some brand new hip-hop facts and of course Unpopular Opinion with Fresh himself.
Chinese American Bear: “Feelin’ Fuzzy” (Live At Scholz Garten)
The last day of Spring Break deserves a real party, doesn’t it? Well, Chinese American Bear has the honey pot for just that.
Classically trained Anne Tong immigrated from China with her family when she was around six years old, and after moving around several states in vastly different parts of the country, the family settled in Spokane, Washington. Concurrently, Bryce Barsten’s Spokane-based family were part of the global “llama boom” of the 90’s that hit the US specifically in the Pacific Northwest. These two singular life experiences eventually brought them together in matrimony and music.
Chinese American Bear, simply, is wonderfully weird. Mixing the bubbly, whimsical nature of Chinese pop culture with more off-the-wall Western sensibilities of groups like Deerhoof or even a melodic Animal Collective to bring a bright, fun, bicultural party to the stage. And it’s a party we’re all invited to.
At their Scholz Garten performance, we learned the Chinese words and process for making dim sum and we got a reminder to not take ourselves too seriously, to let loose, and just feel fuzzy.
Edgar Alejandro: “Contigo Quiero Todo” (Live At Scholz Garten)
It’s Wednesday, baby, and we are halfway through our week of celebrating some of our favorite performances from last week’s KUTX Live at Scholz Garten, where over 2,000 music fans local and visiting came and celebrated with us.
“Contigo Quiero Todo” or “I Want Everything With You,” is one of Edgar Alejandro’s many captivating love songs. The L.A. musician by way of Guadalajara, Mexico was born into a family of mariachis, started composing his own music at thirteen, and now at twenty-three, his blend of mariachi, bossa nova, salsa, and other Latin music genres is being shared virally on platforms like TikTok and streamed over 100,000 times a month on Spotify.
And while that would be exciting for any emerging artist, these stats are doubly affirming to Alejandro’s mission to bring mariachi to the mainstream outside of Latin America. He brought this mission to Scholz Garten where he had an audience of hundreds positively captivated.
Cardinals: “Unreal” (Live At Scholz Garten)
Last week, the SXSW storm rolled in, and KUTX was part of the rolling thunder over part of downtown. 16 artists took the Scholz Garten stage across four days, and one of the standouts was Cork, Ireland’s Cardinals. While the band tends to dance around calling themselves post-punk, they do set themselves apart from their Ireland and UK post-punk contemporaries like Yard Act and Fontaines DC (who’s lead singer Grian Chatten calls Cardinals his favorite new band).
Cardinals oscillates between loud, animated guitar riffs and quieter, more vulnerable ruminations. And despite having released just one EP and a handful of singles, their dynamic sound is well-established. They brought that dynamism to the stage at Scholz Garten last week. In fact, this entire week of Song of the Day is dedicated to last week’s performances. So, here’s a St. Paddy’s Day gift from us to you.
KUT Morning Newscast for March 17, 2025: The Crabapple fire north of Fredericksburg has burned 9,500 acres.
Central Texas top stories for March 17, 2025. The Texas A&M Forest Service says the Crabapple fire north of Fredericksburg is 55% contained and has burned 9,500 acres. A new report from local public hospital district, Central Health, shows poverty is spreading to new areas of Travis County. A new report from a national housing organization finds Austin has few homes affordable to people earning very low incomes. Sixth Street reopens to vehicle traffic today. UT women’s basketball team earned a number one seed in the 2025 NCAA tournament.
Galveston becomes a major hub for the luxury cruise industry
The fight against the measles outbreak in West Texas is being hampered in part by poor infrastructure.
Two days before a death row inmate was set for execution, it’s been delayed for the second time. The back-and-forth over evidence – and how victims families are feeling.
Another day of high wildfire danger across Texas. How one county is looking to help some people who may struggle to better prepare.
Going a cruise? Many Texans don’t have to leave the state to start that journey. How Galveston has become a key player in the industry.
How border businesses are reacting to Trump tariffs
The Texas comptroller’s race is underway in what’s expected to be a very crowded field. Who’s running and what’s at stake?
President Trump delayed tariffs on products from Mexico for a month. As a new deadline looms, we look at how Texas companies are coping.
Also, is testimony from inmates against other inmates reliable? We’ll examine a death row case.
Plus, a county in South Texas got financing to build low-income homes in Central Texas. Now there’s a lawsuit to stop the project.
And a new play about an enslaved man who found an unusual path to freedom in the 1800s.
KUT Morning Newscast for March 10, 2025: Austin has a new sister city.
Central Texas top stories for March 10, 2025. Busy day at ABIA today. Austin and Manchester announced a sister-cities partnership at South by Southwest. A bill that would create a school voucher program is getting a hearing in the Texas House this week. Williamson County is suing a housing finance corporation looking to remove two of its affordable housing developments from Williamson County’s tax rolls. The City of Kyle is set to launch a new 3-1-1 line tomorrow. The Texas Women’s basketball team came up short in yesterday’s SEC Tournament championship game.
KUT Afternoon Newscast for March 7, 2025: South by Southwest festival-goers could get rewarded for making responsible choices.
Central Texas top stories for March 7, 2025. Festival-goers who park downtown could have their parking tickets waived. A program that dispatches mental health professionals to certain 911 calls is getting a boost from Austin City Council. Scientists throughout the country are rallying today in protest of Trump administration policies impacting research. The city of Kyle plans to add more parkland. Southwest Airlines is closing a base for flight attendants in Austin this July.
KUT Morning Newscast for March 7, 2025: Thousands of visitors flock to Austin for South by Southwest.
Central Texas top stories for March 7, 2025. South by Southwest 2025 officially kicks off this morning. State lawmakers want to further restrict equity-minded programs across Texas.
KUT Morning Newscast for March 5, 2025: A fire in Hays County yesterday burned around 80 acres.
Central Texas top stories for March 5, 2025. By 4 a.m. this morning, the fire in Hays County had burned around 80 acres and was 45 percent contained. Strong winds left thousands of Austinites without power. Sixth street is restricting vehicle access during SXSW. Austin City manager, T.C. Broadnax is holding town hall meetings to hear input on the 2025-2026 budget.
SXSBREAKS!
It’s that time of year where we discuss our annual official SXSW Showcase SXSBreaks and our amazing line up. We also discuss Rza from Wu Tang’s comments about the rise of southern hip-hop.
Going to SXSW? How to get good tacos and avoid ‘taco traps’
Chances are if you’re going to South By Southwest this year, you’re gonna need to grab a bite on the fly. In this bonus episode of the Tacos of Texas podcast, Mando Rayo gives you the scoop on where to find the best tacos during SXSW and just as importantly, where not to!
Bonus Taco Tip! Bookmark the 2024 SXSW Austin Taco Map before hitting the streets this SouthBy season!
The programming in this bonus episode of the Tacos of Texas podcast was originally aired live on the Texas Standard in March, 2024.
Still reading? We appreciate you! And as we gear up for season CINCO of the Tacos of Texas podcast, we want to hear from dedicated listeners like you! Please tell us what you want to hear on the show by taking our listener survey at kut.org/tacosurvey
Thank you.
¡Vamos!
Why does Keller ISD want to split in two?
The Trump administration’s tariffs on China have taken effect, while tariffs on Canada and Mexico are on hold for now – but the threat looms, along with uncertainly. We’ll break down what it means for the state.
Pete Hegseth, the new secretary of defense, visits the Texas/Mexico border. What he says about sending more troops.
When is a school district too big? Plans to split Keller ISD in two have led to an outcry.
And: Most state lawmakers won’t approve recreational marijuana or gambling, but what do Texans want? Details from a new survey.