Digging the Heat? Support our mission to keep Austin ~actually~ weird with the best of Austin-centric news and reflections. Get 20% off forever Welcome to the crazy! Here’s a bit of what’s going down in our overstuffed town. SXSW Co-Founder Nick Barbaro and partner Susan Moffat navigate the fest. GO SEE, GO DO Poster Design by Vicky Andres, Arts+Labor. JUST F*CKING VOTE Thursday March 14, Stubbs, 7pm-2am, FREE Music Showcase SXSW pulled together advocacy powerhouses HeadCount, The Ally Coalition and the ACLU with the help of Austin arts luminaries Lonnie and Polly Cooper.  The bill’s packed with incredible local talent , and will feature surprise celebrity drop-ins. Who knows who will show up, right? Jon Bon Jovi’s in town, the band’s biopic screens around the corner the same afternoon…..just saying. This is about changing our state. That starts with voting, which starts with registering. It’s time to toss the Texas Taliban . AUSTIN FILM’S NEW POWER COUPLE… …say they’re both embarrassed by all the attention and fluffy flattery. But hey —Jessica Wolfson and Paul Lovelace helped create two of the more interesting films in the documentary competition. ‘AN ARMY OF WOMEN’ SCREENS FRIDAY An Army of Women Q&A, SXSW, The Long Center, March 12, 2024. This powerful, piercing documentary follows a federal class action lawsuit filed by more than a dozen women whose rape cases were dismissed or bungled by prosecutors and the Austin Police Department. The film meticulously dissects how our judicial system failed these women, and how that in turn stole part of their lives. It’s a damning indictment. An Army of Women screens Friday, March 15th at AFS Cinema at 6pm . There’s a decent chance of being able to buy a walk-up ticket without a wristband or badge since the venue’s outside the downtown SXSW footprint. SWAMP DOGG PLAYS FRIDAY NIGHT “Swamp reveals himself to be a genuinely sweet, gentle man, a quiet citizen of the San Fernando Valley who happens to make music and film now and then (MoogStar has a green screen in the living room) with his roommates – he just happens to be doing it in his late 70s rather than his late 20s.” Joe Gross, The Austin Chronicle The Austin Chronicle’s glowing review of ‘Swamp Dog Gets His Pool Painted’ pretty much sums up Swamp and Moogstar’s magical journey. Swamp Dogg plays Cooper’s BBQ on Friday, March 15th at 10pm.  It’s an official SXSW showcase, so badges and wristbands first, but walkups have a decent shot of getting in.  Pro tip — go for the show before, around 9, as crowds tend to build with the evening. QUEER COMING-OF-AGE STORY CAPTIVATES SXSW Tommy Dorfman’s new film I Wish You All The Best premiered Tuesday night to rapturous reviews, with critics lauding a “distinct directorial vision ” that lays “ a new groundwork for the queer cinematic language .” “Every generation of teens should have its own moving coming-of-age story, and the youngsters of 2024 now have Tommy Dorfman to thank .”  The Daily Beast , March 13, 2024. The film’s based on Mason Deaver’s novel, and follows a non-binary teen who is thrown out of their house, ”discovers themselves and what started as a disastrous turn of events looks like it might just be a chance to start a happier new life.” The cast includes Alexandra Daddario, Cole Sprouse, and Lena Dunham, featuring Corey Fogelmanis as the lead. Dorfman also hosted a SXSW panel discussion with queer innovators about business, artistry, and liberation. “Queer people are students, they’re doctors they’re lawyers — we’re not trends or tropes and often we’re categorized as such in media. So I have a bit of responsibility as a storyteller and an artist to expand our ideas of what queer and trans people look like , sound like, how they exist, how they navigate spaces, how they navigate rural places like North Carolina versus coastal cities like New York.” Tommy Dorfman, SXSW Studio CURRAN CHATS with Tommy Dorfman , SXSW, March 14. (L-R) Tommy Dorfman, Tiana Tukes, P1nkstar, Ben Stokes, Ivy Wei Chiu. ‘FINDING LUCINDA’ FINDS A HOME Freestyle Digital Media announced Monday that it’s picking up Finding Lucinda , Avery Hellman’s performative jewel in which she explores the connection she feels to Lucinda Williams. Shot partially in Austin , the film also features both Charlie Sexton and Los Texmaniacs. Arts+Labor handled titles and credits, with design led by Vicky Andres and Laura Gonima. Look for the digital drop this fall. IT ALL HAPPENS AGAIN THIS SUNDAY! Thank you all for showing up and filling the yard for Soul Sunday! Guess What? There’s another shindig planned at Leeann’s from 4-10pm this Sunday , when she hosts her long-running end of the fest barn dance . Anyone can come — it’s a donation based potluck, byob, and the details are here. Soul Sunday, March 10th, photography by Per Ole Hagen. Award-winning Norwegian photographer Per Ole Hagen shared a few of his snaps. Look at all the joy! This is why we live in Austin.  MUSIC MUSIC EVERYWHERE SXSW kicks off three nights of free concerts at Auditorium Shores Thursday with a throwback to the celebrated Austin club Steamboat , highlighting local acts including Vallejo . And check out Friday’s line-up — how about Zapp and Bootsy Collins ! What a weekend to explore. “These are moments we live for as music lovers. You don’t need a badge at SXSW, you just need to say “yes” to outside the box offers to see someone new.” Peggy Little, OG. Go see something, tell us about it, we’ll share more stories next week. Happy SXSW y’all! Let’s build something together. We’d be forever grateful for your help, and an easy way to do so is by subscribing to the Happy Heat Substack. What comes in goes right back out in artist commissions and live shows. To which you’ll get to co me! For the first 100 subscribers, we are offering 20% off forever, a slot on the Soul Food Sunday guest list, and a free t-shirt.  Get 20% off forever