The Austin Chronicle is proud to announce the lineup for the Hot Sauce Festival, celebrating 28 years as the largest hot sauce festival in the world and benefiting the Central Texas Food Bank. This year we’re heating up the stage with performances by:
Little Joe y La Familia (3:30-4:20pm)
El Tule (2:30-3:10pm)
Altamesa (1:30-2:10pm)
Big Wy’s Brass Band (12:30-1:10pm)
Chulita Vinyl Club ATX (11:15am-12:10pm)
In addition to the live music performances, guests at the Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival will get to sample hundreds of hot sauces, from mild to SUPER hot varieties, and vote on their favorites. Be sure to stop by the hot sauce vendor booths for more samples, specialty sauces and peppers, cookbooks, and other fare. Hungry for more? Enjoy food from Eldorado Cafe, Garbo’s Lobster Truck, Emojis Grilled Cheese Bar, Fork in the Road, Amy’s Ice Creams, and Sun Garden Shaved Ice.
This family-friendly event is free to the public with a donation of three nonperishable food items or a $5 donation to Central Texas Food Bank. Sorry, but no dogs, coolers, or smoking allowed. Submissions for hot sauce entries are now open, so sign up today!
The Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival is presented by Firemans #4 Blonde Ale, and is made possible by the following sponsors: Sontava Hot Sauce, Jardines, Capital Metro, Planet K Texas, KUTX, and Univision.
More about the performers:
During a more than 50-year performing and recording history, Little Joe y La Familia has become one of the top Tejano bands. Over the decades, the group has developed a unique style, imbuing its sound with Norteño, country, blues, and rock & roll music. Little Joe y La Familia will headline the Hot Sauce Festival, and their performance will take place before the Hot Sauce Festival winners are announced onstage.
For the last 15 years, El Tule has been honing its unique sound combining influences of cumbia, merengue, salsa, reggae, and Afro-Latin in Austin. Their original music is about history, art, and culture, often focusing on legends and tales of the mystical.
Altamesa is a cosmic American and rock & roll band from Austin that mixes the production values of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and Big Star with the songwriting sensibilities of Neil Young and the Flying Burrito Brothers. Founded as a solo project in 2015 by singer, guitarist, and songwriter Evan Charles, the band has solidified its lineup to include as a permanent member Happen-Ins frontman, guitarist, and songwriter Sean Faires.
Big Wy's Brass Band is a New Orleans-style brass and funk band based out of Austin. The band was originally formed in 2014 by Westlake High School students looking to have a good time. After a few jam sessions, Wyatt Corder (Big Wy) brought in other members to join the band. Since the band’s formation, Big Wy’s has enjoyed making music, both for themselves and for their audiences.
Chulita Vinyl Club is an all-girl all-vinyl club for self-identifying women of color, which launched in 2014, with the context of providing a space for empowerment and togetherness. In the Austin chapter they believe identity markers can sometimes be limiting, and while their priority is maintaining the mission of fostering a safe space for self-identifying women of color, they also aim their focus on highlighting those of mixed-heritage and those that identify as part of a marginalized community.
Stay tuned to The Austin Chronicle for festival updates. The latest issue of The Austin Chronicle, “Destination: Drinks,” is on stands now, featuring a Central Texas brewery index, noteworthy bars and cocktails, and a Top 40 of drink-inspired songs from around the world.
Event information: austinchronicle.com/hotsauce
For questions regarding hot sauce entries, contact Dan: luvdoc@austinchronicle.com
For interviews and sponsorship information, contact Sarah: swolf@austinchronicle.com
Tag your posts: #HotSauceFest
ABOUT THE CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK
The mission of Central Texas Food Bank is to nourish hungry people and lead the community in the fight against hunger. Founded in 1981, the food bank provides food and grocery products through a network of nearly 300 partner agencies and nutrition programs, serving nearly 46,000 people every week. Headquartered in Austin, the food bank serves 21 counties in Central Texas, an area about twice the size of Massachusetts. For more information on the food bank and its programs, visit centraltexasfoodbank.org.
Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 36 years, covering music, film, arts, food, and politics in the greater Austin metropolitan area. The Chronicle is the eloquent and incisive voice of the city, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. From festival coverage to breaking news, The Austin Chronicle has you covered. The Chronicle is available at over 1,800 locations every Thursday. For more information and coverage, visit austinchronicle.com.