Red River Turmoil

Two iconic Red River music venues could be closing their doors

Red River Turmoil

Two iconic Red River music venues could be closing their doors

Red River's Holy Mountain and Red 7 are successful live music venues that draw big acts and regular crowds. Why, then, are the two venues in danger of closing?

The same reason that many locals complain about living in Austin: rising rent prices.

The Austin Chroniclesaysthat Holy Mountain and Red 7 "being forced to close when their leases end October 1 remains a very real possibility," because of rent increases. Monthly rent for Holy Mountain and Red 7 is currently $5,500 and $9,000 a month, respectively. However, the rent prices for the next lease term have increased to $8,000 and $14,000 a month, figures that don't include real estate taxes, insurance and maintenance costs, reports the Chronicle.

Holy Mountain opened in the former Beauty Bar space in October 2012, and Red 7 has been a fixture of the downtown music scene for nearly a decade. They are part of the Red River Cultural District, which is also home to the Mohawk, Stubb's, Cheer Up Charlies, Beerland and Red Eyed Fly.

"These are great stewards of Austin music and also good, rent-paying tenants, so we want them to stay," James Moody of Mohawk and Transmission Events told the Chronicle.

The loss of these high-profile venues would be a huge blow not only to the area, but to Austin's entire music scene.

"It's long overdue for the city to take a hard look at the risks to the larger local economy if those who made us the Live Music Capital of the World are forced to pack up their talents and head for a more hospitable environment," said Jennifer Houlihan, executive director of Austin Music People, in a statement.

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tipping springs

Hill Country brewery to debut hemp sparkling water at free festival

The inaugural Green Acres Hopfest is on April 19. Photo courtesy of Jester King Brewery

A free family-friendly festival is coming to the Hill Country: CultureMap's 2024 Brewery of the Year Jester King Brewery is teaming up with several guest breweries and Dripping Springs hemp brand Tejas Tonic for its Green Acres Hopfest & Springtime Art Market on Saturday, April 19. It'll also share a brand-new product, hemp sparkling water.

The inaugural festival will feature more than 60 artisan vendors, family-friendly activities, a movie screening, and hoppy beer from guest brewers like Portland-based Brujos Brewing, California beermakers Cellarmaker and Rustic Ales, and more.

Attendees can check out fun activities like glass blowing with King Leo Glass, pottery making, and live screen printing. No Good Tattoo will be on-site for live tattooing, and Central Texas Mycology will host a hands-on workshop teaching attendees how to grow their own mushrooms.

Green Acres Hopfest will also showcase live music from five local bands, including:

1:00 pm — Mostly Dead Music (Grateful Dead Tribute)
2:30 pm — Stash (Phish Tribute)
4:00 pm — Spud Boy All Stars (Jerry Garcia Band Tribute)
5:30 pm — Jimmie Dreams
7:00 pm — Dead Canyon Family Reunion

The festival will come to a close with an 8:30 pm screening of cult classic film Dazed & Confused.

Additionally, Jester King will also debut its new Tipping Springs Hemp Sparkling Water, a non-alcoholic collaboration with Tejas Tonic. The THC-infused beverage will come in three flavors – pineapple, watermelon mint, and peach apricot – and can be found in cans and on draft at the brewery.

"We are excited to bring a touch of Tejas to the Jester King family and support them in providing a tasty, non-alcoholic beverage for Texans to enjoy," said Tejas Tonic founder and farmer Aaron Owens. "Tripping Springs Hemp Sparkling Water is a testament to what’s possible when Texas breweries and Texas hemp producers come together with a shared mission of innovation and quality."

The Tipping Springs Hemp Sparkling Water is infused with 5mg of THC.Photo courtesy of Jester King Brewery

The hemp-infused sparkling water is made with Tejas Tonic's organically grown hemp, produced in the Central Texas town of Luckenbach. Four packs of 16-ounce cans ($19) will soon be sold in stores across Austin, San Antonio, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston.

This collaboration isn't the first crossover between the brands. Tejas Tonic's hemp-infused beverages and gummies have long been on Jester King's menu, according to the brewery's co-founder, Jeffrey Stuffings.

"When we became interested in making sparkling hemp water at Jester King, we felt we had to be true to our ethos of supporting local agriculture and using ingredients grown in Texas soil," Stuffings said. "We believe strongly in a sense of place or terroir when it comes to beer, and we feel the same when it comes to hemp beverages. The chance to work with local hemp farmer Aaron Owens, all-natural plants grown in Texas soil with their own Hill Country terroir, and a cool, local company founded down the road from Jester King was really, really special to us."

The Green Acres Hopfest & Spring Art Market will take place at Jester King Brewery, 13187 Fitzhugh Road, from 1-7 pm on Saturday, April 19. The event is free to the public.

dripping springs festivals hill country brewery