Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Happy Birthday Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Airports, Free Stuff, Holidays, , ,

AUS_Guitar

I admit it.

I have a soft spot in my heart for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Maybe it’s because our birthdays are just one day apart.

Or maybe it’s because this was the first airport I visited right after my first book about airports – called what else but Stuck at the Airport – came out in the pre-9/11 summer and AUS was the first airport where I spotted the book on a store shelf.

Or maybe it’s just because, with almost two dozen live music performances a week and some great permanent and temporary art exhibits, including the ‘big hair’ etchings in the women’s bathrooms, the airport is so much fun to visit.

And, oh yeah, it’s in Austin. One hip, somewhat weird, city.

So, I’m sending Happy Birthday wishes to the airport, which is celebrating its 15th birthday on May 23 with cookies for passengers, a drawing for 15,000 airline miles and a special performance by Ray Benson, of Aleep at the Wheel, on Friday at 2:30 pm at the airport’s Asleep at the Wheel stage.

You don’t need to be there to be entered in the drawing for 15,000 airline miles (there will be two winners.) But you do need to enroll in the Thanks Again, customer rewards program by Thursday, May 22, 2014. Do it now.

Austin_Keep Austin Weird

Kid Band Week at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Entertainment, Music, ,

Each week, travelers passing through Austin-Bergstrom International Airport have 15 chances to enjoy live music..

Next week there’s an extra special treat: the Austin airport is hosting the sixth annual “Kid Band Week.”

From Monday, July 16 to Friday, July 20, 2012, young bands will play on the Asleep at the Wheel stage at Ray Benson’s Roadhouse (post-security) near Gate 10.

There will be five performances, one each day, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Here’s the 2012 Kid Band Week line:

Monday: Mikah Young (Singer Songwriter)

Tuesday: Broch Evans and Greyson Weedman from the band Taco and the Enchiladas (Tunes You Know)

Wednesday: Charlie Belle (So Pop)

Thursday: The Aviators (Rock and Roll)

Friday: The Peterson Brothers (Down Home Blues)

 

SXSW bound? The fun starts at the Austin airport

Music, , ,

Going to the South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival?

Lucky you!

If you’re flying to Austin, make sure to listen up when you get to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.  As in past years, the SXSW music festival begins as soon as you walk off the plane with the first sanctioned SXSW performances of the music conference.


(Carolyn Wonderland. Photo courtesy Austin-Bergstrom Int’l Airport)

During SXSW, the airport’s unique live music offerings expand from 15 regular shows a week to a total of 27 performances from March 12-19.

Beyond the center stage at Ray Benson’s Roadside, The Saxon Pub, Lefty’s, Earl Campbell’s Sports Bar, and Austin City Limits/Waterloo Records & Video are all hosting extra shows for arriving and departing SXSW attendees.

The 13thAnnual SXSW Airport Showcase kicks off on the stage at Ray Benson’s Roadhouse on  Monday, March 12 with the band MilkDrive (alternative folk strings) from 1-3 p.m. Warren Hood follows with acoustic Americana from 3:30-5:30 p.m.

You can see the full line-up here. 

Monday, March 19 is the SXSW send-off, with Austin blues rocker Carolyn Wonderland performing at the airport from 1-3 p.m. followed by Nano Whitman (folk pop) from 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Enjoy!

 

 

5000th free concert at Austin-Bergstrom Int’l Airport

Music, ,

Since way back in 1999, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has been presenting free, live local music in the terminal.

Now the music program is hitting a big milestone: on Friday, October 7, 2011, when jazz musicians Silvie Rider and Red Young begin performing on the Asleep at the Wheel stage at 3:30 p.m. it will the airport’s 5,000th live music performance.

The Austin airport’s Music in the Air program launched in June 1999, just one month after the airport opened. Back then, there were two performances per week. Now there are 13 shows per week and, beginning in November, the schedule will expand to 15 performances a week.

Venues include Ray Benson’s Roadhouse, The Saxon Pub, Lefty’s, Earl Campbell’s Sports Bar, and Austin City Limits/Waterloo Records & Video.
Performances are held Mondays through Fridays. Here’s the schedule.

Cows at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Art, Exhibits, ,

Heading to Austin? Look for these cool cows now grazing at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

 

The cows are part of Cow Parade Austin , a popular public art event that places artist-decorated cows in cities around the world.
Some of the cows end up as permanent parts of the landscape while others are auctioned off to raise funds for local charities.