If you are looking for something to fill your Saturday afternoon, Tones Fest is happening today at the Asian American Resource Center. It runs from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at 8401 Cameron Road, and it is free to attend, though the organizers are asking people to RSVP through Eventbrite. This is the fifth and final edition of the festival, which the AARC puts on as a free afternoon celebration of Austin-based AAPI creatives.
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The music is the anchor of the afternoon. Zak P opens at 1:30 pm, followed by Hexpartner at 2:15 pm and Francene Rouelle at 3:00 pm. Hexpartner is an Austin neoclassical darkwave band with a discography that includes Requiem, released in January 2026, and Year of the Plague from August 2024. Rouelle is a 23-year-old Filipino-American pop singer-songwriter on the mHart record label who put out her debut album, finally a fairytale, on April 19, 2024, and the EP off the carousel on August 1. Zak P's album Zak Austin came out back on October 1, 2014.
Between sets, the makers market is the place to browse. It brings together a range of local names: lian.soy, Okasan Vintage, Kindfolk Apothecary, Chindi Chores, Moti Jewelry, Sasa Indigo, Win_P Press, and An Made Ceramics. If you would rather make something than buy it, there are free craft stations, including a Craft and Zinemaking table run by Sarah Doan and Nathan Dinh. Community tables are also set up by the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians and ATX Artists for Social Impact, so it is as much about the local creative scene as it is about the individual booths.
For food and drink, the Austin Chai Wala food truck is on site selling snacks and chai. There is also exclusive event swag, including stickers designed by artist Quinn In, which are handed out on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. None of it costs anything to get through the door, which is part of why it is an easy drop-in.
It is worth knowing a little about the place hosting it. The Asian American Resource Center is part of the city's Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment division, and its stated mission is to create a space of belonging and healing for Asian American communities through collaborations, partnerships, rental space, and cultural, educational, and health wellness programs. The building itself is a busy community hub: a 5,000-square-foot dance hall, six classrooms, two community rooms, a library and computer lab, a conference room, and cultural exhibition spaces. It stays open Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, so the festival fits right into its normal operating hours.
One practical note before you head over: parking on site is limited. The AARC points people toward overflow lots nearby at 1520 Rutherford Lane and 8900 and 8700 Cameron Road, so it is worth planning a little extra time to park and walk over. With the music spread across the afternoon and the market and craft stations running alongside it, there is plenty to do whether you stay for the whole three hours or just drop in for a set.
Published Date
15 August 2026
