OUTsider Happy Hour

OUTsider is holding its Happy Hour at Butterfly Bar at the Vortex on Wednesday, November 4. It's the signature sneak peek for Austin's experimental transmedia festival, where the organizers invite the public to preview the lineup for the following year over drinks. This time, the preview is for the 2027 festival, so you'll get a first look at what's coming a full year ahead.

If you're not familiar with the festival itself, OUTsider is known for staging immersive, multi-media events that blend different forms of art. The Happy Hour is the low-stakes way to see who's on the roster before the actual festival rolls around. It's less of a formal presentation and more of a social gathering—you get the lineup, you have a drink, and you get to talk about it with other people who are into the same kind of work.

The venue is Butterfly Bar at the Vortex, at 2307 Manor Road in East Austin. It's a spot that does bars, live music, and live performance under one roof, and it's got a bit of a reputation for its community: back in 2018, it was named a Critics Pick for 'Most Gender-Diverse Meetup' in the Best of Austin Awards. That fits the vibe of an experimental arts festival, and it's a good place to hang out if you're looking for a crowd that's open to the weird side of the city's creative scene.

So, if you've been following OUTsider or just want to see what's on the horizon for 2027, head over to the Vortex on Manor Road this Wednesday, November 4, for the Happy Hour. It's a first look at the next year's lineup, with drinks to go along with it.