Consider this your SXSW warm-up: Black Violin, a fiddling duo that blends classical, hip hop, rock, R&B and bluegrass featuring DJ SPS and a drummer. After starting the group a decade ago, Wil Baptiste and Kevin "Kev Marcus" Sylvester were named one of the hottest bands at South by Southwest in 2013. Catch them at the Long Center tonight at 7:30pm.
Say goodbye to Torchy's—well, at least their original location—as the ubiquitous Austin chain hosts a goodbye party for their South First Street location. Score free tacos and enjoy beer, non-alcoholic drinks and live music. Oh, and the taco cannon is making an appearance. The party starts at 5pm tonight.
Head to downtown bar Academia from 8 to 11pm tonight, where Alessandro Zampieri—partner and bar manager of new and critically-acclaimed Il Mercante in Venice, Italy—will be hosting a bar takeover. Special drinks include the Marco Polo, Ferdinand Magellan and the Secret Merchant of Next Year's Menu, which includes castraure infused gin, clarified pink grapefruit juice, elderflower liquor, simple syrup, cherry and black pepper bitter. Academia hosts its official grand opening on Thursday, so consider this the pre-party.