The Punk Rock Lottery Marks 10 Years and a New Film During SXSW

Austin, TX -- March 5, 2024

The Austin Punk Rock Lottery returns for its 10th year at the Empire Control Room & Garage on March 10, harnessing the soundwaves of SXSW for its film debut of the same name. A lineup of eight randomly assorted bands will compete in a night of preposterous punk performance.

“Getting people to meet each other and have these connections and write amazing music, that makes me feel good,” said Ivy Reed, creator of the Punk Rock Lottery.

Punk musician Reed envisioned the lottery in 2010 as a challenging twist to battle of the bands. Musicians are randomly drawn from the lottery, placed into bands, and given a month to practice. Then they perform before a panel of judges. Punk musician and filmmaker Jacob Miguel spent six years encapsulating the lottery in a film that underscores the Austin punk scene.

“You have these scenes and movements that take decades, or a band that will take five years before they really grow and become their thing,” Miguel said. “The lottery is just this mini version of that.”

On Feb. 11, Reed announced this year’s lottery bands. They had one month to write five original songs and a cover, and less than three weeks to submit a band name and logo. Bambi’s Revenge won the logo competition this year, earning them first pick for a lineup slot.

“A lot of people want to play earlier with sober judges,” Reed said.

Outrageous themes and costumes are a staple of the lottery show. Four-time participant Kiki Powell once played guitar in Pantychrist, which took home second place with their rowdy satanic drag performance.

“The lead singer dressed up as Jesus, and we threw underwear at the crowd,” Powell said. “I got to dress up as a mother superior with a Day of the Dead face – and I smashed the guitar.”

Miguel’s film captured this moment in the 2017 Punk Rock Lottery, when he performed vocals wearing a crown of thorns. He also filmed rehearsals and convinced musicians to record interviews and practices on their phones.

“I compiled all of it together and realized that there was an even bigger story in there,” Miguel said.

After spending years in the film industry working beneath other directors, Miguel quit his job to direct his own film. Now, Miguel has spent $50,000 and over six years creating “Punk Rock Lottery and the DIY Guide to Doing it Yourself.”

Reed expressed disdain for SXSW and the impact it had on punks’ livelihoods, but she agreed to move the lottery from December to March. Miguel is using SXSW as a movie marketing launchpad, including a team of skateboarders with projectors.

“I’m gonna have them skateboarding around South by Southwest projecting my movie poster onto big walls,” Miguel explained. “Whenever somebody comes running after them and says ‘You can’t do that!’ then they just skateboard away and project it onto the next wall.”

Powell returned to the lottery a fifth time this year, drawn into the band Smash TV with first-timer Lindsey Robertson.

“This is the best experience I could have ever hoped for,” Robertson said. “It’s elevating me, and I’m getting better at bass.”