Hot Luck Fest is officially back and returning to Austin this Memorial Day Weekend, May 26 – 29. Founded by James Beard Award–winner Aaron Franklin, Guerilla Suit principal and Mohawk owner James Moody, and Mike Thelin, cofounder of Feast Portland, Hot Luck feels more like a family get-together and a backyard cookout than just another big music and food festival. It brings together some of Aaron’s favorite chefs, cooks, and musicians from all over the country and beyond. Individual tickets and weekend passes for the four-day fest are available online. (Hot Luck Fest, 2022)

“Super stoked that we’re able to bring Hot Luck back this year. I’ve invited a whole lot of my homies to come down to Austin to cook,” said Aaron Franklin. “We’ve all been through a lot in the last year and a half, and it’s going to be fun to all get together and catch up, and help our friends at Southern Smoke, who continue to serve our industry unfailingly.”

The Hot Luck weekend means fun food events by day, featuring some of the most talented chefs in the world making food and serving good times at beloved Austin-area venues. At night, the focus shifts to music as guests can experience Austin nightlife with shows at some of Austin’s most iconic clubs, including Mohawk and Antone’s. This year, Hot Luck is excited to welcome Superchunk, Shannon and The Clams, DJ Jazzy Jeff with DJ Mel, Cam Cole, Joe Marcinek Band featuring George Porter Jr., (of The Meters) and more. 

Hot Luck and the Southern Smoke Foundation are joining forces in a forward-looking partnership focused on helping folks in our industry when they need it most. To that end, the Hot Luck team announced recently that Southern Smoke will become the charity beneficiary of the Hot Luck festival.

Whether you want to attend every event for four days straight with the Whole Enchilada Pass or come check out one food or music event, Hot Luck has got you covered. Ticket prices for music shows start at only $10. 

The 2022 events and chef lineup is as follows:  

THURSDAY, MAY 26

The Giddy Up: Mohawk

Guests can expect to taste some of the best pies (among other things) gathered together in one place (plus tasty treats from Whole Foods and Christina Tosi’s Milk Bar). If you are into high-quality pizza, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and heroic excess in general, look no further than The Giddy Up event at Mohawk in downtown Austin. Presented by YETI and Whole Foods Market and with DJ Mel on the decks to get things started. 

This event is from 6p.m. to 9p.m. and is accessible only via the Whole Enchilada Ticket Package. No individual tickets are available for this industry event. DJ Jazzy Jeff will follow immediately after the food event. Individual tickets for DJ Jazzy Jeff (with DJ Mel continuing) will be available at the door at 9p.m. Early entry for Whole Enchilada buyers is at 5:30p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 27

Hi, How Are You?: Franklin Barbecue

Welcome to Hot Luck ’22, and for a lot of you, welcome to Austin. Join us for our extravagant East Side backyard get-together featuring Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue — famous for the longest lines in the history of lunch. We will eat, drink, and hoot with the chefs and culinary nerds behind all this prandial extravagance. All are welcome. Presented by our friends at Creekstone Farms.

SATURDAY, MAY 28 

Al Fuego: Wild Onion Ranch

What happens when the masters of flame and forge gather together on a Texas ranch to sacrifice sparks unto the heavens? The answer is Al Fuego, Hot Luck’s celebration of live-action, flame-fueled cooking styles that run the gamut. A place where we ask chefs to utilize fire as inspiration and where chefs use all types of cooking contraptions, Al Fuego is an obsessively imagined and passionately executed showcase of the most inspiring food on the planet. If you ever wonder what chefs cook for their friends in their backyard, this is the shindig for you. Boots optional. Koozies required.

This event is from 7p.m.–10p.m. and is included in the Whole Enchilada Ticket Package who can get in early at 6:30. Individual tickets are also available.

TICKETS

The Whole Enchilada Ticket Package: $500 for adults, $150 for ages 12-20; $75 for 12 and under, and $1,000 for family (two adults and two kids). 

Hot Luck is offering a limited opportunity to experience the full weekend of the fourth annual Hot Luck food and music festival. Enjoy main events, music shows and more. Come hang with chefs, mingle with the industry and enjoy the most intimate festival experience available. For a behind-the-scenes look into Hot Luck, look no further. Limited to a handful of (really) lucky folks.

The Whole Enchilada Ticket Package includes:

• The Giddy Up — Thursday night industry welcome party (only available with Whole Enchilada Pass)
• Hi, How Are You? at Franklin Barbecue — Main event Friday evening with early entry
• Al Fuego at Wild Onion Ranch — Main event Saturday evening with early entry
• The Whole Enchilada Pass is the only way into the industry kickoff Giddy Up at Mohawk and offers access to every music show

As always, Whole Enchilada passes as well as industry passes can be picked up at the YETI Austin Flagship on Thursday, May 26 where Luis ‘Beto’ Robledo from Cuantos Tacos will be cooking. There will be a window early on the 27 to pick up passes there too.

Hot Luck would like to thank its partners, YETI, Whole Foods Market, Goldbelly, Karbach Brewing Co., Knob Creek, Hornitos, VANS, Creekstone Farms, Tillamook, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, KeVita, Performance Food Group, Fernet, Vital Farms, Rambler Sparkling Water, Big Green Egg, Johnnie Walker, American Lamb Board, Oatly, Desert Door, Tabasco, Montinore Estate Wine, Minamoto Foods, Genji Sake, William Chris Vineyards, Medici Roasting, Spiritless, LoLo, Alaska Seafood, Thaan Charcoal, Jacobsen’s Salt Co., Rock Sound Rum, JuiceLand & Music Water. 

Fairmont Austin continues to be Hot Luck’s preferred accommodations partner, along with Austin Motel, Hotel Magdalena, South Congress Hotel, East Austin Hotel, Hotel Van Zandt, The Carpenter Hotel, Hotel San Jose, Hotel Saint Cecilia, and Hotel Ella.

Hot Luck is a food and live music gathering in Austin, Texas, brought together by James Beard Award–winner Aaron Franklin, Guerilla Suit principal James Moody, and Mike Thelin, cofounder of Feast Portland. Hot Luck is inspired by friendly tailgates, family reunions, get-togethers, and potlucks of our past and present. It is a fun, chef-driven celebration of fire, food, music and camaraderie. An a la carte, eat-with-your-fingers picnic and party experience that highlights open-pit feats of culinary know-how and music in your ears that is as thoughtfully curated as the food on your plate. Come hungry, thirsty, and bring your dancin’ boots.