The 8 best free shows you can catch during Hot Summer Nights

Find your new favorite local band when the second edition of Hot Summer Nights, the Free Week in July music series, takes over the Red River Cultural District. Venues throughout the area will host no-cover shows all weekend. Full show listings are available at facebook.com/redrivercd. Here are eight of our favorites.

Big Bill, Moving Panoramas, Special Guest at Barracuda. Art punks Big Bill are community organizers and scene leaders who demand your attention, and we love the dreamy pop swirls of Moving Panoramas. We also have a very good feeling about the special guest on this bill. 8 p.m. doors. 611 E. Seventh St.

Jess Williamson at the Mohawk. With incisive lyricism and a lilting twang that aches with emotion, Williamson brings rich story songs to life on her thoroughly lovely new collection, “Cosmic Wink.” Marijuana Sweet Tooth, Cowboy Crisis and RF Shannon are also on the bill. 8 p.m. doors. 912 Red River St.

Riverboat Gamblers at Cheer Up Charlie’s. If you’re ready to wreck shop, these raucous punks will not let you down. Sea Lion, the Sour Notes and Dentist also will perform. 8 p.m. doors. 900 Red River St.

Blastfamous USA, Blxpltn at Empire. The revolution might not be televised, but, trust us, it will be very loud. Protest rappers Blastfamous USA and punks Blxpltn both hit the stage ready to fight the power. Prog metal group Megafauna shreds the Control Room too. Over on the Garage stage Tia Carrera and Dixie Witch will tear things up. 8 p.m. doors. 606 E. Seventh St.

Ringo Deathstarr, Growl, Sailor Poon at Barracuda. Our favorite fuzz pop trio, Ringo Deathstarr, headlines a bill that also features the final show from garage pop band Growl. Feminist art punks Sailor Poon, Flesh Lights and Shivery Shakes also perform. 8 p.m. doors. 611 E. Seventh St.

Eagle Claw, the Ghost Wolves at the Mohawk. Get ready to go hard. Eagle Claw is ready to melt your face off with hard-driving instrumental metal. Garage rock duo the Ghost Wolves, who just returned from a European jaunt, Chief White Lightning and Booher also perform. 8 p.m. doors. 912 Red River St.

Fragile Rock, Sphynx at Empire. Sad puppets who indulge in emo moping? Yes, please. Headlining the bill in the Garage that night is Moving Panoramas. Over on the Control Room stage, you can catch our favorite glam pop trio Sphynx. 8 p.m. doors. 606 E. Seventh St.

Fat Tony at Cheer Up Charlie’s. The Shed barber shop presents a killer Hot Summer Nights capoff party featuring Houston rapper/singer/all-around killer entertainer, Fat Tony. They also promise a waterslide, pop-ups and more surprises. 3 p.m. doors. 900 Red River St.