In today’s era, we worry that machines might take over the planet. But back in 1999, we weren’t convinced they could understand two-digit dates. Y2K panic centered on the idea that when the new millennium dawned at midnight on New Year’s Day, computers would mistake double zeros as a date for 1900 instead of 2000, thereby unleashing global chaos within our electronic systems.
Ahead of the big night, a local Fox 7 news broadcast reported that there were “60 crews with trucks and equipment strategically placed throughout the city.” The segment continued with a dire warning for local citizens: “Don’t dial out on your phone, and don’t even click on the internet for at least an hour after midnight unless you absolutely have to.”
On the eve of a potential doomsday, Austin responded just how you’d expect—with live music, of course. A street festival event dubbed A2K blocked off a large stretch of Congress Avenue and reportedly drew around a quarter of a million people. Beer and Champagne were sold in the streets, and Austin favorites Shawn Colvin, Robert Earl Keen, Lyle Lovett, and others performed on two outdoor stages. Hey, if the world was going to descend into chaos, at least it would happen to a pretty solid soundtrack…