The 4th annual UTOPiAfest is happening this weekend! Set in the Texas Hill Country on a stretch of the 1000 acre Four Sisters Ranch, UTOPiAfest is a music festival like no other. The event is BYOB and offers free camping and has grown to include top local Texas and national acts. You’ll also find an eclectic array of food vendors and some pretty cool activities like: a silent disco, yoga by Black Swan Yoga, hula hoop classes and disc golf. What I’m most excited about this year though is the lineup and the fact that there aren’t any overlapping sets. That means you won’t have to choose between catching the likes of White Denim or Victor Wooten or any other band; if you’re determined, you could actually check out every band on the bill.
It’s clear that the team behind UTOPiAfest wanted to provide an alternative experience to the typical music fest. They’ve preserved the music-centered focus and stayed true to the founder’s vision of keeping the festival simple and small. At UTOPiAfest this year, you’ll find there’s a wide range of different music styles. From indie-folk to psychedelic rock to soul, there’ll be something for everyone. Check out my picks of the must-sees this year below.
Charles Bradley
Charles Bradley, hailing from Brooklyn, is one of the most popular soul singers alive. After releasing his debut record in 2011, Bradley reached acclaim as a result of his impressive vocals and stage performances. Typically, I don’t make it a point to see soul bands but I’m glad that UTOPiAfest put Bradley on the bill.
Charles Bradley - 'The World'
Dana Falconberry
The 360 degree views of the Texas Hill Country will be a beautiful backdrop for the rich instrumentation and captivating vocals of Dana Falconberry’s music. With the depth of the upcoming indie-folk opus Leelanau, covered here by Carter, I can’t wait to hear the new songs played live.
Dana Falconberry - 'Petoskey Stone'
Sorne
Sorne’s heavy percussion beats and impressive vocal range should handily fill up all 1000 acres of the Four Sisters Ranch. Although a Sorne performance is always engaging, I seem to remember hearing that Sorne is bringing something special to this performance at UTOPiAfest. If you haven’t yet seen or heard Sorne, I definitely recommend stopping in at the Cypress stage on Friday night at 11:15p.
Sorne - 'Overtones'Along with the bands above, there are going to be a slew of other great acts at UTOPiAfest this year. Wild Child will be playing the first night Thurs. at 9:00pm. White Denim and the Wheeler Brothers are playing at 5:45p and 7:45p on Saturday. Check the full schedule below to start planning who you’re going to see. UTOPiAfest ticket are still available but are probably running low. Last we heard, there are only 300 tickets left. So get yours today here and enjoy the scenic drive to Utopia, TX. Pre-party and early camping Thursday 9/27 weekend passes available for Friday and Saturday. More information available at the UTOPiAfest site.
-Dan