This weekend, I went to Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin. It was the third time this year I’ve gone to Austin for a music festival, following South By Southwest in March and the ACL Festival last month. The other two occasions were primarily work-related; this one, I went to for fun fun fun (sorry). Mainly because — while the other two tend to focus on the here and now and ticket sales — Fun Fun Fun has more in common with shindigs like the All Tomorrow’s Parties events. It feels more curated than target-marketed. Obviously, of course, it’s not exactly like it’s being run by a non-profit. But I think you get my meaning.
So why do I have to go to Austin to get that?
(Before you answer, I will stipulate that Denton’s NX35 does solid work — and has Steve Albini coming next year as its keynote speaker. But it’s not necessarily what I’m talking about. And don’t say, “We do have that! It’s in Richardson at Wildflower Festival.” Unless you’re trying to make me laugh, in which case, thank you.)
17 comments
Part of the problem is people like Mr. Big Black would rather Deep Six singing in Dallas and instead yak because he thinks he’s some kinda big cheese.
Austin or Dallas, Dallas or Austin……..
If your wife and kid went to the FFFFest in Austin, would that change your mind about coming to the NX35 fest solo — if we put you up in a room?
Austin has coasted on reputation for years.
I slept on a couch in Austin. Just match that.
Because we let our music scene die.
I know we still have great venues and even better artists. But can anyone say it’s close to the heyday of the Deep Ellum days?
I hope that our new radio station, 91.7, in addition to the new green line to Deep Ellum will provide the logistical foundation to revive the scene.
Call me an optimist, but between the above-mentioned changes, the new arts district, and all the work being done to make Dallas something apart from other southwest metropolitan areas, I think the possibility exists for a new renaissance in independent music in this city.
It would be cool to have an ACL size music festival in Fair Park.
Great question.
there should be a great music festival in Dallas. Fair Park should host it. In my opinion it is simple: the city doesn’t “get behind festivals” in this town. Why?
(take out the Arts Buildings downtown, of course)
Energy and effort is applied to only two areas in our community: the State Fair and the Byron Nelson. (I know the golf is in Irving but the “civic muscle” is Dallas.)
There is no civic or political will to make it happen. Maybe it is our dempgraphics, maybe our terrible radio music scene here; maybe our “conservatism” at City Hall. By conservatism I mean the “unwilling to take risks” type of conservatism not the “right wing political” type conservatism. Maybe the State Fair prevents it.
Fair Park was made for a great music festival.
You raise a great question and I would love to see you pursue this story about why this doesn’t happen. I think it would be humorous to see all of the various entities “pass the buck”.
Why can’t we be more like Chicago and Austin relating to festivals?
one more thing, and don’t laugh:
Why can’t we have a large food and wine festival in the Dallas Convention Center.
It could work. And it would be in a controlled environment.
Because you haven’t organized it yet, Zakypoo.
charles attal…the guy is the maestro of the music scene in Austin. We need a big wig like him that will actually shell out the dough.
Also, I was going to say lack of venues…but Fair Park would make a freaking awesome site for a music fest.
I had a blast a couple years back over in FW at the ill-fated Wall of Sound festival…Ghostland, Explosions in the Sky, the Books??? That was one solid lineup.
Damn shame they didn’t do it this year.
also at Wall of Sound:
MIDLAKE
White Denim
Peter & the Wolf (where are you??)
Doug Burr
Sarah Jaffe
MOM
great, great lineup…
I seriously considered going just to see ratatat. saw them at the grenada 2 years ago and the grenada has let me down in the booking dept, two years since.
So, were they awesome as always?
there was wanz dover’s Melodica festival in February of 08, which by all counts was quite successful, even in drawing dallas/denton bands for one big weekend.
It takes one person stepping up to the plate to pull this off.
Agree about Wall of Sound, really great, but I think it was lots of work, and just okay pay off for the promoters.
Somebody’s got to organize it. We’ve got some great people in the area, Spune, Parade of Flesh, and individuals like Chelsea Callahan, and John Solis.
Maybe the new station will be a shot in the arm.
lets see a show of hands of everyone whose been to see original local music in the past month.
mine’s raised.
Dallas is an eye town; Denton is an ear town. And Dallas does not do nature well (unless for sports, then there’s some patience). The musical talent in this area is astounding; mostly talking about seasoned performers who play jazz and world music. Most are instructors at area universities, who on the weekends/summers are flying around to Canada or India or Africa to play International Music Festivals.
A festival might work; as you say, a curatorial visionary is primary. Involve the Denton people–they know how to listen and appreciate music–and a great, non-paved open space. Last but not least, draw upon local talent and wisdom
The Dallas Observer music award showcase every summer is a lot of fun. It’s frustratingly abbreviated, however, and could be expanded by having fewer parallel sessions. So it could be used as a foundation for the kind of event richard is talking about.
Fair Park is a logical location architecturally and politically, and I remember a great David Byrne concert in the old amphitheatre. Other locations that come to mind are Deep Ellum and the Arts district.
I would just like to put this on your radar screen.
http://www.dallasmodernmusic.org
The inaugural festival was just completed last night. You will be able to get photos, audio tracks, and video clips in the weeks to come.
Here is a blog post about one performance: http://gurdonark.livejournal.com/841700.html
This is a hybrid music festival covering art music, jazz, rock, etc.
My son Sam’s fledgling Under Pressure T-shirt shop, official maker of authorized festival garb, sold an impressive $11,000 worth. At least that’s what he tells the Old Man. Hope you bought one, Zac. Ya tightwad.