COOL TIMES: 7 AUSTIN FALL FESTS THAT AREN’T ACL
Yes, it’s approximately 900 degrees outside and the idea of an outdoor music festival is hard to fathom, but let’s look ahead to the (we hope) cooler festing season that will soon be upon us.
The fall music behemoth, Austin City Limits Music Festival, hits Zilker Park on Oct. 5-7 and 12-14. This year’s headliners are Paul McCartney, Childish Gambino and Metallica, and weekend two passes and single-day tickets are on sale now.
If you’re looking for a more intimate and/or less expensive festival experience, you’re in luck. Here are seven other music fes- tivals happening this fall. Sept. 7-9: Waterloo Music Festival at Carson Creek Ranch. Three nights of String Cheese Incident anchor this celebration of sprawling improvisational rock jams, but there’s plenty of talent in an undercard that includes Denver’s funky jazz project the Motet, NYC Reggae Collective, Easy All-Stars, and LA’s throwback soul project Orgone. Local artists include Mamafesta, Hard Proof, and Kalu and the Electric Joint. $179 three-day pass without camping, $269 three-day with camping, $69 single-day. Music begins at 3 p.m. Friday, 1:30 p.m. Saturday, 12:30 p.m. Sunday. 9507 Sherman Road. Sept. 8-9: Eastside Kings Fes-
tival. A labor of love produced by longtime local blues champion Eddie Stout, this event brings soulful sounds back into the heart of Austin’s east side. A smoking Sunday showcase in the Mission Possible parking lot is the marquee event with Texas guitar great Barbara Lynn and Louisiana bluesman Ernie Johnson, but the festival, centered at the intersection of 12th and Chicon streets, presents over 30 artists on seven stages. There are also daytime workshops and an awards show and jam at C-Boy’s on Sept. 7. $10 daily. Music starts around 5 p.m. daily. Sept. 21-23: Seismic Dance
Event at Carson Creek Ranch. The boutique festival for house music enthusiasts is hosted by local event producer RealMusic Events and the traveling event series Anjunadeep Open Air. Over 40 EDM artists and DJs including Amtrac, Armand Van Helden, Attlas and Claptone are set to perform. $119 twoday, $99 camping. Camping check-in at noon Sept. 21. 9507 Sherman Road.
Sept .27-30: River Revival Festival in New Braunfels. Houston’s Splice Records and St. Arnold’s Brewery team up to pres- ent this music and camping festival on the banks of the Guadalupe River. Gulf Coast Soul powerhouse the Suffers headline with brass funk band Bonerama and local guitar wizard Jackie Venson also taking top billing. The fest presents evening music on one stage with a variety of workshops and outdoor activities during the day, plus late-night acoustic jams. Ticket price includes meals, beverages and camping. $265 three-day, $195 twoday, $100 single-day. Sept. 30: Slacktoberfest at Carson Creek Ranch. Reggae club Flamingo Cantina is producing this singleday bash headlined by NYC reggae/ska band the Slackers. Also on the bill are Tex- Mex punks Piñata Protest, Houston rude boys Los Skarnales, Flamingo house band the Mau Mau Chaplains and local dub outfit Grimy Styles. $20 (early bird). Gates at noon. 9507 Sherman Road.
Nov. 2-4: Utopia Fest. Festival organizers pride themselves on offering an intimate, family-friendly music and camping experience. This year, the fest turns 10 and moves much closer to Austin, setting up shop on a private ranch near Burnet. Festival headliners are Sound Tribe Sector Nine, Patty Griffin, and Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real. Other artists on the lineup include Grandmaster Flash, Valerie June and Keller Williams. Organizers plan to expand food and drink options on the new property. $209 two-day pass (includes GA camping through Nov. 4), $20 kids pass (2-12). Gates at 9 a.m. daily.
Nov. 16-19: Saturnalia Festival at Webberville Baptist
Church. Curated by Golden Dawn Arkestra and Electric Church, this event was modeled on some of the niche fests Golden Dawn Arkestra plays in Europe. The event takes place in an open field between Sahara Lounge and Webberville Baptist Church in East Austin, and the current lineup includes two dozen artists, mostly drawn from the local psych rock and world music scenes. Current acts include Holy Wave, Lumerians, Go Fever and Kiko Villamizar. $50 three-day. Gates at 4 p.m. Nov. 16. 1405 Webberville Road.