We’ve slacked off in outlining our personal picks for Fun Fun Fun Fest this weekend, but hopefully you already saw a few people on the jam-packed lineup that you’re excited to hear. If nothing else, you likely recognised some of the names that have been getting play on Chillville (St. Vincent, Octopus Project, Minus the Bear, Z-Trip).
We’re going to break this down day by day; there’s a lot of great music crowded on just 4 stages in Waterloo Park both Saturday and Sunday, not to mention the afterparties, so tackling it all at once just isn’t feasible.
On Saturday, if you’re the type of festival-goer who likes spreading out a blanket and relaxing in earshot of one good stage, Stage 4 is the place to park your lawnchair. You can catch the quirky indie of Dengue Fever, let Octopus Project blow your mind with Yvonne’s mad theremin skills, and then dance to keep the cold away with YACHT, Brownout!, and Z-Trip. If you feel like stretching your legs a bit, venture over to Stage 1 for Trail of Dead or the experimental fun of Deerhoof.
Sunday, you’ll probably be fighting the crowd for an awesome vantage point of Stage 1. It kicks off with Ume at 12:25, so you may want to grab lunch at the park. Locals Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears bring some smooth old-school r&b soul, followed by Scotland-based Frightened Rabbit, who’ve played Austin many times before and always bring a fun show. Then it’s the Spinto Band’s infectious indie pop.
Possibly you’ll want to take a break, because the music doesn’t stop there. If you haven’t seen local psychedelic rockers the Black Angels before, catching them right as the sun goes down will be perfect. Then St. Vincent takes the stage, and Minus the Bear. Your night at the park ends with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, whose carnival sound – that is, if you can handle singer Alec Ounsworth’s imperfect vocals – will take the chill out of the evening air.
Afterparties of note: it’s the Mohawk all the way, with Local Music is Sexy tonight, White Denim tomorrow, and Girl in a Coma on Sunday. If you’re into the punk side of FFF, head to Red 7, and if you wanna dance Beauty Bar is for you.
