Austin’s newest festival, Sound on Sound, runs Nov. 4-6 just outside of Austin’s city limits. The genre-crossing lineup encompasses big names, like Beach House, Phantogram and Courtney Barnett, as well as some local favorites. If you think it sounds familiar, you are right.
Story by Elise Barbin
Photos by Natalie Campbell and Joshua Guerra
Lineup Image Courtesy of Sound on Sound Festival
Sound on Sound was born from the ashes of Austin’s beloved Fun Fun Fun Fest, which ran from 2006 to 2015 at Auditorium Shores. In May 2016, Fun Fun Fun founder Graham Williams split from his former partner Transmission Events and ceded the festival’s branding rights. Williams and his newest venture, booking company Margin Walker Presents, have created Sound on Sound with a similar mission to Fun Fun Fun– to book a mixture of the old classics and new hits.
Williams, interviewed by the Austin Chronicle, says, “There ’s a lot of newer bands – ones that have come about in the last decade and are really strong – especially at the top. Once you dig down a little deeper, there’s a lot of classic old-school stuff that everyone’s into as well.”
Concert-goers energetically watch performances at Fun Fun Fun Fest.
The festival will debut at Sherwood Forest, home to Central Texas’ very own Renaissance Faire grounds, and situated about 45 minutes outside of Austin. Tickets, whose sales benefit the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, are still available at $85 for a single day pass and $169 for a 3-day pass. An upgrade from Fun Fun Fun’s remnants, Sound On Sound will be hosting general on-site camping for $75 on top of ticket prices. “Treat Thy Self” VIP options are also available for high-rollers in both festival admissions and camping accommodations.
While the festival’s lineup focuses on current indie favorites, headliners include a diverse group of genres from the jam-band grandiose of Explosions in the Sky to experimental hip-hop group Death Grips to rapper Yung Thug. Other highlights include punk classics Flag and Descendants, as well as up-and-and-coming indie darlings Car Seat Headrest, Alex G and Diet Cig. Local acts US Weekly and Sailor Poon will also play the festival, a sign of Sound on Sound’s pledge to give Austin bands play time.
Big Freedia performs at the last year of Fun Fun Fest.
Mac Demarco and Charles Bradley both recently dropped from the line-up, citing various health issues. However, they have been replaced by Deerhunter and Big Freedia.
Pre-festival events include multiple “Late Knight” shows around Austin on Thursday, Nov. 3, featuring performances by Sound on Sound artists and other touring bands. Admission is free with a Sound on Sound wristband. The festival is also hosting a week of will-call events in partnership with Volcom and Eventbrite to give concert-goers an incentive to pick up tickets and skip the line.
Find the full lineup and more information here.
