What’s the deal with labels? It seems like people can’t enjoy a piece of music until they’ve micro-analyzed and compartmentalized it. This makes it all the more satisfying when an artist comes along and completely defies all conventional genres.
The Forty Acres Fest, hosted by University of Texas Campus Events + Entertainment Texas Traditions and Headliners Committees, gave many students an escape from RoundUp and the heat on March 28. The all-day event took place at the Main Mall with organizations from around campus providing cheap food and activities until 7 p.m. Alternative rock bands Smallpools and Ra Ra Riot then closed out the evening with killer performances.
Yes, it’s over. It’s been over for a while now. We’re talking about South By Southwest, and we totally feel your withdrawal symptoms. Real life doesn’t seem quite as fun. At the very least, the weeklong festival left us with some fantastic new musical discoveries, and they’ll make the perfect soundtrack to our rainy afternoons spent brooding and planning for next year’s festivities.
Call it “The Great South By Southwest Paradox.” A festival initially founded to shed light on local artists has slowly become overrun with superstars and big-budget sponsors. Its current form is unrecognizable from its humble beginnings. It was bound to happen, but don’t let that dissuade you from taking a chance on some of this city’s finest homegrown talent. Sometimes it pays to skip the three-hour lines, stop refreshing Drake’s Twitter and mosey into the charming dive bar you’ve been meaning to go to. You might find that your new favorite artist comes from your own city.
Whether you are trying to get into every free show, or wondering what place has the best/cheapest eats, ORANGE editors will be on top of all the SXSW happenings. Check out our editors’ twitters as we keep you posted on our best and worst SXSW shenanigans.
Sometimes, you just need to get away. That’s especially true if you live in Austin during spring break, and everybody else’s idea of a getaway is to flock to the already-congested city you call home. But don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to get your music fix outside city limits. Check out this list of Spring Festivals by the ORANGE Music staff and hit the road with a friend, a 12-pack and a killer Spotify playlist.
No strangers to huge sounds and eclectic shows, Austin natives Quiet Company deliver the perfect blend of angst-ridden vocals, pounding drums and distorted guitar work on their fourth album “Transgressor.”
KUTX put on its annual Map Jam Fest this past Saturday. ORANGE's Music Staff captured the excitement while indulging in the local live music hosted around East Austin.
Big Bill wants you to take a walk on the wild side. With their manic brand of “cartoon punk” and a mission to make even the biggest introvert cut loose, the band continues to win over new fans who they lovingly refer to as “Bill-ions.”
Remember when MTV actually stood for “Music Television”? No? Well, the ORANGE Music staff does, and we’re still bitter about the change. At a ripe average age of just 20, we might be dating ourselves this week, but we consider these music videos game-changers in a field that is rapidly becoming a dying art.
