While festivals are known primarily as a way to catch some of the world's top musicians within the span of a couple of days, they’re also a great place for scoping out the hottest bands on the rise. If you’ve got time to kill at Austin City Limits before all of your favorite headliners play, here are a few gems that have gotten missed in the fine print on the lineup schedule.
Dancers painting themselves to the beat of live music. A life-sized Pabst Blue Ribbon can ring-toss. A rapturous audience, filled with crowd-surfers and mosh pits. Foam noodles everywhere. Local creative collective Raw Paw did not disappoint at its “New Magic” event at the Scoot Inn on Sept. 5.
Cover songs: one of the trickiest balancing acts in music. Artists face the tremendous pressure of putting their own stamp on a time-honored classic, while still paying homage to the original. Add extreme skepticism from purists to the mix, and it seems like a no-win situation for musicians simply trying to wear their influences on their sleeves. Still, against all odds, these artists’ renditions manage to not just make the cut, but even surpass the original versions in the eyes of the ORANGE music staff.
KUTX brought their website, austinmusicmap.com, to life with their second annual MapJam Festival on Saturday, Feb. 15. Eight unique artists — ranging from R&B to indie rock to Afrobeat genres...
