Festival Reviews

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Written by Jason Mellard Tuesday, 13 October 2015 21:45

Long live ACL’s big tent, whatever form it may take and music it may embrace.

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Written by Todd Blazer & Steven Pate Sunday, 04 October 2015 16:57

After a set by Dawes, we moved on to one of the biggest rock stars of all time: Steven Tyler of Aerosmith

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Written by Emily Van de Riet Thursday, 06 August 2015 20:27

Despite the relentless heat, bands managed to give it their full effort on stage, and fans wouldn’t let a little sweat stop the fun.

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Written by Matthew Wallin Wednesday, 24 June 2015 22:38

Every major festival has a few conflicts when the schedule comes out, but this lineup was so good that most timeslots had at least one.           

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Written by Bruce Matlock & Julia Bragg Sunday, 21 June 2015 21:20

It may take a bit of work, but at some point over the weekend there is a defining moment for everyone.

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Written by Matt Wallin Saturday, 23 May 2015 16:00

Perfect location, perfect weather, and nearly flawless sets from just about every act on the lineup combined to make a great weekend and one of the festival’s best years.

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Written by Bruce Matlock & Julia Bragg Thursday, 14 May 2015 12:49

Arriving at the festival is an absolute pleasure. You’re greeted by the scents of BBQ and fried food wafting from Beale Street.          

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Written by Jason D. Mellard Friday, 27 March 2015 21:16

Sunglasses and slow movements were the order of the day, but the music surged on ahead.

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Written by Jason D. Mellard Friday, 27 March 2015 20:44

I had high hopes that Friday’s rains would break for the last full slate of SXSW shows Saturday, but it didn’t happen.

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Written by Jason D. Mellard Saturday, 21 March 2015 20:24

SXSW’s presence in East Austin has grown tremendously over the last five years, following the waves of gentrification as any number of old tejano bars and venues gave way to rock bars and venues.

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Written by Jason Mellard Friday, 20 March 2015 15:07

In the internet age, global music is always omnipresent and accessible, but it’s rarely live and in the flesh.

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Written by Jason Mellard Thursday, 19 March 2015 12:12

Shamir’s “On the Regular” wins my SXSW-earworm-of-the-night award. If there was a drawback, it was that this was one of the shortest sets of the week thus far.

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Written by Jason Mellard Wednesday, 18 March 2015 10:53

Catfish and the Bottlemen easily overcame any hiccups with a frenetic and enthusiastic set, playing their first SXSW like they meant it.

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Written by Jason D. Mellard Thursday, 12 March 2015 22:14

...in the dense and noisy thicket of it all there’s also a moment waiting for each of us that just might be the story we tell the rest of our lives.

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Written by Jason D. Mellard Thursday, 12 March 2015 21:38

As someone who has attended most SXSWs since I moved to town in the early 90s, I’ve developed strategies that have worked well enough for me.

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Written by Matt Ehrlich Monday, 29 September 2014 21:15

The Cure had beautiful stage effects that went perfectly with the rest of their well-honed and beloved music.

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Written by Alex Wilking Thursday, 25 September 2014 22:18

If you take away anything from this review, let it be this: Britain stole the show.

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Written by Alexy Irving Sunday, 14 September 2014 18:22

Admitting OutKast was the only band at the festival you had heard of is completely okay.

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Written by Kiernan Scrima Saturday, 16 August 2014 01:39

But nothing made me laugh more than the large amount of kids, both female and male, sitting on the curb crying. I still don’t know why.

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Written by Bruce Matlock Thursday, 26 June 2014 19:45

Whether or not you are a fan, lying under the stars as Lionel Richie plays “Say You, Say Me” and Commodores tracks like “Brick House” and “Three Times a Lady” is an enthralling musical experience.

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Written by Matt Wallin Friday, 23 May 2014 12:32

Jack Johnson has seemed an inevitable part of Hangout Fest since it started, and seeing him in a pre-headlining spot at dusk was the perfect fit.

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Written by Marc Farr Sunday, 18 May 2014 21:58

AFI vocalist Davey Havok possesses some of the greatest pipes of the genre, growling and snarling while holding on to melody and nuance.

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Written by Matt Wallin Monday, 05 May 2014 19:34

This year’s version of CounterPoint took place in the Kingston Downs area of Rome, GA, on the grounds where the Atlanta Steeplechase has been held for the past 20 years.

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Written by Kristyn Potter Wednesday, 23 October 2013 10:11

The crowd cared perhaps too little, maybe I cared too much.

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Written by Jenn Metzler Friday, 13 September 2013 08:34

While the instantly recognized names on the lineup played their parts perfect and had stellar sets, the underdogs held their own in a diverse festival program.

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Written by Tony Van Zeyl Tuesday, 06 August 2013 19:50

There is always great music to discover, along with movies (a short film fest), dance, art, and lots of other surprises.

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Written by Bruce Matlock & Matt Wallin Thursday, 27 June 2013 19:07

Everyone was too in shock of the epic set laid before them by a knighted Beatle, Superjam’s galore, and enough Spicy Pie to feed a small country.

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Written by Bruce Matlock & Matt Wallin Thursday, 27 June 2013 18:45

Why are fans so willing to put up with mass amounts of sweating and miniscule amounts of sleep for the better part of a week?

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Written by Matthew Wallin Friday, 21 June 2013 14:33

This isn’t just another festival. This is the best beach party in the world sound tracked live by the people you would be listening to anyway.

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Written by Bruce Matlock Monday, 13 May 2013 17:35

To those who came prepared, Beale Street Music Festival is still the most affordable, diverse, and enjoyable weekend of the season.

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Written by Nicole Taher/Christopher Renteria Tuesday, 09 April 2013 21:54

And next thing we knew we were interviewing Alan Miller, co-Founder of FILTER Creative Group and co-Publisher for FILTER Magazine on that very conversation.

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Written by Jim Dunn Sunday, 03 February 2013 12:24

I am not really sure what SXSW thinks they are doing or what amount of arrogance they have achieved, but we were really let down.

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Written by Kristyn Potter Sunday, 04 November 2012 11:27

I think it’s the artists in the middle that deserve another go on your iPod playlist.

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Written by Kristyn Potter Saturday, 27 October 2012 22:21

The crowd at Brooklyn Bowl was fantastically supportive, dancing and singing along to Born Ruffians and Icona Pop.

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Written by Kristyn Potter Saturday, 20 October 2012 17:33

Deap Vally is what rock music in this generation should look and feel like.

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Written by Matt Wallin Saturday, 06 October 2012 11:34

In the end, the good outweighed the bad, and Counter.Point was a success.