Beach House Performs at Sound on Sound Fest 2016. Photo by Bryan C. Parker.
The best festivals are carefully curated to deliver a diverse, no-fluff lineup, distinct from the regurgitated roster that makes the festival circuit rounds. Sound on Sound Fest launched last year, pulling together a pretty solid event in a limited amount of time after festival organizer Graham Williams and his team parted ways with the Transmission and the Fun Fun Fun Fest brand. The lineup released today for the second inaugural event, again held at Sherwood Forest Faire half an hour outside of Austin, proves Sound on Sound Fest will be Texas’s best fest for the foreseeable future.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs at SXSW 2013. Photo by Bryan C. Parker
Yeah Yeah Yeahs will headline the festival, playing their first show in four years. Also gracing the upper portions of the lineup poster are Grizzly Bear, in the only Texas appearance on their upcoming tour, punk legend Iggy Pop, indie rock outfit The Shins, electronic R&B artist Blood Orange, doom metal band Electric Wizard, and rapper Noname. This isn’t a festival just reading the charts and picking buzz band names off a list; this is the most aware talent buying team in the country selectively assembling an impeccable lineup. Honestly, once you start listing acts playing Sound on Sound Fest, it’s hard to stop, as the bill also includes classic rap group the Digable Planets, French pop artist Yelle, soul artist Charles Bradley; the list goes on like this. Every act booked is worth seeing. That sounds like a no-brainer for a festival, but it’s formula to which many festivals aspire and only a few succeed. That’s why Sound on Sound is so special, and why we love it so much.
The lineup also includes a slew of great Texas bands from a variety of genres such as S U R V I V E, Capyac, Sweet Spirit, Street Sects, Mélat, Growl, Alex Napping, and Kydd Jones among others. Really, we can’t say enough about this festival, but all you really need to know is that three-day passes are available now for just $189. And since you can’t really put a price tag on an epic weekend of once-in-a-lifetime musical performances, we think $189 is beyond fair. Frankly, there’s not a better deal for a festival in the country. Get on it, true believers. For all your FAQs, including more info on location, lineup, food vendors, activities, camping, and other details, check out the Sound on Sound site right here. Check out the full lineup poster below.
