Under the beautiful desert sky in far west Texas the annual music, visual arts and film festival Marfa Myths (located in Marfa, TX) returns with another weekend full of awesome vibes and good times. The event is described as a multidisciplinary cultural program which kicked off in 2014 by Ballroom Marfa (nonprofit contemporary arts foundation). With the continued collaborative efforts of Brooklyn based record label Mexican Summer and Ballroom Marfa who put this festival together every year, the list of artists this year promises to illuminate the senses. From regional acts, musical pioneers and Mexican Summer alumni, the music line-up at this year’s Marfa Myths packs a punch with a diverse spectrum of sound to echo across the far west Texas town.
Old school pioneers and overall cool-before-you artists will make their way to this year’s festival, continuing their craft and staying artistically consistent and relevant. Swedish experimental rockers Träd, Gräs och Stenar have been around since the late 60s, still jamming out and creating new sounds (latest release Träden came out in 2018). A premier group in the Swedish progg scene (yes, progg, not to be confused with prog or prog-rock) get a taste of their hypnotic transcendental minimalist approach to their music, and see why Mexican Summer says the band “was—is, shall remain—the best band in the world.” Susan Dietrich Schneider (aka The Space Lady) has been making psychedelic/synth-pop space music since the 80s. The avant-garde bleeps and blips will send you back in time with her synthesizer wizardry. Post-punk female pioneer Vivien Goldman (Flying Lizards, Chantage) is also on board as well as electronic-music trailblazer Annette Peacock.
The festival this year also brings a diverse mix of Texas artists. Psychedelic disco-funk trio Khruangbin from Burton, TX will bring their bass heavy sound to this yeas festival. Houston DJ collective OG Ron C & the Chopstars will heat up the ones and twos with their turntable mastery. Included in the mix is experimental jazz/funk artist Jon Bap from Dallas. Austin based Money Chicha is definitely going to make the people dance with their Latin-psych space cumbias.
Oh yeah, and there’s more heavy hitters—shoegaze indie-rock group Deerhunter has never left the forefront of what is really good modern music ever since their first release in 2005, creating and evolving a sound that has always ascended. The same could be said of Connan Mockasin who keeps it interesting, always genre jumping and also staying busy collaborating with other artists. The line-up for the 4 day fest also includes Emily A. Sprague, Photay, Nadah El Shazly and Jess Williamson.
Musicians in residence will be the addictive 70s sounds of Drugdealer and lo-fi garage rocker Tim Presley.
Later additions to the festival are country-folk duo Jess Sah Bi & Peter One, Chicago based avant-jazz drummer and bandleader Makaya McCraven, British DJ Josey Rebelle and LA based multi-instrumentalist Jerry Paper.
All weekend enjoy art at different venues! There will be a Natalie Ann Howard exhibition at Marfa Studio of Arts (106 E San Antonio St), Ballroom Marfa (108 E San Antonio St) will host an exhibition by artists Beatriz Cortez, Candice Lin and Fernando Palma Rodríguez, and Wrong Marfa (110 W Dallas St) will feature the works by Alex Wenstein, with a live performance by Les Enfants.
All weekend The Well (119 N Highland Ave) will have an extended selection of yoga offerings. Set your sights and ears over to Marfa Myths April 25th-28th.
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More info here: marfamyths.com
