Utopiafest

UTOPiAFEST is a camp-out music festival out in the sticks, about 60 miles away from SATX.  We would have gone anyway but one of our favorite bands, Dawes, was playing and so we had even more incentive to clear the calendar, pack the car and head northwest.

It was a fantastic time-- about 1000-1500 people of all ages, hippie-types, cowboy-types, soccer moms, families with little kids.  And it was out there... no running water.  Port-a-potties, a giant food truck from which to purchase $8 burgers, no ATM and limited cell phone service.  A weekend for wet wipes, beef jerky and really friendly people.

Festmap:

Pretty small and not much waiting in line for food/facilities.

As we arrived Friday night and staked out a camping spot in the dark, we heard Dawes take the stage.  NOOOO!  We thought they would play later, or Saturday night.  Luke put up the tent in 1.5 songs and we headed over the larger of the two stages.

Dawes

Over the rest of the festival we heard the Black and White Years, Avi Buffalo, Digital Antique, the Wheeler Brothers, Peelander-Z (Japanese punk.... billed as the Ramones meet the Power Rangers), Grupo Fantastma, Suzanna Choffel, The Giving Tree Band, Sorne, Keller Williams and Cowboy and Indian.  I really liked the Wheeler Brothers and Suzanna Choffel, both Austin-based musicians, and look forward to seeing them in concert again.

The country was beautiful too- low hills, scrubby trees.  The stars were so many and so bright at night.
The photos, the videos... Luke purchased a new camera on Thursday and it is fantastic.

The heavily pregnant lead singer of Cowboy and Indian.

Campsite

Campsite, panoramic

Vintage wares for sale

This is Townes.

Gypsysun Vintage

Boho mama.

Sketching in dirt

Yarn art.

Tree of Wisdom

Pirate flag - very helpful in finding tent in camping area.

Luke begrudgingly wore this hat.

This woman wore a series of chic outfits, and this was my favorite.

Hula hoops beside main stage

Hammock; prayer flags.

The Girl with the Dragon Outfit.

Panda in repose.

That drummer!  He looks so familiar! ...

...I knew I had seen Him before.

Boho mama dances...

Peelander-Pink

Peelander-Z performs "Mad Tiger"

Octopus plays baseball

Peelander-Z:

Many people had sunbrellas- so smart.

Some people didn't need them.

"Norwegian golf"

Same outfit as always. 

Kendall and Mandy- main stage seatmates.  Such a sweet little girl and her cool mom.

Hula hooping with a very large diameter hoop.

And then we headed home.  Filthy, exhausted, dirt-smeared and dust-covered, completely in love.  With each other, Texas, the generosity and good-naturedness of festival-goers, the power of music to unite.

To close, a song from Dawes, A Little Bit of Everything.