Live music preview: Six artists to see at final Eclipse Utopia Festival in October
A solar eclipse is coming, and there’s no better place to spend a lunar event than under a Texas Hill Country sky. Utopia Fest has been going on for 14 years and counting. The Utopia crew has many special things planned for this next-to-last festival edition. From a seminal performance of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon by Austin electro R&B group Trouble in the Streets to a unique set from psych aficionados The Octopus Project during the solar eclipse, Utopia Festival has planned a profusion of eclectic music acts for this Fall’s edition of the festival. What’s more, no set overlaps, attendance is limited and camping is free with your ticket. This festival was made for a quality experience for music fans. Here are six artists to see if you’re smart enough to snag a ticket to the Four Sisters Ranch for the festivities on October 12-14.
Trouble in the Streets
This one is obvious. As one of Austin’s most entertaining acts, Trouble in the Streets always delivers an energetic gig. After opening for fellow Austin band A Giant Dog for their album release show at Austin’s Parish this past Summer, the Austin band has been a staple in the scene. Fusing World Music, R&B, and Hip-Hop, Trouble in the Streets has shared the stage with musical legends such as George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic. Vocalist Nnedi “Nebula” Agbaroji commands the crowd and invites fans to rage with them. Not to mention TitS will be playing tunes from Dark Side of the Moon for the festival’s pre-party on Thursday before the weekend, then hitting the Zoi Stage for a 10 pm set on Friday.
The Octopus Project
Electro-psych fans, this one’s for you. The Octopus Project is no stranger to music festivals. Rooted in electronic music, dance punk and psych rock, the electro-psych act has garnered a dedicated local following. The Austin act has appeared on Noise Pop and Wall of Sound and has headlined multiple South by Southwest Showcases. Austin gigs have also included a SXSW day-party set at Austin’s Psych Rock headquarters, 13th Floor, hosted by The Cosmic Clash. The Octopus Project also brings their spectacle from show to show, always bringing entrancing, music-triggered visuals that enhance the band’s energetic stage presence. The group will also play an early set into the Solar Eclipse on Saturday, an event that is not to be missed. Check them out for their morning set then at 9 pm on the Arrowhead Stage Saturday.
Money Chicha
Derived from heavy hitters like Brownout and Grupo Fantasma, Money Chicha plays fuzzed-out and psychedelic tunes inspired by the sounds of Columbia and Peru. This music, sometimes called “Chicha” music, employs various South American sounds to sculpt infectious Latin beats to accompany shredding, psychedelic-rock guitar sensibilities. Since 2010, Money Chicha has assembled themselves with congas, cowbells, and synthesizers to capture the various essences of the Austin band’s different influences. Catch them closing out the Arrowhead Stage on Friday at 11 pm.
Viben & The Submersibles
For an earlier set, fans should pay attention to the unstoppable funk antics of Viben & The Submersibles. After we saw them perform a tough-act-to-follow set opening for Thumpasaurus this past Spring, the Austin funk-fusion act brought their impossibly fun, self-declared “Scuba Funk” to every venue they occupy. Just listen to “Funky Hands” from their Live in Austin II EP; the band likes to jam, and they do it well. Watch their set at 4 pm on the Zoi Stage on Saturday.
Megafauna
An Austin band that needs no introduction at this point, but we’ll do one anyway. Megafauna has been active since 2008. Formed by singer/guitarist Dani Neff, the band has released six albums under the band’s moniker, including Olympico released in May of this year, their first since 2019. Armed with arena-ready hard rock riffs, Megafauna comes plugged in and ready to shred your socks off. Think of the music as progressiveness with the tendency to write the banger hook or two. Songs like “Dozer” and “Is There Anything Else” show the piercing nature of Megafauna’s riffs combined with Neff’s ability to howl to an astronomical range. The booming drums with all the tasty fills you can handle show up, too. Check them out at 6 p.m. on the Zoi Stage on Friday.
!!! (Chk Chk Chk)
Here’s the big one. For New York’s !!! (Pronounced Chk Chk Chk), locking in the groove is never a chore. They’ve been described as Dance Punk, but the New York act has come to incorporate a wide variety of influences in their ever-growing catalog. With the driving drums and basslines from the band’s titular album track “Myth Takes,” !!! takes a jammier route before speeding into the explosive dynamic “All My Heroes Are Weirdos.” The energetic onstage vibes of Nic Offer have also been notable, with the frontman/founding member being known to wear tropical outfits to represent the band’s inclusive partying themes for their shows. “There is something powerful about dance music, being together on a floor and experiencing a live show.” Offer says. Check them out closing out the festival on the Arrowhead stage at 11 pm on Saturday.
There’s a lot of talent heading to Utopia, Texas this Fall. With this being the next to last festival under the Utopia name, the stakes are high, and this lineup will take the task and deliver what will be a kickass weekend in the Texas Hill Country. Tickets are available online at $250 for the whole weekend, open to upgrade for $40 a person for the Thursday pre-party, which will feature a special performance from Trouble in the Streets with material from Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. General Admission tickets include Camping, parking, and access to the festival. Other festival activities include mountain biking, hiking, and Disc Golf. Ticket prices will increase starting on October 2. More info and what to bring can be found at the Utopia Festival website.
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