The rural town of Utopia, TX was a little more crowded this past Labor Day Weekend, but not by much. Capped at 2000 camping and music lovers, Utopiafest is a three day music festival comprised of bluegrass, jam bands, DJs, and even a six-man marimba ensemble! As long as you had a lawn chair, sunscreen, and your dancing shoes(barefoot was usually the move), it was impossible not to have a great time.
The Friday night pre-party kicked off with Austin’s very own Sip Sip. As we were setting up our campsite for the weekend, we could hear the cheers as they performed their funky cover of Daft Punk’s “Something About Us.” Leftover Salmon stole the show that night, giving it their all, in front of no more than 200 people. Lead man Vince Herman was having just as much fun as we were, at one point lying on his back while playing guitar and sharing a cigarette with a fan.
On Saturday morning, we exited our tent to find new neighbors moving in for the first official day of the festival. The small ranch filled up with an eclectic bunch. You could find middle aged families with children celebrating a family reunion, laid back festies who had been to Utopiafest five years straight, and older couples attracted by the camping, organized activities, and relaxed vibes.
Of Montreal, who seemed to have the largest crowd following of the weekend, played an impressive set that ended in the crowd’s unfulfilled chant for an encore. That evening, we grabbed our picnic blanket to enjoy the instrumental group Explosions in the Sky. The musical highlight of the weekend was listening to their soothing melodies under the stars. It was no surprise that Explosions finished their show with an intense fireworks show.
Sunday’s big surprise was the up and coming Calliope Musicals. Playing early in the afternoon, they woke up anyone who was still sleeping in their tent with their entertaining show comprised of confetti guns and a dancing alien. Calliope’s lead singer frolicked around like she owned the stage, making it easy to enjoy yourself. We are definitely looking forward to seeing them at Austin City Limits in October.
Truly every show was different and enjoyable, but the music was only a small aspect of what made Utopiafest so special. The small size of the festival made it unlike many others we’ve attended. It felt like a true community. Everyone was respectful to each other, the artists, and the campsite. Many people spent their days sitting in front of their tents with friends, listening to the great music from a distance. There were also various activities going on through the day, including disc golf, yoga, a kids’ zone, hiking, and even a marimba lesson given by Kupira Marimba, a Saturday performer that decided to step off the stage on Sunday and have fun with the audience. Utopiafest is also hardly commercialized. Water was free to fill up and a delicious food truck meal did not exceed $8. It seemed like the people were Utopiafest’s focus, not the money.
We absolutely recommend this festival for next year’s Labor Day Weekend, but be warned, it was HOT! It is a must to bring a canopy or umbrella for shade, as well as bug spray for the ants that are hard to avoid. But I’d trade the weekend for some bug bites and a sun burn any day.
