Austin's SXSW usually gets the lion's share of music festival love, but don't fret if you're missing the magic this year. There are plenty of other great multi-day, multi-artist concerts to be had, and a few don't even require hopping on the interstate for very long.
Even though Dallas didn't have a harsh winter this year, the possibility of snow, ice and sleet is enough to keep outdoor music festivals at bay in North Texas until spring. March is finally here, so dust off your lawn chair, pull out your credit card and get ready to rock.
35 Denton (March 7-10)
Now in its fifth year as a full-fledged city-wide event, 35 Denton is rightfully gaining a great deal of credibility as a legitimate place to swing by before hitting SXSW in Austin the following weekend. This year's line-up is stellar, with Stoner Rock icons Sleep, current soul queen Solange and Texas psychedelic pioneer Roky Erickson headlining the four-day festival that takes place around Denton's Courthouse Square.
Spillover (March 17)
Formerly known as "Bro-fest," this Parade of Flesh production has certainly become a well-circled spot on the local music calendar for many fans. This annual event, which has only grown in both size and quality, is one of the many reasons Deep Ellum has been deemed "back from the dead." Do not miss the buzzing duo Widowspeak at this show, as the indie psych-folk group is poised for a mega-breakthrough. Other acts to not miss before they're massive are Parquet Courts and The Orwells.
Untapped Festival (April 20)
This indie-beer-meets-indie-music showcase was a huge success last year in Dallas — so much so that a larger venue was acquired just days before the event. Taking advantage of the revitalized arts and cultural areas of Fort Worth, show promoters Spune Productions and Paste Magazine are bringing the state's best breweries (Rahr & Sons, Deep Ellum Brewing, Revolver, Lakewood Brewing) to complement tunes from indie headliners Justin Townes Earle, Deer Tick and hometown starlet Sarah Jaffe.
Austin Psych Fest (April 24-26)
It's road trip time! Camping, psychedelic droning and the band that ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons was in before he began singing about legs and sharp dressed men makes for a fun weekend. This annual festival, which has also grown in significance with each year, is the baby of the Black Angels, who are the current Texan torch-bearers for all things groovy and zoned-out. Do not miss Black Mountain, Vietnam or Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, either.
No one will care who Solange is related to (Beyonce) when she takes the stage at 35 Denton this weekend.
