76 replies to this topic

[Jimmy]

New music festival, to be held in the Cultural District this coming April.  

[Austin55]

A nice write-up here.

http://www.centraltr...com/fort-rocks/

This could be pretty interesting!

 

On a side note, I wonder if this is part of future plans...

[rriojas71]

Yeah this is definitely going in the calendar. I've been sending the link to a bunch of friends and family once I heard about this.

[renamerusk]

On a side note, I wonder if this is part of future plans...

 

Or maybe using this -

 

http://svcdn.simplev...DB33059DB0E.jpg

 

The auditorium is vastly underutilized in relation to Bass Hall.  This hall along with Casa make for an effective duo of venues that can host the festival.

[rriojas71]

On a side note, I wonder if this is part of future plans...

 
Or maybe using this -
 
http://svcdn.simplev...DB33059DB0E.jpg
 
The auditorium is vastly underutilized in relation to Bass Hall.  This hall along with Casa make for an effective duo of venues that can host the festival.

I love the WR Memorial theater. It's definitely a hidden gem I have some great memories going to see bands play there in the late 80's and 90's.
The feeling I get from the article is that it is going to be more of an outside event so there would be no need to play in those locations you mentioned. More of an event similar to Outside Lands in San Francisco.

http://www.sfoutsidelands.com

[renamerusk]

......The feeling I get from the article is that it is going to be more of an outside event so there would be no need to play in those locations you mentioned. More of an event similar to Outside Lands in San Francisco.

 

...But then there is that wicked April weather of Fort Worth - I give you Main Street Festival and Mayfest. 

 

Anything "outdoor-sy" during this month is a crap shoot.  So having WRMC Auditorium and Casa are great hedges.

[Austin55]

Not to mention all 3 art museums have auditoriums. Though I doubt they'd be great for the type of music this festival seems to be targeting.

[renamerusk]

Not to mention all 3 art museums have auditoriums....

 

I don't once think that the museums would or should open their auditoriums for use of a musical festival and the crowds associated with such.

[rriojas71]

......The feeling I get from the article is that it is going to be more of an outside event so there would be no need to play in those locations you mentioned. More of an event similar to Outside Lands in San Francisco.

 
...But then there is that wicked April weather of Fort Worth - I give you Main Street Festival and Mayfest. 
 
Anything "outdoor-sy" during this month is a crap shoot.  So having WRMC Auditorium and Casa are great hedges.

I agree with you renamerus that it is risky, but I'm willing to bet that it's a risk they're willing to take. I think that's why they may have chose April, due to the fact that your chance for pleasant moderate weather is greater than say June or July. IMO any event in DFW anytime of the year has the potential to be affected by some form of unfavorable weather.

[NSFW]

 

Not to mention all 3 art museums have auditoriums....

 

I don't once think that the museums would or should open their auditoriums for use of a musical festival and the crowds associated with such.

 

 

The Modern has been hosting live music for many years. 

 

Here is a link to a Star-Telegram write up. 

http://www.star-tele...e108910722.html

[renamerusk]

 

 

Not to mention all 3 art museums have auditoriums....

 

I don't once think that the museums would or should open their auditoriums for use of a musical festival and the crowds associated with such.

 

The Modern has been hosting live music for many years.

 

  This seems to be a much larger event than say a jazz or chamber music event.  The promoter is planning for a crowd that will be needing parking, public conveniences, food and drink, etc. 

 

 All that being said, The Modern is co-producing the event.  I am curious as to how the Kimbell and the Carter will react.

[Austin55]

They had a presale, $65 for 2 day general admission. It sold out.

http://fortressfestival.com/tickets

[JBB]

That's pretty incredible since they haven't even announced a lineup.

[rriojas71]

That is definitely a good sign. I wasn't aware of the presale and now I'm bummed. Guess I will have to wait until Jan to see the other ticket options that become available.

[Austin55]

Here's the Lineup

http://fortressfestival.com/lineup

[renamerusk]

 

Not to mention all 3 art museums have auditoriums....

 

I don't once think that the museums would or should open their auditoriums for use of a musical festival and the crowds associated with such.

 

Humbly giving everyone my mea culpa. 

[Austin55]

Not to mention all 3 art museums have auditoriums....

 
I don't once think that the museums would or should open their auditoriums for use of a musical festival and the crowds associated with such.

I don't think I quite understood the scope of this event when I made that comment.

[renamerusk]

I don't think I quite understood the scope of this event when I made that comment.

 

 Neither did I.

[rriojas71]

Here's the Lineup
http://fortressfestival.com/lineup

Better than I expected. Looking forward to this for sure.

[Austin55]

I'm curious where exactly this will take place. The map on the website shows that it will be in the grassy area in front of Will Rogers and south of the Kimbell. There's currently a lot of trees in that area though.

[renamerusk]

Leisure Tourism is a market that Fort Worth ought to compete in more vigorously.  The hospitality industry is showing that there is a growing interest in Fort Worth evidence by the new speculative hotels in the pipeline. Fort Worth immediate future when it comes to Downtown is to get the Convention Center and Convention Tourist business up an running in a major way.

 

 And something just like this for increasing Leisure Tourism.  Even though it is being naively marketed as a "North Texas" event, this will put the "Worth" into the Fort!

 

BTW, it is Austin-like in that it will create a syn-energy about the City.   Had my doubts about this Cultural District gambit, but have to give it credit.

 

http://www.fortworth...2d2194e02f.html

 

Info: http://www.fortressfestival.com/

[JBB]

I noticed today that the stage and accompanying tents were going up on the Will Rogers lawn.  I'm really interested in seeing pics of the set up at the Modern with the stage over the pool.  Unfortunately, the weather forecast looks pretty awful for Saturday.

[Austin55]

I just caught Flying Lotus and RTJ tonight at the Will Rogers stage. It all seemed pretty cool, the lawn and trees around there make a nice venue all lit up. The Modern stage is nice to, above the water. Crowd was smaller than I expected but not disappointingly so. Weather may have played a part in that.


And some of y'all will be proud to know Run The Jewels said "Fort Worth" a few times.

[tamtagon]

...um, that's a pretty great line-up. What a good deal! 

[Volare]

I gotta think the insane weather this weekend really did a number on attendance. I know the first two concerts on Saturday afternoon were cancelled on Friday night. Of course this ensured that absolutely nothing came in the way of storms or precipitation on Saturday afternoon. And then of course all day Sunday was gale force winds...

[Austin55]

Today was a lot of fun. I started out on Magnolia for open streets, then headed over to Fortress around 4. Crowds were about the same. I'd love to know if they hit the numbers they were looking for. It definitely felt like there could have been more people, but it was a decent amount and not so many that it made it uncomfortable. 

Purity Ring was amazing. 

Overall, I think this event is a wonderful addition to Fort Worth's spring event lineup, I hope to see it grow and return in the future. When was the last time FW had such well known, non-country acts? 

 

Edit- Nice write-up of Saturday's show from Star-Telegram. Absolutely agree with the weird route between the two stages, it was unusual. 

[Jeriat]

I just caught Flying Lotus and RTJ tonight at the Will Rogers stage. It all seemed pretty cool, the lawn and trees around there make a nice venue all lit up. The Modern stage is nice to, above the water. Crowd was smaller than I expected but not disappointingly so. Weather may have played a part in that.


And some of y'all will be proud to know Run The Jewels said "Fort Worth" a few times.

 

Now I'm just MAD... Can't believe I missed it.

[panthercity]

I was excited when they announced this festival, but then the lineup came out and I didn't recognize one name so I decided to pass. Maybe next year.

[tamtagon]

I've been listening to to Flying Lotus on/off for a couple days and like it quite a bit. 

 

 

I just caught Flying Lotus and RTJ tonight at the Will Rogers stage.

[Doohickie]

I was excited when they announced this festival, but then the lineup came out and I didn't recognize one name so I decided to pass. Maybe next year.

 

I know.  It's hell getting old. 

[Austin55]

To be fair, I wasn't familiar with any of the bands except Run the Jewels and some of the local acts. I looked all of them up when they were announced and familiarized myself with a few. I became a big fan of Purity Ring, and seeing Slowdive and Flying Lotus live has made me fans of them, both were great.

[Doohickie]

I probably need to look into Purity Ring and Flying Lotus; it seems like a lot of people became fans as a result of Fortress Fest.

[Jeriat]

I would have just gone there for FlyLo.

Been listening since I was in high school. He's one of my favorite producers, but many know him from his music on [adult swim].

 

The "1983" album:

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=jY9wzoJvqYs

[Austin55]

Flying Lotus definitely will not be to the taste of many folks. Very unique and odd stuff.

[Jeriat]

Flying Lotus definitely will not be to the taste of many folks. Very unique and odd stuff.

 

I know. He might be too experimental for a more traditional music crowd. 

[tamtagon]

Slowdive is playing Atlanta in about a week, and I'll probably seem them.

 

Fort Worth scored with this dealio, hopefully it'll become a mainstay.

[JBB]

Fortress Fest will return for 2018:

http://www.star-tele...e148300789.html

Spring weather is such a gamble around here. Look at the luck that Mayfest is having just a week later.

[rriojas71]

Fortress Fest will return for 2018:http://www.star-tele...e148300789.htmlSpring weather is such a gamble around here. Look at the luck that Mayfest is having just a week later.

Awesome news. I think I will do the blind pre-sale for $69. What a deal even if it's 2 days of unknown acts and suspect weather. I want this to stay around a while.

[JBB]

Fortress Fest 2018 lineup:

http://fortressfestival.com/lineup

That's a pretty good lineup with a few more recognizable names.

[tamtagon]

Fortress Fest 2018 lineup:

http://fortressfestival.com/lineup

That's a pretty good lineup with a few more recognizable names.

 

haha I didn't recognize any of the names, gawh, well 'cept De La Soul of course

 

i'm two songs into the spotify playlist, and i'm digging Courtney Barnett... so far

[JBB]

Father John Misty has appeared as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live and I've seen Courtney Barnett on TV at some point.  There were a few others that I've heard on KXT in the past.  KXT has been pushing the festival pretty hard the last few weeks.

[elpingüino]

Dallas Morning News compiled a playlist of the Fortress Fest artists: https://www.guidelive.com/music/2018/04/26/playlist-fortress-festival-fort-worth-2018#_ga=2.52692840.138172133.1524761046-1266777366.1524761046 

34 songs, pretty cool.

[Austin55]

ill be there!

[Austin55]

Leon is headlining 2019!

http://www.fwtx.com/...omeone-you-know

[Doohickie]

It makes sense.  He's probably the biggest local star at the moment.

[txbornviking]

Tank and the Bangas won NPR's "Tiny Desk Concert" contest last year and they're certainly worth a look.

 

https://www.npr.org/...ny-desk-concert

[renamerusk]

Well, I'm having to "Eat crow!" and recant my earlier predilections that the Artsy (Cultural District Guild) would not welcome the Woodstocky (Music Festival Troop) on its lawn.  On the contrary, Fortress Festival is well on its way to becoming a regional event; and could easily become a national/international event. 

 

It will be interesting to watch as it evolves to include a broader amount of things (technology, debut of music, literature, etc.)

[Doohickie]

By the way, I finally got to see Leon live this year (at Toyota Music Factory Irving or whatever it's called), and it was a great show.  The opening act was John Batiste and Stay Human (the Tonight Show band), and it was hard to imagine Leon topping them; they're very good.  But then he did precisely that.  Great show.  If you get the chance you should definitely take in Leon while he's in town.

[ramjet]

Well, I'm having to "Eat crow!" and recant my earlier predilections that the Artsy (Cultural District Guild) would not welcome the Woodstocky (Music Festival Troop) on its lawn.  On the contrary, Fortress Festival is well on its way to becoming a regional event; and could easily become a national/international event. 

 

It will be interesting to watch as it evolves to include a broader amount of things (technology, debut of music, literature, etc.)

I'm glad Fortress Fest is successful, but it's another one of those "be careful what you wish for" if it becomes a national event.  The 450,000 people who descend on Zilker Park at the ACL festival in Austin each year devour the park and surrounding neighborhoods like hipster locusts.  The major city park is closed off to residents for weeks in advance to prepare and weeks following to clean and restore the lawn that is destroyed.  Police barricades are placed around the Bouldin and Zilker neighborhoods to prevent illegal parking and vandalism.  At the condo where I lived near the park, we had to hire special security to keep the drunken revelers from jumping naked into our pool after the concerts had ended.  I could go on, but you probably get the idea.

[renamerusk]

 

....It will be interesting to watch as it evolves to include a broader amount of things (technology, debut of music, literature, etc.)

 

I'm glad Fortress Fest is successful, but it's another one of those "be careful what you wish for" if it becomes a national event....

 

 Yes, "be careful what you wish for" is a sobering cautionary warning;  the pitfalls are very real.