Austin might get all of the accolades for being our great state’s hub for live music, but San Antonio is developing its own music scene. This weekend marks an exciting time for San Antonio music: on April 10 and 11, the Maverick Music Festival will take place in La Villita. For the second year, San Antonio will host a variety of artists on three stages, with music spanning genres from hip-hop and pop to indie rock.
For a city with such a young music scene, the festival has pulled together a solid lineup. Obviously, we won’t see national headliners””this isn’t ACL, and you shouldn’t expect it to be (at least not yet)””but that youthful, budding element makes this festival even more exciting. With such a diverse lineup, there’s something for everyone at Maverick.
Among the headliners, we have Cypress Hill, whose blend of hip-hop and funk contributed to the hip-hop sounds of the 90s; over the years, the group has dabbled in Latin and rock sounds, developing a unique style. On a completely different note, the headline also includes fabulous indie rockers CAKE. I’m extremely excited about these guys; their endlessly clever music defies genre labels, with an eclectic sound complemented by fantastically smart and quirky lyrics. Other headliners include Portugal. The Man and The Toadies.
Maverick’s diversity isn’t only evident in the headliners. The rest of the lineup on the main stage provides an exciting range of music.
If you want something intense, check out indie rockers Quiet Company, who fling themselves into their gigs with impressive passion.
If you’d prefer something more intimate, you have options like the folkier (yet pop-ish and occasionally electronic) singer-songwriter Sarah Jaffe, whose lyrics are both delightfully catchy and incredibly deep. Of course, since this IS San Antonio, you’ll also have access to plenty of Latin fusion bands. I advise you to embrace that sound; it’s part of the city’s charm. Oh, and it’s awesome.
If you don’t want to spring for tickets””which are relatively inexpensive for a festival, with prices starting at $39″”you’re actually in luck: the festival provides free access to the Arneson and Juarez stages. You’ll see smaller, less well-known acts on these stages, but it’s still exciting to check out some groups you’ve probably never heard of! Festivals like this are a great opportunity for discovery, and Maverick makes it easy with free access to these stages.
Having a full music festival is pretty exciting, and it’s a big step in San Antonio’s maturation as a city of the arts. Let’s be honest: having cool art museums and an increasingly impressive performing arts presence is great, but it’s essential to have the contemporary appeal of this sort of festival as well. If interesting events like this keep starting up, San Antonio is sure to make a name for itself as yet another Texas arts hub.
So indulge your inner hipster and attend the Maverick Music Festival before it’s “cool”””and also just for the great acts! For a full lineup and more information, check out maverickmusicfestival.com.
