Cory Graves
Del The Funky Homosapien Is Headlining A New Denton Festival Called Oaktopia.
For the last five years, the festival landscape in Denton has been dominated by a single entity: 35 Denton (or, really, whatever name organizers threw on that event in a given year). Rightfully so, too. At this past year's fifth annual incarnation of the event, the festival had reached a place where it had the notoriety and pull to attract names like Solange and Chelsea Light Moving, yet the cred to still book the most compelling indie/experimental/underground acts around.
Back in June, though, came trouble in Denton festival paradise. 35 Denton announced the loss of its programming director, creative director and biggest financial backer all at once. And though Chris Flemmons, the festival's majority share holder and founder, told us at the time that he expects the fest to continue on in some capacity, it stands to reason that 2014 will be a rebuilding one for the affair.
So it makes some sense that, just a month after the aforementioned 35 Denton announcements, Spune Productions announced that it would be bringing the Canned Festival, an offshoot of its regular Untapped offerings, to Denton in October. (To be fair, we don't get the impression that Canned — which will bring in four times as many breweries as bands — is intended as any kind of warning shot to the hypothetically weakened 35D. We just think it was fortuitous timing is all.)
And now comes news of another upstart festival heading Denton's way. The folks behind Monocle, Inc. and Austere Magazine announced last week intentions to hold their own Denton-based affair. Called Oaktopia Fest, their event that will take place Saturday, November 16. And, similarly to 35D, Oaktopia will make use of several venues on Denton's Square as part of its offering, including Andy's, Hailey's, Banter, J&J's and an outdoor stage in the Wells Fargo parking lot.
So far, Oakland rapper Del the Funky Homosapien appears to be the only out-of-town act among the 30 locals already slated to play the inaugural fest. Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean Oaktopia's organizers are gunning for 35 Denton, either. Perhaps, given that towns such as Plano are now jumping into the festival game, it's just another sign that a music hub like Denton is ready to support a few more fests of its own.
Tickets to the Oaktopia are available here.
Full Oaktopia Fest Lineup So Far
Del The Funky Homosapien
Brain Gang
Biographies
The Boombachs
-topic,
New Science Projects
Two Knights
Afro Deezy Axe
Black James Franco
Bashe
Savage and the Big Beat
Senor Fin
Fab Deuce
S. Good
AV the Great
Bukkake Moms
She Banshe
Sol Tax
Groove Bumps
Infidelix
Wild Bill
Sacco and Vanzetti
D-MAR
Stu Brootal
Ewok Tha Kid
The Lead Pipes
Purl Snap Shirts
Sydney Wright
Off Route
Chris Jessup
