Let Washington worry about its walls. Down here, it’s time to take refuge in the music and secure ourselves in the music. Tickets are on sale; the lineup is out, get ready for the second installment of Fortress Festival.
January 26 saw the release of this year’s lineup with no shortage of rock stars ready to storm our less-than-quite and not-so-small town on April 28 and 29.
Topping the bill with headline performances comes 21st century southern rock stalwart Father John Misty as well as former Strokes’ front man’s Julian Casablancas’ experimental punk band the Voidz and Aussie chanteuse Courtney Barnett with her post-punk poetry passing for psych rock.
In fact, in the wake of the latest wave of female empowerment, this roster takes a deep bow to the women who are defining the off-the-charts popular music scene. Female-led phenoms include Tune-Yards, Rapsody, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Waxahatchee, Jay Som and Bedoine. Denton’s own Pearl Earl joins this mix.
But, worry not, because while hip-hop took the bulk of Grammy nominations this year, so does it sit well represented inside the Fortress with acts including De La Soul, RZA and Shabazz Palaces.
Since this is Fort Worth, they are keeping it funky with Chicano batman, Lee Fields & the Expressions and Stone Mecca atop of hefty smattering of region favorites.
Killer Mike of Run The Jewels on stage at Fortress Fest 2017 Photo Credit: En La Calle On The Street Photographer Adrian Gandara
As was with last year’s festival, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth will play host to a portion of festival-goers, offering these cultured cowboys access to works from visual artists whose reputation swamps the sounds and elevates the entire experience.
“The overall footprint though is being updated to create a more unified layout in an effort to address festival-goer’s concerns from Year [One] with more details coming in the weeks ahead,” wrote Trey Hicks on the festival’s press release.
Early bird general admission passes are available for $89, while two-day VIP passes can be picked up for $225 offering access to exclusive events, preferred viewing areas, free parking, expedited entry, private dining and, most importantly, bathrooms. These can be purchased online from FortressFestival.com.
Both sets of tickets also give holders museum gallery access during the festival.
The brainchild of Lone Star natives Alec Jhangiani and Ramtin Nikzad, Fortress Festival remains an independent production and lyrically-based offshoot of those who helped establish the Lone Star Film Festival.
Organizers and En La Calle will be posting updates to the lineup and proceedings as the festival draws nigh. Look to FortressFestivalTX on Facebook and @FortressFest for updates and promotions.
LINE UP
Father John Misty
Courtney Barnett
De La Soul
RZA (*Feat. Stone Mecca*)
The Voidz
Chicano Batman
tUnE-yArDs
Rapsody
Shabazz Palaces
Lee Fields & The Expressions
Hurray for the Riff Raff
Waxahatchee
Jay Som
The Texas Gentlemen
Bedouine
Vandoliers
Ronnie Heart
Cure for Paranoia
Henry the Archer
Andy Pickett
Midnight Opera
Pearl Earl
Event Info
-Second Annual Fortress Festival
-Two-day gathering under the banner of music, art and love
–April 28-29
-Fort Worth Cultural District
How much: $89 early bird GA; $225 VIP passes
Web: FortressFestival.com
