Waterloo Music Festival Newest Entry To Vibrant Austin Arts Scene

AUSTIN, TX — In Austin — dubbed the "live music capital of the world" without the use of hyperbole — there's always room for another melodious festival. Enter the upcoming Waterloo Music Festival featuring three nights celebrating the roots of the Austin music culture.

Waterloo Music Festival is a new independent jam music and camping festival to be staged Sept. 7-9, 2018, at Carson Creek Ranch in Austin, Texas. Tickets go on sale at May 11 at 10 a.m., starting at $99 for 3-day general admission. The festival will feature three full days of nationally renowned jam bands performing alongside the city’s finest musical acts during a weekend of camping, organizers said.

The event will take place at Carson Creek Ranch, a venue just ten minutes from downtown Austin with over 60 acres of Pecan-tree-lined campgrounds and scenic views from the banks of the Colorado River. Acclaimed independent jam band The String Cheese Incident will headline the event, playing for all three nights of the festival. The group is known for their diverse sound and commitment to creativity, community, and philanthropy, according to a band bio.

Other confirmed artists on the inaugural lineup include American rock and Grateful Dead tribute band Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (JRAD) — marking the group’s first-ever Texas show; funk, afrobeat, and jazz-influenced ensemble The Motet; Americana-folk band Railroad Earth; the heavy instrumental rock fusion 4-piece Tauk; American rock and electronic duo BoomBox; and multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer Marco Benevento (also a member of JRAD). The complete festival lineup will be announced in the coming weeks.

About the festival's name: Before the name “Austin” was decided upon, “Waterloo” was initially incorporated as the name for the capital city of Texas due to its ideal location along the Colorado River, organizers noted. The city’s unique musical identity at the intersection of rock, folk, blues, and soul has given birth to some of the country’s most beloved musical voices, officials added: "Like the original settlers of Austin, Waterloo is planting its flag on the banks of the Colorado River and will provide attendees with Texas’ premier camping festival experience."

Waterloo Music Festival is produced by Heard Presents, Havin' A Ball Productions, and Unknown Entertainment — promoters with a history of bringing great music of all genres to Texas and supporting the local music community. With the rise in demand for jam music events in Austin specifically, evident by sold-out shows for touring artists such as The String Cheese Incident here over the years, the creators of Waterloo Music Festival are aiming to give the jam community a prime three-day experience of camping, food, and music for all ages.

"With Waterloo, we set out to honor and celebrate the heritage and spirit of Austin with world-class music inspired by our roots and a weekend-long outdoor experience that will make our city proud,” Briggs Mitchell, co-founder of Waterloo Music Festival, said in a prepared statement. “We couldn't think of a better place to call home than on the banks of the Colorado River, and to us, nothing brings together the creativity and soul of Austin more than three nights of The String Cheese Incident accompanied by an eclectic mix of artists across the jam music spectrum. We believe Austin deserves this festival and we are honored to host what we believe will become a legendary celebration for years to come."

Tickets for Waterloo Music Festival go on sale Friday, May 11 at 10 a.m., with a limited number of pre-sale tickets priced at $99 3-day GA passes, $199 3-day VIP passes, and camping packages starting at $70 (in addition to festival admission). After the pre-sale period ends, tickets will be on sale for $119 3-day GA passes and $249 3-day VIP passes. Car camping is available for an additional $49 camping vehicle pass.

Waterloo Music Festival will announce the full music lineup, along with other Festival details in the coming weeks. See waterloofest.com for tickets and more information.

>>> All images courtesy Waterloo Music Festival, used with permission