Rain Dance: Utopia Fest, A Shower of Fun

Ruby Jane

Miggy Milla

Above: Saturday afternoon Ruby Jane impressed the crowd with her violin-adorned covers of Wilco and Alt-J. The musician played her first Austin City Limits music festival set in 2010 when she was just 15. Today Jane prepares for a new album release. You can find her single “Ticket Out” as a sample of the artist’s long sought after sound. Ruby Jane’s quirky violin rips throughout and her close young voice makes her sophisticated interpretations of other’s music all that more enjoyable. Her talent is obvious and those she’s surrounded herself with don’t fall behind.Above: Hikes is hooked up with Austin-based multimedia company and record label Raw Paw as they pursue their own musical path in the Austin music scene. At Utopia Fest, Texas State senior Linda Lola, who goes by the moniker Violinda, joined Hikes during their set. Hikes recorded their recent eponymous release in a space shared by local favorites such as Ume, White Denim and Mother Falcon. Their song “Spring Forward” falls somewhere between Blitzen Trapper and Trail of Dead, focusing on the drive of rhythm and the catch of a lullaby-induced opening vocal line.

Laura Patino, Holiday Mountain

Holiday Mountain

Laura Patino, Holiday Mountain

Holiday Mountain always brings the party and as a unit their music only gets tighter. They act as a piñata dangling up above an exotic vaudeville-jazz parade dressed for the colorful occasion and when opened bring out the sweet, sweet dance moves. The trio moved to Texas in 2012 after attending the Berklee College of Music and have brought their passion for music to the much appreciative state capital. At Utopia, Laura Patiño (vocals and keys), hopped into a giant bubble and maneuvered about the crowd. Until January we’ll have to catch them live or with their first release “Become Who You Are,” because they expect to drop their next full-length album in early 2015.

Whether you’re a die hard bluegrass fan waiting on Grateful Grass, an avid disc golfer or a baby with a solo and a cig, Utopiafest may have something for you.

Pictured below: the result of Dan Deacon’s crazy stage antics. While at first completely astonished that two members of the crowd were, in fact, each coincidentally dressed in zebra-themed attire, Deacon took the prime opportunity to nominate the zebra-print-loving audience members as official dance leaders. The two (one of which was a sturdier man) were hoisted onto members of the crowd (with strong backs) and led their side of the crowd in dance grooves. This show was definitely one to be a part of… or to sit back and watch play out from the sidelines.

Dan Deacon

Dan Deacon