What to Expect From Your First MR Fest

By Alexandra Cochran
Blog Content Contributor

My Radio Festival, aka MR Fest, is approaching at the end of this month on April 28 and 29, and I’m feeling all sorts of thrilled. If you’ve ever attended a music festival, you know there’s a huge amount of good vibes and great chances to meet new people to share this experience with. This fest is unlike any other– not only does it offer admittance for all to attend, but also features SMTX- and Austin- specific local music and talent.

This year’s MR Fest will be the tenth continuous year of the KTSW festival tradition and my first year of attendance. MR Fest occurs in the heart of San Marcos, the Square, and provides a versatile range of things to do. I’m totally stoked to attend not only as a team member but also an admirer of live music. I’ve only gone to a handful of festivals but I thoroughly enjoy going to venues to check out my favorite bands when they’re in town. With nearly 2,000 attendees to entertain, MR Fest is a mixture or events and almost like a mini version of SXSW, where there’s live music not only just in one location for the night, but within multiple locations and over a two-day period! 

If you haven’t already, check out the festival lineup, set times, stand up comedy schedule, and food vendors. I always preview the albums of bands playing beforehand so I know which venue I want to visit and at what time to show up. Quick tip, if you know what performers you want to see beforehand, that gives you plenty more time to show up earlier and snag a great spot before it gets too packed! As someone who usually watches comedy from their couch and on Netflix, I’m personally really excited to experience live comedy surrounded by others laughing along with me rather than me laughing out loud, at home, alone with a cat.

There’s absolutely nothing you have to lose but so much to gain at MR Fest, like free shows, entertainment and plenty of new foods to try! Stay tuned and follow KTSW on Twitter and Instagram (@ktsw_899) to stay in the loop with MR Fest updates and more.

Featured image by Alexandra Cochran.

A special thank you to our sponsors Buzzmill, Main Street, Texas Music Water, Colloquium, Roper and Mehler, University Bookstore and Brandt.