The Official Guide to MR Fest Venues

By Tafari Robertson
Multimedia Director

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Stonewall

Stonewall is a popular all-ages club on the San Marcos square and an essential hub for the local LGBTQ community, featuring drag performances every Tuesday. During MR Fest, Stonewall will be highlighting some of the best local rock bands on Friday and Saturday Night.

F R I D A Y

9-10 p.m. – Doors, DJ: Into the Vortex

10-10:45 p.m. – The Two Lips

11-11:45 p.m. – The Halfways

12-1 a.m. – Otis the Destroyer

S A T U R D A Y

4-4:45 – Jackman

5-5:45 – The Real Hands

6-6:45 – Sp_aces

7-7:45 – Empire Machines

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Dahlia Woods Gallery

Dahlia Woods Gallery showcases local fine art and is home to the avant-garde bookstore, Bad Boy Books. For MR Fest, this gallery is the place to catch local art, Dj’s, and rare performances.

1:45-2:15 – Gratum

2:30-3 – Clee

3:15-3:45 – Nat Plastic

4-4:45 – TXny

5-5:45 – Jupiter Thief

6-6:45 – Blu Moon

7-7:45 – Hiram

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Kiva

Kiva Lounge and Bar is a go-to spot for any fun night on the square featuring live music 7 nights a week, local events, and a karaoke stage. For MR Fest, we’re giving you the best of both worlds with psych rock on the main stage and hip hop in the karaoke room. This is the spot for you if you just can’t decide.

Karaoke Stage

2:30-3 – Deezie Brown

3:15-3:45 – Proz Taylor

4-4:45 – AJ Bray

5-5:45 – Dmocobb

6-6:45 – Grid Squid

7-7:45 – Mindz of A Different Kind

Main Stage

1-1:30 – Bogan Villa

1:45-2:15 – Astral Blue

2:30-3 – Von Richter

3:15-3:45 – Bango Skank

4-4:45 – Lantic

5-5:45 – Rusty Dusty

6-6:45 – White Dog

7-7:45 – Foxmoor Express

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The Hitch

The Hitch is San Marcos’ first mobile food park featuring a wide variety of flavors from all around the world. Grab a bite and enjoy our outdoor indie-folk stage this MR Fest.

2-2:45 – Christian Sparks and the Beatnik Bandits

3-3:45 – Ooni

4-4:45 –  The Cover Letter

5-5:45 – Evan Tapia

6-6:45 – The Mammoths

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Valentino’s

Valentino’s is a locally owned & operated pizzeria on the square that features live music and comedy throughout the week. Given its aged red-brick aesthetic, this is the perfect MR Fest venue for local garage and punk rock.

1-1:30 – Red Palms

1:45-2:15 – Shark Rider

2:30-3 – Chill Russell

3:15-3:45 – Baby Bangs

4-4:45 – The Mother Vibe

5-5:45 – Kairos

6-6:45 – Flowershop

7-7:45 – Junkie

Aqua Brew

Aqua Brew is San Marcos’ latest artisan bar and dining spot featuring an open brewhouse and daily homemade craft beers. For MR Fest, you can catch the best of San Marcos shoe gaze here.

1-1:30 – The Cold Tony’s

1:45-2:15 – Fly Coco

2:30-3 – Muff

3:15-3:45 – Taiga

4-4:45 – NightClerk

5-5:45 – Glaze

6-6:45 – SHMU

7-7:45 – The Sun Machine

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Vodka St. Bistro & Bar

Vodka St. is a full service restaurant featuring gulf coast inspired entrées and a popular nightlife destination on the square. The MR Fest comedy venue, you can catch your favorite local comedians hosted by Chris Hill and including an all-girl comedy power hour from 5 to 6pm that you won’t want to miss.

Hosted by Chris Hills

4-4:15 – Jack Neil

4:15-4:30 – Garrett Buss

4:30-4:45 – Justin Torres

4:45-5 – Dany Reico

5-6 – GRL PWR HOUR (Jayne Wick, Tabitha Guardiola, Rene Summers & Liliana Rivera)

6-6:15 – Jose Bedoy

6:15-6:30 – Eric Moore

6:30-6:45 – John Tuttle

6:45-7 – James Torres

7-7:15 – Marshall Burrall

7:15-7:30 – Jake Rowe

7:30-7:45 – Jason Johnson

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The Buzz Mill (The Official Alumni Venue)

San Marcos’s only 24-hour bar and cafe, The Buzz Mill is a great place to hang out with friends or catch up on some late-night studies. As part of MR Fest’s 10th anniversary celebration, The Buzz Mill is where you can touch base with some KTSW’s alumni bands as well as a mix of Americana and Folk singer-songwriters.

1-1:30 – Cory Mann

1:45-2:15 – Josh Halverson

2:30-3 – Daniel Thomas Phipps

3:15-3:45 – Shaker Hymms

*ALUMNI STAGE BEGINS*

4-4:45 – Madisons

5-5:45 – T-Cecil

6-6:45 – Unknown Relatives

7-7:45 – Moon Dunes

Courthouse lawn

The Courthouse lawn is the historic center of San Marcos that hosts many a festival highlighting exactly what makes San Marcos locals so special. Stop by early to catch the local Farmer’s Market that takes place every Saturday morning but stick around with your friends and family for a great variety of music, activities and even more specialty vendors.

1-1:45 – Tall Grass and the Weeds

2-2:45 –  Passerby

3-3:45 – Salsa

[3-4 – Beats with the Bands]

4-4:45 – Jared Leibowich

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The Marc

An award-winning live-music venue and night club, The Marc is essential to any night on the square. Finish off your day here at MR Fest with our headliner, High Waisted, a nationally-touring surf rock band from New York. Save some energy and come ready to party, check out their latest single below.

7 – Doors, DJ Melodia x DMO Cobb

8-8:45 – Mantra Love

9:10- 10 – Major Major Major

10:30-12 – High Waisted

Featured image by Madison Tyson.

All other photos by Marlene Nuñéz.

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