Things To Do in Austin This Weekend

September 4 – 6

Travis Sutherland has managed to do the impossible: create and run a music festival that, as it gains momentum and popularity, has still managed to stay small and affordable and maintain its magic.

“As much as I love the big fests, once you have a certain amount of people in a single place, it presents problems,” Sutherland explains. “Long lines, claustrophobia, not being able to dance … those are the things we’re trying to eliminate. We want to keep it as quality of an experience as possible for everyone involved.”

Sutherland is originally from Utopia, Texas, and started the fest with two goals in mind: to bring live music to his hometown and to allow other people the opportunity to experience the incredible landscape. This Labor Day weekend marks the seventh annual UTOPiAfest, which takes place on Four Sisters Ranch and, as always, will feature the unique elements that differentiate it from other festivals. Expect free camping; a BYOB (and bring-your-own-food) policy; no music overlap or crowds; extraordinary scenery; and a truly fun, relaxed and communal vibe.

“I just want to keep it small and simple and keep the focus on the music,” Sutherland says. “That’s always the philosophy. We want it all to be about seeing amazing music and being in the most beautiful place you can imagine with awesome people.”

This year’s lineup includes Explosions in the Sky, Wild Child, Charles Bradley and many more. Grab your tickets at Utopiafest.com.