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The Annual Trans-Pecos Festival Brought Together Artists of All Kinds for Three Days of Music, Workshops and Festival Going

The Trans-Pecos Festival of Music + Love

At A Glance:
Trans-Pecos 2018

The Trans-Pecos festival has come and gone and if you are anything like us you’re kicking yourself not attending this year’s gathering. Founded in 2006 by hotelier and designer Liz Lambert, El Cosmico played host to the event, officially called The Trans-Pecos Festival of Music + Love. So many of our favorite Austinites hit the road for the celebration where Angel Olsen, Meshell N’degeocello and The Black Pumas took the stage, The Texas Playboys hit the sandlot and Lou Lambert got to pig roasting. And that’s just scratching the surface. Thankfully we have a round up to help quell your case of FOMO. It’s safe to say we will see you in Marfa for next year’s festival.

trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Festival-goers gathered at Lambert’s desert oasis, El Cosmico. The 21-acre property is a collection of teepees, tents, trailers and yurts. Lambert intends for the communal space to foster artistic engagement through workshops, performances and back to basics living.
Photograph by Chad Wadsworth.
trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Photograph by Daniel Cavazos.
trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Photograph by Pooneh Ghana.
trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Photograph by Pooneh Ghana.

trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
This year’s festival ran from September 20-23. Meshell N’Degeocello and David Garza performed at the Marfa High School on Thursday the 20th, unofficially kicking off the festival.
Photograph by Pooneh Ghana.
trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Photograph by Pooneh Ghana.
trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Photograph by Pooneh Ghana.
trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Photograph by Hannah Koehler.

trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
The ferris wheel was back! The kids of Marfa rode for free all day Thursday.
Photograph by Hannah Koehler.
trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Left: Photograph by Hannah Koehler.
Right: Photograph by Pooneh Ghana.

trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Thanks to St. Vincent, Jenny Lewis, Ben Kweller, Patty Griffin and Los Coast this year’s music lineup did not disappoint.
Photograph of St. Vincent performing by Daniel Cavazos.
trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Photograph of Ben Kweller by Chad Wadsworth.
trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Photograph of The Chamanas by Pooneh Ghana.
trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Photograph of Patty Griffin by Chad Wadsworth.
trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Photograph of Los Coast by Daniel Cavazos.
trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Photograph of Robert Ellis by Chad Wadsworth.
trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Photograph of Jenny Lewis by Daniel Cavazos.

trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
In addition to the many great performances Austin’s Texas Playboy’s took the field against Marfa’s Los Yonke Gallos (The Playboys won!) and St. Vincent even threw out the first pitch.
Photograph by Pooneh Ghana.
trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Photograph by Pooneh Ghana.

trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Workshops went on throughout the weekend…a few highlights: chainstitching with Fort Lonesome, welding with KKDW and plant talks with the makers of Desert Door Texas Sotol. Photograph by Chad Wadsworth.
trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Photograph by Chad Wadsworth.
trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Photographs by Hannah Koehler.
trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Photograph by Daniel Cavazos.
trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Photograph by Chad Wadsworth.
trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Photograph by Pooneh Ghana.

trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
The whole festival crew ate quite well thanks to Lou Lambert’s (Liz’s brother) annual pig roast where Big Bend Brewing Co. was also on hand.
Photograph by Chad Wadsworth.
trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Left: Photograph by Hannah Koehler.
Right: Photograph by Pooneh Ghana.
trans pecos festival marfa cosmico music love austin
Photograph by Chad Wadsworth.