Wes Smoot 10/12/22 Wes Smoot 10/12/22

C3 PRESENTS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER ANNOUNCE THE AUSTIN DEBUT OF BRUCE MUNRO’S FIELD OF LIGHT IMMERSIVE LIGHT INSTALLATION

“Mr. Munro… has become the Christo and Jeanne-Claude of fiber-optic light environments.”

—The New York Times

AUSTIN, TX - Austin’s own C3 Presents, in collaboration with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas at Austin, is proud to announce that highly acclaimed British artist Bruce Munro’s Field of Light will debut on September 9, 2022, at the Wildflower Center.

Illuminating 16 acres in the Arboretum at the Wildflower Center, Field of Light is a stunning display of 28,000 stemmed spheres that are subtly lit by solar powered fiber-optics. Field of Light beautifully showcases the intersection of art, technology, and nature and its purpose is to inspire a sense of shared existence, and of being part of life’s essential pattern. The installation unites with the outdoors, celebrating the natural topography of the landscape and creating an immersive and emotional experience for guests.

“Austin is such a unique destination that embodies many of the core values of this installation. My hope is that the Field of Light installation will inspire visitors to contemplate a kinder and more connected world,” said Bruce Munro. “The Wildflower Center is the ideal venue for this exhibition simply because it brings people, art and nature together.”

“We’re thrilled to host Munro’s Field of Light in collaboration with C3 Presents and share this world-renowned exhibition with our community,” said Lee Clippard, executive director of the Wildflower Center. “The shifts of color and light will be a unique and provocative way to celebrate our Central Texas landscape.”

Bruce Munro is best known for large-scale light-based artworks inspired by his continuous study of light and his curiosity about shared human experiences. With a fine arts degree, early career training in the lighting design industry and an inventive urge for reuse, Munro creates art that captures his responses to literature, music, science and the world around him. His work has been commissioned by and displayed in special exhibitions in galleries, parks, grand estates, cathedrals, botanical gardens and museums around the globe.

The New York Times says of Munro’s Field of Light in Paso Robles: “There is nothing quite like the mind-bending spectacle now on display at dusk in the hills of Paso Robles. … That is the witching hour when thousands of solar-powered glass orbs on stems, created by the artist Bruce Munro, enfold visitors in an earthbound aurora borealis of shifting hues.”

Tickets will be on sale in July. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Wildflower Center. Guests can enjoy the exhibit from September through December 2022. Click here to learn more, or get social media updates at @fieldoflightaustin on Instagram and Facebook.

Wes Smoot 10/5/22 Wes Smoot 10/5/22

Jake Wesley Rogers to Perform at Austin City Limits

Rising superstar Jake Wesley Rogers is set to play ACL both weekends with sets Sunday 10/9 and 10/16 @ 1:15pm on the Miller Lite Stage. Attendees will not want to miss this electrifying, live show.

With the release of new song “Hindsight” for gay rom-com film, BROS this past Friday, major buzz is surrounding up-and-coming queer artist and advocate Jake Wesley Rogers.

Jake released his first major-label single “Middle Of Love” last May, Paper Magazine said “Give Jake Wesley Rogers a stadium” and now he is performing in arenas across the country, opening for Panic! at the Disco.

“Hindsight” along with earlier releases from this year including “Modern Love” and “Lavender Forever” which he performed on Ellen and HBO Max’s Legendary can be found on Jake’s upcoming EP.

"My new song Hindsight is very special to me, especially since it will be the end title track in Billy Eichner’s historic new film, “Bros”—the first gay rom-com made by a major motion picture studio. I wrote it with my go-to collaborator Justin Tranter, as well as the producer, Jason Gill. The song is about looking back at the past and longing to make the future better, by actually living and loving (and dancing) to your fullest potential." – Jake Wesley Rogers

Interview coming soon.

Wes Smoot 9/20/22 Wes Smoot 9/20/22

Queer Synth-Rocker Caleb De Casper Performs at Austin City Limits Festival

Austin, Texas– Caleb De Casper, the “alternative diva crowds want to rally behind” (Austin Chronicle) will be playing Austin City Limits Festival on weekend one, Sunday, October 9th on the Barton Springs Stage at 1:15pm before synth-poppers, Muna. As always, the show promises to be spectacularly unforgettable, but De Casper and the band have new surprises in store for the ACL audience. As Culture Map declared last month, "If theatrics are what you are after, don't miss this performance." The classically-trained artist was previously scheduled for the following weekend, October 16th at 11:15am, but was moved to a more ideal time slot.

The queer, electronic glam-rocker was invited to join the lineup of the popular festival (which draws crowds of 450,000 yearly) after a whirlwind year, which included the release of his new album Femme Boy, the designation of Caleb De Casper Day by the City of Austin on April 21st and being named June Artist Of The Month by tastemaker radio station KUTX FM. The artist also performed at The Long Center for a 2,000 cap Pride event, shared the stage with Big Freedia and A Giant Dog in front of packed crowds, as well as landing notable press including Teen Vogue and an interview on one of the most popular queer podcasts in the country, Feast of Fun.

Up next for De Casper is an otherworldly video steeped in fantasy and mythology for the single “Do You Feel” directed by Mexican filmmaker Robbie Cabrera. Stay tuned…

Wes Smoot 9/9/22 Wes Smoot 9/9/22

BMI IS BACK FOR 2022 AUSTIN CITY LIMITS FESTIVAL

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (September 9, 2022) – Broadcast Music Inc.® (BMI®) is thrilled to be back at Zilker Park for the 2022 Austin City Limits Music Festival on October 7-9 & 14-16, 2022. For the 18th year, BMI brings its curated, musically diverse lineup to ACL for two consecutive weekends of exciting music discovery.

The festival kicks off on Friday, October 7th with indie-pop sensation, girlhouse, followed by the energetic and expressive Lilyisthatyou, and Austin-based indie-rock band Sarah and the Sundays, along with several others. Additional Weekend One performers include sibling duo Aly & AJ, Craigslist-based songbirds Darkbird, and the haunting Isaac Dunbar.

Weekend Two will find more exceptional talent on the BMI stage, including the trailblazing country writer Lily Rose, psych-rock and indie-folk band The Brummies, and post-punk rockers Urban Heat. Other acts include R&B songwriter Siena Liggins and avid storytellers Sloppy Jane.

“BMI is always excited to return to Zilker Park for Austin City Limits, and this year is no exception,” says Mason Hunter, AVP Creative, Nashville. “We love working with C3 and are thrilled to be partnering with them for another four years, so that we can continue to invest in the Austin community and highlight our best and brightest talent on the BMI stage.”

For well over a decade, the BMI stage at ACL has had a hand in launching some of music’s biggest stars, including memorable performances from Miranda Lambert (‘03), Alessia Cara (‘15), Luke Combs (‘16), City and Colour (‘08), Gary Clark, Jr. (‘11), Shakey Graves (‘13), Jon Pardi (‘11, ‘14), Catfish and the Bottlemen (‘14), lovelytheband (‘18), and Maren Morris (‘16), who went on to win a GRAMMY within a year of appearing on the BMI ACL stage.

Each year, the BMI Lounge provides shade, rest, food, and drink for our performers and guests. This year’s lounge is sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Waterloo Sparkling Water, and Liquid Death Mountain Water.

For more information about the BMI stage at 2022 Austin City Limits Music Festival, please visit aclfestival.com or check out https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/bmi-is-back-for-2022-austin-city-limits-festival. The full BMI stage lineup is below.

WEEKEND ONE

Friday, October 7

Girlhouse
Lilyisthatyou
Sarah and the Sundays

Saturday, October 8

Katzu Oso
Jessia
Charlotte Sands
Aly & AJ

Sunday, October 9

Chicocurlyhead
Darkbird
Isaac Dunbar

WEEKEND TWO

Friday, October 14

Early James
Dro Kenji
Lily Rose

Saturday, October 15

Izzy Heltai
Ben Reilly
Sloppy Jane
The Brummies

Sunday, October 16

Siena Liggins
Joshua Ray Walker
Urban Heat
Jackson Dean

Wes Smoot 10/15/21 Wes Smoot 10/15/21

ACL FEST 2021- BEING HEARD AT MUSIC FESTIVALS

By Wesley Smoot

When you think of music festivals, you might think: headliners, huge crowds, fun costumes, overpriced drinks, perhaps creating unforgettable memories with your closest friends… This is often the case for most of us. So, while organizers work tirelessly to make their events stand out, what else could be missing?

HBO Max’s 2021 documentary showed us the tragic events of Woodstock ‘99 in a chilling story (Woodstock 1999: Peace, Love, & Rage) that ended in arrests, bloodshed, and eventually a bunch of angry white men setting the whole damn thing on fire. With multiple cases of sexual assault and even preventable deaths, this was the perfect example of toxic masculinity at its finest.

Was it the perfect recipe for the events that took place? Could it have been avoided? Again, what was missing?

An obvious solution, Diversity.

Music festivals, including ACL have been booking talent with large LGBTQ fanbases for some time. In previous years, ACL has brought us LGBTQ icons like Robyn, Lizzo, Megan Thee Stallion, The Cure, and more. While I personally love these performers, I’m eager to see more talent that actually identifies as LGBTQ.

Could ACL do a better job of booking more diverse, or specifically more queer artists to their line-up? I’m happy to say, they have and they did… an absolutely, fabulous job!

Austin City Limits 2021 was a milestone of inclusivity, From having their first ever drag performer, Trixie Mattel on the Tito’s Vodka Stage, to hosting Spanish speaking acts like Gina Chavez and Karol G. Representation seemed an obvious goal for this year’s organizers.. and bravo to you! Please don’t think this goes unnoticed.

Trixxie Mattel ACL Fest 2021 Weeked 2- Photo Credit: Alison Narro

Norway native, singer/songwriter, and proud lesbian, Girl in Red brought a considerable audience to her stage. (Look her up!) As a fan, I was a pleasantly surprised to see the crowd her performance attracted. Lead singer, Marie Ulven Ringheim told audience how she almost cancelled her ACL performance due to Texas’ Governor Greg Abbott’s horrific abortion law that passed earlier this year. She stated, “It wouldn’t be fair to skip this opportunity, I know many of you don’t agree with what’s happening… by performing here, I want to show support to those who don’t follow the Governor’s outdated views on something that most of the civilized world has moved past.”

Girl in Red ACL Fest 2021 Weeked 2- Photo Credit: Alison Narro

It’s worth mentioning country music star, LeAnn Rimes opened her song, Love is Love is Love by talking about her early, personal experience with LGBTQ acceptance. Non-binary, North Carolina based, Future Islands gave an unforgettable performance that will leave me a diehard fan. Erika Badu… well, she’s Erika Badu. Who always delivers gold. But what about the attendees?

A considerable number of rainbow flags and queer statements proudly worn by LGBTQ attendees, including myself and our very sexy group, was peppered throughout the vast audience. We experienced moments where straight-allies asked for photos with us and our rainbow flag. This meant a lot, or least to me. Hearing words of love and encouragement never goes unappreciated. We see you allies!

Future Islands ACL 2021 Weekend 2- Photo Credit: Charles Reagan

To wrap it up in a real cute bow… I can honestly say, what I witnessed is real progression. While I’d love to see acts like Toddrick Hall, Kameron Ross, and even Ricky Martin take stage, I can’t help but wonder what’s in store for next year and if other music festivals will follow suit.

I say, keep marketing to us, with us. Keep it diverse & inclusive and we’ll keep coming back. As someone who lived in Austin, Keep Austin Weird is something the LGBTQ community has always contributed to. Thank you for seeing us, and you can count on seeing me next year.

-Wesley Smoot

Unleashed LGBTQ