September 20, 2018 500 AM
MARFA – Hailed as “a cosmic weekend-long adventure” of live music, camping, rival sandlot baseball, star gazing, art installations and community driven happenings in the majesty of Marfa, El Cosmico’s Trans-Pecos Festival of Music + Love is scheduled for its 13th year of festivities this weekend. Known for its profusion of particularly eclectic alchemical manifolds of sound, the festival’s lineup espouses the notion of repeat/ return performers, welcoming back the likes of Meshell N’Degeocello, Ben Kweller, Los Coast and Jenny Lewis. This year’s full line-up includes headliners Los Lobos, Angel Olsen, Future Islands, Inna Modja, Patty Griffin, and Black Pumas with Adridan Quesada of Grupo Fantasma, the Grammy-winning rock en español band from Austin. “For 12 years the festival has attracted a loyal group of attendees and performers. It is a family reunion, a gathering of the tribes for those who recognize the festival as singular in today’s culture. It feels timeless, even though relatively new. And seems it will go on long after other events come and go” states filmmaker Peter Gannon, who has created a website dedicated to the founders of Trans Pecos Festival of Music + Love, the artists who perform (some again and again) and the citizens of Marfa. When the Trans-Pecos began in 2005, El Cosmico – a West Texas campground managed by the lifestyle masterminds behind the Bunkhouse Group – was just an empty field (the hotel opened four years later) and the festival consisted of intimate campfire performances enjoyed by the few in the know. Now thousands of tickets are sold, and the occasion developed not only to include a milieu multifarious musical talent, but also creative based on-site skill share workshops, various food/beverage and goods/wares vendors outfitting a marketplace most predominately of the vintage and “artisan”/ hand-made persuasion, as well as community dinners and breakfast in support of Marfa Public Radio. Along with a Pop-up day party from 11am-5pm on Friday, the festival will house “El Cosmetico”, back, and larger, by popular demand, where attendees can schedule body work (facials, acupuncture, cupping, and massage) and a Hydration Station, where saline solution packed vitamin B shots can be administered upon appointment.
This year’s workshop schedule includes lessons in candle making, tie-dying, chain stitching, fermentation, bitters and tincture crafting, cidery, welding, sandal making and an introduction to natural perfumery. Johnny Sufficool and Desert Door will host a Plant Talk/Walk where Johnny will share his intimate knowledge of the regional uses of the agave and Nick Bustillos from Cochineal will join Tito’s Vodka, Desert Door Sotol, Monkey 47 Gin and The Glenlivet for both a West Texas inspired cocktail making course and a scotch tasting/ insider’s guide to choosing and preparing scotch-based cocktails. Visit the festival’s website (listed below) for more details and workshop registration.
Those looking for an extra treat can still snag pre-sale $35 tickets to the Barbacoa Community Dinner – one of the well-honored traditions of the festival – a pig roast and sausage party on Saturday, September 22 at 6 pm, hosted by chef Lou Lambert. Non-meat eaters are also welcome as the dinner does include vegetarian options.
Trans-Pecos passes run $250 for three nights of music or $325 for three nights of music and camping. Those without their own camping gear also have the option of renting a deluxe, furnished tent complete with amenities from Shelter Co. Ferris Wheel Tickets can also be purchased via the site for $4
For more information regarding the festival’s activities, to purchase tickets and/or to book your stay, visit https://elcosmico.com/event/trans-pecos-festival-of-music-love-2018.
