Gary Clark Jr., the blues guitarist who received more than his fair share of glowing reviews in 2012, not to mention that his major-label debut Blak and Blu received high plaudits across music media, has just unveiled another creative offspring; the Maverick Music Festival, running for the first time ever in his home town of Texas on March 23rd this year.
Clark Jr. spent the latter part of 2012 touring his album, including a well-received stop off in Australia for the Big Day Out circuit (where we caught up with the musician for a chat) and festival sideshows in Sydney and Melbourne, which our Tone Deaf reviewer called, “a dirty, sweaty, heaving affair, overflowing with magnetic energy.”
Not to be confused with the Maverick Festival of Easton Farm Park, Suffolk (the country and Americana Festival held in the UK each year), Clark Jr.’s Maverick Musical Festival is a one day event held in Mayor Maury Maverick Plaza, located within the arts community of La Villita, downtown San Antonio.Clark Jr. ensures punters that the Maverick Music Festival will be the source of “unforgettable day and night of entertainment.”
In an effort to lift the standard and faculty of festivals in the Alamo City, the lineup thus far features Texan locals the Toadies, Girl in a Coma, Henry + The Invisibles, Arum Rae, and unsurprisingly, a headline performance by Gary Clark Jr. himself, who will perform as the evening sets in while a smattering of local artists will fill daytime slots.
The festival, divided into day and night segments, will also engage taste buds, offering, “a variety of different cuisines in the food villitas (i.e. little food villages), showcasing some of the best local artisans and food pioneers in the area,” according to the festival’s official website.
In a twitch of irony however, Clark Jr. is no fan of the dusty, outdoor setting as a long-term hay fever sufferer, according to music website, SPIN.
“My least favorite thing about playing festivals is that I have allergic reactions to dirt and dust getting kicked up,” says the blues guitarist. “It’s not hot to be walking around sneezing. People are like, ‘Oh, that was a good show.’ (And then I’m like) ‘Ah-choo!'”
What is hot however, at least compared to what Australians are now conditioned to when it comes to festivals, are the ticket prices. Punters who purchase early bird tickets online will be set back a mere $US 28, while those who wait until festival day on March 23rd will be obliged to hand over little more, yet a still very reasonable $US 33.
Partnering with local businesses and organisations, Clark Jr. ensures punters that the Maverick Music Festival will be the source of “unforgettable day and night of entertainment,” and insists enthusiastically on the festival’s official website that he’ll, “See y’all there!”
Maverick Music Festival 2013 Lineup
Gary Clark Jr.
The Toadies
Girl In A Coma
Arum Rae
Henry + The Invisibles
+ more
Maverick Music Festival 2013 Dates & Tickets
Saturday 23rd March
Maverick Plaza, San Antonio, Texas
Advanced General Admission Tickets – $US 28
At The Gate General Admission Tickets – $US 33
tix and info available at: maverickmusicfestival.com/tickets
