Well played, Homegrown Festival. On Monday night the festival's organizers rolled out their 2015 lineup with an announcement party at Off the Record, and the decorum was merited: Spoon will be the headliner for this, the event's sixth installment. The Austin indie rock kingpins are easily the biggest headliner that Homegrown has landed to date. Suddenly the little Texas-centric festival in Dallas is starting to look like an event that bands across the state legitimately will want to be a part of.
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It's been a steady build for festival organizers John Solis and Josh Florence. Since Homegrown's inception back in 2010, bands like Jonathan Tyler, Neon Indian and Polyphonic Spree have all headlined -- each among some of the most high profile contemporary artists with ties to Dallas. Last year, they even expanded the size of the festival grounds at Main St. Garden Park, closing off the adjoining block of Main St.
But Spoon represents a definite jump in visibility for the festival. Whether you like them or find them boring (and there are plenty who will say just that), Spoon is easily the biggest indie band in Texas, if not the biggest rock band period. Granted, Britt Daniel has played Homegrown before with his side project the Divine Fits, but this is the A-team.
Spoon also mark the first act from (gasp!) Austin to headline Homegrown. That's a pretty solid advertisement for the fact that people in Texas are paying attention. And, well, it's a big step up from having the Toadies headline last year, as much fun as the nostalgia factor was with the Rubberneck anniversary. Last year, Solis even singled out Spoon as one of his dream bands to play the fest. (Next up, Willie Nelson? Eh guys?)
Backing up Spoon will be one of Dallas' heaviest hitters, Old 97's, although of course their appearances in town are still pretty regular these days. Other notable out-of-towners include singer Shakey Graves and soul powerhouse Bobby Patterson. Among the locals, Sealion, who played the announce party last night, lead the way, with Oil Boom, the Orbans and rapper -Topic.
One notable change this year is that doors will open an hour later that in the past, at noon, meaning that the traditional yoga session in the park has been eliminated. That may mean things will feel a little less informal this year, but it also suggests organizers are taking the opportunity to build the event that much more seriously.
Homegrown takes place on Saturday, May 9 in Main St. Garden Park. Blind presale tickets already went on sale in December, but general admission tickets are available now for $33. There's also a $45 bundle that includes admission and a Homegrown T-shirt, plus a VIP package that costs $75, including drinks tickets, food vouchers, a t-shirt, shaded seating, VIP restrooms, and "other swag." Tickets are available at homegrownfest.com.
The full 2015 lineup:
Spoon Old 97's Shakey Graves Bobby Patterson Rocketboys Sealion Oil Boom Black Pistol Fire -Topic Wrestlers Sphynx
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